This was a very popular set of books in its day. Farrar's remarks should have shook the world. But instead, they didn't seem to register on the radar screen. Same ole, same ole.

THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, With Expostition by FW Farrar, Volume 19 CORINTHIANS Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan pp 463, 464.

Vers. 29-33 of Chapter 14. Paul's idea of the Christian Church in assembly. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judges etc. From these words we may infer that Paul considered I. That the Christian Church in assembly, on the SAME OCCASION, MIGHT HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THEM. - Let the prophets [or, teachers] speak two or three. For ye may all prophesy one by one. li this he so: 1. Should Christian teaching be regarded as a profession? It is so now: men are brought up to it, trained for it, and live by it, as architects, lawyers, doctors. Surely preaching the gospel should no more be regarded as a profession than the talk of loving parents to their children. 2. Is the Church justified in confining its attention to the ministry of one man? In most modern congregations there are some Christian men who, by natural ability, by experimental knowledge and inspiration, are far more qualified to instruct and comfort the people than their professional and stated minister. Surely official preaching has no authority, either in Scripture, reason, or experience, and it must come to an end sooner or later. Every Christian man should be a preacher. Were the half-hour allotted in Church services for the sermon to be occupied by three or four Christly men, thoughtful and reverent, with the capability of expression withal, it would not only be far more interesting, but more profitably spent than now.

II. That the Christian Church in assembly might ALLOW ONE OF ITS GODLY MEN TO RISE AND SPEAK ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE MOMENT. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. This does not mean, I presume, that the one who is speaking is to be interrupted, but that after he has delivered his message another, if he felt truly inspired to do so, might rise and address the audience. May it not be that under every discourse there might be some one or more in the audience so divinely excited with a rush of holy thought, that he craves for an utterance, not for his own sake, but for the sake of others; and why should he not have the opportunity? What an interest such an event would add to a religious service!

III. That the Christian Church in assembly SHOULD SUBMIT THE UTTERANCES OF ITS TEACHERS TO A DEVOUT CRITICAL JUDGMENT. Let the other judge, or, as the New Version has it, Let the others discern [or, discriminate]. The people were not to accept as a matter of course all that the prophets or teachers spake to them; for even were they inspired, they were not infallible. They were to act as it is said the Bereans did, who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so. Ah me! if congregations were so to act, there would soon come an end to the crudities, the assumptions, and the dogmas of modern pulpits.

IV. That the Christian Church in assembly SHOULD IN ALL ITS SERVICES MAINTAIN ORDER. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the saints. It is a characteristic of a true teacher that, however full of inspiration, he can so master his impulses as to prevent confusion. This should always be done, for God, is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Notwithstanding all the liberty of teaching, all the enthusiasm of the new life, where Christianity reigns there will be no disorder; all will be peace. There is an order in dead mechanism, and there is order, too, in the roar of ocean and in the thunderstorm. All that is Divine is under law.

<<That the Christian Church in assembly, on the SAME OCCASION, MIGHT
HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THEM...>>

A big amen to this!

1 Cor. 14 is really a marvelous chapter. In verse 26 Paul says "Whenever you come together, each one has...". Then in v. 31 he says "you can all
prophesy one by one".

It seems in a healthy church meeting, that everyone should come with something, and everyone should have the opportunity to share it.

Paul had a view to the Body and to what would build up the Body. "Let all things be done for building up"... "He who prophesies speaks
building up and encouragement"... "He who prophesies builds up the church". "I desire...especially that you would prophesy".

It's pretty clear that prophesying here is not to predict the future, but to speak words that build up the Body of Christ.

No doubt, as a gifted member given to the Body, Paul carried out his work to help equip and perfect the saints, so that when the church came together the saints would be able to function in a profitable way.

In a ministry meeting it is quite permissible for a gifted member to do most of the speaking. After all, it's his meeting, and whoever wants to come and get the help can come. But that's something particular, a kind
of "classroom". It's not a church meeting.

The way of "one man speaking" is definitely NOT the way of the church meetings in the Bible.

But rather, we can all prophesy...one by one!