1 Corinthians 14
14
1Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.#14:1. Literally, “prophesy,” but in the sense of telling the good news rather than foretelling the future. The terms “speaks God's message,” “God's prophetic message,” or “speaks for God” are used here. 2Those who speak in a tongue#14:2. This is clearly not the use of normal human language. There is much debate over this phenomenon. Clearly the early church was gifted with the ability to speak and be understood in different human languages as Acts 2 makes clear. However, some kind of “ecstatic utterance” appears to be in view here. Its practice in Corinth was being abused, and so Paul has to counteract the problem here. are not talking to people, but to God, because nobody can understand them as they speak mysteries in the Spirit. 3However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort. 4Those that speak in a tongue only build themselves up, but those who speak God's message build up the church. I would like it if you all spoke in tongues, but I'd prefer if you could speak God's message. 5Those who speak for God are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they interpret what's been said, so that the church can be built up.
6Brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what benefit would I be to you unless I bring you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophetic message, or teaching? 7Even when it comes to something non-living such as musical instruments like a flute or a harp—if they don't produce clear notes, how will you know what tune is being played? 8Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle? 9It's the same situation for you—unless you speak using words that are easy to understand, who will know what you're saying? What you say will be lost on the wind. 10There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them. 11If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.#14:11. Literally, I am a barbarian to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks is a barbarian to me. The very word “barbarian” comes from the idea that sounds being made make no sense—“baa-baa” etc. 12It's the same for you—if you are keen to have spiritual gifts, try to have many of those that will build up the church. 13Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say. 14For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
15So then, what should I do? I will pray “in the Spirit,” but I will pray with my mind too. I will sing “in the Spirit,” but I will sing with my mind too.#14:15. Paul here seems to be using the phraseology of some of those in Corinth who were proud of being “in the Spirit” as if that was superior to anything else. Paul points out that being “in the Spirit” is not helpful unless it produces understanding. 16For if you only pray “in the Spirit,” how can ordinary people that don't have understanding say “Amen” after your prayer of thanks, since they haven't a clue what you said? 17You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped! 18I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands. 20Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding. 21As Scripture records, “‘I will speak to my people through other languages and the lips of foreigners, but even then they won't listen to me,’ says the Lord.”#14:21. Quoting Isaiah 28:11-12.
22Speaking in tongues is a sign, not to believers, but those who don't believe. Speaking God's prophetic message is the opposite: it is not for those who don't believe, but for believers. 23If the whole church is meeting together and you are all speaking in tongues, and some people come in who don't understand, or people who don't believe, won't they say that you are insane? 24But if everyone is speaking God's message, and someone comes in who isn't a believer, or someone who doesn't understand, they will be convinced and called to account by everyone's words. 25Their secret thoughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees#14:25. Literally, “fall on his face.” and worship God, affirming that God is truly among you.
26So then, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, different people will sing, or teach, or share a special message, or speak in a tongue, or give an interpretation. But everything should be done to build up and encourage the church. 27If anyone wants to speak in a tongue, make it just two, or three at the most, taking turns, and someone should interpret what is said. 28If there's no one there to interpret, those who speak in tongues should keep quiet in church and only speak to themselves, and God. 29Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said. 30However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them. 31You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. 32It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration, 33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace and quiet.#14:33. This statement is to deal with the situation where people are claiming special revelation/inspiration and therefore wanting precedence—with the obvious arguments that would result. This is the way it should be in all the churches of God's people. 34“Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states. 35If they want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper#14:35. “Not proper.” By using this term (which also can mean shameful or disgraceful) Paul reveals this is related to the cultural context. for women to speak in church.”#14:35. The reason for placing 14:34-35 in quote marks is the understanding that this is the position outlined in the letter from Corinth, and Paul is quoting them before refuting their argument. The fact that just 3 chapters earlier in 11:5 Paul refers to women praying and prophesying indicates that this statement cannot be read as a blanket ban on women speaking in church. From the context it appears possible that women in the church at Corinth were questioning and arguing, being part of the disorder he mentions, and this suggested solution in the letter from the church at Corinth is what Paul is addressing here. 36What? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to? 37Anyone who thinks they are a prophet, or that they have some spiritual gift, should be aware that what I'm writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored. 39So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues. 40Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
1 Corinthians 14
14
Worship in a Way That Helps People Understand
1So follow the way of love, and be eager to have the gifts of the Spirit. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy. 2Anyone who speaks in an unknown language doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them, because what they say by the Spirit remains a mystery. 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people and makes them stronger, gives them hope, and comforts them. 4Those who speak in unknown languages build up only themselves. But the person who prophesies builds up the church. 5I’d like all of you to speak in unknown languages, but I’d rather have you prophesy. The person who prophesies is more helpful than the one who speaks in an unknown language, unless someone explains what they’re saying; then the whole church can be built up.
