Old/New Testament

²¹ The holy writings say, `I will talk to these people by strangers and by people who talk in strange tongues. And yet, they will not listen to me.' This is what the Lord says.

²² So then, tongues are a sign to people who do not believe God. They are not a sign to those who believe him. But speaking words from God like a prophet is a sign to those who believe. It is not a sign to those who do not believe.

²³ Sometimes all the people of the church may be gathered together. If everyone talks in tongues, and if some people who do not know or believe come in, they will say that you are crazy.

²⁴ But what happens if everyone speaks words from God? If such people come in, then the words from God will prove to them that they have done wrong. They will all speak to the heart.

²⁵ Such a person sees everything that has been hidden in his heart. Then he will kneel down and worship God. He will say, `It is true. God is here among you.'

²⁶ What shall we do about it, my brothers? When you meet together, every one of you has something to help the other. One has a song to sing. One has something to teach people. One has something which God has shown to him. One has something to say in a tongue. One can tell the meaning of a tongue. Do all of these things to help one another.

²⁷ If any people talk in a tongue, only two or not more than three should talk. They must talk one at a time and someone must tell the meaning.

²⁸ But if there is no one to tell the meaning, a person must not talk in a tongue of a different language in the church meeting. He should talk to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets may speak words from God and the others should say what they think about it.

³⁰ But if another person is sitting by and God gives him something to say, then the first person should stop talking.

³¹ One by one you may speak words from God. In that way, all will learn something and all will be stronger in faith.

³² Those who speak words from God are able to keep their own spirits quiet.

^33-34 God does not want things to be out of order. He wants peace in the church meeting. In all the churches of God's people, the women should be quiet in the church meetings. They must not be allowed to talk. They must obey. The holy writings say this also.

³⁵ If the women want to know something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is a shame for a woman to talk in a church meeting.

³⁶ Do you think that you were the first ones to tell the word of God? Or do you think that you are the only people who have it?

³⁷ Perhaps someone thinks, `I am the one to speak words from God,' or, `I have the Spirit.' Then know this, the Lord has told me to write these things.

³⁸ If anyone does not know this, then God will not know him.

³⁹ So, my brothers, the thing you should want is to speak words from God. But at the same time, do not stop anyone from talking in tongues.

⁴⁰ But everything should be done in the right way and in good order.