Appropriate Use of Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit[a] he speaks mysteries. But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching? Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre? For indeed, if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are probably so many kinds of languages in the world, and none without meaning. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a barbarian to the one who is speaking, and the one who is speaking will be a barbarian in my judgment. 12 In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.

13 Therefore the one who speaks in a tongue must pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. 15 Therefore what should I do[b]? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind. 16 For otherwise, if you praise in your spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the outsider say the “amen” at your thanksgiving, because he does not know what you are saying? 17 For indeed you are giving thanks well, but the other person is not edified. 18 I give thanks to God that I speak with tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind, in order that I may instruct other people, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in your understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written:

“By those who speak a foreign language
    and by the lips of others
I will speak to this people,
    and not even in this way will they obey me,”[c]

says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign not to those who believe, but to unbelievers, but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore, if the whole church comes together at the same time and all speak with tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all, 25 the secret things of his heart become evident, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Specific Instructions for Orderly Worship Services

26 Therefore what should you do[d], brothers? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be on one occasion two or at most three, and one after the other[e], and one must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, he must be silent in the church, but let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and the others evaluate. 30 And if something is revealed to another who is seated, the first must be silent. 31 For you are all able to prophesy in turn[f], in order that all may learn and all may be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women must be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be in submission, just as the law also says. 35 But if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or has the word of God gone out from you, or has it come to you only?

37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual,[g] he should recognize that the things which I am writing to you are of the Lord.[h] 38 But if anyone ignores this, he is ignored.[i] 39 So then, my brothers, desire to prophesy, and do not prevent speaking with tongues. 40 But let all things be done decently and according to proper procedure.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or “in the Spirit”; or “in his spirit”
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:15 Literally “what therefore is it”
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:21 A quotation from Isa 28:11–12
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:26 Literally “what therefore is it”
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:27 Literally “in turn”
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:31 Literally “one at a time
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:37 Or “or one who possesses the Spirit”
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:37 Some manuscripts have “are a command of the Lord”
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Or “if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant”

14 Pursue diōkō · ho love agapē, and de earnestly desire zēloō the ho spiritual pneumatikos gifts , but de especially mallon that hina you may prophesy prophēteuō. For gar the ho one speaking laleō in a tongue glōssa speaks laleō not ou to men anthrōpos but alla to God theos; indeed gar, no one oudeis understands akouō him, yet de he is speaking laleō mysteries mystērion by the Spirit pneuma. On the other hand de, the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō speaks laleō to people anthrōpos for their edification oikodomē, · kai encouragement paraklēsis, and kai consolation paramythia. The ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa edifies oikodomeō himself heautou, but de the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō edifies oikodomeō the church ekklēsia. Now de I would like thelō all pas of you hymeis to speak laleō in tongues glōssa, but de even more mallon to hina prophesy prophēteuō. The ho one who prophesies prophēteuō is greater megas · de than ē the ho one who speaks laleō in tongues glōssa, unless ektos ei he interprets diermēneuō so that hina the ho church ekklēsia may receive lambanō edification oikodomē.

But de as it is nyn, brothers adelphos, if ean I come erchomai to pros you hymeis speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, how tis will I benefit ōpheleō you hymeis unless ean mē I impart laleō to you hymeis some ē revelation apokalypsis or ē knowledge gnōsis or ē prophecy prophēteia or ē teaching didachē? It is the same homōs with · ho lifeless apsychos things that produce didōmi sound phōnē, whether eite flute aulos or eite harp kithara; if ean they do didōmi not make didōmi a difference diastolē between ho notes phthongos, how pōs will what ho is being played on the flute auleō or ē the ho harp kitharizō be understood ginōskō? Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not speak didōmi a clear eusēmos message logos with dia your ho tongue glōssa, how pōs will anyone know ginōskō what ho is being said laleō? You will be eimi speaking laleō into eis the air aēr. 10 There are eimi who-knows-how-many tosoutos ei kinds genos of languages phōnē in en the world kosmos, and kai none oudeis is without meaning aphōnos. 11 But oun if ean I do not grasp oida the ho meaning dynamis of the ho language phōnē, I will be eimi a foreigner barbaros to the ho speaker laleō and kai the ho speaker laleō a foreigner barbaros to en me egō. 12 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis. Since epei you are eimi eager zēlōtēs for manifestations of the Spirit pneuma, seek zēteō to hina excel perisseuō for pros the ho edification oikodomē of the ho church ekklēsia.

