gengwall

Grudem conveniently ignores all that proceeds vs. 34 and all that follows vs. 37 as if it has nothing to do with Paul’s instructions. “Cherry pickers – unite!” The overall message of 1 Cor 14 is clear – “Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly [men and women alike] to prophesy, and do not forbid [anyone – man or woman] to speak in tongues.”

As often happens, 1 Cor 14 – in particular vs. 34-37 – is a bit baffling if you take the complimentarian interpretation. If the rhetoricals in vs. 36 affirm all that has come before, they affirm a contradiction. Of course, if you are a complimentarian, you live in a world of Pauline contradictions. I suspect the apostle would take quite a bit of offense at such an implication about his teaching.

On the contrary, if you assume Paul means to be clear, then 1 Cor in its entirety is crystal clear once you understand what is really being said, or more correctly, who is saying it, in vss. 34-35. As he often does, Paul takes a brief sidebar to dispose of a particular practice which is a stumbling block to the accomplishment of his overall instructions.

Incidentally, Grudem’s challenge is easily won, and you don’t have to go outside of 1 Corinthians.

1 Cor 1:13 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”

[A behavior, practice, attitude, or tradition]

1 Cor 1:14 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or [?]were you baptized in the name of Paul?

[A series of rhetoricals where the answer is “no” showing that the preceeding is incorrect behavior, practice, attitude, or tradition]