Chapter 3: Pauline Analysis - What Paul Taught About Meeting Structure

Overview

This chapter examines what the Apostle Paul taught about gathering together, the Lord’s Supper, and participatory worship. As the primary New Testament writer on church practice, Paul’s instructions provide crucial guidance for meeting structure.

Key Principle: Paul’s teachings balance structure and freedom, order and participation, reverence and mutual edification. Understanding his instructions helps us structure meetings that honor both the Lord’s Supper and enable mutual building up.

PART 1: PAUL’S TEACHING ON THE LORD’S SUPPER

1. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 - The Lord’s Supper

Context: Paul addresses abuse of the Lord’s Supper in Corinth

Complete Passage (Key Verses):

1 Corinthians 11:17-22:

“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26:

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:27-34:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.”

Key Observations:

“When you come together” - Regular gathering
“It is not the Lord’s supper that you eat” - They were doing it wrong
Problem: Divisions, selfishness, some going hungry, others getting drunk
Solution: “Wait for one another” - Mutual care and unity
“Do this in remembrance of me” - Primary purpose is remembrance
“Proclaim the Lord’s death” - Telling the story
“As often as you” - Regular practice
Self-examination required - “Let a person examine himself”
“Wait for one another” - Mutual care, not selfishness

Implications for Meeting Structure:

Lord’s Supper requires mutual care (“wait for one another”)
Unity is essential - Divisions are wrong
Reverence is required - Self-examination before partaking
Remembrance is primary - “Do this in remembrance of me”
Regular practice - “As often as you”
Proclaiming the story - “Proclaim the Lord’s death”

2. Paul’s Practice: Acts 20:7

Acts 20:7-11:

“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’ And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.”

Key Observations:

“Gathered together to break bread” - Primary purpose stated
“Paul talked with them” - Teaching happened
“Prolonged his speech until midnight” - Extended teaching
“Talked still longer” - Continued teaching
“Conversed with them a long while” - Extended discussion
Teaching and breaking bread in same gathering

Implications:

Breaking bread is primary purpose - “Gathered together to break bread”
Teaching is important - Can be extended
Same gathering - Teaching and breaking bread together
Extended time - Can go for a long time

PART 2: PAUL’S TEACHING ON PARTICIPATORY WORSHIP

1. 1 Corinthians 14:26 - “Each One Has”

1 Corinthians 14:26:

“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

Key Observations:

“When you come together” - Same phrase as 1 Corinthians 11:20
“Each one has” - Participatory pattern
Various contributions: Psalm, lesson, revelation, tongue, interpretation
Purpose: “For building up” - Mutual edification
All can contribute - Not just one person

Critical Question: Is this the same meeting as the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11) or a different meeting?

Arguments for Same Meeting:

Same phrase: “When you come together”
Same letter, same church
Could be different aspects of same gathering

Arguments for Different Meeting:

Different focus: 11 = meal/remembrance, 14 = worship/edification
Different problems addressed
Could be separate gatherings

Implication: The text is ambiguous. It could be the same meeting or different meetings. But Paul clearly describes a participatory pattern where “each one has” something to contribute.

2. 1 Corinthians 14:27-40 - Order and Structure

1 Corinthians 14:27-33:

“If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting nearby, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”

1 Corinthians 14:34-35:

“The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”

1 Corinthians 14:36-40:

“Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.”

