We can summarize the teaching of these four chapters in 1 Corinthians as “speaking by the power of the Spirit of God in the church.” The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 14:3 is the superior benefit of prophesying over speaking in tongues (see verses 2-5). “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church” (v.4). Edification, encouragement and consolation are the effects upon the church, the local believers, when a prophet speaks.
Who Are The Prophets And What Is Prophesying?
The prophets of the Old Testament spoke God’s word to the nation of Israel. The message was designed to meet circumstances of His people at the time it was given. Some of what they said predicted the future, but even those statements had a real-time application for the people of their day. In a similar way, prophets in the days when the New Testament was written were individuals who spoke the message God had for Christians.
Today there is an important difference: We have the completed revelation of God in the Scriptures. Therefore, prophets are usually now called “preachers” or “Bible teachers.” They teach from the Scriptures absolute and unchanging truths of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), applying these truths to the contemporary condition of the church and the current situations found in the world. In other words, they give the truths a real meaning for Christian life here and now.
Prophesying has three positive outcomes in the lives of Christians, affecting the hearers in necessary ways:
Although we will consider edification, encouragement and consolation under separate headings, they actually are the joint result of any spirit-led preaching. A number of hearers will be edified while others are encouraged or consoled. Some will experience all three when God speaks directly to each member through the preacher.
Edification
The primary effect of preaching the Word of God in church is that the believers are edified. That is, their knowledge of God and His Son is increased and their faith is built up. We should spiritually profit from every such preaching.
Edification simply means “building up.” When a person is converted through believing the gospel, he or she is given new life in Christ from God. The foundation of that person’s faith has to be built upon – an activity which continues throughout the entire life of that Christian. Every preacher should provide sound doctrine (teaching), or spiritual food, to enable a person’s faith to grow.
The necessity of sound doctrine and faith is emphasized in Paul’s pastoral letters, where the word “sound” means “healthy or wholesome.” 1 Spiritual growth is the outcome of taking in spiritual food in the same way as eating healthy food does your body good in natural life.
The importance of edification is seen by the repeated references to it throughout 1 Corinthians 14 (vv.3,5,12,26). In fact, verse 26 brings to an end a long section in which the apostle stresses that any talks in church must be edifying – the understanding of the faith by the hearer must be helped. The message must have a clear meaning (v.7) and be delivered using simple language (v.9). Paul’s rhetorical questions in verse 26 conclude with one of the five principles (“Let...”)2 which must operate in every church meeting. “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (v.26, emphasis added).
Edification of individual Christians leads to edification of the church, the local assembly, collectively (v.4), which is described as “God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). The apostle Paul had laid the foundation of the Corinthian church and their prophets were building upon it (v.10).
The bigger picture of the entire Church3 is presented in Ephesians. It is being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:20-24). Ephesians 4:11-16 explains that the Church grows by edifying itself in love “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (v.13).
A good example of edification is Ephesians 1:1-4:16. In that passage Paul teaches the new doctrines of the eternal purpose of God for His Son, Jesus Christ, and the calling and destiny of the Church. The apostle explains in Ephesians 3:1-3 how he had received this revelation, “by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (v.4). Notice that Paul prays twice that his teaching might be received and understood by his readers (see 1:15-21, 3:14-21). All preachers should likewise pray these kinds of prayers for their hearers.
Encouragement
The second effect of preaching the Word of God in the church is that believers receive encouragement. The Spirit uses the Word of God to appeal to our consciences and stir us into action. Encouragement also means comfort – our faith is strengthened by what God says to us.
But faith is not a passive assent, or agreement, to doctrine. It is very much an active response. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Positively, encouragement urges us into truer discipleship and a thoroughly Christian lifestyle. In this sense it is exhortation and says, “This is how Christians ought to live.” Negatively, preaching points out our failures and shortcomings – but, at the same time, it shows us how to put things right. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
In Ephesians 4:17 Paul repeats what he had written several verses earlier, urging the believers “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (v.1). This urgent appeal is encouragement and arises from the teaching he had provided them (1:1-4:16). There follow further exhortations to practice what they had been taught (4:17-6:24).
