1 Corinthians 14 :: New International Version (NIV)

Intelligibility in Worship

1Co 14:1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

1Co 14:2For anyone who speaks in a tongue[fn] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

1Co 14:3

1Co 14:3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

1Co 14:4

1Co 14:4Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

1Co 14:5

1Co 14:5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[fn] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[fn] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

1Co 14:6

1Co 14:6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

1Co 14:7

1Co 14:7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

1Co 14:8

1Co 14:8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

1Co 14:9

1Co 14:9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

1Co 14:10

1Co 14:10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

1Co 14:11

1Co 14:11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

1Co 14:12

1Co 14:12So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

1Co 14:13

1Co 14:13For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

1Co 14:14

1Co 14:14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

1Co 14:15

1Co 14:15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

1Co 14:16

1Co 14:16Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[fn] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

1Co 14:17

1Co 14:17You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

1Co 14:18

1Co 14:18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

1Co 14:19

1Co 14:19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1Co 14:20

1Co 14:20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

1Co 14:21

1Co 14:21In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,

says the Lord.”[fn]

1Co 14:22

1Co 14:22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

1Co 14:23

1Co 14:23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

1Co 14:24

1Co 14:24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,

1Co 14:25

1Co 14:25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Good Order in Worship

1Co 14:26

1Co 14:26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

1Co 14:27

1Co 14:27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

1Co 14:28

1Co 14:28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

1Co 14:29

1Co 14:29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

1Co 14:30

1Co 14:30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

1Co 14:31

1Co 14:31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

1Co 14:32

1Co 14:32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

1Co 14:33

1Co 14:33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

1Co 14:34

1Co 14:34Women[fn] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

1Co 14:35

1Co 14:35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[fn]

1Co 14:36

1Co 14:36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

1Co 14:37

1Co 14:37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

1Co 14:38

1Co 14:38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[fn]

1Co 14:39

1Co 14:39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

1Co 14:40

1Co 14:40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(14:2)

Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27

(14:5)

Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39

(14:5)

Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39

(14:16)

The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.

(14:21)

Isaiah 28:11,12

(14:33)

Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women

(14:34)

Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women

(14:35)

In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.

(14:38)

Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant

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