| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy, |
Follow after charity – Ardently pursue love. (Diaglott) R733:4
Greek, agape, true, disinterested character love. R2807:3,5
And desire – Cultivate. E180
Be emulous of. (Diaglott) R733:4
Our ambition and pursuit should be love, and if love for the Head and Body is cultivated, we will be honored and used because of love and service. R733:4; F313
Spiritual gifts – It is proper enough for you to esteem these gifts and to seek to use them and to desire the most useful of them. SM277:T
Ye may prophesy – Publicly expound. E180; A55; R825:1
All the brethren were to seek ability to teach publicly. (Verses 31 & 39) R984:4
Choose rather to have ability as public speakers. Q527:T; SM277:T
Public speaking would be the most useful of all gifts, because its opportunity for influencing others would be the greatest. SM277:T
Those who find themselves possessed of the gift of teaching--ability to make clear to others the plan of our Father from his Word of truth, will thus be provided a grand opportunity for holding public meetings in school houses, halls, churches, court houses, market places, parks and vacant lots, to which the public might be invited; or private gatherings for the help of those found truth-hungry might be held. R825:1
The personally developed gifts are to be esteemed more highly than those miraculously bestowed. E180
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| 2 for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets; |
Unknown tongue – This gift of the spirit, to speak in unknown languages, was for the purpose of bearing witness to the truth to people of foreign lands. Q768:T
Some today have the faculty of speaking in unknown tongues, but this is not accomplished through the power of the Lord; it is of the evil one. Their frenzied condition evidences that they are possessed by demons. Q768:T
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| 3 and he who is prophesying to men doth speak edification, and exhortation, and comfort; |
He that prophesieth – Public expounder. A55
Teaching or exhorting according to the measure of the gift of God. R1549:2, 825:1
God still continues, to some extent, the gifts of teachers. R183:1
Speaketh – This gift was specially notable in Peter and James. R365:2
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| 4 he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify; |
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| 5 and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly may receive edification. |
That ye prophesied – Because its opportunity for influencing others would be the greatest. SM277:T
The Apostle advised that they should have the more profitable aspirations. R5321:3
Greater – This would mean more of personal contact with the Lord. R5265:3
God can and does make choice of some more than others for the good of all. R836:2
May receive edifying – The different tongues and gifts were all intended to minister to the Church for their benefit as a whole. R5265:2; F312
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| 6 And now, brethren, if I may come unto you speaking tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in teaching |
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| 7 yet the things without life giving sound whether pipe or harp if a difference in the sounds they may not give, how shall be known that which is piped or that which is harped |
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| 8 for if also an uncertain sound a trumpet may give, who shall prepare himself for battle |
Uncertain sound – We perceive our privilege in continuing to give no uncertain sound upon the silver trumpets of Jubilee. R5715:6
Let the trumpet give no uncertain sound; there is a danger in the pathway of the preaching brethren--a little mote of pride. R309:1*
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| 9 so also ye, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give how shall that which is spoken be known for ye shall be speaking to air. |
How shall it be known – Let us not cultivate the habit of speaking in that irreverently familiar way of the Lord which is becoming common among many of the subtle adversaries of the truth, saying, The Lord told me so, as though he had spoken to you face to face, or through some medium other than what he has appointed. R1481:4*
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| 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is unmeaning, |
So many kinds – Some calling in one direction and some in another. The world calls us, the flesh calls us, the Adversary calls us, the Master calls us. R3163:3
Voices – The Christian may readily enough discern the voices of the world and the flesh, and should be on his guard against their seductive influence. "My sheep hear my voice; and they follow me." (John 10:27) R3163:3
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| 11 if, then, I do not know the power of the voice, I shall be to him who is speaking a foreigner, and he who is speaking, is to me a foreigner; |
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| 12 so also ye, since ye are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, for the building up of the assembly seek that ye may abound; |
Of spiritual – Greek, pneuma, invisible power or influence. E174