You can see this structure4 in some of Paul’s other letters, but perhaps the best example in Scripture of exhortative preaching is that of Barnabas, whose name actually means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). He was sent to Antioch by the church at Jerusalem when they heard of the great number of conversions there. “When he came [to Antioch] and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:23-24).
Consolation
The final effect of the preaching of the Word of God in the church is that believers are consoled or comforted5 in an individual, intimate and tender way. This occurs because the Holy Spirit applies the words of the preacher to meet the needs of each person in the church meeting. Believers inevitably encounter obstacles, difficulties, disappointments, trying circumstances, dangers, sicknesses, illnesses and bereavements throughout all stages of the Christian pathway. God knows all of these needs and provides messages of comfort to match each and everyone!
The word “encouragement” in 1 Corinthians 14:3 can also mean “comfort.” It is translated that way in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (the words in italics): “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”
God provides for our consolation or comfort in a real and living way. He allows the preacher to pass through adversity, in which he himself receives comfort from God. God then uses these experiences to temper his preaching so he can provide solace for his hearers. But more than that, God Himself “draws alongside to help” (the meaning of the Greek word translated comfort) through the words of the preacher!
What About In My Church?
Whenever I preach or write, I always ask myself the question, “Do I know anything of the practical reality of my subject?” “Does my local church provide preaching that results in its members being edified, encouraged and consoled?” Happily, I can answer, “Yes!” I am not good at reading books. Most of my understanding about the faith comes from edification in church meetings.
I can also testify to some special experiences when the preaching exactly met what I needed for myself. Once I became unsettled in my employment because I did not like the new management organization. I decided to look for new employment. However, the preacher that week spoke about Hagar and emphasized the LORD’s words to her to “return ... and submit” (Gen. 16:9). I got the message! On another occasion, my younger brother was in a coma and we were advised that he would probably die. The preacher spoke on resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15, entitled “The Trumpet Shall Sound!” It was comforting ministry indeed!
What Happens In Your Church?
First Corinthians 14:3 describes what happens in a real and living way when a local church is operating according to the directions given in chapters 11-14. Does this happen in the church of which you are part? Are you edified, encouraged and consoled by the preaching you receive? You will be if the speakers are led by the Spirit to deliver straightforward messages with clear meaning. My prayer is that each Grace & Truth Magazine reader can answer, “Yes, I am.”
1. 1 Timothy 1:10, 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13, 4:3; Titus 1:9, 2:1-2,8-9,13.
2. 1 Corinthians 14:26,34-35,37,40 (which includes the “lets” of vv.13,27,29-30), 16:14.
3. The Church consists of every believer from Pentecost to the Rapture.
4. “This is the way [doctrine], walk in it [practice]” (Isa. 30:21 NKJV) is a good way to remember this format.
5. “Consolation” is translated “comfort” in the KJV, NKJV and ESV.
By David Anderson
| For EDIFICATION it is not only necessary to impart knowledge, to apply the Word by divine utterance to the conscience and to teach particular truths, but it is to do so in “words easy to be understood” (1 Cor. 14:9 KJV). Obscurity is not spirituality. If there were no “distinction in the sounds” (v.7), music would convey no melodious meaning. If the sound is “uncertain” (v.8), the trumpet will produce no effect upon the hearers. So ministry may be put forth in such a confused way that it conveys no meaning, or it may be expressed with such uncertainty that it has no effect upon the hearers. If ministry is to edify it must be set forth in words “easy to be understood” and with the certainty of being a message from God. Every voice in nature has a special significance, and likewise words have a special meaning. If we use words which convey no meaning to the hearers, we practically become barbarians speaking in some strange jargon. — Hamilton Smith (adapted) |