13 For this reason dio, the ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa should pray proseuchomai that hina he will be able to interpret diermēneuō. 14 For gar if ean I pray proseuchomai in a tongue glōssa, · ho my egō spirit pneuma prays proseuchomai · ho but de my egō mind nous is eimi unproductive akarpos. 15 What tis then oun shall I do eimi? I will pray proseuchomai with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai pray proseuchomai with my ho understanding nous. I will sing praises psallō with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai sing praises psallō with my ho understanding nous. 16 Otherwise epei, if ean you are praising eulogeō God by en the Spirit pneuma, how pōs can anyone ho in anaplēroō the ho position topos of ho an outsider idiōtēs say legō, · ho Amen amēn,” to epi · ho your sos thanksgiving eucharistia since epeidē he does oida not ou know oida what tis you are saying legō? 17 For gar you sy are giving thanks eucharisteō well kalōs enough , but alla the ho other heteros person is not ou being edified oikodomeō. 18 I thank eucharisteō · ho God theos I speak laleō in tongues glōssa more mallon than all pas of you hymeis; 19 however alla, in en church ekklēsia I would thelō rather speak laleō five pente words logos with ho my egō understanding nous, so as to hina instruct katēcheō others allos also kai, than ē ten thousand myrios words logos in en a tongue glōssa.

20 Brothers adelphos, do ginomai not be ginomai children paidion in your ho thinking phrēn. Rather alla, in ho evil kakia be infants nēpiazō but de in your ho thinking phrēn be ginomai adults teleios. 21 In en the ho Law nomos it is written graphō, “ By en people with strange tongues heteroglōssos and kai by en the lips cheilos of foreigners heteros will I speak laleō to ho this houtos people laos, yet kai not even oude in this way houtōs will they listen eisakouō to me egō, says legō the Lord kyrios.” 22 So then hōste · ho tongues glōssa are eimi for eis a sign sēmeion, not ou for ho believers pisteuō but alla for ho unbelievers apistos, · ho while de prophecy prophēteia is not ou for ho unbelievers apistos but alla for ho believers pisteuō. 23 So oun if ean the ho whole holos church ekklēsia assembles synerchomai in epi the ho same autos place and kai everyone pas is speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, and de outsiders idiōtēs or ē unbelievers apistos come in eiserchomai, will they not ou say legō that hoti you are out of your minds mainomai? 24 But de if ean all pas are prophesying prophēteuō, and de an tis unbeliever apistos or ē outsider idiōtēs comes eiserchomai in , he is convicted elenchō by hypo all pas, he is called to account anakrinō by hypo all pas, 25 and the ho secrets kryptos of ho his autos heart kardia are ginomai laid bare phaneros. · kai Thus houtōs he will fall piptō on epi his face prosōpon and worship proskyneō · ho God theos, declaring apangellō, “ God theos is eimi really ontōs · ho among en you hymeis.” 26 What tis then oun is eimi the outcome , brothers adelphos? When hotan you come together synerchomai, each hekastos one has echō a hymn psalmos, a word of instruction didachē, a revelation apokalypsis, a tongue glōssa, an interpretation hermēneia. Let ginomai all pas things be done ginomai for pros edification oikodomē. 27 If eite any tis speak laleō in a tongue glōssa, it should be only kata two dyo, or ē at the ho most polys three treis, and kai each ana in turn meros; and kai someone heis must interpret diermēneuō. 28 But de if ean there is eimi no one who can interpret diermēneutēs, the speaker should remain silent sigaō in en church ekklēsia and de speak laleō to himself heautou and kai to ho God theos. 29 · de Two dyo or ē three treis should speak laleō as prophets prophētēs and kai · ho others allos should weigh carefully diakrinō what is said. 30 But de if ean a revelation comes apokalyptō to another allos person who is sitting down kathēmai, the ho first prōtos speaker should stop sigaō. 31 For gar in this way all pas will be able dynamai to prophesy prophēteuō one by one kata, with the result that hina all pas may learn manthanō and kai all pas be encouraged parakaleō, 32 Indeed kai, the spirits pneuma of prophets prophētēs are subject hypotassō to prophets prophētēs, 33 for gar God theos is eimi not ou a God of confusion akatastasia · ho but alla of peace eirēnē. As hōs in en all pas the ho churches ekklēsia of the ho saints hagios, 34 the ho women gynē are to be silent sigaō in en the ho churches ekklēsia, for gar they autos are not ou permitted epitrepō to speak laleō. Rather alla, they are to be submissive hypotassō, as kathōs in fact kai the ho law nomos says legō. 35 And de if ei they want thelō to find out about manthanō something tis, they should ask eperōtaō their own idios husbands anēr at en home oikos; · ho for gar it is eimi improper aischros for a woman gynē to speak laleō in en church ekklēsia. 36 Or ē did exerchomai the ho word logos of ho God theos originate exerchomai with apo you hymeis? Or ē did it come katantaō to eis you hymeis alone monos?

37 If ei anyone tis considers dokeō himself to be eimi a prophet prophētēs or ē spiritual pneumatikos, let him acknowledge epiginōskō that hoti what hos I am writing graphō to you hymeis is eimi a command entolē of the Lord kyrios. 38 If ei · de anyone tis fails to acknowledge agnoeō this, he will not be acknowledged agnoeō. 39 So hōste, my egō brothers adelphos, be eager zēloō to prophesy prophēteuō, and kai do kōlyō not forbid kōlyō speaking laleō in tongues glōssa. 40 But de everything pas should be done ginomai in a proper euschēmonōs and kai orderly way kata.