The “Command of the Lord” in 1 Cor 14,37 45 Spirit for the benefit of the whole congregation (“for the common good”); this common benefit is the purpose of the spiritual gifts Paul is talking about in chapters 12–14. Paul mentions this purpose again in 12,25: the members of the church shall show “care for one another”. In chapter 14, this purpose is expressed by the mutual “upbuilding” of the church (vv. 3-5.12.17) and the mutual “benefit” (v. 6), now in relation to the congregational meeting: whatever happens there has to contribute to the benefit and the upbuilding of the church. The way spiritual gifts are exercised as well as the higher or lesser value of individual gifts has to be measured by this standard. Among the “greater” gifts which the Corinthians are to seek (12,31a) are the interpretation of tongues (14,5.12) and prophecy (14,1.5.12.39), because these build up the church, whereas tongues without interpretation do not serve this purpose, but build up only the speakers themselves. According to some commentators, “to build up” in chapter 14 denotes edifying speech, since “upbuilding” is paralleled to “encouragement” and “consolation” in 14,3. Furthermore, the reason prophecy, (words of) reve- lation, (words of) knowledge, teaching and interpreted tongues are “edifying” is that they are ways of understandable speech which addresses the mind (vv. 3.6.9.15-16.19.24). But this does not mean that for Paul only these gifts of speech serve for “edification”, and not also the practical sprititual gifts(18). Paul’s concentration on gifts of speech in chapter 14 has to do with the situation in Corinth with which he is dealing: the Corinthian Christians overemphasise the gift of tongues in congregational meetings because they misunderstand the true purpose of worship. Paul opposes their misjudgement by emphasising mutual “upbuilding” as the purpose of everything that happens in communal worship. In church meetings it is mainly gifts of speech that are exercised (cf. 1 Cor 14,26), and therefore in chapter 14 Paul addresses only them, whereas the practical gifts are exercised more in the everyday life of the church. Elsewhere Paul uses the language of “upbuilding” in con- nection with everyday situations like the tensions between the strong and the weak and the problem of food offered to idols (Rom 14,19; 15,2; 1 Cor 8,1; 10,23). Here the issue is offending others by behaviour, not so much by speech. It follows that we cannot limit “upbuilding” to speech although mutual “encouragement” is an important means of upbuilding the church. Rather, for Paul “upbuilding” should characterise all Christian action and speech. “Upbuilding” is therefore synonymous with other words which characterise Christian behaviour in a general way (19): benefitting others (sumfevrein 6,12; 10,23; 12,7, wjfelei'n 14,6) and seeking the good of others (10,24). According to Rom 14,17 – 15,2, that which builds up is ethically “good”, that which does not is ethically “evil”, and “building up” is further characterised by serving one another, carrying one another’s burdens and pleasing one another, not oneself. Finally, according to 1 Cor 8,1 (18) Like healing, miracles, faith, leadership, helping, serving, giving and practical compassion (1 Cor 12,9-10; 13,2-3; Rom 12,7-8). That in early Christian teaching an explicit distinction could be made between gifts of speech and practical gifts is shown by 1 Pet 4,11. (19) See I. KITZBERGER, Bau der Gemeinde. Das paulinische Wortfeld oijkodomhv / (ejp)oikodomein (FZB 53; Würzburg 1986). '