1 Corinthians 14
14
Appropriate Use of Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit#Or “in the Spirit”; or “in his spirit” he speaks mysteries. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching? 7Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre? 8For indeed, if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? 9And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are probably so many kinds of languages in the world, and none without meaning. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a barbarian to the one who is speaking, and the one who is speaking will be a barbarian in my judgment. 12In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.
13Therefore the one who speaks in a tongue must pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. 15Therefore what should I do#Literally “what therefore is it”? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind. 16For otherwise, if you praise in your spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the outsider say the “amen” at your thanksgiving, because he does not know what you are saying? 17For indeed you are giving thanks well, but the other person is not edified. 18I give thanks to God that I speak with tongues more than all of you, 19but in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind, in order that I may instruct other people, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in your understanding be mature. 21In the law it is written:
“By those who speak a foreign language
and by the lips of others
I will speak to this people,
and not even in this way will they obey me,”#A quotation from Isa 28:11–12
says the Lord. 22So then, tongues are for a sign not to those who believe, but to unbelievers, but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23Therefore, if the whole church comes together at the same time and all speak with tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all, 25the secret things of his heart become evident, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
Specific Instructions for Orderly Worship Services
26Therefore what should you do#Literally “what therefore is it”, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be on one occasion two or at most three, and one after the other#Literally “in turn”, and one must interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, he must be silent in the church, but let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and the others evaluate. 30And if something is revealed to another who is seated, the first must be silent. 31For you are all able to prophesy in turn#Literally “one at a time, in order that all may learn and all may be encouraged, 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34the women must be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be in submission, just as the law also says. 35But if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36Or has the word of God gone out from you, or has it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual,#Or “or one who possesses the Spirit” he should recognize that the things which I am writing to you are of the Lord.#Some manuscripts have “are a command of the Lord” 38But if anyone ignores this, he is ignored.#Or “if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant” 39So then, my brothers, desire to prophesy, and do not prevent speaking with tongues. 40But let all things be done decently and according to proper procedure.
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1 Corinthians 14
14
1Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6But now, brothers,#14:6 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? 7Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? 8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 9So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say? 17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 19However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 21In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”#Isaiah 28:11-12 22Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe. 23If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? 24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 27If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. 30But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 31For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted. 32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. 34Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,#Deuteronomy 27:9 35if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.” 36What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
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