1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 14 ©

1 Prophecy for its greater tendency to edification is preferred before speaking with tongues. 6 Tongues not understood, like indistinct musical sounds, are of no service to the hearers. 12 All gifts should be referred to edification. 21 Tongues are of use for the conviction of unbelievers; 23 but in the assemblies of the church prophecy is more useful. 26 Rules for the orderly exercise of spiritual gifts in the church. 34 Women are forbidden to speak there. 39 An exhortation to use each gift freely, but with decency and order.

1

FOLLOW aafter *charity, and bdesire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

a Mat. 22.37,38. Ro. 13.8-10. Ep. 5.2.
b ch. 12.28,31. Ep. 1.3. Nu. 11.25,29. Ro. 12.6. v.3-5.
2

cFor he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: dfor no man 1understandeth him; howbeit ein the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

c Ge. 11.7; 42.27. De. 28.49. Is. 36.11. Ac. 2.4; 10.46; 19.6.
d Ac. 22.9.
e Ps. 49.3,4; 78.2. Mat. 13.11. Mar. 4.33. v.29.
3

But fhe that prophesieth speaketh unto men to gedification, and exhortation, and comfort.

f Ac. 10.44; 16.14; 13.15. Ro. 12.8; 15.4.
g Ro. 14.19.
4

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue hedifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

h v.17.
5

I would that ye all spake with tongues, ibut rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, jexcept he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

i v.3,4,6,26. Nu. 11.25,29.
j v.13.
6

Now, brethren, kif I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by lknowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

k ch. 11.34. Ep. 1.17. v.26.
l ch. 12.8.
7

And even things without life giving sound, mwhether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the 2sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

m Je. 9.17,18; 48.36. Job 21.11,12. Mat. 9.23; 11.17.
8

For if the ntrumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

n Nu. 10.9.
9

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words 3easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall ospeak into the air.

o ch. 9.26.
10

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a pbarbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a *barbarian unto me.

p Ro. 1.14. Ac. 28.2.
12

qEven so ye, *forasmuch as ye are zealous 4of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

q v.7,8. ch. 12.7,31.
13

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that rhe may interpret.

r ch. 12.10. v.26,27.
14

For sif I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

s Lu. 24.25. Ro. 14.19. ch. 1.10. 2Th. 2.2.
15

What is it then? tI 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.

t Jn. 4.24. Ep. 5.19. Col. 3.16. Ps. 47.7. v.19,26.
16

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the uunlearned say vAmen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

u v.23,24.
v ch. 11.24. Nu. 6.23. De. 27.15. Ne. 5.13; 8.6. 1Ch. 16.36. Ps. 106.48; 107.1,2. Je. 28.6. Re. 5.14.
17

For thou *verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18

I thank my God, wI speak with tongues more than ye all:

w Ro. 15.19.
19

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20

Brethren, be xnot children in understanding: howbeit in malice ybe ye children, but in understanding be 5men.

x Ps. 119.99. Ro. 16.19. Ep. 4.14,15. ch. 2.6,13; 3.1. He. 5.12,13; 6.1-3. 2Pe. 3.18.
y Ps. 131.1,2. Mat. 11.25; 19.14; 18.3. 1Pe. 2.2.
21

In the zlaw it is written, aWith men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

a Is. 28.11,12. De. 28.49. Je. 5.15.
z Jn. 10.34. Ro. 3.19.
22

Wherefore tongues are for a bsign, cnot to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but dprophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

b Mar. 16.17.
c Ac. 2.6. 1Ti. 1.9.
d ch. 11.4.
23

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 unbelievers, will they not say ethat ye are mad?

e Ac. 2.13; 26.24.
24

fBut if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is *convinced of all, he is judged of all:

f ch. 2.15. He. 4.12. Jn. 16.9-11; 6.63. Ac. 2.37; 16.14.
25

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that gGod is in you of a truth.

g Is. 45.14. Zec. 8.23.
26

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, hevery one of you hath ia psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. jLet all things be done unto edifying.

h v.6. ch. 12.8-10.
i Ep. 5.19.
j 2Co. 12.19; 13.10. Ep. 4.12,16,29. 1Th. 5.11. Ro. 14.19. ch. 10.20. v.5,12,40.
27

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29

kLet the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

k v.32,37,39. ch. 2.15; 12.10. 1Th. 5.19,20. Ac. 11.27.
30

If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the lfirst hold his peace.

l Job 32.11. 1Th. 5.19,20.
31

mFor ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

m Ro. 12.7. v.29,30.
32

nAnd the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

n v.12,29. 1Jn. 4.1. ch. 12.10. 1Th. 5.20,21.
33

For God is not the author of 6confusion, obut of peace, as pin all churches of the saints.

o ch. 12.25; 11.16.
p ch. 7.17.
34

qLet your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

q 1Ti. 2.11,12. Ep. 5.22. Col. 3.18. Tit. 2.5. 1Pe. 3.1. Ge. 3.16. Nu. 30.3-12. Es. 1.20.
35

And if they will learn any thing, rlet them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

r 1Pe. 3.7. v.34.
36

What? scame the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

s ch. 4.7. Is. 2.3. Ac. 11-18.
37

tIf any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

t 2Co. 10.7. 1Jn. 4.6. ch. 7.25. Lu. 10.16.
38

uBut if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

u Re. 22.11. Ps. 81.12. Ho. 4.17. Ge. 6.3. Is. 6.9,10; 44.18.
39

Wherefore, brethren, vcovet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

v ch. 12.31. v.1,3,5. v.34.
40

wLet all things be done decently and in order.

w ch. 11.34. Col. 2.5. v.26,27,33.