1 Corinthians · Majority Standard Bible
1 Corinthians 14 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
7 Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?
7 Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
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.
9 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11 If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
11 If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
15 What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?
17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
18 I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
19 However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
21 In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
22 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
25 and so the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm or a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
27 If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
29 Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
34 Your women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
34 Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,
35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
35 if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
36 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 So, brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Corinthians 14:39; 1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 12:1
- 2 Mark 16:17; Acts 19:6; Acts 10:46; Acts 2:4–11; 1 Corinthians 13:2
- 3 1 Timothy 4:13; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Jude 20; 2 Timothy 4:2; Ephesians 6:22
- 4 1 Corinthians 14:22; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:17–19; 1 Corinthians 14:3
- 5 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28–30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Numbers 11:28–29; Mark 16:17
- 6 Ephesians 1:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 John 9
- 7 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:8; Numbers 10:2–10; Matthew 11:17; Luke 7:32
- 8 Numbers 10:9; Ezekiel 33:3–6; Jeremiah 4:19; Joel 2:1; Amos 3:6
- 9 1 Corinthians 9:26
- 11 Acts 28:2; Romans 1:14; Acts 28:4; 1 Corinthians 14:21; Colossians 3:11
- 12 1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:3–4; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 12:7
- 13 Mark 11:24; John 14:13–14; 1 Corinthians 12:30; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 14:27–28
- 14 1 Corinthians 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:15–16; 1 Corinthians 14:19
- 15 Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 6:18; John 4:23–24; Ephesians 5:17–20; Jude 20
- 16 1 Chronicles 16:36; Psalm 106:48; Revelation 5:14; Deuteronomy 27:15–26; Nehemiah 8:6
- 17 1 Corinthians 14:4; 1 Corinthians 14:6
- 18 1 Corinthians 1:4–6; 1 Corinthians 4:7
- 19 1 Corinthians 14:21–22; 1 Corinthians 14:4
- 20 1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 16:19; Matthew 18:3; 2 Peter 3:18
- 21 Isaiah 28:11–12; Jeremiah 5:15; Deuteronomy 28:49
- 22 Acts 2:6–12; Mark 16:17; 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Acts 2:32–36
- 23 Acts 2:13; 1 Corinthians 11:18; John 10:20; Acts 26:24; Hosea 9:7
- 24 Hebrews 4:12–13; Acts 2:37; 1 Corinthians 2:15; John 4:29; John 1:47–49
- 25 Isaiah 45:14; Zechariah 8:23; Psalm 72:11; Luke 17:16; Revelation 5:8
- 26 Ephesians 5:19; Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12:7–10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:16
- 27 1 Corinthians 14:26
- 29 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21; 1 John 4:1–3; 1 Corinthians 14:39
- 30 1 Thessalonians 5:19–20; Job 33:31–33; Job 32:11; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Job 32:15–20
- 31 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Proverbs 1:5; 1 Corinthians 14:35
- 32 1 John 4:1; Acts 4:19–20; 1 Corinthians 14:29–30; 2 Kings 2:5; 1 Samuel 10:10–13
- 33 James 3:17–18; 1 Corinthians 14:40; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 11:16
- 34 1 Timothy 2:11–12; Genesis 3:16; Numbers 30:3–13; Colossians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 14:35
- 35 1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:12; Ephesians 5:25–27; 1 Corinthians 11:14; 1 Corinthians 11:6
- 36 Zechariah 14:8; Acts 18:1–17; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; Isaiah 2:3; Acts 17:1
- 37 1 John 4:6; 2 Corinthians 10:7; 2 Peter 3:2; Jude 17; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8
- 38 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 1 Timothy 6:3–5; Matthew 7:6; Revelation 22:11–12; Hosea 4:17
- 39 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 14:24–25; 1 Corinthians 14:5
- 40 Colossians 2:5; Titus 1:5; 1 Corinthians 14:26–33; 1 Corinthians 11:34; Romans 13:13
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Thus, inasmuch as he had with exactness rehearsed unto them all the excellence of love, he exhorts them in what follows, with alacrity to lay hold of it.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
Is it not those who love God, and who believe His promises, and who "in malice have become as little children?"
… is from heaven;" and calleth upon this lower deep, saying, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." And, "Be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children," that in "understanding ye may be perfect;" and "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?" But now not in his own voice, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
For signs are "not for them that believe, but for them that believe not." But why in the fashion of a dove?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For the clouds which are the Prophets were removed from them, and are for the future in the Church; as Paul says, Let the Prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge; and again, God gave in the Church, some, Apostles, and some, Prophets.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)