Key Observations:

Order is required - “In turn,” “one by one”
Limits - “Two or three,” “at most three”
Interpretation required - For tongues
Weighing required - For prophecy
“All can prophesy one by one” - Participatory but ordered
“God is not a God of confusion” - Order is essential
“Decently and in order” - Final instruction
Gender roles - Women keep silent (controversial, context-dependent)

Implications:

Participation is encouraged - “Each one has”
But order is required - “In turn,” “one by one”
Limits are good - “Two or three”
All things for building up - Purpose is edification
Not confusion - Order prevents chaos

3. Ephesians 5:19-20 - Mutual Participation

Ephesians 5:18-21:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Key Observations:

“Addressing one another” - Mutual, not one-way
“Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” - Various forms
“Singing and making melody” - Participatory worship
“Giving thanks” - Gratitude
“Submitting to one another” - Mutual submission

Implications:

Mutual participation - “Addressing one another”
Various forms - Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
Participatory worship - All involved
Mutual submission - Not hierarchy

4. Colossians 3:16 - Teaching and Admonishing One Another

Colossians 3:16:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Key Observations:

“Teaching and admonishing one another” - Mutual teaching
“One another” - Reciprocal, not one-way
“Singing psalms and hymns” - Participatory worship
“With thankfulness” - Gratitude

Implications:

Mutual teaching - “Teaching and admonishing one another”
Reciprocal - Not just one person teaching
Participatory worship - All involved
Thankfulness - Gratitude in worship

5. Hebrews 10:24-25 - Mutual Exhortation

Hebrews 10:24-25:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Key Observations:

“Stir up one another” - Mutual encouragement
“Not neglecting to meet together” - Regular gathering
“Encouraging one another” - Mutual edification
“All the more” - Increasing importance

Note: While Hebrews authorship is debated, it’s traditionally attributed to Paul or his circle, and reflects Pauline theology.

Implications:

Mutual encouragement - “Stir up one another”
Regular gathering - “Not neglecting to meet together”
Mutual edification - “Encouraging one another”
Increasing importance - “All the more”

PART 3: PAUL’S BALANCE: ORDER AND PARTICIPATION

1. Participation is Encouraged

Evidence:

“Each one has” (1 Corinthians 14:26)
“Addressing one another” (Ephesians 5:19)
“Teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16)
“Stir up one another” (Hebrews 10:24)

Implication: Paul encourages participation from all members, not just leaders.

2. But Order is Required

Evidence:

“In turn,” “one by one” (1 Corinthians 14:27, 31)
“Two or three” (1 Corinthians 14:27, 29)
“Decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
“God is not a God of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Implication: Participation must be ordered, not chaotic. Structure is needed.

3. Purpose: Building Up

Evidence:

“Let all things be done for building up” (1 Corinthians 14:26)
“So that all may learn and all be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31)
“Stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24)

Implication: The purpose of participation is mutual edification, not self-expression.

4. Love is the Foundation

1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:13:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Implication: Love is the foundation of all meeting structure. Without love, participation means nothing.

PART 4: PAUL’S TEACHING ON UNITY AND MUTUAL CARE

1. Unity is Essential

1 Corinthians 1:10:

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 11:17-18:

“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you.”

Implication: Unity is essential. Divisions are wrong. Meeting structure must promote unity, not division.

2. Mutual Care is Required

1 Corinthians 11:21-22:

“For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?”

1 Corinthians 11:33:

“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.”

Implication: Mutual care is required. “Wait for one another” - care for others, not selfishness.

3. Consider Others

1 Corinthians 10:23-24:

“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

Philippians 2:3-4:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Implication: Consider others - not just your own interests, but others’ interests. Structure should enable mutual care.

PART 5: ANSWERING KEY QUESTIONS FROM PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE

Question 1: Should Lord’s Supper and Participatory Worship Be Integrated or Separated?

Paul’s Answer: AMBIGUOUS, BUT BOTH ARE IMPORTANT

Evidence:

1 Corinthians 11: “When you come together” - Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 14: “When you come together” - Participatory worship
Same phrase, but different focus
Acts 20:7: Teaching and breaking bread in same gathering

Implication: Paul doesn’t explicitly say they must be integrated or separated. Both are important:

Lord’s Supper - Remembrance, mutual care, unity
Participatory worship - Mutual edification, “each one has”

Application: Either integration or separation can work, as long as:

Love is maintained
Unity is preserved
Mutual care is practiced
Both remembrance and mutual edification happen

Question 2: How Much Participation is Appropriate?

