1 Corinthians 14 - New International Version (NIV)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(A) and eagerly desire^(B) gifts of the Spirit,^(C) especially prophecy.^{(D) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a](E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(F) they utter mysteries^(G) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(H) encouraging^(I) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(J) edifies^(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(L) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(N)

⁶ Now, 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^(O) or knowledge^(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(Q) 7} Even 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? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(R) 9} So 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. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If 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.^{(S) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(T) try to excel in those that build up^(U) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(V) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(W) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen”^(Z) to your thanksgiving,^(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(AB)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(AC)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(AD) In regard to evil be infants,^(AE) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(AF) 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,^(AG)
says the Lord.”^[e]

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(AH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So 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?^{(AI) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(AJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(AK)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(AL) When you come together, each of you^(AM) has a hymn,^(AN) or a word of instruction,^(AO) a revelation, a tongue^(AP) or an interpretation.^(AQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(AR) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(AS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(AT) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(AU) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(AV) but of peace^(AW)—as in all the congregations^(AX) of the Lord’s people.^(AY)

³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(AZ) but must be in submission,^(BA) as the law^(BB) says. ³⁵ If 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.^[g]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(BC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(BD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(BE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(BF) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(BG) to prophesy,^(BH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(BI) way.

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
2. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
3. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
4. 1 Corinthians 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.
5. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
6. 1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, ³⁴ women
7. 1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
8. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant

Cross references

1. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : 1Co 16:14
2. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : ver 39; 1Co 12:31
3. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : S 1Co 12:1
4. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : ver 39; S Eph 4:11
5. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : S Mk 16:17
6. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : ver 6-11, 16
7. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : 1Co 13:2
8. 1 Corinthians 14:3 : ver 4, 5, 12, 17, 26; S Ro 14:19
9. 1 Corinthians 14:3 : ver 31
10. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : S Mk 16:17
11. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : S ver 3
12. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : S 1Co 13:2
13. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : Nu 11:29
14. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : S ver 3
15. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : ver 26; Eph 1:17
16. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : S 2Co 8:7
17. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : Ro 6:17
18. 1 Corinthians 14:8 : Nu 10:9; Jer 4:19
19. 1 Corinthians 14:11 : Ge 11:7
20. 1 Corinthians 14:12 : S 1Co 12:1
21. 1 Corinthians 14:12 : S ver 3
22. 1 Corinthians 14:13 : ver 5
23. 1 Corinthians 14:14 : ver 2
24. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : ver 2, 14
25. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : S Eph 5:19
26. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : Dt 27:15-26; 1Ch 16:36; Ne 8:6; Ps 106:48; Rev 5:14; 7:12
27. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : S Mt 14:19; 1Co 11:24
28. 1 Corinthians 14:17 : S ver 3
29. 1 Corinthians 14:19 : ver 6
30. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : 1Co 3:11; Eph 4:14; Heb 5:12, 13; 1Pe 2:2
31. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : Jer 4:22; Mt 10:16; Ro 16:19
32. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : ver 34; S Jn 10:34
33. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : Dt 28:49; Isa 28:11, 12
34. 1 Corinthians 14:22 : ver 1
35. 1 Corinthians 14:23 : Ac 2:13
36. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Ro 2:16
37. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Isa 45:14; Zec 8:23
38. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Ro 7:1
39. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1Co 12:7-10
40. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Eph 5:19
41. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver 6
42. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver 2
43. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1Co 12:10
44. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Ro 14:19
45. 1 Corinthians 14:29 : ver 32, 37; S 1Co 13:2
46. 1 Corinthians 14:29 : 1Co 12:10
47. 1 Corinthians 14:32 : 1Jn 4:1
48. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : ver 40
49. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S Ro 15:33
50. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S 1Co 7:17; S 10:32
51. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S Ac 9:13
52. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : 1Co 11:5, 13
53. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : S Eph 5:22; 1Ti 2:11, 12
54. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : ver 21; Ge 3:16
55. 1 Corinthians 14:36 : S Heb 4:12
56. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : S Ac 11:27; 1Co 13:2; 2Co 10:7
57. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : 1Co 2:15; S 12:1
58. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : 1Jn 4:6
59. 1 Corinthians 14:39 : ver 1; 1Co 12:31
60. 1 Corinthians 14:39 : ver 1; S Eph 4:11
61. 1 Corinthians 14:40 : ver 33; Col 2:5