Gifts That Build the Family Up
Tongues without interpretation build up only the speaker, so prophecy is better: an outsider walking in should have his heart exposed and fall down worshipping. Everything in the gathering is measured by whether it builds up, and done in order, because our Father is not disordered.
14 1Pursue love, and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2Whoever speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to our Father—no one understands him—he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their building up, encouragement, and comfort. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up; the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5I want you all to speak in tongues, but rather that you prophesy. Whoever prophesies is greater than whoever speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so the church is built up.
6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what good am I to you unless I speak revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching? 7Yet lifeless things making sound—flute or harp—if notes aren't distinct, how will anyone know what's played? 8And if the trumpet sounds an unclear call, who will prepare for battle? 9So with you: unless your tongue speaks a clear word, how will anyone know what's said? For you'll just be speaking into the air. 10So many kinds of language exist in the world, no doubt; none is meaningless. 11So if I don't know the sound's meaning, I'll be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with you: since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to excel at strengthening the church. 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret it. 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
15What then should I do? I will pray with my spirit, and pray with my mind too; I will sing praise with my spirit, and sing praise with my mind too. 16Otherwise, if you bless in the spirit, how will the outsider sitting there say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he doesn't know what you're saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank our Father that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in church I'd rather speak five words with my mind, to teach others too, than 10,000 words in a tongue.
20Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be infants in evil, but mature in thinking.
21The Law says: "I will speak to this people through strange tongues and foreign lips, and even then they will not listen to me," says our Father.
22So tongues are a sign not for believers but unbelievers; prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but believers. 23So if the whole church meets and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, won't they say you've lost your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, examined by all, 25the secrets of his heart are exposed; so he falls on his face and worships our Father, announcing that our Father is truly among you.
Worship in Fitting Order
26So what, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all of it be done for building up. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at most three, each in turn, and one should interpret. 28If no interpreter is present, let him keep silent in church, speaking only to himself and to our Father. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone else sitting there, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone be encouraged, 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For our Father is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34Women should stay quiet in the churches; they are not permitted to speak, but must submit, as the Law also says. a a v34 Some manuscripts place verses 34-35 after verse 40. 35If they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; it's shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36Or did our Father's word start with you? Or did it reach only you? 37Anyone who thinks himself a prophet or spiritual must recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
