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1 Corinthians 14:1-25 — Prophecy and Tongues

1Cor.14.1-25

¹Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual things, but especially that you may prophesy. ²For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God ; for no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and comfort. ⁴The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵Now I want all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification. ⁶Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you by revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷Even lifeless instruments that give sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or on the harp be recognized? ⁸And if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹So also with you: if with your tongue you do not give intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are perhaps many kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without meaning . ¹¹If, then, I do not know the meaning of the sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. ¹²So also with you, since you are zealous for spiritual things, seek to abound for the edification of the church. ¹³Therefore let anyone who speaks in a tongue pray so that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵What then is the conclusion? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with the mind. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless with your spirit , how will the outsider say the Amen at your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷For you indeed give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. ¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind , so that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking, but in evil be infants, and in your thinking be mature. ²¹It is written in the Law: 'By people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord. ²²So then tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³If, therefore, the whole church comes together in one place and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all. ²⁵The secrets of his heart are made plain, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring, 'Truly God is among you.'

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4/11/2026

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