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Tag: 1 Corinthians

And Now the News – Resurrection of the Dead
Paul first establishes the indisputable facts of the Resurrection of Christ supported by evidence.

And Now the News – Just the Facts

the Logic of Christ’s Resurrection

The FACTS established, now the Apostle to the Gentiles must convince believing Corinthians influenced by cultural ‘scientists of Promethean logic‘ about the truth of the nature of the resurrection of the dead.
- How can worshippers of myths — a myriad of made-up gods and goddesses — purport LOGIC as truth?
- How can we present the resurrection of the dead as truth rather than myth (upon which Greek religion tenuously stands)?
This is Paul’s cultural challenge — and ours.

Resurrection is Key to the Gospel

Even Jerusalem’s Sadducees denied the truth and evidence of the resurrection.

Certainly many Greek worshippers of pagan gods held philosophies allowing the evil of the body to coexistence with a soul (hopefully) worthy of heaven.

Paul had encountered such opposition in Athens just before he arrived in Corinth to preach.

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked...

Acts of the Apostles 17:32a

Note that this mocking at mention of the resurrection is similar to that in Jerusalem at the time many Jews received the Holy Spirit.

They believe these things, but hate them; and they also hate God.

WARRANTED CHRISTIAN BELIEF P.291

Is it not so? Hasn’t this hatred of God also been your experience simply at the mention of Jesus Christ?

Pagan ridicule of the resurrection provides false evidence to their Promethean proofs justifying the sins their flesh-indulged minds.

This was the challenge of the Apostle Paul in A.D. 55, as it is ours in this Common Era of indulgent inclusion.

IF Christ is risen..

Paul has established the indisputable facts of the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now he continues in his key logic of the gospel of resurrection of the body and spirit.

1 Corinthians 15: –

“.. this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

1 COR 15:11b BSB

: RESURRECTION IS: CERTAIN (15:1-34)

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,

how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

1 Cor 15:12 ESV

Paul now addresses those believing doubters of the resurrection influenced by the surrounding pagan culture.

The Apostle follows a step-by-step logical argument:

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

1 Cor 15:13 ESV

These logical Greek Corinthians hear the argument of the Pharisee (Saul of Tarsus) refuting the unbelieving Sadducees.

— AND Paul has just presented the FACTS and evidence that Christ was raised from the grave after His crucifixion.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

1 Cor 15:14 ESV

SO — You are a follower of The Way – a saint of your local church…

WHY THEN did we preach Christ to you and your fellow saints?

Is your faith in a myth just vanity?
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And Paul continues rhetorically challenging the veracity of his own preaching of the Christ and Jesus' resurrection from DEATH on a Roman cross in Judea.

The apostle of this gospel self-convicts in this alternative scenario concluding: 
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We are even found to be misrepresenting God,

because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

1 Cor 15:15 ESV

Heresy!

What is the Apostle’s proposition?

YOU — Corinthians — (and YOU, Common Era questioners) — must judge the TRUTH of the RESURRECTION of the dead based on the FACTS & EVIDENCE that the Lord Jesus Christ was the first man raised from death for your sins.
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Why do I make the bold point that this  would be HERESY? 

Other translations provide a more pointed translation of the Greek that may help us understand the seriousness of Paul's alternative false proposition. 
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εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες

v.15a Moreover we are even found [in a legal sense] to be false witnesses [pseudomartys] of God..

[This would be false testimony against Almighty God, certainly punishable by death of the mortal body and punishment of their immortal soul.]

HERESY – αἵρεσις – hairesis

But the Corinthian saints know that Paul has NOT chosen himself over GOD [Theos].

The Apostle, however, continues down this logical path of its false-reasoning conclusion.

Now to the Apostle’s logical connection:

For if the dead are not raised,
not even Christ has been raised.
1 Cor 15:16 ESV
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(Paul has already opened his argument to the court of logic with Christ's resurrection.)
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Then those also who have fallen asleep [koimaō – a metaphor for death] in Christ have perished [ἀπόλλυμι – .apollymi].

