THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS
1 Corinthians 14 ©
1 The apostle, concluding the foregoing exhortation to love, teaches further that they who seek after spiritual gifts, must seek most after the gift of prophesying. 5 That nevertheless the gift of foreign languages is not to be despised, but must be used with interpretation of the same. 7 Which he proves by the similitude of a pipe, harp and trumpet. 10 And shows that it is contrary to nature, and is nothing else than if men spoke to Barbarians. 13 Teaches further that men must so pray that this may be done not only with the spirit, but also with understanding. 16 Otherwise that one, who does not understand the foreign language, cannot say amen to such a prayer. 18 Confirms the same by his own example which he exhorts them to imitate. 21 And proves out of the Scripture that foreign languages are sometimes rather a judgment than a gift. 23 Teaches also that it would be ridiculous if they all spoke with foreign languages, but for edification if they all prophesied. 26 Afterwards he lays down certain rules which must be followed in the use of extraordinary gifts, namely, that all must be done to edification. 27 When they speak with foreign languages, that another interpret it. 29 That prophesying be done by turns. 32 And that the prophets judge thereof. 34 That the women hold their peace in the congregation. 37 That these ordinances are the commandments of the Lord. 40 Finally, that all things must be done honestly, and in order in the congregation.
FOLLOW1 after charity, and 2desire 3spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may 4prophesy.
For he that speaketh 5in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto 6men, but 7unto God: for no man 8understandeth him; howbeit 9in the spirit he speaketh 10mysteries.
But he 11that prophesieth 12speaketh unto men to 13edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
14I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for 15greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, 16except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I 17profit you, except I shall speak to you 18either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
And even things 19without life giving 20sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a 21distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known 22what is piped or harped?
For if the 23trumpet give an 24uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
So likewise ye, except ye utter 25by the tongue words 26easy to be understood, how shall it 27be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak 28into the air.
There are, 29it may be, so 30many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is 31without signification.
Therefore if I know not 32the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a 33barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian 34unto me.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are 35zealous of 36spiritual gifts, seek that ye may 37excel to 38the edifying of the church.
Wherefore let him that 39speaketh in an unknown tongue 40pray that he may interpret.
For if I 41pray in an unknown tongue, 42my spirit prayeth, but 43my understanding is 44unfruitful.
45What is it then? 46I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray 47with the understanding also: Ia will 48sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Else when thou shalt 49bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth 50the room of the 51unlearned say 52Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
For thou verily givest 53thanks well, but 54the other is not edified.
I thank my God, 55I speak with tongues more than ye all:
Yet 56in the church I had rather speak 57five words 58with 59my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than 60ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Brethren,b61be not children in understanding: howbeit 62in malice be ye children, but 63in understanding be 64men.
65Inc the law it is written, With men of 66other tongues and 67other lips will I speak 68unto this people; and yet for all that will they 69not hear me, saith the Lord.
Wherefore tongues are 70for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them 71that believe not: but 72prophesying serveth not for them 73that believe not, but for them which believe.
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or 74unbelievers, will they not say 75that ye are mad?
But if 76all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is 77convinced 78of all, he is 79judged of all:
And thus are 80the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so 81falling down on his face he will worship God, and report 82that God is 83in you of a truth.
84How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath 85a psalm, hath 86a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath 87a revelation, hath 88an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be 89by two, or at the most by three, and that 90by course; and let 91one interpret.
But if there be 92no interpreter, let him keep 93silence in the church; and let him speak 94to himself, and 95to God.
Let the 96prophets 97speak 98two or three, and let 99the other 100judge.
If 101any thing be revealed to 102another 103that sitteth by, 104let the first hold his peace.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that 105all may learn, and all may be 106comforted.
And 107the spirits of the prophets 108are subject to the prophets.
For God is 109not the author of 110confusion, but of peace, 111as in all churches of the saints.
Letd your women keep 112silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them 113to speak; but they are commanded 114to be under obedience, as also saith 115the law.e
And if they will 116learn any thing, let them ask 117their husbands at home: for it is 118a shame for women to speak in the church.
What? came the word of God out 119from you? or came it unto 120you only?
If any man 121think himself to be a prophet, 122or spiritual, let him 123acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are 124the commandments of the Lord.
But if any man be 125ignorant, 126let him be ignorant.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and 127forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let 128all things be done 129decently and 130in order.