How to Promote Peace

God's Design for a Peaceful Church

The apostle Paul caps his discussion on spiritual gifts, particularly tongues, by emphasizing how to promote a peaceful church. Peaceful church is the environment where unity and maturity grow. Paul corrects the Corinthians' misuse of tongues because it revealed their immaturity and disunity—major themes throughout 1 Corinthians.

Their abusive overuse of tongues created confusion and unintelligibility, hindering the clarity of Scripture as proclaimed by prophets, apostles, and teachers. Proper use of gifts has a context and purpose; once fulfilled, they cease, replaced by love (1 Corinthians 13). Without love, gifts are meaningless.

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Paul instructs on three primary ways to promote this peace: a church at rest, content, satisfied, and in harmony with God.

1. Avoid Confusion with Silent Women in Context

Women should keep silent in the churches. 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 14:34-35

This silence is contextual, not absolute. It applies to the corporate gathering during the proclamation of God's revealed will—prophecy and teaching. Just as tongue-speakers without interpreters must be silent, and only a few may prophesy at a time, the entire congregation, including women, remains silent except those actively teaching.

This is not unique to Corinth: "as in all the churches of the saints." Paul echoes this in 1 Timothy: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man." It concerns authoritative teaching in the worship service, reserved for men.

Women like Priscilla instructed Apollos privately with her husband, not publicly. Submission appeals to creation order—Adam first, then Eve as helper. Married women learn from husbands at home; singles study independently or under family headship.

Disordered marriages disrupt church peace. Hierarchical order in marriage precedes and impacts church order. This is not devaluing women but detailing God's structure for church function.

2. Secure Peace with a Structured Way

Confusion is avoided with structure. Tongues, even legitimate, require interpreters and limits (only three speakers). Prophecy is prioritized for edification.

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things that I am writing to you are the commandments of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

1 Corinthians 14:37-38

God establishes how His church functions: built on apostles, prophets, and teachers (Ephesians 2). Jesus builds His church. Deviating builds with wood, hay, and straw (1 Corinthians 3), hindering growth.

The Corinthians' chaos—schisms, immaturity, open sin—stemmed from ignoring structure. God gives increase where faithful planting and watering occur in His ordained means.

3. Promote Peace through Studious Work

Structure frees the church for learning God's word. Hindering practices must cease. Women's silence in teaching liberates them to learn, equipping them thoroughly.

Every member participates in God-given roles. The foot is indispensable, like every part of the body. No one demands to be a hand; improper roles hinder the whole.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Churches thrive when members study diligently in structured environments, fostering peace, order, growth, and unity.