1 Cor 15:18

The Perishing Promethean Heretics

Paul, in providing a clear choice to those who trust in the Way and Truth and Life of Christ, offers a clear logical choice.

The Apostle had opened his Epistle to the Corinthians clearly stating:

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing^G622,

but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I WILL DESTROY^G622 THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,

AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 LSB – Paul, citing Old Testament Scripture

“Where is the one who is wise?

Paul had rhetorically asked in the opening of this epistle [1 Cor 1:20].

νυνί – now, at this very moment

NOW Paul continues in the only logical conclusion: :

But now [at this very moment] is Christ risen from the dead
1 Corinthians 15:20a – KJV [def. Gk. νυνί]

The Apostle here is emphatic in his belief proclaimed in his closing.

“But in fact..,” “At this very moment..,” “And now..,

Christ hath risen out of the dead,” read just a few English translations of Paul’s logical Greek argument.

Then Paul proclaims the benefits of Christ’s resurrection applied to the death of those in Christ.

Christ’s resurrection + the firstfruits

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…

.. Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Cor 15:20,23b ESV

Between Paul’s representation of the resurrection of Christ and resurrections of ‘those who belong to Christ’ — (faithful saints of the Church redeemed in Him) — the Apostle points back once more to original sin and the source of death replacing eternal life with God.

IN THE BEGINNING…

For as in Adam all die…

Paul proclaims:

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Cor 15:20-22 KJV

IN THE BEGINNING God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void…

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed… But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:

for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 1-2 KJV excerpts

IN ADAM… ALL DIE.

IN ABRAHAM & JACOB.. ALL DIE.

IN MOSES ALL DIE

and IN DAVID… ALL DIE!

in Christ all will be made alive.
For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his own order:
Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming,
those who belong to Christ.

Then comes the end…

1 Corinthians 15:22-24a CSB
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Good NEWS of the Resurrection of the DEAD - To be continued... 
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May 19, 2025
And Now the News – Just the Facts
Moreover — and as a matter of fact, the Apostle continues — here are the facts of the Gospel of the resurrection and Christ once more (for your logical Greek reasoning).

Letters & NEWS

As we have read in the Apostle’s first epistle to the Corinthian saints, letters are personal and recall a connection of love between Paul and those in Corinth.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

.. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree..

1 Corinthians 1:4-10a excerpt ESV

The Apostle states his obstacles common to the Corinthians — a diverse church in every way — at the outset of his epistle:

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 1:22-23 ESV

And the Apostle establishes his own authority in Christ — the head of the Church who died for sinners.

Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.

1 Corinthians 9:19-20a ESV

Yet Paul’s pathos and personal connection to the Corinthians appeals to all who love the Lord — Jew and Greek and Romans who worship as saints of one Church — this one in first century Corinth.

The Parthenon

Logic

Recall from our previous look at Paul’s personal letter that even though a remnant of Jews live in Corinth (and the smaller ancient city of Athens), the culture of his audience is Greek.

Propriety in Worship of the Church – 1 Corinthians 14
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(Even the Romans mimicked worship of the Greek gods and goddesses.) 
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In Greek mythology, Tethys was Consort of Oceanus, father of the river gods and goddesses including a Greek goddess who founded Corinth named Ephyra.

What’s missing for Greek worshippers?

The connections between credibility and impact.
- How can worshippers of myths — a myriad of made-up gods and goddesses — purport LOGIC as truth?
In fact, the FACTS of logic built on false premises do not add up.

This is Paul’s cultural challenge — and ours.

Paul’s personal letter to the Corinthian saints (church).

The Apostle’s connection of logic to his Greek audience is agape (love).

“IF I have not love (charity) [agape], I am nothing.

– 1 Corinthians 13:2

As for the difference of Paul’s beliefs in God:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand..

