1 Corinthians 14:12-16
Amplified Bible
12 So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says]. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying]. 15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with the [a]spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand]. 16 Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsider or someone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the “Amen” [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?(A)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:15 May refer to Paul’s spirit, the Holy Spirit, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:12-16
New International Version
12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,(A) try to excel in those that build up(B) the church.
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(C) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(D) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(E) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(F) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[a] say “Amen”(G) to your thanksgiving,(H) since they do not know what you are saying?
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
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