I Corinthians – Chapter 14

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue (*) speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

(*) This word simply means “language”. Back then people mostly only live in their native countries, thus the phenomenon of someone being able to speak many languages that were not the languages of their hometown is very rare, to such an extent that if a Christian can speak multiple languages, it is almost sure that he must have received this gift through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Bible, there were 3 times the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers and caused them to speak in “tongues”: [05] Acts 2:11 (the disciples on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured down), [05] Acts 10:44-46 (the family and friends of Cornelius that Peter preached to), [05] Acts 19:6 (the disciples in Ephesus that Paul preached to), and all three of them were languages that could be understood by the people present, those who happens to speak them as well. This gift is the ability to suddenly and miraculously be able to speak certain meaningful languages (compare with verse 10 below) that a person previously knew not, to help overcome the boundary of languages in preaching. It is never the babbling of meaningless and useless sound noises. The translator would like to point that out clearly, so those who were confused in this matter can be untangled from their misunderstandings by the Truth, to a purer and simpler faith, without pretension, so nothing would hinder them from receiving the real and truly powerful spiritual gifts from the Lord.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret (*).

(*) This might sound strange, but it is true that being able to speak a language, and being able to synchronize that language’s meaning with another language to translate it, is another story completely. The translator, for example, can speak fluently multiple languages, but upon translating them one to the other, was often confused and awkward myself.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful (*).

(*) The meaning of one’s prayer no one would be able to understand. See verse 16 below.

15 What is it then? 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 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets (*).

(*) Thus a true prophet would ALWAYS agree to be cross-checked by other prophets. If one profess to be a prophet, yet teaches unbiblical doctrines that he could not defend by the Bible, or lifts himself up above the other prophets and refused to be cross-checked by their writings, that person can be identified as a false prophet.

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask (*) their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (*)

(*) Note: there is no way Paul was forbidding women to say anything amidst the church in this 14th chapter, when right in the 11th chapter before it, he was instructing women to cover their heads when they pray and prophesy, showing that they obviously were allowed to pray and prophesy. And “prophesying” would also include “speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” according to verse 3 above. Then what was Paul forbidding women to speak of here? The key to understand this verse lies in understanding the word “ask” in it. It is not the asking for information to learn, but the asking to challenge and demand answers, like: “if that was true, then how do you explain abc xyz?!” Women are NOT permitted to “ask” like that amidst the church, or participate in heated debates, arguing about doctrines and other ecclesiastical matters amidst the church. That will make the church noisome and chaotic, like a common marketplace (they are WOMEN, after all). And Paul was explaining this out of verse 33 above “for God is not the author of confusion”, to teach order to the Corinthian church, something they seemed to be lacking. This verse only forbids women to lift up their voice in that circumstance. It does not at all forbid them from praying, prophesying, singing, etc… If they feel unsatisfied about certain doctrines, and would like to ask some questions, let them ask their spiritual guide (husband, or father, or pastor) later.

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.