6Brothers and sisters, if I came to you and spoke in an unknown language, what good would that do? If I really wanted to help you, I’d come with a revelation or insight or prophecy or teaching. 7Think about a musical instrument such as a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless the notes are played distinctly. 8In the army, if the bugler didn’t play the call clearly, who would get ready for battle? 9It’s the same with you. You must speak words that people understand. If you don’t, no one will know what you’re saying. You’ll just be speaking into the air. 10It is true that there are all kinds of languages in the world and they all have meaning. 11But if I don’t understand what someone is saying, I’m a stranger to the person speaking, and that person is a stranger to me. 12It’s the same with you. Since you’re eager to have the gifts of the Spirit, do your best to use the gifts that build up the church.
13So anyone who speaks in an unknown language should pray that they’ll be able to explain what they say. 14If I pray in an unknown language, my spirit is praying, but my mind is idle. 15So what should I do? I’ll pray with my spirit, but I’ll also pray with my understanding. I’ll sing with my spirit, but I’ll also sing with my understanding. 16Otherwise, if you’re thanking God in the Spirit and there are visitors present who want to know what’s going on, how can they say “Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you’re saying. 17You might be giving thanks, but no one else is being built up.
18I thank God that I speak in unknown languages more than all of you. 19But in the church, I’d rather speak five words in a language people can understand, in order to teach them, than 10,000 words in an unfamiliar language.
20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. Be like babies as far as evil is concerned, but in your thinking, be like adults. 21In the law it is written,
“With unfamiliar languages
and through the lips of outsiders
I will speak to these people.
But even then they won’t listen to me.”
That is what the Lord says.
22So speaking in unknown languages is a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who do believe. But prophecy is for those who believe, not for those who don’t. 23Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in unknown languages. If visitors or unbelievers come in, won’t they say that you’re out of your minds? 24-25But if unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying, they’ll feel as if they’re being questioned; the secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open; and they’ll realize they’ve been doing wrong. Then they’ll fall down and worship God and exclaim, “God is really here among you!”
Proper Worship
26Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you should bring something—a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a message in another language, or an explanation of what was said in another language. Everything must be done to build up the church. 27No more than two or three people should speak in another language, and they should speak one at a time. Then someone must explain what was said. 28But if there’s no one to explain, they should keep quiet in the church and only speak to themselves and to God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate what they say. 30If a message comes from God to someone else who’s sitting there, the one who’s speaking should stop and let them speak. 31Those who prophesy should all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and encouraged. 32Prophets are able to control their own spirits. 33God is not a God of disorder; he’s a God of peace, as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.
34Women should remain silent in church meetings. They’re not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the law says. 35If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It’s not proper for women to speak in church meetings.
36Or did the word of God begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anyone thinks they’re a prophet or that they have other gifts from the Spirit, they should agree that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38But anyone who doesn’t recognize this will not be recognized.
39Brothers and sisters, you should be eager to prophesy, and you shouldn’t stop people from speaking in unknown languages. 40But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.
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