WORSHIP ARTICLE | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario
On Paul’s second missionary journey, he lived and taught in the city of Corinth for about 18 months (Acts 18:11). Sadly, after his departure, things began to unravel. We don’t know the exact cause(s), but a report from the house of Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11) and a letter from some in the church (1 Corinthians 7:1) informed Paul of various issues and struggles the congregation was facing. Thus, the need for Paul to write the first letter to the Corinthians while he was labouring for the Lord in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8).
The Corinthian church was blessed with an extraordinary wealth of spiritual gifts, and several were zealous to use their abilities in the assembly. However, their gatherings degenerated into a chaotic and competitive mess focused on self rather than one another. In their eagerness to exercise the gifts, they had forgotten a fundamental purpose for their gatherings. thus, Paul urged restraint and thoughfulness,
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. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
This command serves as the central principle in 1 Corinthians 14. The immediate context involved the use of gifts such as tongues and prophecy, but the underlying principle transcends this first-century setting. The assembly of the saints must not be an occasion for individual gratification but for exclusive exaltation of the Lord God and the mutual edification of the saints.
What is “Edification”?
The weight of the apostle’s mandate is evident when we consider the word used. The Greek noun oikodomē (and its related verb, oikodomeō), is a compound formed from oikos (house) and demo (to build). It is an architectural term about the act of constructing or repairing a building.
When applied to the church, we’re not talking about erecting and renovating a physical edifice. It is the building up of God’s people. We undermine and diminish the importance of edification if we liken it to the camaraderie experienced in a social club or the mutual delight felt by an audience gathered to view a performance. The church is “God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9) made of “…living stones … being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5). The edification of the church is not a vague feeling of warmth, comfort, or enthusiasm – it is not emotional hype. While emotions may accompany spiritual growth, biblical edification is the deliberate strengthening of believers in faith, knowledge, holiness, and unity.
Paul pointedly contrasted edification (oikodomē) with self-serving displays. Earlier in the epistle he warned that knowledge, apart from love, “puffs up,” but that love “edifies” (oikodomeō) (1 Corinthians 8:1). To “puff up” (Greek, physioō) is “to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up” (Thayer). It creates the illusion of size but without substance. By contrast, to “edify” is to truly build, using the right material and with beneficial results.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul subjects every practice in the assembly to this architectural test. Does this activity lay solid stone upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, or does it simply inflate the ego of the participant?
Seek to Edify One Another, Not Ourselves
Paul wrote,
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. (1 Corinthians 14:4-5)
The apostle acknowledged the gift of tongues was spiritually valuable to the one speaking even if others could not understand. But he insisted that in the assembly, any personal benefit experienced by the one must yield to things which advantage the whole group. Thus, in the absence of one who could interpret, the gift should not be used in the gathering (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
Understanding Is Essential to Edification
Paul demonstrated in verses 6-11 how the gift of tongues, which they were very zealous for, could lead to uncertainty, a lack of understanding, and even alienation – which certainly do not produce edification. Thus, he stated,
Even so, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1 Corinthians 14:12)
He emphasized the role understanding plays in edification. From 1 Corinthians 14:13-20, he used the word “understanding” seven times. When an unknown tongue is used, those who do not understand find the experience to be “unfruitful” (verse 14), they “occupy the place of the uninformed” (verse 16), and are “not edified” (v 17). He illustrated the point and focused on the mutual benefit of all, by saying,
…in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19)
Though the assembly is inherently for the Christians, Paul instructed the church to be mindful of unbelievers who might be present. If someone began to jabber away in an unfamiliar tongue with the “uninformed or unbelievers” present, they would likely conclude these people are crazy (verse 23). And thus, rather than being brought closer to faith in Christ they are driven away.
A Lack of Order Destroys Edification
Let’s revisit Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 14:26. He reasoned,
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. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
The disorder and chaos are evident. While not explicitly stated, it seems at least some of these activities were occurring concurrently. Paul instructed the brethren to take turns speaking, not to speak over one another (verses 27, 31). He set limits on how many should speak – no more than two or three (verses 27, 29). He established restrains for who should speak and situations which should limit speech (verses 28, 30, 34-35). He asserted that speakers exercise self-control in the assembly (verses 30, 32) so all could learn and be encouraged (verses 29, 31).
In Galatians 4:18, Paul wrote, “…it is good to be zealous in a good thing always…” The Corinthians were zealous, but it was not in a good thing. Their inclination was to do things which they (individually) found uplifting, even if it brought no benefit to the church.
Paul’s instruction would correct the raucous disarray which their first day of the week gathering had descended into. The Corinthian commotion was completely out of step with the way of God, who “…is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
A Principle for All-Time
It is natural in the reading of 1 Corinthians 14 to look at historical and theological considerations about the nature, duration, and use of spiritual gifts. However, in doing so we must be cautious not to overlook the underlying standard in the text. The miraculous gifts in Corinth provided the occasion for the instruction, but the principle articulated is universal.
In our modern-day – with the absence of miraculous revelatory gifts – we can still produce the selfish Corinthian spirit which led to chaos and discouragement. When we hyper-focus on perfecting the tune rather than digesting the substantive truth which should be in the lyrics, our singing loses its divinely appointed role (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). If the “sermon” is delivered by a braggart puffing his chest rather than a humble servant exalting Christ, the message of hope has been supplanted. When worship is treated like a theatrical performance and the goal is simply to evoke an emotional response, we fail to build faith, and thus faithfulness to God, settling for momentary attractions and distractions over the life-changing word of God. When we cater to or cave to individual whims, notions, or preferences we create an environment which sets aside God’s authority, inviting doctrinal vagueness and loopholes which undermine the basis of our faith. Any of these and more will cause us to repeat the error of Corinth.
The standard remains unchanged. The exercise of any practice or teaching in the church must be judged by whether it 1) fulfills the will of God and 2) contributes to the collective spiritual maturity of the congregation. Paul concluded the chapter by saying, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Not some things – all things. If we will embrace this comprehensive standard for our assemblies, then every part of our service becomes an opportunity to exalt God and encourage one another.
Individual Responsibility
Certainly, those who are leading the various aspects of the service hold a great responsibility to do so with integrity. Those leading prayers, the song leader, the ones serving at the table, the Bible class teacher or preacher, even the reader – everyone leading in the service must do so with the intention of edifying one another. Yet every believer who enters the assembly has the duty to be a faith builder for one another. The writer of Hebrews commanded, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Hebrews 10:22), “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering…” (Hebrews 10:23), and “…let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…” (Hebrews 10:24)
Friend, do not come to the assembly with a consumer mindset. You are not there to be entertained. You are not there to see what you can “get out of it.” Experience will reveal that you will “get out” of worship what you are willing to “put into” worship. If we will all come as givers and builders – as encouragers and edifiers – the result will be the mutual growth of the saints. In the Ephesian letter, Paul stated God gave leadership within the church to equip all the saints “…for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12). The goal is to
…come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God … that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro … but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:13-16).
“Let all things be done for edification” is more than a historical correction for a troubled first-century church. It is the permanent principle for the house of God. When a local church commits itself to this standard – communicating God’s truth clearly, maintaining an orderly manner, and prioritizing the spiritual growth of one another over self-interest – God will be exalted and saints will be edified to the glory of God.
GROW magazine | October 2026 PDF
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