1 Corinthians 14
14
Orderly Governing of the Gifts
1Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God—for no one understands, but in the Ruach he speaks mysteries.
3But one who prophesies speaks to people for building up, urging on, and uplifting.
4One who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but one who prophesies builds up the community.
5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues—unless he interprets, so that the community may be built up.
6But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you—unless I speak to you by way of revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7It is the same for lifeless things that make a sound—like a flute or a harp. If they make no distinction in the tones, how will what is played be recognized?
8For if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9So also with you with your tongue—unless you utter speech that is intelligible, how will what is spoken be understood? For you will be talking to the wind!
10It may be that there are many kinds of languages in the world—and none without meaning.
11If then I do not understand the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
12Likewise with you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, keep trying to excel for the building up of the community.
13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15What is it then? I will pray in my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, and I will also sing praises with my mind.
16Otherwise if you give thanks and praise in the spirit, how will one filling the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he has no idea what you’re saying?
17For you certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19However, in Messiah’s community I would rather speak five words with my mind, so I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers and sisters, stop being children in your thinking—rather, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
21In the Prophets it is written, “By those with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. And not even then will they listen to me,” says Adonai.
22Therefore tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers—but prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
23So if Messiah’s whole community comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and uninstructed or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
24But if all are prophesying and some unbelieving or ungifted person comes in, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all.
25The secrets of his heart become known, and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring, “God really is among you!”
26What is it then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27If someone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.
28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the community but speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others evaluate.
30But if something is revealed to another sitting nearby, let the first one become silent.
31For you can all prophesy one by one, so all may learn and be encouraged.
32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33for God is not a God of confusion, but shalom. As in all the communities of the kedoshim,
34let women keep silent in the communities, for it is not permitted for them to speak out. Rather let them be in order, as the Torah also says.
35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home—for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak out in the community.
36Did the word of God originate with you? Or did it reach you alone?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.
38But if someone does not recognize it, he is not recognized.
39Therefore, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40But let everything be done decently and in order.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
1 Corinthians 14
14
Worship in a Way That Helps People Understand
1Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy. 2Anyone who speaks in a language they had not known before doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them. What they say by the Spirit remains a mystery. 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people. That person prophesies to make people stronger, to give them hope, and to comfort them. 4Anyone who speaks in other languages builds up only themselves. But the person who prophesies builds up the church. 5I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. The person who prophesies is more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if someone explains what was said in the other languages. Then the whole church can be built up.
6Brothers and sisters, suppose I were to come to you and speak in other languages. What good would I be to you? None! I would need to come with new truth or knowledge. Or I would need to come with a prophecy or a teaching. 7Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played. 8Also, if the trumpet call isn’t clear, who will 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 are saying. You will 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 am a stranger to the person speaking. And that person is a stranger to me. 12It’s the same with you. You want the gifts of the Spirit. So try to do your best in using gifts that build up the church.
13So here is what the person who speaks in languages they had not known before should do. They should pray that they can explain what they say. 14If I pray in another language, my spirit prays. But my mind does not pray. 15So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit. But I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with my spirit. But I will also sing with my understanding. 16Suppose you are praising God in the Spirit. And suppose there are visitors among you who want to know what’s going on. How can they say “Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you are saying. 17You are certainly giving thanks. But no one else is being built up.
18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you do. 19In the church, I wouldn’t want to speak 10,000 words in an unfamiliar language. I’d rather speak five words in a language people could understand. Then I would be teaching others.
20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. Be like babies as far as evil is concerned. But be grown up in your thinking. 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 will not listen to me.” (Isaiah 28:11,12)
That is what the Lord says.
22So speaking in other languages is a sign for those who don’t believe. It is not a sign for those who do believe. But prophecy is not for those who don’t believe. It is for those who believe. 23Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won’t they say you are out of your minds? 24But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will feel guilty about their sin. They will be judged by all. 25The secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open. They will fall down and worship God. They will exclaim, “God is really here among you!”
Proper Worship
26Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that 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. 28If there is no one to explain, the person speaking should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.
29Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true. 30What if a message from God comes to someone else who is sitting there? Then the one who is speaking should stop. 31Those who prophesy can all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and be given hope. 32Those who prophesy should control their speaking. 33God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace, just as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.
34Women should remain silent in church meetings. They are 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 is shameful 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? 37Suppose anyone thinks they are a prophet. Or suppose they think they have other gifts given by the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38But anyone who does not recognize this will not be recognized.
39Brothers and sisters, you should want to prophesy. And don’t stop people from speaking in languages they had not known before. 40But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.
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