1 Corinthians 14
14
Tongues and Prophecy
1#1Co 12:1; 14:39Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2#1Co 13:2; Mk 16:17For he who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men, but to God. For no one understands him, although in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. 3#Ro 14:19; 1Co 14:12But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification and exhortation and comfort. 4#Mk 16:17; 1Co 14:3He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5#1Co 12:10; Mk 16:17I desire that you all speak in tongues, but even more that you prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
6#Eph 1:17; Ro 6:17Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you by revelation or knowledge or prophesying or doctrine? 7Even when things without life give sound, whether flute or harp, how will it be known what is played unless they give a distinction in the sounds? 8#Nu 10:9; Jer 4:19If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle? 9#1Co 9:26So also you, unless with the tongue you speak words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you shall speak into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11#Ac 28:2Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the speech, I shall be a barbarian to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12#1Co 14:26So, seeing that you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
13Let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14#1Co 14:2For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15#Col 3:16; Ps 47:7What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding. 16#1Ch 16:36; Ps 106:48Otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the unlearned say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say? 17#1Co 14:4For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all. 19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20#Ro 16:19; Ps 119:99Brothers, do not be children in your thinking; rather be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21#Jn 10:34; Isa 28:11–12In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues
and other lips
I will speak to this people;
but even then they will not hear Me,”#Isa 28:11–12.
says the Lord.
22#Mk 16:17So tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophesying does not serve unbelievers, but believers. 23#Ac 2:13Therefore if the whole church assembles in one place and all speak with tongues, and those who are unlearned or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy and there comes in one who does not believe or one unlearned, he is convinced by all and judged by all. 25#Isa 45:14; Zec 8:23Thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. And so falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
All Things to Be Done in Order
26#Ro 14:19; 1Co 12:7–10How is it then, brothers? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, and an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him remain silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29#1Co 12:10Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30#1Th 5:19–20If anything is revealed to another that sits by, let the first keep silent. 31For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32#1Jn 4:1The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33#1Co 7:17; 4:17For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34#1Ti 2:11–12; Ge 3:16Let your women remain silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak. They are commanded to be under obedience, as the law also says. 35If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36What? Did the word of God come from you? Or did it come to you only? 37#2Co 10:7; 1Jn 4:6If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is a command of the Lord. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39#1Co 12:31; 14:1Therefore, brothers, eagerly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40#Col 2:5Let all things be done decently and in order.
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Military Bible Association
1 Corinthians 14
14
Tongues and Prophecy
1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,#14:2a Or in unknown languages; also in 14:4, 5, 13, 14, 18, 22, 26, 27, 28, 39. you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,#14:2b Or speaking in your spirit. but it will all be mysterious. 3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
6Dear brothers and sisters,#14:6a Greek brothers; also in 14:20, 26, 39. if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,#14:6b Or in tongues; also in 14:19, 23. how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
9It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
13So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,#14:15 Or in the Spirit; also in 14:15b, 16. and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21It is written in the Scriptures#14:21a Greek in the law.:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”#14:21b Isa 28:11-12.
says the Lord.
22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
A Call to Orderly Worship
26Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
27No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
29Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.#14:33 The phrase as in all the meetings of God’s holy people could instead be joined to the beginning of 14:34.
34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.#14:35 Some manuscripts place verses 34-35 after 14:40.
36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? 37If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. 38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.#14:38 Some manuscripts read If you are ignorant of this, stay in your ignorance.
39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. 40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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