VI. Instruction on Public Worship (11:2;14:40)
1 Corinthians 14 NLT
1 Let love be your highest goal! But you
should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the
ability to prophesy.
2 For if you have the ability to speak in
tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to
understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will
all be mysterious.
3 But one who prophesies strengthens
others, encourages them, and comforts them.
4 A person who speaks in tongues is
strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire
church.
5 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.
6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should
come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I
bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that
will be helpful.
7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute
or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the
melody.
8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear
call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
9 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.
10 There are many different languages in
the world, and every language has meaning.
11 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.
12 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.
13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should
pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.
14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is
praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the
spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit,
and I will also sing in words I understand.
16 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?
17 You will be giving thanks very well, but
it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more
than any of you.
19 But in a church meeting I would rather
speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an
unknown language.
20 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.
21It is written in the Scriptures : “I will
speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of
foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the LORD .
22 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.
23 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.
24But 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.
25 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.”
26 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.
27 No more than two or three should speak
in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they
say.
28 But if no one is present who can
interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to
God privately.
29 Let two or three people prophesy, and
let the others evaluate what is said.
30 But if someone is prophesying and
another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking
must stop.
31 In this way, all who prophesy will have
a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be
encouraged.
32Remember that people who prophesy are in
control of their spirit and can take turns.
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of
peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
34 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.
35 If they have any questions, they should
ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church
meetings.
36 Or do you think God’s word originated
with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?
37 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.
38 But if you do not recognize this, you
yourself will not be recognized.
39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager
to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But be sure that everything is done
properly and in order.
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