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
Speak in Ways That Can Be Understood
1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed. 2When a person speaks in another language, he doesn’t speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries. 3But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them. 4When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow. 5I wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow. 6Brothers and sisters, it wouldn’t do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you.
7Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? 8For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9In the same way, if you don’t speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you’re saying? You will be talking into thin air.
10No matter how many different languages there are in the world, not one of them is without meaning. 11If I don’t know what a language means, I will be a foreigner to the person who speaks it and that person will be a foreigner to me. 12In the same way, since you’re eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow. 13So the person who speaks in another language should pray for an interpretation of what he says.
14If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive. 15So what does this mean? It means that I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, and I will sing psalms with my mind. 16Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can outsiders say “Amen!” to your prayer of thanksgiving? They don’t know what you’re saying. 17Your prayer of thanksgiving may be very good, but it doesn’t help other people grow. 18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than any of you. 19Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language.
20Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people. 21God’s word says,
“Through people who speak foreign languages
and through the mouths of foreigners
I will speak to these people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”
22So the gift of speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers. The gift of speaking what God has revealed is a sign for believers, not for unbelievers. 23Suppose the whole congregation gathers in the same place and you speak in other languages. When outsiders or unbelievers come in, won’t they say that you’re out of your mind? 24Now suppose you speak what God has revealed. When unbelievers or outsiders come in you will show them where they are wrong and convince them that they are sinners. 25The secrets in their hearts will become known, and in this way they will quickly bow with their faces touching the ground, worship God, and confess that God is truly among you.
Maintain Order in Your Worship Services
26So what does this mean, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each person has a psalm, doctrine, revelation, another language, or an interpretation. Everything must be done to help each other grow. 27If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says. 28But if an interpreter isn’t present, those people should remain silent in church. They should only speak to themselves and to God.
29Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong. 30If God reveals something to another person who is seated, the first speaker should be silent. 31All of you can take your turns speaking what God has revealed. In that way, everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32People who speak what God has revealed must control themselves. 33God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace.
As in all the churches of God’s holy people, 34the women must keep silent. They don’t have the right to speak. They must take their place as Moses’ Teachings say. 35If they want to know anything they should ask their husbands at home. It’s shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36Did God’s word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?
37Whoever thinks that he speaks for God or that he is spiritually gifted must acknowledge that what I write to you is what the Lord commands. 38But whoever ignores what I write should be ignored.
39So, brothers and sisters, desire to speak what God has revealed, and don’t keep anyone from speaking in other languages. 40Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.
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