1 Corinthians 14

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BBE WEB

Prophecy preferred to the gift of languages

Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power. Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things. For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church. He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church. Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages

But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching? But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played? Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
For if the war-horn gives out an uncertain note, who will get ready for the fight? For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air. So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
There are, it may be, a number of different voices in the world, and no voice is without sense. There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
But if the sense of the voice is not clear to me, I am like a man from a strange country to him who is talking, and he will be the same to me. If then I don’t know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church. So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
For this reason, let the man who has the power of using tongues make request that he may, at the same time, be able to give the sense. Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind. For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Words urging worship that can be understood

What then? let my prayer be from the spirit, and equally from the mind; let my song be from the spirit, and equally from mind. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
For if you give a blessing with the spirit, how will the man who has no knowledge say, So be it, after your prayer, seeing that he has not taken in what you are saying? Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?
For your giving of the blessing is certainly well done, but of no profit to the man without knowledge. For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
I give praise to God that I am able to make use of tongues more than you all: I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
But in the church it would be better for me to make use of five words of which the sense was clear, so that others might have profit, than ten thousand words in a strange tongue. However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
My brothers, do not be children in mind: in evil be as little children, but in mind be of full growth. Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
In the law it is said, By men of other tongues and by strange lips will my words come to this people; and not even so will they give ear to me, says the Lord. In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.”
For this reason tongues are for a sign, not to those who have faith, but to those who have not: but the prophet's word is for those who have faith, and not for the rest who have not. Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
If, then, the church has come together, and all are using tongues, and there come in men without knowledge or faith, will they not say that you are unbalanced? If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
But if all are teaching as prophets, and a man without faith or knowledge comes in, he is tested by all, he is judged by all; But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
The secrets of his heart are made clear; and he will go down on his face and give worship to God, saying that God is truly among you. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

Disorders from vain display of gifts;

What is it then, my brothers? when you come together everyone has a holy song, or a revelation, or a tongue, or is giving the sense of it. Let everything be done for the common good. What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
If any man makes use of a tongue, let it not be more than two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let someone give the sense: If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
But if there is no one to give the sense, let him keep quiet in the church; and let his words be to himself and to God. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
And let the prophets give their words, but not more than two or three, and let the others be judges of what they say. Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
But if a revelation is given to another who is seated near, let the first be quiet. But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
For you may all be prophets in turn so that all may get knowledge and comfort; For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
And the spirits of the prophets are controlled by the prophets; The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
For God is not a God whose ways are without order, but a God of peace; as in all the churches of the saints. for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,

and from women speaking in the church

Let women keep quiet in the churches: for it is not right for them to be talking; but let them be under control, as it says in the law. let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.
And if they have a desire for knowledge about anything, let them put questions to their husbands privately: for talking in the church puts shame on a woman. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.
What? was it from you that the word of God went out? or did it only come in to you? What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
If any man seems to himself to be a prophet or to have the Spirit, let him take note of the things which I am writing to you, as being the word of the Lord. If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
But if any man is without knowledge, let him be so. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues. Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
Let all things be done in the right and ordered way. Let all things be done decently and in order.
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