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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Corinthians 14 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Prophecy: A Superior Gift
Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:1 -

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:2 -

For the person who speaks in a tongue[fn] is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.[fn]

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:3 -

On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,[fn] encouragement, and consolation.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:4 -

The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:5 -

I wish all of you spoke in tongues,[fn] but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:6 -

So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:7 -

Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds ​— ​whether flute or harp ​— ​if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:8 -

In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:9 -

In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:10 -

There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:11 -

Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner[fn] to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:12 -

So also you ​— ​since you are zealous for spiritual gifts,[fn] seek to excel in building up the church.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:13 -

Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:14 -

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:15 -

What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:16 -

Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,[fn] how will the outsider[fn] say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:17 -

For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:18 -

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you;

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:19 -

yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:20 -

Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:21 -

It is written in the law,

I will speak to this people

by people of other tongues

and by the lips of foreigners,

and even then, they will not listen to me,

says the Lord.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:22 -

Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:23 -

If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:24 -

But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:25 -

The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

Order in Church Meetings
Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:26 -

What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one[fn] has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:27 -

If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:28 -

But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:29 -

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:30 -

But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:31 -

For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:32 -

And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets,

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:33 -

since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:34 -

the women[fn] should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:35 -

If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:36 -

Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:37 -

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:38 -

If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.[fn]

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:39 -

So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Unchecked Copy Box1Co 14:40 -

But everything is to be done decently and in order.

CSB Footnotes
Or another language, also in vv. 4,​13,​14,​19,​26,27
Or in spirit, or in his spirit
Lit building up
Or other languages , also in vv. 6,​18,​21,​22,​23,​39
Gk barbaros, or barbarian
Lit zealous of spirits
Or praise by the Spirit
Lit the one filling the place of the uninformed
Other mss add of you
Other mss read your women
Other mss read he should be ignored
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 14 — Additional Translations: