The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Corinthians 14
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire
spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy.
2 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.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men
for their edification, exhortation,
and consolation.
4 He who speaks in another language edifies
him self, buthe whoprophesies edifies
the assembly.
5 Now I desire to have you all speak with
other languages, but even more 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.
6 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?
7 Even lifeless things that make a sound,
whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a
distinction in the sounds, how would it be
known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain
sound, who would prepare himself for
war?
9 So also you, unless you uttered by the
tongue words easy to understand, how
woulditbe known whatis spoken? For you
would be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of
languages in the world, and none of them
is without meaning.
11 Ifthen I don’t know the meaning ofthe
language, I would be to him who speaks a
foreigner, and he who speaks would be a
foreigner to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous for
spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to
the building up of the assembly.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in
another language pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in another language, my
spirit prays, but my understanding
is unfruitful.
15 What should I do? I will pray with the
spirit, and I will pray with the
understanding also. I will sing
withthe spirit, andI will
sing with the understanding also.
16 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?
17 For you most certainly give thanks
well, but the other person is not built up.
18 I thank my God, I speak with other
languages more than you all.
19 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.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in
thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in
thoughts be mature.
21 In the law it is written, “By men
of strange languages and by the lips of
strangers I will speak to this people. They
won’t even listen to me that way, says the
Lord.”*
22 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.
23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled
together and all speak with other
languages, and unlearned or unbelieving
people come in, won’tthey say that you are crazy?
24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving
or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all,
and he is judged by all.
25 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.
26 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, or has an interpretation.
Let all things be done to build each
other up.
27 If any man speaks in another language,
let there be two, or at the most
three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him
keep silent in the assembly, and let him
speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three of the prophets speak,
and let the others discern.
30 But if a revelation is made to another
sitting by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you all can prophesy one by one,
that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject
to the prophets,
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of
peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
34 Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies,
for it has not been permitted for
them to be talking except in submission, as
the law also says,*
35 if they desire to learn anything. “Let
them ask their own husbands at home, for
it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the
assembly.”
36 What!? Was it from you that the word
of God went out? Or did it come to you
alone?
37 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.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be
ignorant.
39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly
to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking
with other languages.
40 Let all things be done decently and in
order.