1 Corinthians 15:1 ESV

Before we list Paul’s FACTS for believers, let’s examine this Greek culture of logic in the light of truth cast upon the temples of many mythical gods and goddesses of Corinth.

Truths revealed to our minds
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The following quoted in part from WARRANTED CHRISTIAN BELIEF PP290-294
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What more is there to faith than belief?

What distinguishes the Christian believer from the demons?

——

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Epistle of James to the Church 2:19 ESV

They believe these things, but hate them;

and they also hate God.

WARRANTED CHRISTIAN BELIEF P.291

Is it not so?

Hasn’t this hatred of God also been your experience at simply the mention of Jesus Christ?

Perhaps they also hope against hope that these things aren’t really so..

in a self-deceived way..

the problem here is not merely cognitive..

but.. Promethean..

ibid.

Cultural ‘science‘ of Promethean Logic

COVID-masked Prometheus statue at Rockefeller Center NYC, US as seen on the News

Prometheus, in Greek religion, one of the Titans, the supreme trickster, and a god of fire. His intellectual side was emphasized by the apparent meaning of his name, Forethinker. In common belief he developed into a master craftsman, and in this connection he was associated with fire and the creation of mortals.

Source: Britannica

WE must think to the AD 55 Corinthian culture, as well as our own Common Era challenges of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, in these ‘Promethean‘ terms of logic —scientific facts of the world masked as NEWS.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

The demons, no doubt, are theists and also believe of God that he exists; because they do not trust and love God and do not make his purposes their own.

ibid. p.294

Heretics — those who hate God — contend against Christ.

Gospel Good News

NOW, after stating that everything must be done in order, the Apostle Paul begins with the facts of the resurrection. AND note that he presents these FACTS as ‘of first importance.’

Facts:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:

1 Corinthians 15:3

that Christ died for our sins..
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 ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν 
Christ (christos) -- not simply JESUS or Lord or some other designation of His Person or earthly position. 
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The Apostle Paul makes “CHRIST” christos — central to his FACTS to the Corinthians, using this Messianic designation (in Greek) over sixty times in this epistle.

AND Paul’s protos point reminds us that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS

(the Person of Jesus) Christ ἀποθνῄσκω died [apothnēskō] (as all men and women do)
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-- AN INDISPUTABLE FACT --
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Then Christ’s apostle to the gentiles reminds:

ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν

hyper egō hamartia
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for our sins 
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Christ’s apostle continues logically with a REASON (remember, these are Greeks seeking wisdom in this) for this indisputable fact that Jesus died on a Cross (some twenty years before this).

And in his logical support of why Christ – the Messiah of the Jews – would do this, the Apostle cites God’s Holy written word:

“.. according to the Scriptures [γραφή – graphē].

AND logically following his FACT of Christ’s death Paul adds:

that he was buried,

that he was raised on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:4 ESV

Not such a big deal that Jesus was buried (although many criminals hung on Roman crosses were left as carrion for the carnivorous).

It is the RESURRECTION of Christ which always ignites the Promethean detractors of truth.

AND again Paul adds: “in accordance with the Scriptures.”

NOW Paul logically follows-up from presenting his facts to the truthful testimony of eye witnesses.

ὁράω – HE appeared:
1. to Cephas (Peter)
2. the Twelve (Jesus’ Disciples)
3. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
4. to James (Jesus’ half-brother)
5. then to all the apostles.
6. the Apostle Paul
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:8-9 ESV

We Preached + you believed the facts

In the Apostle’s ‘reminder’ written to the believing saints of the church in Corinth, Paul begins with just the facts — provides witnesses — and now preaches once more what many had proclaimed in person.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians 15:10-11 ESV

SINCE ~AD 33 — and for all these years of our Lord since — MANY WITNESSES of One Lord — have Preached and Proclaimed

Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and raised from the dead — appearing, in fact, to many witnesses.

and (when we preached)

— you believed!

But the Apostle is NOT FINISHED with this all-important proclamation of the Good FACTS of the Resurrection.

