- The prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14: definition
The prophecy according to 1 Corinthians 12,14 is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through which God gives a message addressed to the body of believers present in a meeting, for the purpose of its edification, exhortation and consolation. As in 1 Corinthians 14: 3-4 it says:
1 Corinthians 14: 3-4
"But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation and consolation ... he who prophesies, edifies the church."
Here we can immediately see both elements: the audience of the prophecy and its purpose. The audience is the church, the body of believers present in the meeting, believers present at the meeting. The purpose of the prophecy is to edify, exhort and console the audience, the body of believers. Therefore, in a church meeting it was assumed (and assumed) that there must be prophecy, that is, messages of God expressed by believers for edification, exhortation and consolation of it.
- The prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14 is not the same as the ministry of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11)
Now, we must not confuse the manifestation of prophecy of which we spoke in 1 Corinthians 14 with the ministry of prophet. As in Ephesians 4:11 it says:
Ephesians 4:11
"And he himself constituted some, apostles; to others, prophets; to others, evangelists; to others, pastors and teachers, "
The prophet of Ephesians 4:11 seems to me very different compared to the prophecy or the prophet of 1 Corinthians 14. Likewise, both express a message from God; The purpose of the manifestation of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14 is the edification, exhortation and comfort of the local church. What I mean is that it is not within the scope of this prophecy. to prophesy about things that will happen in the future or what will happen to the nation or even prophecies addressed by name to a specific person. Such prophecies are still valid prophecies. However, when 1 Corinthians 14 talks about prophecy, it does not refer to prophecies of this type. Of course there may be people in the church with the ministry of a prophet in the sense of Ephesians 4:11, but not what 1 Corinthians 14 refers to when it mentions prophecy. As in 1 Corinthians 14: 5 it says:
1 Corinthians 14: 5
"So, I would like for ALL of you to speak in tongues, but more than to prophesy;"
What Paul wants, his desire, is for everyone to speak in tongues, but even more, for ALL to prophesy. As it also says in the same chapter:
1 Corinthians 14:31
"You can prophesy ALL one by one"
and in 1 Corinthians 14: 1
"Follow the love; and seek the spiritual gifts, but above all that you prophesy. "
We can all prophesy, that is, express messages from God for the edification, exhortation and consolation of the local church. But this does not mean that we all have the ministry of a prophet in the sense of Ephesians 4:11. It is possible that some of us in the body of Christ have the ministry of a prophet, but not ALL have it (other ministries are needed too!), So that every believer can prophesy in the sense of 1 Corinthians 14, the building, exhortation and consolation of the local church.
- The Prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14: it is not a sermon
It must be made clear that prophecy is not a sermon. I have to say, since I have heard on several occasions that the prophecy is more or less a preacher giving a sermon. But prophecy is NOT a sermon or teaching. Prophecy is a message that comes directly from the mouth of God - through revelation - and addressed to the believers who are present. It is God who speaks in prophecy, directly in the first person. Prophecy and teaching are two different things and both are necessary! The fact that they are different is obvious to anyone who wants to see honestly in Scripture2. Do not confuse things that the Word of God never confuses (worth the redundancy). Also when we read 1 Corinthians we have to keep in mind that what Paul called church meetings, in my understanding of the Scriptures, were meetings held in houses.
1 Corinthians 14:26
"What, then, brothers? When you meet, each one of you has a psalm, has doctrine, has a tongue, has revelation, has interpretation. Let all be done for edification. "
In the meetings of the church of the first century, the activity and spontaneous participation of the believers ("each of them") was normal. Not only was allowed, but it was something that was supposed !. "EVERYONE" says Pablo. Each of them brought to the meeting what he had, whether it was a psalm, teaching, language with interpretation, a revelation. For what? For the edification of the body of the believers. Everyone participated with whatever the Lord had given them. They were not dry and boring meetings as often happens with our Sunday services; nor were meetings monopolized by the same member of the body meeting after meeting as it happens today, with all the believers passively observing as spectators in the cinema.
1 Corinthians 14: 29-31
"Likewise, the prophets speak two or three, and the others judge. And if something were revealed to another who was sitting, first street. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. "
Everyone could stop to prophesy (for edification, exhortation and consolation) and others evaluated the message. It was the norm, everyone was free to do it and that's how it was done!
Now, I've been to other meetings, where many of the participants behave so to speak strangers. There is constant confusion during the meeting, with people moaning heavy, others speaking in tongues without interpretation or beginning giving "revelations" that have nothing to do with the "edification, exhortation and consolation" of the church or are thrown to the ground and they remain there as unconscious, claiming that "the spirit did it". In many cases the neighbors of such churches call the police, due to the anarchy and noise of those meetings. Also, the examples of this type of meetings are used by the churches of the first type (of the rigid ones that I spoke previously) to justify their rigidity and high control. But that is not prophecy as described in 1 Corinthians 14. In the meeting there must be order in operating prophecy and tongues with interpretation. Let's see what the Word of God says:
1 Corinthians 14: 27-33
"If anyone speaks in a foreign language, be it for two, or at most three, and in turn; and one interpret. And if there is no interpreter, street in the church, and speak for yourself and for God. Likewise, the prophets speak two or three, and the others judge. And if something were revealed to another who was sitting, first street. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; for God is not God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints "
Many times in these crazy meetings people justify their behavior by saying: "the spirit seized me and made me do this or that", but find something like that in the New Testament, please! What I find in the New Testament is order. When someone speaks in tongues, there must be interpretation, or "if there is no interpreter, go into the church and speak for yourself and for God." How many must speak in tongues, interpret and prophesy? Everyone at the same time? Do not! "If anyone speaks in a foreign language, be it for two, or at most three, and in turn; and one interprets ... Likewise, the prophets speak two or three, and the others judge. And if something were revealed to another who was sitting, first street. "The spirit seized me !? I do not find that in my Bible. What I read is: "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. "Is there confusion in the meeting? Do not blame God or the manifestations of His Spirit. God gave very clear instructions in His Word about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and how they should be done in an orderly manner. If now some do not follow these instructions it is obviously not the fault of God, nor of the manifestations of His Spirit. God has nothing to do with confusion! Do not reject God's gifts for this reason, but seek them, "... seek spiritual gifts," says the Word of God. Long for them seriously and apply them with order, according to the instructions.
I will conclude with the following exhortation of the Word of God:
1 Corinthians 14: 1
"... seek the spiritual gifts, but above all that you prophesy."
This is the will of God, which is expressed through His Word. People will be able to say many things about it, but the one that matters is one: What the Word of God says!