Paul’s Answer: PARTICIPATION WITH ORDER

Evidence:

“Each one has” - Participation encouraged
“In turn,” “one by one” - Order required
“Two or three” - Limits are good
“Decently and in order” - Structure needed

Implication: Participation is good, but order is essential. Not chaos, but structured participation.

Application:

Encourage participation (“each one has”)
But maintain order (“in turn,” “one by one”)
Set limits (“two or three”)
Ensure building up (“for building up”)

Question 3: What About Extended Teaching?

Paul’s Answer: TEACHING IS GOOD, CAN BE EXTENDED

Evidence:

Acts 20:7: Paul talked until midnight
“Prolonged his speech”
“Talked still longer”
“Conversed with them a long while”

Implication: Extended teaching is valid. One person teaching for a long time is biblical.

Application:

Extended teaching is okay
But also allow participation (“each one has”)
Balance teaching with participation
Ensure building up

Question 4: How Do We Balance Reverence and Participation?

Paul’s Answer: BOTH ARE POSSIBLE

Evidence:

Lord’s Supper: Reverent, requires self-examination
But also: “Wait for one another” - mutual care
Participatory worship: “Each one has”
But also: “Decently and in order” - structure

Implication: Reverence and participation are not opposed. Can have both:

Reverent Lord’s Supper with mutual care
Participatory worship with order

Application:

Maintain reverence in Lord’s Supper
Allow participation in worship
But keep order and structure
Ensure building up

Question 5: What is Most Important?

Paul’s Answer: LOVE

Evidence:

1 Corinthians 13: “The greatest of these is love”
“Without love, I am nothing”
1 Corinthians 11: “Wait for one another” - mutual care
1 Corinthians 1: “No divisions” - unity

Implication: Love is most important. More important than:

Correct structure
Correct participation level
Correct teaching length
Being “right”

Application:

Love must guide all decisions
Unity must be preserved
Mutual care must be practiced
Structure serves love, not the other way around

PART 6: SUMMARY OF PAUL’S TEACHING

Key Principles

Love is the foundation - Without love, nothing else matters
Unity is essential - No divisions
Mutual care is required - “Wait for one another”
Remembrance is primary - “Do this in remembrance of me”
Participation is encouraged - “Each one has”
Order is required - “Decently and in order”
Building up is the purpose - “For building up”
Teaching is important - Can be extended
Self-examination is needed - Before Lord’s Supper
Consider others - Not just self-interest

Practical Applications

For Meeting Structure:

Must promote love and unity
Must enable mutual care
Must allow remembrance (Lord’s Supper)
Must enable mutual edification (participatory worship)
Must maintain order
Must build up the body

For Handling Disagreements:

Love is primary - More important than being “right”
Unity is essential - No divisions
Consider others - Not just self-interest
Mutual care - “Wait for one another”

For Participation:

Encourage participation - “Each one has”
But maintain order - “In turn,” “one by one”
Set limits - “Two or three”
Ensure building up - Purpose is edification

CONCLUSION: THE PAULINE TEST

For any meeting structure, ask:

“Does this align with Paul’s teaching?”

“Does it:

Promote love? (1 Corinthians 13)
Preserve unity? (1 Corinthians 1:10, 11:17-18)
Enable mutual care? (1 Corinthians 11:33)
Allow remembrance? (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Enable mutual edification? (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Maintain order? (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Build up the body? (1 Corinthians 14:26)

If not, it needs adjustment.

The ultimate test: Does this structure help us love one another, maintain unity, and build up the body?

If yes, it’s good. If no, it needs to change.

Remember: Paul’s teaching shows that love and unity are most important, more than correct structure. Structure serves love and unity, not the other way around.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” - Paul (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” - Paul (1 Corinthians 11:33)

“Let all things be done for building up.” - Paul (1 Corinthians 14:26)