1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy a Superior Gift

11Pursue love, yet earnestly 2desire 3spiritual gifts, but especially that you may 4prophesy. 2For the one who 5speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one 6understands, but 7in his spirit he speaks 8mysteries. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for 9edification, 1011exhortation, and consolation. 4The one who 12speaks in a tongue 13edifies himself; but the one who 14prophesies 15edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all 16spoke in tongues, but 17rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who 18speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive 19edification.

6But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of 20revelation, or of 21knowledge, or of 22prophecy, or of 23teaching? 7Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if 24the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be 25talking to the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 26languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be 27unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible 28to me. 12So you too, since you are eager to possess 29spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the 30edification of the church.

13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 1531What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will 32sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16For otherwise, if you bless God 33in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the 34outsider know to say 35the “Amen” at your 36giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not 37edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

2038Brothers and sisters, 39do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil 40be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In 41the 42Law it is written: “43By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but 44prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and 45outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that 46you are insane? 24But if all 47prophesy, and an unbeliever or an 48outsider enters, he is 49convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 2550the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will 51fall on his face and worship God, 52declaring that God is certainly among you.

2653What is the outcome then, 54brothers and sisters? When you assemble, 55each one has a 56psalm, has a 57teaching, has a 58revelation, has a 59tongue, has an 60interpretation. 61All things are to be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a 62tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to 63interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29Have two or three 64prophets speak, and have the others 65pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be 66exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33for God is not a God of 67confusion, but of peace.

As in 68all the churches of the 6970saints, 34the women are to 71keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but 72are to subject themselves, just as 73the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is 74improper for a woman to speak in church. 36Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

3775If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or 76spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you 77are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, 78he is not recognized.

39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, 79earnestly desire to 80prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But 81all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.