1 Corinthians 12:29 & 30
"Do all speak in tongues"
By Drew Dixon

'Yes we all speak in tongues, but no, not in a meeting'
Problems with the meeting context

In the 1983 RCI article, which maintains that these verses relating to tongues should simply be seen in the context of a meeting, the writer of the article never actually quotes the complete verse 30, nor it's associated prior verse. Tongues and interpretation are lifted mid-verse from a group of seven functions all listed together. In holding with a logical and true interpretation of scripture, the same meeting context that is applied to tongues and interpretation, should then also be applied to the other five gifts / functions listed. Paul makes absolutely no distinction at all in context between any of them.

THE PROBLEM

If we maintain a meeting context for both verses and all functions, we see the following problems arise with the RCI understanding:-

1. All speak in tongues, but only some do during the meeting? 

Perhaps, as per the RCI article.

2. All can interpret, but only some do during the meeting because only some will speak in tongues and require interpretation?

Again perhaps, as per the RCI article.

Now it gets tricky:-

3. All are apostles normally, but only some are apostles during the meeting? 

This does not make sense. The verse speaks nothing of the action of an apostle. The words used for apostles, prophets, teachers are all nouns and seem to speak of an office. Also, I am unaware of any action of an apostle restricted to a meeting context.

4. All are prophets normally, but only some are prophets during the meeting?

Again this does not make sense, prophets are prophets whether they are prophesying or not. In the NT church, people were specifically known as prophets whether in a meeting or out.

5. All are teachers normally, but only some are teachers during the meeting? 

The same argument applies as in the previous two examples. The RCI explanation does not work.

6. All are workers of miracles normally, but only some work miracles during the meeting? 

It would seem odd that miracles would be 'limited' in the meeting in the same manner as tongues and interpretation are. In Corinth, the limiting of tongues and interpretation was done by the people (possessing the gift one would assume), under the instruction of Paul and not by the Spirit. Paul gives no instruction or even hints at limiting of miracles. This would seem very odd indeed.

7. All have gifts of healing normally, but only some are allowed gifts of healing during the meeting?

Same problems as the points above. 

As can be seen, the above statements simply do not make sense and are quite illogical. From this alone, it is obvious Paul did not specifically have the meeting context in view when discussing these functions. A number of the functions listed either have nothing to do with a meeting, or have roles of limited 'meeting' use, with their wider scope of application being outside a in the broader body of Christ. Paul's whole discourse and it's practical application become totally confused if somehow restricted to a meeting context. It just does not fit.

SO WHERE TO NOW? 

It is obvious there are significant and numerous problems with the above RCI understandings of the meeting context. Keeping a constant context (as should be done), then putting all the functions through the same filter, shows significant error and introduces total confusion to the verses under question. The RCI have made it awfully complex.

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