We all love 1 Corinthians 13, that great chapter which points us to “a more excellent way”. Not just more excellent than “the tongues of men and of angels”, or “prophecy”, or “mountain-moving faith”, but more excellent than understanding “all mysteries and all knowledge” – including great generosity and even martyrdom!
Chapter 12 closes with: “But desire earnestly the best gifts” and love as “a more excellent way”. Paul is not dismissing spiritual gifts but exalting love as supreme over all others. Chapter 13 is a stand alone poem on Love.
Chapter 14 begins with “Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.” Paul writes that (1) the spiritual gift of tongues (languages not learned) is the only gift that relates to God: the others relate to people; (2) that when we speak in tongues we disclose spiritual mysteries to the church (when the tongue is interpreted); (3) that in so doing we build ourselves up spiritually; (4) the gift opens a door to the spiritual gift of interpretation (not in a word-for-word sense but in overall meaning); (5) that when we speak in an unknown language, our spirit prays; (6) that our prayer is one of blessing and thanksgiving to God; (7) that the apostle Paul spoke languages he hadn’t learned more than the entire church in Corinth!
Paul concludes chapter 14 with: “Desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. Let everything be done decently and in order.” The NT Greek word is “taxis” which brings to mind taxis lined up at a stand and rolling down, one by one, in order, as the lead one receives a passenger and drives away. A taxi driver who tried to force entry somewhere along the line would be out of order!
Entry into the realm of spiritual gifts is open to all who, having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and been baptized in water, are ready to be baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit. Any change in the order of the second two is the Lord’s prerogative and He does so at His discretion, as in the house of Cornelius (Acts chapter 10)
What then of “testing the spirits, to see whether they are of God”? (1 John 4:1-3) Good point, since one of the nine spiritual gifts listed by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 is “discerning of spirits” – a gift that evangelicals, intent on ensuring that all things spiritual must also be scriptural, are keen on seeking after!
The Apostle John was referring to antichrists (Gnostics and the like) who taught that Jesus Christ was not a real man. John was not referring to Christians, all of whom willingly confess that our Lord was, and is, the Son of Man, as well as the Son of God.