1 Corinthians 14: 1-33
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual
gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone
who speaks in a tongue g does not speak to men but to
God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries
with his spirit. h 3But everyone who prophesies
speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement
and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,
but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would
like every one of you to speak in tongues, i but I would
rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater
than one who speaks in tongues, i unless he interprets,
so that the church may be edified.
6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in
tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you
some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of
instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that
make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone
know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction
in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not
sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is
with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your
tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You
will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there
are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them
is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning
of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the
speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you.
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in
gifts that build up the church.
13For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if
I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,
but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my
spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are
praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds
himself among those who do not understand j say
“Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know
what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well
enough, but the other man is not edified.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of
you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible
words to instruct others than ten thousand
words in a tongue.
20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to
evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the
Law it is written:
“Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,” k
says the Lord.
22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for
unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for
unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together
and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand a or some unbelievers come in, will they not
say that you are out of your mind? 24But if an unbeliever
or someone who does not understand b comes in
while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by
all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25and the
secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down
and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among
you!”
Orderly Worship
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come
together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction,
a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of
these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most
three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must
interpret. 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should
keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others
should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation
comes to someone who is sitting down, the first
speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn
so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of
prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of
peace.