Prophecy: A Superior Gift

14 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

³ On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^[a] encouragement, and consolation. ⁴ The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ I wish all of you spoke in tongues,^[b] but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

⁶ So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation^(A) or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

²² Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴ But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. ²⁵ The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”^(A)

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one^[a] has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.^(B) Everything is to be done for building up. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. ²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.^{(C) 30} But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.^{(D) 32} And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, ³³ since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,^{(E) 34} the women^[b] should be silent in the churches,^(F) for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. ³⁵ If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands^(G) at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. ³⁶ Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

³⁷ If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.^{[c] 39} So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(H) to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

¹¹ And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

²⁰ Don’t despise prophecies,