Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and adesire spiritual gifts, bbut especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who aspeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks aedification and bexhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;1 for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by arevelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without1 significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a1 foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
12 Even so you, since you are1 zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the2 edification of the church that you seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ainterpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. aI will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing bwith the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” aat your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
20 Brethren, ado not be children in understanding; however, in malice bbe babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 aIn the law it is written:
b“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
b“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a asign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for 1 Corinthians 14:3.
| << 1 Corinthians 14:2 | 1 Corinthians 14:4 >> |
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