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
Speaking unknown languages and prophesying
1Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands. 3But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church. 5I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I would rather you prophesied. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp? 8If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9That's how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. 10There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. 11But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other. 12If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. 14For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless. 15Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
16Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”? 17You may be worshipping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped. 18I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you. 19But words that make sense can help the church. That's why in church I had rather speak five words that make sense than to speak ten thousand words in a language that others don't know.
20My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies. 21In the Scriptures the Lord says,#Is 28.11,12.
“I will use strangers
who speak unknown languages
to talk to my people.
They will speak to them
in foreign languages,
but still my people
won't listen to me.”
22Languages that others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers. 23Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are mad? 24But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying. 25They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”
Worship must be orderly
26My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That's how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means. 27No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean. 28If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.
29Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully. 30If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak. 31Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged. 32A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak. 33God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order.
When God's people meet in church, 34the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches. 35If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church. 36God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.
37If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded. 38So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing. 39My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know. 40But do everything properly and in order.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012