1 Corinthians
14
- Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not
speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries
with his spirit.
- But everyone who prophesies speaks to men
for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
- He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,
but he who prophesies edifies the church.
- I would like every one of you to speak in
tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater
than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may
be edified.
- Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak
in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation
or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
- Even in the case of lifeless things that
make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is
being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
- Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear
call, who will get ready for battle?
- So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible
words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will
just be speaking into the air.
- Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages
in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
- If then I do not grasp the meaning of what
someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner
to me.
- So it is with you. Since you are eager to
have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
- For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret what he says.
- For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,
but my mind is unfruitful.
- So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,
but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will
also sing with my mind.
- If you are praising God with your spirit,
how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen"
to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
- You may be giving thanks well enough, but
the other man is not edified.
- I thank God that I speak in tongues more
than all of you.
- But in the church I would rather speak five
intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- Brothers, stop thinking like children. In
regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
- In the Law it is written: "Through men
of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this
people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
- Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers
but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
- So if the whole church comes together and
everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers
come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
- But if an unbeliever or someone who does
not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced
by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,
- and the secrets of his heart will be laid
bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really
among you !"
- What then shall we say, brothers? When you
come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation,
a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening
of the church.
- If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at
the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
- If there is no interpreter, the speaker should
keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
- Two or three prophets should speak, and the
others should weigh carefully what is said.
- And if a revelation comes to someone who
is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
- For you can all prophesy in turn so that
everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
- The spirits of prophets are subject to the
control of prophets.
- For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the congregations of the saints,
- women should remain silent in the churches.
They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
- If they want to inquire about something,
they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman
to speak in the church.
- Did the word of God originate with you? Or
are you the only people it has reached?
- If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually
gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.
- If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
- Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy,
and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- But everything should be done in a fitting
and orderly way.
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