哥林多前書 14

說方言和作先知講道

1 你們要追求愛，也要切慕屬靈的恩賜，尤其是作先知講道t。 2 那說方言t的，不是對人說，而是對上帝說，因為沒有人聽得懂；他是藉著聖靈說各樣的奧祕。 3 但作先知講道的，是對人說，要造就、安慰、勸勉人。 4 說方言的，是造就自己；作先知講道的，是造就教會。 5 我希望你們都說方言，更希望你們作先知講道；因為說方言的，若不解釋出來，使教會得造就，那作先知講道的就比他強了。

6 弟兄們，我到你們那裏去，若只說方言，不用啟示，或知識，或預言，或教導，給你們講解，我對你們有甚麼益處呢？ 7 就連那有聲而沒有生命的東西，如簫，如琴，發出來的音若沒有分別，怎能知道所吹所彈的是甚麼呢？ 8 號角吹出來的音若不清楚，誰會預備打仗呢？ 9 你們也是如此；若用舌頭說聽不懂的信息，怎能知道所說的是甚麼呢？你們就是向空氣說話了。 10 世上有許多種語言，卻沒有一樣是無意思的。 11 我若不明白那語言的意思，說話的人必以我為未開化的人，我也以他為未開化的人。 12 你們也是如此，既然你們切慕屬靈的恩賜，就當追求多得造就教會的恩賜。

13 所以，那說方言的，就當祈求有翻方言的恩賜。 14 我若用方言禱告，是我的靈在禱告；但我的理智沒有效果。 15 我應該怎麼做呢？我要用靈禱告，也要用理智禱告；我要用靈歌唱，也要用理智歌唱。 16 不然，你用靈祝謝，那在座不通方言的人，既然不明白你的話，怎能在你感謝的時候說「阿們」呢？ 17 你的感謝固然是好，不過不能造就別人。 18 我感謝上帝，我說方言比你們眾人還多； 19 但在教會中，我寧可用理智說五句教導人的話，強過說萬句方言。

20 弟兄們，在心志上不要作小孩子。但是，在惡事上要作嬰孩，而在心志上總要作大人。 21 律法上記著：「主說： 我要用外邦人的舌頭 和外邦人的嘴唇 向這百姓說話； 雖然如此，他們還是不聽從我。」

22 這樣看來，說方言不是為信的人作標記，而是為不信的人；作先知講道不是為不信的人作標記，而是為信的人。 23 所以，全教會聚在一處的時候，若都說方言，偶然有不通方言的或是不信的人進來，豈不會說你們瘋了嗎？ 24 若個個都作先知講道，偶然有不信的或是不懂方言的人進來，就被眾人勸戒，被眾人審問， 25 他心裏的隱情被顯露出來，就必將臉伏地，敬拜上帝，宣告說：「上帝真的是在你們中間了。」

凡事都要按次序行

26 弟兄們，那麼，你們該怎麼做呢？你們聚會的時候，各人或有詩歌，或有教導，或有啟示，或有方言，或有翻出來，凡事都應當造就人。 27 若有說方言的，只可有兩個人，至多三個人，且要輪流著說，也要有一個人翻出來。 28 若沒有人翻，就當在會中閉口，只對自己和上帝說就是了。 29 至於作先知講道的，只可有兩個人或是三個人，其餘的人當慎思明辨。 30 假如旁邊坐著的得了啟示，那先說話的就當閉口不言。 31 因為你們都可以一個一個地作先知講道，使眾人都可以學習，使眾人都得勸勉。 32 先知的靈是順服先知的， 33 因為上帝不是叫人混亂，而是叫人和諧的上帝。 在聖徒的眾教會中，

34 婦女應該閉口不言；因為，不准她們說話，總要順服，正如律法所說的。 35 她們若要學甚麼，應該在家裏問自己的丈夫，因為婦女在會中說話是可恥的。 36 難道上帝的話是從你們出來的嗎？難道是單臨到你們的嗎？

37 若有人自以為是先知，或是屬靈的，就應該知道，我所寫給你們的是主的命令。 38 若有不理會的，你們也不必理會他。 39 所以，我的弟兄們，你們要切慕作先知講道的恩賜，不要禁止說方言。 40 凡事都要規規矩矩地按著次序行。

1 CORINTHIANS 14

Speaking Unknown Languages //and Prophesying

1 Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands.

3 But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4 By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church.

5 I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I prefer that you would prophesy. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6 My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp?

8 If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9 This is how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. 10 There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. 11 But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other.

12 If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13 When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. 14 For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless.

15 Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
16 Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”? 17 You may be worshiping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped. 18 I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you.

19 But words that make sense can help the church. This is why in church I would rather speak five words that make sense than to speak 10,000 words in a language that others don't know.
20 My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies.

21 t In the Scriptures the Lord says,
“I will use strangers
who speak unknown languages
to talk to my people.
They will speak to them
in foreign languages,
but still my people
won't listen to me.”
22 Languages others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers. 23 Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are crazy? 24 But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying.

25 They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”

Worship Must Be Orderly

26 My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That's how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means. 27 No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean.

28 If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.
29 Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully. 30 If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak. 31 Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged. 32 A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak.

33 God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order.
When God's people meet in church, 34 the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches.

35 If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.

36 God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.
37 If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know I am writing only what the Lord has commanded. 38 So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing. 39 My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know. 40 But do everything properly and in order.