NEXT, Paul will continue with the certainty of the resurrection of the dead.. and you must consider what this will mean to your own faith and mortal life.

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
May 15, 2025
Propriety in Worship of the Church – 1 Corinthians 14
Paul wanted his churches to exhibit a modesty and propriety recognized by the surrounding culture, especially in worship.

(1 Corinthians 14)

THE BAKER ILLUSTRATED BIBLE COMMENTARY P.1303

An Overview of Paul’s Epistle

Most outlines of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians include what we are about to read next under a smaller heading of ‘spiritual gifts’ or ‘the gifts of tongues and prophesy’ as part of a larger section of the epistle — as a conclusion of the previous chapters.

Remember that like our letters to anyone it had no chapters.

Without returning to my original introduction to 1 Corinthians, I would like to point to these larger points of Paul’s letter here:
Introduction & reason for writing to the Corinthians

Response to their questions [chaps. 7-16]

Recommendation of others & closing
One of the central cultural issues of propriety and order the Apostle has addressed in response to several Corinthian questions is that of the role of women.

Within the Apostle’s response to the Corinthian elders some of these issues include:

* Immorality in the Church (5:1–6:20)
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These issues applied to men certainly affect all women. 
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- But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.
  - 1 Cor 5:2
- Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
  - 1 Cor 6:18
Marriage in the Church (7:1–40)
- 3 A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.
- 10 To the married I give this command — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to leave her husband.
Liberty in the Church (8:1–11:1)
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This section ends with Paul's personal example: 
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Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

AND — (as introduction to our current larger section of his epistle) — the Apostle continues by encouraging those who have done so.

Worship in the Church (11:2–14:40)

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.

– 1 Corinthians 11:2-3 CSB

Intro to Apostolic instructions about Head Coverings
- Roles of Men and Women in the Church (11:2–16)
- The Lord’s Supper (11:17–34)
- Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)
The Context of Worship – A.D. 55 or 2025 CE

As you can see, the Apostle has introduced this smaller section of his letter about spiritual gifts in the context of worship

AND that he has already addressed some of the roles of men and of women who worship the Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle has ‘delivered‘ ‘the traditions’ to them.

What is propriety?
- for a first century Corinthian
- or (for example) a 21st c. Cincinnatian
This photo next to the BAKER commentary for 1 Corinthians 14 got my attention to focus back on
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the propriety and modesty of a classic Corinthian woman. 
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Propriety – conformity in socially acceptable conduct and speech, appropriateness, fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes.

source

In light of this, consider propriety from the earlier BAKER quote.

At Corinth he [Paul] was particularly concerned about women’s reputation. For women modest draped clothing with a head covering was common. (see 1 Corinthians 11:2-16),

as seen here in a sculpture from 300 BC (Tanagra, Greece)

ibid.

Here is more background on the culture of Corinth named for a goddess descended from the Greek Titans [also pictured on our cover to this post].

In Greek mythology, Tethys was Consort of Oceanus, father of the river gods and goddesses including a Greek goddess who founded Corinth named Ephyra.

The Greeks and Romans honored many gods and goddesses of culture and worshipped these with some order and propriety, while worship of others included temple prostitutes, so much debauchery and excess witnessed in festive celebrations.

(Sound familiar, 21st c. christian?)

Yet the modesty of a proper woman is important to the Corinthians, both men and women, thus the Apostle’s insistence on the propriety of head-coverings in worship of the church.

What’s allowed in proprietary worship of God?

1 Corinthians 14:

Concerning Prophesy and Tongues

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

.. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

.. — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

13Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret.

Who’s in charge?
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Using several references from Paul's letters to the Corinthians in "DIVINE PROVIDENCE," STEPHEN CHARNOCK [pub. AD 1680, updated 2022] provides us with a helpful overview of the Apostle's thinking: 
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The edification of the church is the great end that we are commanded to work toward:
Stephen Charnock – DIVINE PROVIDENCE, p.146

Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

1 Cor, 14:13 – ibid.
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Then, under the heading 'The Gifts and Common Grace of Bad Men and Women' Charnock addresses Paul's order of propriety mentioned in this and other epistles. 
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God is the giver of gifts, Christ is the governor of those gifts, and all is for your sake.

ibid.

