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Tongues and Prophecy
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives — especially the ability to prophesy.
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives — especially the ability to prophesy.
Prophecy a Superior Gift
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.
Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.
There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.
If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.
Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?
Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
Instruction for the Church
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord.
So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.
So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
A Call to Orderly Worship
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;
But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.
But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.
In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.
and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.
The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?
Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.
If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.