- Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
- For anyone who speaks in a tongue[1] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
- But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
- Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
- I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[2] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[3] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
- Now, brothers and sisters, 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 pipe 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 the speaker is a foreigner to me.
- So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
- For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
- 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 understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
- Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[4] say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
- You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is 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 and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
- In the Law it is written: "With other 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."[5]
- Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
- So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
- But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
- as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
- What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
- 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 to 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 Lord's people.
- Women[6] 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.[7]
- Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
- If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.
- But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[8]
- Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Intelligibility in Worship
Good Order in Worship
- Or 'in another language'; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
- Or 'in other languages'; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
- Or 'in other languages'; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
- The Greek word for 'inquirer' is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
- Isaiah 28:11,12
- Or 'peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, women'
- In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
- Some manuscripts 'But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant'