The Bible — World English Bible
1 Corinthians 14
In brief
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul deals with a concrete problem: the meetings in Corinth are disorderly, and some push speaking in tongues forward without anyone understanding. He asks them to pursue love, to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, because it builds up everyone, and to speak in tongues in the assembly only if someone interprets. The thread of the chapter is the building up of the Church, with a simple conclusion: let everything be done decently and in order.
The chapter in 6 parts
- v. 1-5Desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, which builds up
- v. 6-19Understandable words: pray with the spirit and with the understanding
- v. 20-25Tongues and prophecy as signs, in front of unbelievers
- v. 26-33Orderly worship: interpretation, taking turns, discernment
- v. 34-38A difficult passage about women in the assembly
- v. 39-40Do not forbid tongues, and do everything in order
1Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5Now 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.
6But 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?
7Even 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?
8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
9So 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.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11If 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.
12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What 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.
16Otherwise 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?
17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
19However 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.
20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
21In 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 hear me that way, says the Lord.”
22Therefore 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.
23If 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?
24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
25And 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.
26What 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.
27If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
30But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
31For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
34Let 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,
35if 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.”
36What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37If 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.
38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Key verses
Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Paul puts love before gifts. He does not set the two against each other: he asks us to pursue love and also to desire spiritual gifts. Without love, a gift becomes a platform for oneself.
But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
The criterion of the chapter: what builds up. Prophecy speaks to others for their edification, exhortation and consolation, while the one who speaks in another language builds up himself.
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.
Paul does not choose between the spirit and the understanding: he prays and sings with both. Christian faith does not have to give up understanding what it expresses in the assembly.
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
God is not a God of confusion but of peace. The framework Paul sets does not smother the Spirit: it protects the assembly and lets everyone receive.
Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Two sentences of balance: desire to prophesy, do not forbid speaking in tongues, and let everything be done decently and in order. Christians do not all apply it the same way, but the spirit of the text is shared.
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Frequently asked questions about 1 Corinthians 14
What does speaking in tongues mean in 1 Corinthians 14?
Paul describes the one who speaks in another language as someone who speaks to God and not to people, since no one understands. He regards this gift as real and useful for personal edification, but asks that it not be used in the assembly without interpretation. Christian traditions understand this gift differently, some judging it still current, others not.
What is the difference between prophecy and tongues?
According to Paul, prophecy speaks to people to build them up, exhort and console them, while a tongue is addressed to God. This is why he prefers prophecy in the assembly, unless the tongue is interpreted. He also asks that prophetic words be weighed by the others.
What does Paul mean when he says women should keep silent in the assemblies?
Verses 34 and 35 are among the most debated in the New Testament, especially since Paul elsewhere took for granted that women pray and prophesy in the assembly. Some read in them a lasting rule, others an instruction tied to the disorder in Corinth. Evangelical churches draw different applications, and it is helpful to read this passage with its whole context.
What is the main message of 1 Corinthians 14?
That everything done in the assembly should serve to build up others. Gifts are good, but they must be exercised in love, with understanding and in order. The goal is not to put oneself forward but to build the Church.
Articles quoting 1 Corinthians 14
World English Bible translation — public domain.