1 Corinthians 14
14
Prophecy: A Superior Gift
1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2For the person who speaks in a tongue#14:2 Or another language, also in vv. 4,13,14,19,26,27#1Co 12:10 is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.#14:2 Or in spirit, or in his spirit 3On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,#14:3 Lit building up encouragement, and consolation. 4The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5I wish all of you spoke in tongues,#14:5 Or other languages, also in vv. 6,18,21,22,23,39 but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.
6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation#1Pt 4:13 or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds — whether flute or harp#Rv 5:8; 14:2; 15:2 — if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?#Nm 10:9; Is 58:1; Jr 4:19; Ezk 33:3–6; Jl 2:1 9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner#14:11 Gk barbaros, or barbarian to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12So also you — since you are zealous#Nm 25:13; Gl 1:14 for spiritual gifts,#14:12 Lit zealous of spirits#Ps 51:11; Lk 11:34; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; 1Jn 4:1; Rv 3:22 seek to excel in building up the church.
13Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit#Ps 51:12 prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.#Gl 5:22; Ti 3:14 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,#14:16 Or praise by the Spirit how will the outsider#14:16 Lit the one filling the place of the uninformed say “Amen”#Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21 at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18I thank#Rm 1:8 God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words#Mt 12:37 with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.#Ps 131:2; Is 28:9; Mt 18:3; Rm 16:19; Eph 4:14; Heb 5:12–13 21It is written in the law,
I will speak to this people
by people of other tongues
and by the lips of foreigners,
and even then, they will not listen to me, # 14:21 Is 28:11–12 #
Is 28:11–12
says the Lord. 22Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. 25The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”#Is 45:14; Zch 8:23
Order in Church Meetings
26What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one#14:26 Other mss add of you has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.#1Co 12:10 Everything is to be done for building up. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.#1Jn 4:1 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.#Lk 16:25 32And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints,#Eph 6:18 34the women#14:34 Other mss read your women should be silent in the churches,#1Tm 2:11–12; 1Pt 3:1 for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands#Mt 1:19; 1Pt 3:1 at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.#14:38 Other mss read he should be ignored 39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager#Nm 25:13; Gl 4:17 to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything is to be done decently#Rm 13:13 and in order.
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1 Corinthians 14: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Qorintiyim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 14
14
1Pursue love, and earnestly seek the spiritual gifts, but rather that you prophesy.
2For he who is speaking in a tongue does not speak to men but to Elohim, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks secrets.
3But he who is prophesying speaks upbuilding and encouragement and comfort to men.
4He who is speaking in a tongue builds up himself, but he who is prophesying builds up the assembly.
5Now I wish you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you might prophesy, for he who is prophesying is greater than he who is speaking with tongues, unless he interprets, so that the assembly might receive upbuilding.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by teaching?
7Nevertheless, lifeless instruments making a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not make a distinction in the sound, how shall it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
8For indeed, if the trumpet makes an indistinct sound, who shall prepare himself for battle?
9So also you, if you do not give speech by the tongue that is clear, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you shall be speaking into the air.
10There are, undoubtedly, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without distinct sound.
11If then I do not know the power of the voice, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks be a foreigner to me.
12So also you, since you are ardent for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in the upbuilding of the assembly.
13Therefore, he who is speaking in a tongue, let him pray that he might interpret.
14For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but my understanding is without fruit.
15What then is it? I shall pray with the spirit, and I shall also pray with the understanding. I shall sing with the spirit, and I shall also sing with the understanding.
16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills up the place of the unlearned say “Amĕn” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say?
17For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up.
18I thank my Elohim I speak with tongues more than you all,
19but in an assembly I wish to speak five words with my understanding that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking, but in evil be babes, and in your thinking be perfect.
21In the Torah it has been written, “With men of other tongues and other lips I shall speak to this people. And even so, they shall not hear Me, says יהוה.”# Isa. 28:11
22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers, and prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23If then all the assembly comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are unlearned or unbelievers, shall they not say that you are mad?
24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an unlearned one comes in, he is reproved by all, he is discerned by all.
25And so the secrets of his heart are revealed. And so, falling down on his face, he shall worship Elohim, declaring that Elohim is truly among you.
26What then is it, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all be done for upbuilding.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
28And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to Elohim.
29And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern.
30And if there should be a revelation to another who sits by, let the first be silent.
31For you are all able to prophesy one by one, so that all learn and all be encouraged.
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33For Elohim is not Elohim of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the set-apart ones.
34Let your women be silent in the assemblies, for they are not allowed to speak, but let them subject themselves, as the Torah also says.#See Gen. 3:16
35And if they wish to learn whatever, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in an assembly.
36Or did the word of Elohim go out from you? Or did it reach only to you?
37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that they are a command of the Master.
38And if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39So, then, brothers, earnestly seek to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40Let all be done decently and in order.
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