1 Corinthians 14

Spiritual gifts and church order

1 Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy.2 This is because those who speak in a tongue don’t speak to people but to God; no one understands it—they speak mysteries by the Spirit.3 Those who prophesy speak to people, building them up, and giving them encouragement and comfort.4 People who speak in a tongue build up themselves; those who prophesy build up the church.5 I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I’d rather you could prophesy. Those who prophesy are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they are able to interpret them so that the church might be built up.6 After all, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation, some knowledge, a prophecy, or a teaching?7 Likewise, things that aren’t alive like a harp or a lyre can make a sound, but if there aren’t different notes in the sounds they make, how will the tune from the harp or the lyre be recognized?8 And if a trumpet call is unrecognizable, then who will prepare for battle?9 It’s the same way with you: If you don’t use language that is easy to understand when you speak in a tongue, then how will anyone understand what is said?10 It will be as if you are speaking into the air! There are probably many language families in the world, and none of them are without meaning.11 So if I don’t know the meaning of the language, then I will be like a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be like foreigners to me.

12 The same holds true for you: since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church.
13 Therefore, those who speak in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret.14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind isn’t productive.15 What should I do? I’ll pray in the Spirit, but I’ll pray with my mind too; I’ll sing a psalm in the Spirit, but I’ll sing the psalm with my mind too.16 After all, if you praise God in the Spirit, how will the people who aren’t trained in that language say "Amen!" to your thanksgiving, when they don’t know what you are saying?17 You may offer a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, but the other person is not being built up.18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

19 But in the church I’d rather speak five words in my right mind than speak thousands of words in a tongue so that I can teach others.
20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking.21 In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way ,t says the Lord.22 So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe.23 So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds?24 But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all.

25 The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you!
26 What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church.27 If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.28 However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God.29 In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said.30 And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet.31 You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets.33 God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people,34 the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says.

35 If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you?37 If anyone thinks that they are prophets or "spiritual people," then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command.38 If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized.39 So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues.

40 Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.t3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,t encouragement, and consolation.4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up,s but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

5 I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.
6 Now, brothers and sisters,t if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?7 It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?8 If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?9 It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.10 There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.11 If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit,t seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.14 Ifs I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.15 What should I do?t I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind.16 Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the giftt say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?17 For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you,

19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers and sisters,t do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.21 It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,”s says the Lord.22 So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.23 So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.

25 The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”

Church Order

26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters?t When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.27 If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.28 But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.29 Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.30 And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.31 For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.
As in all the churches of the saints,s34 the woment should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak.s Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.s

36 Did the word of God begin with you,t or did it come to you alone?
37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.39 So then, brothers and sisters,st be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.t

40 And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.