Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

20 Brethren, (A)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice (B)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 (C)In the law it is written:

(D)“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a (E)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, (F)will they not say that you are [a]out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 [b]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report (G)that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, (H)has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. (I)Let all things be done for [c]edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and (J)let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, (K)let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And (L)the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of [d]confusion but of peace, (M)as in all the churches of the saints.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:23 insane
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:25 NU omits And thus
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:26 building up
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:33 disorder

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(A) In regard to evil be infants,(B) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(C) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(D)
says the Lord.”[a]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(E) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(F) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(G) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(H)

Good Order in Worship

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(I) When you come together, each of you(J) has a hymn,(K) or a word of instruction,(L) a revelation, a tongue(M) or an interpretation.(N) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(O) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets(P) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(Q) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(R) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(S) but of peace(T)—as in all the congregations(U) of the Lord’s people.(V)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12