rwp - 1Corinthians:14:26-40

rwp@1Corinthians:14:26 @{When ye come together} (\hotan sunerchsthe\). Present middle subjunctive, repetition, whenever ye come together, in contrast with special case (\ean sunelthi\, second aorist subjunctive) in verse 23|.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:27 @{By two} (\kata duo\). According to two, ratio. {Or at most} (\ to pleiston\). Adverbial accusative, "or at the most." {Three} (\treis\). \Kata\ to be repeated. {And that in turn} (\kai ana meros\). One at a time and not over three in all.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:28 @{But if there be no interpreter} (\ean de m i diermneuts\). Third class condition. Earliest known instance and possibly made by Paul from verb in verse 27|. Reappears in Byzantine grammarians. {Keep silence in church} (\sigat en ekklsii\). Linear action (present active imperative). He is not even to speak in a tongue once. He can indulge his private ecstasy with God.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:29 @{By two or three} (\duo treis\). No \kata\ here as in verse 27|. Let two or three prophets speak. {Let the others discern} (\hoi alloi diakrinetsan\). Whether what is said is really of the Spirit. Cf. strkjv@12:10| \diakriseis pneumatn\.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:30 @{Let the first keep silence} (\ho prtos sigat\). To give the next one a chance.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:31 @{One by one} (\kath' ena\). Regular idiom.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:32 @{The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets} (\pneumata prophtn prophtais hupotassetai\). A principle that some had forgotten.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:33 @{Not of confusion} (\ou--katastasias\). God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. We need this reminder today. {As in all the churches of the saints} (\hs en pasais tais ekklsiais tn hagin\). Orderly reverence is a mark of the churches. This is a proper conclusion of his argument as in strkjv@11:16|.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:34 @{Keep silence in the churches} (\en tais ekklsiais sigatsan\). The same verb used about the disorders caused by speakers in tongues (verse 28|) and prophets (30|). For some reason some of the women were creating disturbance in the public worship by their dress (11:2-16|) and now by their speech. There is no doubt at all as to Paul's meaning here. In church the women are not allowed to speak (\lalein\) nor even to ask questions. They are to do that {at home} (\en oiki\). He calls it a shame (\aischron\) as in strkjv@11:6| (cf. strkjv@Ephesians:5:12; strkjv@Titus:1:11|). Certainly women are still in subjection (\hupotassesthsan\) to their husbands (or ought to be). But somehow modern Christians have concluded that Paul's commands on this subject, even strkjv@1Timothy:2:12|, were meant for specific conditions that do not apply wholly now. Women do most of the teaching in our Sunday schools today. It is not easy to draw the line. The daughters of Philip were prophetesses. It seems clear that we need to be patient with each other as we try to understand Paul's real meaning here.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:37 @{The commandment of the Lord} (\Kuriou entol\). The prophet or the one with the gift of tongues or the disturbing woman would be quick to resent the sharp words of Paul. He claims inspiration for his position.

rwp@1Corinthians:14:40 @{Decently and in order} (\euschmons kai kata taxin\). That is surely a good rule for all matters of church life and worship. It applies also to the function of women in church service.