1 Corinthians 14
14
1FOLLOW after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.
2For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
5And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?
7Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.
10There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.
11If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.
12So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.
13And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.
15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.
16Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.
17For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.
19But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.
21In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.
22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.
23If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.
25The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.
26How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.
27If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.
28But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.
29And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.
30But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.
31For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches of the saints.
34Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.
35But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
36Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?
37If any seem to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.
38But if any man know not, he shall not be known.
39Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40But let all things be done decently, and according to order.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
1 Corinthians 14
14
Prophecy and Tongues
1 # ch. 16:14 Pursue love, and #ch. 12:31 earnestly desire the #ch. 12:1 spiritual gifts, especially that you may #See ch. 11:4; 13:2prophesy. 2For #ver. 18-23, 27, 28one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but #[Num. 11:29]even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6Now, brothers,#14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39 if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some #ver. 26; Eph. 1:17 revelation or knowledge or prophecy or #ver. 26; Acts 2:42; Rom. 6:17teaching? 7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8And #[Num. 10:9; Isa. 58:1; Jer. 4:19; Ezek. 33:3-6; Joel 2:1]if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be #[ch. 9:26]speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be #See Acts 28:2a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; #[Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; James 5:13] I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will #Ps. 47:7sing with my mind also. 16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider#14:16 Or of him that is without gifts say #1 Chr. 16:36; Neh. 5:13; 8:6; Ps. 106:48; Jer. 11:5; 28:6; Rev. 5:14; 7:12; 19:4; [2 Cor. 1:20] “Amen” to #ch. 11:24your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, #Eph. 4:14; Heb. 5:12, 13 do not be children in your thinking. #[Ps. 131:2; Isa. 28:9; Rom. 16:19]; See Matt. 18:3 Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be #ch. 2:6mature. 21#See John 10:34 In the Law it is written, #Cited from Isa. 28:11, 12; [Deut. 28:49]“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign#14:22 Greek lacks a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, #[Acts 2:13]will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25#[Heb. 4:12] the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, #Luke 17:16 falling on his face, he will worship God and #Isa. 45:14; Zech. 8:23declare that God is really among you.
Orderly Worship
26What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has #Eph. 5:19 a hymn, #See ver. 6 a lesson, #See ver. 6 a revelation, #ver. 18 a tongue, or #ver. 5, 13, 27, 28; ch. 12:10, 30 an interpretation. #2 Cor. 12:19; 13:10; [ch. 12:7]Let all things be done for building up. 27If any speak in #[See ver. 26 above]a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others #[ch. 12:10; Job 12:11; 1 John 4:1]weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, #[1 Thess. 5:19, 20]let the first be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of #[ver. 40] confusion but of peace.
As in #See ch. 7:17all the churches of the saints, 34#[1 Tim. 2:11, 12] the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but #See 1 Pet. 3:1 should be in submission, as #[ver. 21]the Law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37#[2 Cor. 10:7; 1 John 4:6]If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39So, my brothers, #ch. 12:31earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40#[ver. 31, 33] But all things should be done decently and #Col. 2:5in order.
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