If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:37

Paul had put in a lot of time in this letter correcting the Corinthians’ sins and immature perspectives, particularly in chapter 14 in which he basically tells them that how they use the miraculous gifts God had given them in their worship to God was incorrect and displeasing to the Lord.  No one likes to be corrected, especially in matters concerning what they do in their religion.  Human nature being what it is, the apostle is now anticipating that some of the Corinthians would push back against his rebukes and instruction. 

For this reason, he rhetorically asks them, “Or was it from you that the word of God came?  Or are you the only ones it has reached?” (14:36).  He is reminding them that God had not directly revealed his will and gospel to them from heaven so they could teach it to others.  Rather, they had been taught the gospel by Paul (Acts 18:1-18), who in turn had received it directly from Christ (Gal. 1:11-12).  Furthermore, Paul and his fellow apostles had not taught Christ’s laws solely to Corinth.  The twelve apostles had first preached Christ’s teachings to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, and then along with Paul “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8; cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16).  In other places throughout this very epistle, Paul had alluded to the fact that he taught other congregations besides Corinth (4:17; 7:17; 16:1).  Therefore, as Wayne Jackson puts it in his New Testament Commentary, Paul is basically telling them, “It was not from you, was it, that God’s word initially came forth, thus granting you the privilege of laying aside the rules of assembly decorum?  Of course it wasn’t!  You need to recognize your place in the divine plan and refrain from this assertive disposition that has become your trademark.” 

Perhaps still expecting pushback from one of the Corinthian prophets whom he had just rebuked along with their wives (14:29-35), the apostle then reminds them of another important point.  Any of them who would consider themselves “a prophet” or “spiritual” either in the sense of having miraculous spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit or in the sense of being a devout follower of God should also “acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (14:37).  This is due to Paul, like the other writers of Scripture, being inspired by the Holy Spirit (2:6-16; Eph. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21), who in turn received his message from Christ (John 16:12-15).  He goes on, “If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized” (14:38).  In other words, “This is coming from the Lord, so you must obey what I’m telling you to do.”

Having reminded him of his apostolic authority, Paul concludes by saying, “So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.  But all things should be done decently and in order” (14:39-40).  Corinth needed to understand that prophesying (giving others messages from God) was more spiritually beneficial than speaking in tongues, which also had its place as long as it was done in a way that was orderly rather than in the chaotic way they had been doing so.

The Lord is pleased with worship services which not only revere him but also spiritually edify those who are present in an orderly way.  We should remember that.                                                           

— Jon