Edifying – Some travelling and preaching the good news, some distributing tracts and papers, and some superintending the publication of papers and tracts, but all for the same purpose. R449:5
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| 13 wherefore he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue let him pray that he may interpret; |
Unknown tongue – Unknown language; for a sign, which was not to be used unless an interpreter were present. Q768:T
He may interpret – One who had the gift of tongues should pray that he might also receive the gift of interpretation of tongues. HG404:3; SM570:1
Let him pray that he might be able to express himself intelligibly to those to whom he was speaking, rather than in dark sayings. R4732:4, 781:3*
They should not only desire to speak in unknown tongues, but also desire to give the proper meaning, in order to be understood. R5265:2
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| 14 for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit doth pray, and my understanding is unfruitful. |
Pray – In the public assembly of the saints. R3698:5, 2692:1
Neglect of either private prayer or prayer in the congregation of the Lord's people is sure to lead to leanness of soul and lukewarmness in respect to spiritual things; unfaithfulness, coldness, death. R2692:1
Prayer is closely and actively identified with progress in spiritual things, progress in the fruits of the spirit; toward God, the brethren, and all men. R2692:2; F687
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| 15 What then is it I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms also with the understanding; |
Pray – All of Jesus' followers are to realize that they have a special privilege of fellowship in prayer. R3806:1
Paul exhorts those who lead the company in prayer to seek to do so in such a manner that all may be able to hear and acquiesce in it. R799:6
Prayer and giving of thanks before the Church is to be done in an audible voice and in a common tongue, in order that the hearers may be edified. R2023:5
It is evidently impossible, "seeing through a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12) to always "ask according sed by our Advocate. R469:5*
Sing – All were able to lift their voices in praise, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16) R1890:3; F268
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| 16 since, if thou mayest bless with the spirit, he who is filling the place of the unlearned, how shall he say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since what thou dost say he hath not known |
He that occupieth the room – The worshippers. R2251:6
Say, Amen – One who prays amongst the Lord's people should remember his audience in connection with his ministry, and perform the service so that he who hears may be able to say "Amen," whether audibly or in his heart. F688
Giving of thanks – The thanksgiving of the congregation should be presented before the Lord not only audibly but in a language heard and understood so that all might be able to say "Amen." R2251:6
Understandeth not – Prayer in an unknown tongue is of no value. R5833:6
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| 17 for thou, indeed, dost give thanks well, but the other is not built up! |
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| 18 I give thanks to my God more than you all with tongues speaking |
Speak with tongues – Those gifts ceased within a short time after the death of the apostles. R2764:4
The early Church thought very highly of the gift of tongues. R5265:2
More than ye all – Paul had various gifts and declared that he spoke more tongues than they all. R5265:1, 4443:1; SM276:2
He did not esteem these his highest treasures nor the most noble marks of his being the servant of the King of kings. SM276:2
He had a greater responsibility because he had greater opportunities. R2764:4
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| 19 but in an assembly I wish to speak five words through my understanding, that others also I may instruct, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue. |
Speak five words – The Apostle gives them a warning reproof. R4732:4
My understanding – In a known tongue. R5265:2
That he might be able to express himself intelligibly to those to whom he was speaking. R4732:4
Be understood by his hearers. R4443:2; Q710:T
This is a good lesson. We should speak language that can be understood; and we suggest that all try to learn to lift up their voice like a trumpet. Some need to put on three or four trumpets. Q710:T
Might teach others – Each should study how best to use his talents for the edification of his hearers. R1638:2; F312
Unknown tongue – And not be able to interpret. R5265:2
The possession of an unknown tongue did not imply that a man had reached a higher attainment and relationship to God. R4732:4
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| 20 Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect; |
Be not children – Not as a little child in stature, nor in blankness of undeveloped character. R2063:2
The young Christian and less developed are likened to babes, to children. R2660:2
"Unskillful in the Word." (Heb. 5:13) R230:1
Infants can have no share under this Gospel call; but they will surely share the great world-blessing that will speedily follow the completion of the Church. R2660:2
Understanding – Knowledge, character. R2063:5, 1972:2
In malice – Having none. R521:3
