1 Corinthians 14

Desire Spiritual Gifts

1 You should seek after love, and you should truly want to have the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.2 I will explain why. Those who have the gift of speaking in different languages 3 But those who prophesy are speaking to people to give them strength, encouragement, and comfort.4 The ones who speak in different languages are helping only themselves, but those who prophesy are helping the whole church.

5 I wish all of you had the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, but more, I wish you would prophesy. Those who prophesy are greater than those who can only speak in different languages—unless someone is there who can explain what is said so that the whole church can be helped.
6 Brothers and sisters, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No! It will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some new knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching.7 It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If they do not make clear musical notes, you will not know what is being played.8 And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle?9 It is the same with you. Unless you speak clearly with your tongue, no one can understand what you are saying. You will be talking into the air!10 It may be true that there are all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning.11 But unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like foreigners to each other.

12 It is the same with you. Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger.
13 The one who has the gift of speaking in a different language should pray for the gift to interpret what is spoken.14 If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.15 So what should 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.16 If you praise God with your spirit, those persons there without understanding cannot say amen 

17 You may be thanking God in a good way, but the other person is not helped.
18 I thank God that I speak in different kinds of languages more than all of you.

19 But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words I understand in order to teach others than thousands of words in a different language.
20 Brothers and sisters, do not think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like adults.

21 It is written in the Scriptures:
“With people who use strange words and foreign languages I will speak to these people.
But even then they will not listen to me,” t
says the Lord.
22 So the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is a sign for those who do not believe, not for those who do believe. And prophecy is for people who believe, not for those who do not believe.23 Suppose the whole church meets together and everyone speaks in different languages. If some people come in who do not understand or do not believe, they will say you are crazy.24 But suppose everyone is prophesying and some people come in who do not believe or do not understand. If everyone is prophesying, their sin will be shown to them, and they will be judged by all that they hear.

25 The secret things in their hearts will be made known. So they will bow down and worship God saying, “Truly, God is with you.”

Meetings Should Help the Church

26 So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different language, 27 When you meet together, if anyone speaks in a different language, it should be only two, or not more than three, who speak. They should speak one after the other, and someone should interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, then those who speak in a different language should be quiet in the church meeting. They should speak only to themselves and to God.
29 Only two or three prophets should speak, and the others should judge what they say.30 If a message from God comes to another person who is sitting, the first speaker should stop.31 You can all prophesy one after the other. In this way all the people can be taught and encouraged.32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets themselves.

33 God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace.
As is true in all the churches of God’s people,34 women should keep quiet in the church meetings. They are not allowed to speak, but they must yield to this rule as the law says.35 If they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.

36 Did God’s teaching come from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it has come?
37 Those who think they are prophets or spiritual persons should understand that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.38 Those who ignore this will be ignored by God. 39 So my brothers and sisters, you should truly want to prophesy. But do not stop people from using the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages.40 But let everything be done in a right and orderly way.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.2 For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.4 He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.5 Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.6 But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?9 So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.11 If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.16 Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.18 I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:19 howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.20 Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.21 In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.23 If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.26 What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.27 If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:28 but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.29 And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.30 But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.31 For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.36 What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?37 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.39 Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.40 But let all things be done decently and in order.