We can learn from the little information given in the Bible concerning the method of teaching. Teaching was done through direct guidance of the Holy Spirit either through Apostles and prophets or spiritual gifts. In the context of spiritual gifts, instructions were given to Corinth about speaking in their gatherings (1 Cor. 14).
- If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three and that by course; and let one interpret. Two or three tongue speakers at most could speak at one meeting.
- Then, when addressing the prophets, he again writes, “Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others judge (discern). If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace; for you may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”
This means that there might be four to six speakers in one setting, not including interpreters. One principle that has been emphasized is that we must do things “decently and in order.” Of course, this is usually applied to a public worship schedule that has all the participants in the order in which they are expected to participate. This is not the meaning of the passage as it has nothing to do with a formal worship service. In fact, the description of the “order” in 1 Corinthians 14 shows that they did not know who goes first and when. Many today would say that Paul’s teaching doesn’t look very orderly. Yet, not knowing when a particular person was to speak could still be deemed “orderly” in Corinth. Nothing in the statement of “doing things decently and in order” requires a schedule or the look of a formal meeting. I rarely witness disorder when brethren come over to my house for study and/or prayer, even when someone may start talking at the same time. Someone respectfully prefers the other and is quiet, especially when someone intends to speak while another has been speaking awhile. Today, we might consider it rude to interrupt. The only problem is when one speaking never takes a breath. There may have been that problem in Corinth, given the self-centered motivation of some brethren, there.
Paul’s instructions about order describe a situation when one standing by wishes to speak, the other (the one who is speaking) is to hold his peace. Can there be any doubt that these gatherings were not the contemporary sermons or Bible class lectures? To follow this arrangement would be chaotic to a majority of churchgoers. Still, it is noteworthy that such a practice as allowing another prophetic speaker to speak ahead of your prophecy can be a “decent and orderly” custom. Perhaps, the difference between our modern world and this text is the difference between a “worship service” with all its trimmings of ritual or formality and a gathering for edification where there is sharing and participation in teaching through songs, teaching, and prayer.
The fact that the Spirit chose the gifts that he desired men to share among others suggests that no one man or a select few shared their gifts. Ironically, some frown on “mutual edification,” but favor congregational oversight from a select few. Which practice does 1 Corinthians 14 support? God selected several people, each with their own gift(s), which strongly argues against one edifier, especially one paid edifier. The gifts were given according to the Spirit’s selection and the Spirit did not choose just one or two to do this work. So, it would appear that we would expect to find from a gathering of Christians several gifts from a combination of the entire number of saints (1 Cor. 12) where each may minister to one another.
Concerning qualified teachers, the instructions given by Paul presupposes that an individual endowed with a gift of teaching truly has the knowledge necessary to instruct because he has a gift of the Spirit. Rather than teachers chosen from men who desire the recognition of others and do not know what they say nor “whereof they confidently affirm” (1 Tim. 1:8), the instruction was done by someone who has the word of God given by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. It is true from the expectations of Scripture (Heb. 5; 1 Peter 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:2) that the ability to teach grows more and more as one matures. This affirms the value of experience in the practice or use of the Scriptures.
Regarding their meetings, the text under consideration is 1 Corinthians 14, a passage about the body builds up itself through the use of their gifts. Recently, a question was asked concerning their meetings and their purpose. One purpose of their gatherings was to take the supper of the Lord together (1 Corinthians 11). The text in chapter 14 is for edification. These two alone suggests two different purposes for fellowship. You may ask, “How often did they edify one another?” This is like asking, “How often do they eat a meal?” Hebrews 3:13 reads, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”