Be ye children – In humility, simplicity, guilelessness. R2063:2, 1972:2, 230:1
Humble and trustful disciples as God's little ones. R2660:2, 230:1
Though old in years and gray-headed, their hearts are young and preserve the sweet simplicity of childhood. R1972:2
The simplicity of childhood, realizing its need, confesses it and asks mercy, instead of attempting to deceive itself by philosophizing. R1972:4
We must continue to admit our own imperfections, continue to admit our need of mercy, continue to trust in the precious blood provided to cleanse us from all sin. R1972:4
Jesus represented the gentle, teachable, guileless, humble disciple by a little child. R521:3
Be men – Ripe in character and learned in the wisdom of God. R1972:4
More developed. R564:3
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| 21 in the law it hath been written, that, 'With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear Me, saith the Lord;' |
It is written – In Isaiah 28:11. R3962:3
Tongues – A demonstration of divine power to natural Israel, used to establish spiritual Israel. R3962:3
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| 22 so that the tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; and the prophesy [is] not for the unbelieving, but for the believing, |
Are for a sign – Greek, seemion, a proof or evidence. D598
To the natural man, these gifts were the evidences of the possession of the Spirit and acceptance with God. R375:6
To draw attention to the Church and her methods until she had gained a footing and a recognition in the world. E180
That believe not – This gift, which was highly esteemed by some of the Corinthians, was of the least spiritual; adapted less to the development of the spiritual Church, and chiefly useful with the unregenerate world. E180
The Apostle found the brethren of that time inclined to think of the gifts of the Spirit too highly, attaching too much importance to them. Some of them seemed to take pride especially in the gift of tongues. SM276:2
The gifts of the Spirit in the early days of the dispensation, were to convince, not saints, but unbelievers. R378:6, 376:1
Now the world has many proofs of the truth of Christianity which then it did not have and which made miracles and gifts necessary, as a proof that the teachings were of God. R378:5
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| 23 If, therefore, the whole assembly may come together, to the same place, and all may speak with tongues, and there may come in unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad |
Whole church – This account of an ordinary church meeting in the Apostle's day could not be followed fully and in detail today, because of the peculiar "gifts of the Spirit" temporarily bestowed upon the early Church. F313
There are spiritual needs which require ministering to: (1) Instruction; (2) Opportunities for each to express his understanding; (3) Frequent regular meetings to present a different view of truth; (4) Each one, confessing with his mouth, his devotion to the Lord. F313
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| 24 and if all may prophecy, and any one may come in, an unbeliever or unlearned, he is convicted by all, he is discerned by all, |
Prophesy – You do not meet to discuss the unbeliever's doubts, but to confirm the believer's faith. R1868:2
That believeth not – Sinners should be free to attend the meetings, but should be let alone to see the order and the love prevailing. F312
Convinced of all – Even though he comprehend only in part, he may be reproved of his sins by discerning the spirit of holiness and purity in the Church, and may be convinced respecting his errors of doctrine. F312
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| 25 and so the secrets of his heart become manifest, and so having fallen upon [his] face, he will bow before God, declaring that God really is among you. |
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| 26 What then is it, brethren whenever ye may come together, each of you hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation let all things be for building up; |
Ye come together – Opportunities for getting into sympathetic touch with one another provided by studies, and particularly testimony meetings bind together in the bonds of Christian love. R4010:4
Every one of you – One or more gifts were bestowed upon each one who associated with the Church, for edification and instruction. R1998:2
Each may and should use the gifts possessed. R836:4
Edifying – Building up the Body of Christ. R1893:3; F313
Being put out of the synagogues, the early Church had no access to the Old Testament, and the New Testament was not yet written. Without the gifts God's people would have had very little to help and teach them. R5265:2; HG405:4; SM276:1
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| 27 if an [unknown] tongue any one do speak, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret; |
Unknown tongue – Which he had never studied. SM276:1
By two – The message came through two persons: the speaker and interpreter. SM276:1
Let one interpret – One gifted with ability to translate the message of the unknown tongue into the vernacular of the congregation. SM276:1
God would in this way give his people some milk of the Word, until the New Testament should be written and collected in an available form. R5265:3
