In 1 Corinthians we read that God is not the author of confusion.

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion [akatastasia] but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Yet, regarding the tower of Babel, God confused the language of the people.

Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.
Gen 11:7  Come, let Us go down and there confuse [balal] their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.
Gen 11:9  Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused [balal] the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

How is it that God confused the languages, yet He is not the author of confusion?

Looking at the words in the original language can sometimes help, but in this case it doesn’t.  The Greek word translated confusion in 1 Corinthians is akatastasia, which means instability, disorder, disturbance, confusion.  The Hebrew word translated confuse is balal, which means mix, mingle, confuse, confound.  Regardless of how balal is translated, people suddenly not being able to understand each other certainly would have resulted in confusion. 

Moreover, there are other examples in Scripture where God intervened in ways to cause confusion.  Here are some of them.

The two angels who came to visit Lot blinded those trying to get into Lot’s house.  Although not stated explicitly, the sudden blindness would have resulted in confusion.

Gen 19:10  But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.
Gen 19:11  And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

When Gideon and his men blew the trumpets and shouted, God caused the Midianites to fight against each other in confusion.

Jdg 7:20  Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!”
Jdg 7:21  And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.
Jdg 7:22  When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

The examples of confusion cited so far were a result of God’s punishment or judgment.  But sometimes confusion can result where this is not the case.  A confusion with language happened on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages.

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5  And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

Considering these examples of God causing confusion, how can we understand 1 Corinthians 14:33?

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The words “the author” are in italics, meaning it has been added by the translators.  Indeed, some translations omit these words such as the LITV.

1Co 14:33  For God is not of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Adding the words “the author” changes the meaning significantly.

“For God is not of confusion, but of peace” is a statement about God’s nature or character.  God’s nature is characterised by peace – not confusion.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” is a statement about God’s role.  God causes peace – not confusion.

Ironically, adding the words “the author” creates confusion!  Leaving these additional words out resolves the confusion and the apparent contradiction.  God’s way of life, Who He is, His essence, His nature, is of peace, not confusion.  Sometimes God’s actions to achieve some objective might result in confusion; however, confusion is not God’s nature.

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 14:3 should be translated as “God is not of confusion, but of peace” without the addition of “the author”.  This then becomes a clear statement about God’s nature, rather than authorship of confusion.