I find this particularly helpful.

Think of it:

God the Father (or because of their Oneness in substance, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) — who created ALL things —

charges CHRIST (Jesus, the Person of the Son of Man and Son of God) — THE CORNERSTONE of the Church — as its governor —

with perfect distribution of the gifts to the church — gifts that GOD has given to the church for the LORD’s divine purpose for the sake of those chosen before creation to worship him .
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Now think of Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares for this next one: 
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There are some husks that come up among men and women, and God uses them to shelter the church in common works, and he [GOD] restrains these men and women through the knowledge of Christ.

God gives gifts to them out of love for his church, not out of love for them.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE, P.147

Get a grip on this: it’s not about YOU — God’s love is about HIS CHURCH.

REMEMBER, what the Apostle has just written?
- IF I [do any of so many things]
- BUT have NOT [agape {love}]
- I am nothing
- and I gain nothing.
To have and to hold Christian Love

Dearly beloved,

Do you take this bond of your church to have and to hold..?

OR is our desire to try out relationships of LOVE —

to try out church es

— NOT having or holding any commitment to Christ Jesus and His body the Church?

What then, brothers?
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We realize that this is not a politically correct question in this common era (and some English translations soften it), but Paul uses the Greek word ἀδελφός - adelphos - a masculine noun for brethren. 
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What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.

Let all things be done for building up.

1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV

The Apostle, under Christ, under God addresses the men of the church — not the women saints of Corinth — as was proper in Corinthian culture.

The Apostle has addressed:
- quarreling among you, my brothers. (1:11)
- But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (3:1)
- But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of.. [a long list of sins] (5:11)
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

Order and Propriety

Each of you (brothers).. (not the sisters.. and not ONLY the pastor in charge under Christ).

What then is it, brothers? When you may come together, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.

Let all things be done for edification.

1 Corinthians 14:26 Berean Literal Bible – [more study]
- Tongues?
  - two or three at most
  - in turn &
  - must have interpretation
- Prophets?
  - two or three
  - others weigh in on what is said
  - IF a personal revelation is made to one present, the man receiving it must remain silent.
  - all may profit by learn and be encouraged by (this kind of) prophesy
  - prophets are subordinate [hypotassōto] to each other
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Now do not be offended by Paul's next orderly instruction for worship — for it uses the same Greek word [hypotassō] — for the Corinthian women of propriety and modesty expected in worship. 
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For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches.

For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission , as the Law also says.

1 Corinthians 14:33-34 ESV

Note that the Apostle — who has been addressing order and propriety in worship throughout his epistle to the saints of Corinth — also speaks to ALL the CHURCHES [ekklēsia] of the SAINTS [hagios].

ARE YOU, beloved 21st century worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ, not also His saints?

and we have believed,
and have come to know, that you are the Holy One [hagios] of God.”
Gospel of John 6:69 ESV – Simon Peter to the Lord Jesus
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Yes, the women of Corinth and of your 21st century church could be of the Holy Ones - saints - of God; so don't be offended by what the Apostle Paul next instructs the saints by the Spirit - even if God formed you as a woman. 
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If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1 Corinthians 14:35 ESV

Paul then proceeds to instruct ‘the brothers’ in those issues the apostle has already addressed, prophesies and spiritual gifts (essentially reiterating ‘listen to me about these things).

And the Apostle Paul’s conclusion to this large section of his letter to the Corinthian saints

— who are of course free from the Law (as servants of God, Christ and each other) —

But let all things be done properly and with order.

1 Corinthians 14:40 BLB
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And since Paul's epistle (like any letter) lacks chapters, what does the Apostle NEXT remind the Corinthians -- the saints of Christ's Church? 

About THE RESURRECTION. 
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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
May 8, 2025