1 Corinthians 14 More on Spiritual Gifts
- Read verses 1-3, 6-9, 12, 19, 40, looking for additional teachings and counsel from Paul in relation to the gifts of the Spirit and our behavior and interactions with others. Which of these verses stand out most for you, and why?
- According to verses 3, 12, 26, and 31, what are the main purposes for gathering as Church members, in relation to the gifts of the Spirit?
- How would you apply verses 10 and 33 to circumstances in today’s world?
Speaking of the gift of tongues, Joseph Smith once warned Church members that “Satan could manipulate tongue-speaking and that the Lord would never reveal Church doctrine by this practice.” He further stated, “Tongues were given for the purpose of preaching among those whose language is not understood” (see churchofjesuschrist.org; Church History Topics, “Gifts of Tongues”).
Read again 1 Corinthians 14:19. Here is an example of five words spoken with “understanding”: God speaks through prophets today. Here is another: We lived before this life. And one more: Families can be together forever. Can you think of other true, powerful doctrines that can be stated in just five words?
1 Corinthians 15 The Father’s Perfect Plan
Read verses 1-2, noting Paul’s intention to declare “the gospel which I preached unto you … wherein ye stand … by which also ye are saved.” What is the essence or principal message of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
This chapter is well-packed and well-known for Paul’s teachings regarding the following:
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ, including His resurrection—read verses 3-7. The Prophet Joseph Smith stated, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121).
- Read also verses 17, 19, 26, 32, 52-55; and read 2 Nephi 9:8-9. How does the Resurrection give ultimate meaning to our faith and works?
- Baptism for the dead—read verses 12-16, 18, 29. How does Paul’s mention of baptism for the dead support his argument against those who say there is no resurrection? Have you had testimony-confirming experiences as you participated in family history and temple work?
- The Fall of mankind—read verses 21-22. In what ways do “all die”? How would you explain the positive role of Adam and Eve in the plan of salvation?
- The post-mortal degrees of glory—read verses 39-41; read also D&C 76:89-96.
Note that all of Paul’s teachings in this chapter have been certified and strengthened by the true doctrine, authority, ordinances, and covenants revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. How do you think 1 Corinthians 15:58 is a fitting conclusion to this chapter?
1 Corinthians 16 “Stand Fast in the Faith”
If you were to write a message to those you love most, what would you be sure to say in closing? Read some of Paul’s closing words in this epistle, in verses 13-14, 23-24.
In Adam Clarke’s famous Bible commentary, he had this to say about 1 Cor. verse 29 “This is certainly the most difficult verse in the New Testament; for, notwithstanding the greatest and wisest men have laboured to explain it, there are to this day nearly as many different interpretations of it as there are interpreters.”
That still rings true today. In my personal research of different commentaries, some ignore it, some say it was an ancient practice that only a few did, others claim that Paul was using an example of a pagan rite to make a point. Many use this doctrine to attack the church though, claiming we’re involved in bizarre black magic.
The problem with the pagan attack, as I see it, is that there is only scant evidence of anyone practicing it, but when they did so, those were referring to Christian groups who had read this scripture. If any pagan group in Paul’s day was doing this, it would not have been done by one of Rome’s officially recognized religions and so I can only find people guessing that maybe there was some pagan group here or there who did it. Paul also wouldn’t have been referring to future pagans/heretics as that would have made no sense to make a point for the Corinth saints.
Whether or not pagans practiced it is really beside the point though. In 1 Cor. 13, Paul expounds on charity. How is it charitable to condemn a large swath of the human race to eternal damnation, just because they didn’t have the chance to hear about Christ and his gospel in their lives? The assumption that everyone does have such a chance, from Adam & Eve until today requires both hubris and naivete about the state of the world, to believe.
In looking at other commentaries about this verse, it is interesting that for us, it’s plain and simple, demonstrative of the peace and harmony that true revelation brings to a doctrine.
Lutheran professor Krister Stendahl, a friend of LDS scholar Truman Madsen, once stated about vicarious ordinances like baptism for the dead: “It’s a beautiful thing. I could think of myself as taking part in such an act, extending the blessing that have come to me in and through Jesus Christ. That’s a beautiful way of letting the eternal mix into the temporal – which, in a way, is what Christianity is about.” He understood the concept of charity in regards to our ancestors.
For those curious about others outside of the New Testament who we know practiced baptisms for the dead, there is:
-Marcion of Sinope, a devout follower of Paul who considered Paul to be “the only true apostle” but was considered a gnostic. He published one of the first NT collections and his group did practice vicarious ordinances
-Followers of one named Cerinthus, another post-Paul gnostic
-The Cataphrygians, also known as Montanists, grossly misinterpreted the passage and baptized corpses
-I’ve found some Protestants claiming that the Mandeans, a sect out of the Middle East who believes in John the Baptist but not Jesus Christ, perform that but I think they are confusing a ritual that the Mandeans call the “masiqta” into a baptism, where it appears to be more of a “Last Rights” kind of ordinance and not an actual vicarious baptism (although the Mandeans probably perform baptisms of the living more than any other sect on Earth).
-I found one claiming that it was performed among the “Elusinian cult,” but in the link provided, there is no evidence of that and they themselves said “likely did” not “absolutely did.” Shaky evidence, at best.
-There is a mention of prayers for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12:44-45 but it’s certainly not baptism.
Again, I could be missing that grand sect that was regularly practicing baptisms for the dead outside of the early church as I’m not a scholar but with some research through many old texts, I have found no evidence that anyone other than those early Christians really did practice it.
In that sense, the modern Church of Jesus Christ enjoys revelation from God Himself to clear these things up and vicarious ordinances are a proof of God’s charity and love for the human family.