Desire spiritual gifts that edify: A text-generated persuasion of 1 Corinthians 14:1–40

Abstract

Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthian church details the various problems it faced, with the primary issue in 1 Corinthians 14 being the use of spiritual gifts. Churches today are not free from similar issues, making Paul’s letter particularly relevant, especially regarding spiritual gifts. This article interprets 1 Corinthians 14:1–40, focusing on Paul’s persuasion of the Corinthians towards proper use of spiritual gifts. The interpretation employs a text-centred rhetorical approach called ‘text-generated persuasion-interpretation’ (TGPI), which avoids imposing a predefined rhetorical model, whether ancient or contemporary. Following Tolmie and Snyman’s framework, the study identifies the dominant rhetorical strategy in each pericope and examines how Paul uses rhetorical techniques to enhance his communication’s effectiveness. The article highlights Paul’s rhetorical objectives in 1 Corinthians 14:1–40 and how he achieves them. Specifically, it addresses two key questions: (1) How can the author’s primary rhetorical objective be described? (2) How does the author achieve this objective? The conclusion asserts that Paul’s rhetorical strategies in 1 Corinthians 14 effectively guide churches towards proper use of spiritual gifts, making his teachings relevant to contemporary church issues.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Reading 1 Corinthians through rhetorical criticism is common, although there is no consensus on approach. This article, allowing the text to speak for itself, aims to enhance understanding of Pauline rhetoric, its application to modern church practices, and New Testament scholarship. Using the TGPI method, it integrates classical rhetorical criticism and socio-historical aspects to offer a fresh perspective on the chapter, making Paul’s teachings more relevant to contemporary audiences.