1 Corinthians 14:3-5
The Message
Prayer Language
14 1-3 Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you’re letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
4-5 The one who prays using a private “prayer language” certainly gets a lot out of it, but proclaiming God’s truth to the church in its common language brings the whole church into growth and strength. I want all of you to develop intimacies with God in prayer, but please don’t stop with that. Go on and proclaim his clear truth to others. It’s more important that everyone have access to the knowledge and love of God in language everyone understands than that you go off and cultivate God’s presence in a mysterious prayer language—unless, of course, there is someone who can interpret what you are saying for the benefit of all.
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1 Corinthians 14:3-5
New International Version
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,(A) encouraging(B) and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue(C) edifies(D) themselves, but the one who prophesies(E) edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[a] but I would rather have you prophesy.(F) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[b] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.(G)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
- 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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