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| 28 and if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and to himself let him speak, and to God. |
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| 29 And prophets let two or three speak, and let the others discern, |
Speak two or three – Not more than two or three orators speak at one session so as not to have too great diversity of sentiment at one session. F268
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| 30 and if to another sitting [anything] may be revealed, let the first be silent; |
If any thing be revealed – If a revelation be made. R781:3*
Hold his peace – Keep silence. R781:3*
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| 31 for ye are able, one by one, all to prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted, |
Prophesy – Teach publicly. R984:4
One by one – Each may and should use the gifts possessed. R836:4
Be respectful one to another. R781:3*
That all may learn – One speaker orate or prophecy at a time, and all others give attention. F268
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| 32 and the spiritual gift of prophets to prophets are subject, |
Are subject – The fact that the Father sends the holy Spirit shows that it is under his authority, just as your powers are under your control. R372:2
Though "psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue and interpretation" Verse 26) crowded upon each other, order was possible; and we may presume that the exercise of all other gifts were equally under personal control. R781:3*
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| 33 for God is not [a God] of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. |
The author – A God. R1133:3*
Confusion – Tumult. R1133:3*
Sin is the greatest confusion ever known. R848:5
To charge God with being the creator of sin--moral evil--is going to an extreme as unreasonable as it is unfounded. If God is the author of sin (evil), then he would be the chief of sinners. R848:2, 3145:3
God is not the author of the confusion that now prevails in the world. Surely conditions are not so in heaven. Sin, death, pain, sorrow, crying, graveyards, nor hospitals are there. NS547:3
"All his work is perfect." (Deut. 32:4) R3145:3
Saints – The word saint is used to designate the truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1, 3828:1
The epistles to the Corinthians were not written to the debauchees, neither male nor female, of that time. A saint at Corinth meant exactly the same thing as a saint elsewhere. R3828:1
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| 34 Your women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith; |
Women – The women of Greece were very degraded and ignorant; Paul spoke to them with a degree of force which he never used in speaking to Hebrew or Roman Christian women. R1550:5, 1551:5
Christianity, then, as now, did not generally make its converts among the great men and philosophers, but among the poor classes--the common people. R1551:4
In order that all may see clearly the conditions which necessitated the Apostle's seemingly harsh language to the women of the Corinthian church, a few brief quotations from noted authors, showing the state of society in Corinth, Ephesus, and the principal cities of the Greek civilization of that time are given. R1550:6, 1551:1-5
Keep silence – He probably had reference to the public gatherings at which it was the custom to have more or less debate. R227:3, 1076:5*, 766:5*
It is sophistry, false reasoning, to say that Paul would not have expressed the same limitations of the sisters in public services of the Church to other congregations and that his words do not apply at the present time. R3827:6
There would be no violation of the Apostle's injunction in the sisters' taking part in a Berean study. If there are no consecrated or competent brethren present, the sisters might lead a Berean class. R5922:5
To force the application of this instruction upon the whole Church during the entire age, would do violence to the general tenor of Scripture teaching with reference to woman's service as a helpmate. R1550:5
We, the spouse of Christ, are not to dispute or instruct in the Church, but listen to the voice of our Head; give ear to his word. R194:1; Q662:2
Churches – Congregations. R227:3, 1076:5*, 766:5*
At the meetings of the Church. R1550:5
Speaking of the Church, not of the family. It is right that the mother should instruct the family. Q662:2
Unto them to speak – At regular preaching services. F268, F269
The unlearned and illiterate women of those days, especially in Corinth, were not to interrupt and confuse the meetings. R1890:2, 1550:5, 1551:4
In the more public meetings the sisters would do well to take a secondary place and be comparatively quiet. At small meetings, it would not be wrong for a sister to ask a question, to bring out a truth. Q662:2, 661:1
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| 35 and if they wish to learn anything, at home their own husbands let them question, for it is a shame to women to speak in an assembly. |
Ask their husbands – Or more properly, their own men; or make queries through those with whom they were most intimately acquainted. F269; R1550:5
The women were inclined to disturb the meetings by asking unprofitable questions, which their husbands could answer at home with the simple instruction which they needed. R1551:4
Home – Has the significance of family or acquaintanceship. F269
