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To What or to Whom Are you Gathered?



Salvation, Before or After Water Baptism -- Which?



Baptism in the Spirit: For Whom and What Purpose?



On the subject of Tongues from the New Testament



Headship and Head Coverings



the Permanence of Marriage: A biblical view



Divorce and Remarriage



What is a New Testament Church?



Will a Loving God Punish Lost Sinners?



9-11-01 Is It in Bible Prophecy?

Lessons on Godly Gathering

Biblical Forgiveness

Introduction

Chapter Overviews

Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14

Appendix

Lessons on Godly Gathering
Appendix



TRIPLET OUTLINE

Even the casual reader of these chapters can see some of the beauty and symmetry which God has placed in them, especially chapters 11-13. Please notice the triplets (the threes) that abound in this section of the letter. Here is a brief outline of some of the various and obvious triplets in chapters 11, 12, and 13.

 

In chapter 11

  1. 3 sections -- Headship (1-3), Head covering (4-6), & head remembering (17-34)
  2. 3 heads in the first section -- God, Christ and man.
  3. 3 symbols -- Head covering, (vs. 6) Bread and the cup (vs. 26)
  4. 3 different 3's allotted to the covered head
    1. 3 Greek words (KATA vs. 4, KATAKALUPTO VS. 6, PERIBOLAION VS.26).
    2. 3 objects of the covering, (man vs. 7, angels vs10, God vs13).
    3. 3 reasons for the covering:
      1. So man's glory is not competing with God's glory
      2. To display the message that the woman is under an authority (vs. 10)
      3. To cover her own glory (long hair) so as not to compete with the glory of our Lord (vs. 15)

 

In chapter 12

  1. 3 key words (gifts, body, & members)
  2. 3 key persons (Spirit, vs. 4, Lord vs. 5, & God vs. 6)
  3. 3 key thoughts (Gifts vs.4=substance; Administrations vs. 5=service; Operations vs. 6=power).
  4. 9 gifts (3 threes) (8-10)
  5. 3 Church building blocks (first Apostles, second Prophets & third Teachers in vs. 28)
  6. 6 body members (2 threes) (foot, hand, ear, eye, nose/smell, & head - 15-21)


In chapter 13

  1. 3 things produced by lack of love
    1. Unprofitable sound (vs. 1)
    2. Unprofitable saint (vs. 2)
    3. Unprofitable service (vs. 3)
  2. 15 characteristics of love are listed before its eternal characteristic is contrasted with 3 failing gifts (5 threes)
  3. 3 failing gifts - Prophesies, language & Knowledge (vs. 8)
  4. 3 illustrations or parallels to the failing gifts - speaking, understanding & thinking (vs. 11)
  5. 3 unfailing things in this dispensation - faith, hope, & love (vs.13
  6. "Now" is stressed 3 times (12-13)

 

The following is a comparative analysis of the tongues of Acts and I Cor. 14. This is given to enable the reader to better understand the doctrine of tongues. The languages of both Acts and I Cor 14 were human languages. The difference being from their primary source. In Acts 2, 10, and 19 they were supernaturally induced and in I Cor 14 they were humanly acquired and carnally spoken.

 

ACTS ACTS I COR 14
  1. Unity(2:1)
  2. All filled (2:4)
  3. All spoke (2:4)
  4. Supernatural environment (2:2-3)
  5. Dialect spoken (2: 6-8)
  6. No interpreter needed
  7. Spirit gave utterance (2:4)
  8. All heard with understanding (2:6-8, 11)
  9. Apostles spoke (2:4, 14, 37, 43)
  10. Spoke to men (2:4-11)
  11. All Jews (2:1-5)
  12. Public evangelism (2:14-42)
  13. Sign to unbelievers (Acts 2:1-14 & I Cor. 14:22)
  14. Speaker benefited others (2:11)
  15. Confession & conversion followed (2:11 & 41)
  1. Division (see I Cor. 11:18)
  2. No evidence of any filled
  3. Not all (14:5)
  4. Not so at Corinth
  5. No dialect mentioned
  6. Must have interpreter (14:28)
  7. Corinthians gave utterance (14:9)
  8. No one heard with understanding (14:2)
  9. Not apostles
  10. Spoke to God (14:2, 19)
  11. Jews/Gentiles (10:1-2 & 12:1-2, 13)
  12. Assembly meeting (14:19, 23-40)
  13. Spoke in view of believers
  14. Benefited self (14:2-4)
  15. Barbarianism & confusion followed (14:11 & 33)

Bear in mind sign gifts needed neither rules nor development but service gifts (PERMANENT GIFTS) must be developed the rest of our lives. In chapter 14 the Apostle is not comparing two gifts of the Holy Spirit. He is showing that telling forth a message from the Lord (PROPHECY IN THE SECONDARY SENSE) is of more value than any language spoken that is not understood.

DRW