Prophecy: A Superior Gift
1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.
2For the person who speaks in a tongue14:2 Or another language, also in vv. 4,13,14,19,26,2714:2 1Co 12:10 is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.14:2 Or in spirit, or in his spirit
3On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,14:3 Lit building up encouragement, and consolation.
4The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5I wish all of you spoke in tongues,14:5 Or other languages, also in vv. 6,18,21,22,23,39 but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.
6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation14:6 1Pt 4:13 or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds — whether flute or harp14:7 Rv 5:8; 14:2; 15:2 — if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?
8In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?14:8 Nm 10:9; Is 58:1; Jr 4:19; Ezk 33:3–6; Jl 2:1
9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.
10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.
11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner14:11 Gk barbaros, or barbarian to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
13Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit14:14 Ps 51:12 prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.14:14 Gl 5:22; Ti 3:14
15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding.
16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,14:16 Or praise by the Spirit how will the outsider14:16 Lit the one filling the place of the uninformed say “Amen”14:16 Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21 at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.
20Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.14:20 Ps 131:2; Is 28:9; Mt 18:3; Rm 16:19; Eph 4:14; Heb 5:12–13
21It is written in the law,
I will speak to this people
by people of other tongues
and by the lips of foreigners,
says the Lord.
22Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all.
Order in Church Meetings
26What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one14:26 Other mss add of you has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.14:26 1Co 12:10 Everything is to be done for building up.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.
28But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.
30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.
31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.14:31 Lk 16:25
32And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets,
33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints,14:33 Eph 6:18
34the women14:34 Other mss read your women should be silent in the churches,14:34 1Tm 2:11–12; 1Pt 3:1 for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says.
35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands14:35 Mt 1:19; 1Pt 3:1 at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
36Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.
38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.14:38 Other mss read he should be ignored
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