It would almost seem that he had anticipated the sentiments and practice of the Roman Catholic denomination. Paul specifics in the course of the discussion every part of public worship "public preaching" 1 Corinthians 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 14:5,1 Corinthians 14:13, 1 Corinthians 14:19 "prayer" 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 "singing" 1 Corinthians 14:15 and insists that all should be in a language that should be understood by the people. The whole strain of the chapter is to demonstrate this, in opposition to making use of a foreign and unintelligible language in any part of public worship. Nothing can be clearer than the sentiments of Paul on this. (1) That public worship should be in a language understood by the people the language which they commonly employ. Let all be done "decorously," as becomes the worship of the great and holy God let all be without confusion, noise, and disorder. There are many things which cannot be subjected to "rule," or exactly prescribed there are many things which may and must be left to pious feeling, to good sense, and to the views of Christians themselves, about what will promote their edification and the conversion of sinners. This rule is still applicable, and is safe in guiding us in many things in regard to the worship of God. Their good sense would tell them what became the worship of God and their pious feelings would restrain them from excesses and disorders. There might be a thousand questions started about the modes and forms of worship, and the customs in the churches, and much difficulty might occur in many of these questions but here was a simple and plain rule, which might be easily applied. This is a general rule, which was to guide them. The word used here (κατὰ τάξιν kata taxin) is properly a military term, and denotes the order and regularity with which an army is drawn up. Let all be done in "order, regularly " without confusion, discord, tumult. Let all things be done decently and in order - Let all things be done in an "appropriate" and "becoming" manner "decorously," as becomes the worship of God. And often the act derives all its consequence and utility from the manner in which it is performed.īarnes's 1-corinthians 14:40 Bible Commentary The manner of doing a thing is always of as much consequence as the act itself. Where decency and order are not observed in every part of the worship of God, no spiritual worship can be performed. And as to religion, there can be absolutely none without it. No business, trade, art, or science, can be carried on to any advantage or comfort, unless peculiar attention be paid to it. How much pain, confusion, and loss would be prevented, were this rule followed! There is scarcely an embarrassment in civil or domestic life that does not originate in a neglect of this precept. Let all things be done decently and in order, is a direction of infinite moment in all the concerns of religion, and of no small consequence in all the concerns of life. Let all things be done decently - Ευσχημονως· In their proper forms with becoming reverence according to their dignity and importance, Every thing in the Church of God should be conducted with gravity and composure, suitable to the importance of the things, the infinite dignity of the object of worship, and the necessity of the souls in behalf of which those religious ordinances are instituted.Īnd in order - Κατα ταξιν· Every thing in its place, every thing in its time, and every thing suitably.
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