The Practice of Prophecy

The discussion returns to the direct consideration of spiritual gifts that was the explicit focus of Paul’s remarks up to 12:31a. One should notice at the outset that Paul’s general concern is with orderly worship, but there are bends and turns to the argumentation that are hard to follow and highly debated. Moreover, as later readers turn to this passage they sometimes forget the concrete historical circumstances that lie behind Paul’s remarks, but to do so is a disaster. Paul faced a complex, problem-laden congregation that had disruptive behavior of nearly unimaginable proportions at work in it. The severity of the situation brings Paul to argue with a vigor that can seem overbearing from afar, although one should recognize that Paul apparently thought such ela…