1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1Co 15:1 Now, I want to share some information with you brothers; this is the gospel I evangelised you with, which you recieved, in which you also stand,
1Co 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you own it, unless you have come to believe randomly.
1Co 15:3 Because I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received– that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,
1Co 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,

resurrection faith or random faith

The disorder Paul had been addressing since chapter 11 now reveals its deeper roots. The chaotic worship practices in Corinth were not isolated problems. They were symptoms of a larger sickness running through the congregations: divisions fueled by the elevation of certain leaders. Some individuals who held influence in the assemblies were not stabilizing forces but agitators. They encouraged the very behaviors that produced confusion—uninterpreted foreign‑language outbursts, competing voices, interruptions, and general spiritual showmanship. These leaders were not shepherds guiding the flock; they were ringleaders stirring the circus.

Paul therefore connects the worship disorder to the broader theme of the letter. The Corinthians had been idolizing leaders, aligning themselves with personalities rather than with Christ. That same spirit of factionalism had spilled into the worship gatherings. Leaders who enjoyed the spectacle resisted Paul’s instructions, even though Paul insisted that these commands came from the Lord. Their refusal to recognize apostolic authority revealed that they were not speaking or acting under the Spirit’s direction.

Paul’s response is direct: if a leader refuses to acknowledge the Lord’s commands, that leader should be ignored. Influence in the church is not validated by charisma, volume, or self‑assertion. It is validated by obedience to Christ and by conduct that builds up the body. Anyone who insists on practices that create confusion or disorder is not acting as a true prophet or teacher. The Holy Spirit cannot be blamed for such behavior, because the Spirit does not produce chaos. Disorder is not spiritual. Confusion is not spiritual. The Spirit’s work is marked by clarity, peace, and edification.

Public worship, Paul insists, must be conducted kata taxin—properly, fittingly, with order and tact. This does not mean rigid formality or suppression of spiritual expression. It means that every contribution must serve the mission of the church and strengthen the community. Worship must reflect the character of the God who brings peace, not confusion.

Paul’s final word in this section is a call to discernment. Leaders who demand the right to create disorder reveal that they are not being led by the Spirit. Leaders who submit to Christ’s order and seek the edification of the whole body demonstrate the marks of true spiritual authority. In Paul’s vision, the church flourishes when its leaders model humility, clarity, and obedience—and when the congregation refuses to follow anyone who leads them into confusion.

LORD, thank you for the good news of a saviour who died for us, and has been raised from the dead.