It is a shame – An improper thing. R1551:4
Because any publicity of their women was so regarded there and then; and because they were unfitted to speak intelligently. R1550:5
For women – Evidently some in the Church at Corinth favored the "women's rights" idea, claiming that in the Church the rights of the sexes were indiscriminate. F269
The Church at Corinth seemed to feel itself superior to the other congregations, and desired to grasp liberties for its women which the other Churches never thought of. R3828:1
Speak in the church – And to disturb its proper, orderly worship, etc. R1551:4
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| 36 From you did the word of God come forth or to you alone did it come |
What? – The Apostle reprimands their audacity in thinking to inaugurate a procedure not recognized by others of the Lord's people. F269
Word – Message. F269
Out from you – Did it originate with you? Are we to look to the Christians at Corinth as the expounders of the message? R3828:1; F269
Or came it unto you – From elsewhere. F269
Did you not receive the Gospel as others received it? Do you not admit that you were not the originators of it? You have, therefore, nothing whatever to do with adding to or changing its regulations. R3828:1
Only – Merely. R3828:1
"The faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) is not a variable but a fixed one. R3828:1
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| 37 if any one doth think to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write to you that of the Lord they are commands; |
Spiritual – The caution was sometimes given that the spiritually minded would receive the Lord's counsel through his mouthpieces, the apostles. R1822:2
Commandments of the Lord – And not merely my personal opinions, or crotchets. F269
Paul's writings are specially inspired. R435:2, 434:2*
We then, no more than the Corinthians, are to exercise our own preferences or judgments on this subject, but are to bow to the Apostle's statements as the Lord's command. F269
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| 38 and if any one is ignorant let him be ignorant; |
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| 39 so that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid; |
Brethren – All the brethren. R984:4
Covet – Seek ability to. R984:4
Prophesy – Teach publicly. R984:4
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| 40 let all things be done decently and in order. |
Let all things – Especially the selection of elders. R1890:4
Each one should learn to attend to his own business, and not interfere with others, and in this way will the work prosper, by each one attending to his own part of the work. Q526:T
In this chapter, Paul laid down some very necessary rules and regulations. R1550:5
With a view to the building up of the Body of Christ. R1893:3; F313
Decently – In a becoming manner. (Diaglott) R1133:3*
And in order – According to order. (Diaglott) R1133:3*
In order that the meetings of the early Church should be profitable an orderly arrangement of their affairs was enjoined by the apostles, and acted upon by the various companies of believers. R1890:2
The whole service was to be characterized by becoming dignity, sobriety and solemnity; yet with the greatest simplicity, all, from time to time, taking part in edifying and building up the Body of Christ. R1890:3
Becoming acquainted with each other, they were able to bear one another's burdens, and together to advance in Christian growth and development, their means of edification being supplied by the Lord, and their orderly methods through the advice of the apostles. R1890:3
While order in the exercises of meetings was indicated, and was acted upon by the Church, there was also an order in the leadership and various duties of the Church. R1890:3
If this order was necessary to the spiritual prosperity of the early Church, and was so authoritatively enjoined and universally adopted, we believe that the same necessity for order and for the appointment of elders exists today. R1890:4
The simple order of the early Church proved a blessing; and the Lord established a precedent in acknowledging the arrangement, when, in his revelation to the seven churches in Asia, he addressed his messengers through their representative elders, "angels," messengers or servants. R1893:2
The objects to be sought in the assemblies of the saints and the ministry of the elders, etc. were: (1) Training schools for present and future service; (2) For edifying the Body of Christ. R1894:3, 1893:3, 781:2*
It was the Lord's design that the whole Church, scattered over the world, should be knit together as one; all subject to the same regulations, having "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Eph. 4:5) R1895:4
The Scriptural order, and not the order of Babylon, which exalts a class of lords over God's heritage and ignores the true Head of the Church. R1893:3, 836:2
The fact that we have escaped from the bondage of Babylon, is no reason why we should discard all order and system in our affairs. R1893:1
The Church at Corinth was in a very disorderly condition, and their assemblies were often confused and unprofitable. R1550:5
When approaching Babylon on any errand, we must be sure that we give no occasion for criticism as evildoers. We must not present the truth through lawless means. R1133:3*
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