1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 ¹Pursue love, yet ²desire earnestly ³spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ⁴prophesy.

2 For one who ⁵speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks ⁶mysteries.

3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for ⁷edification and ⁸exhortation and consolation.

4 One who ⁹speaks in a tongue ¹⁰edifies himself; but one who ¹¹prophesies ¹²edifies the church.

5 Now I wish that you all ¹³spoke in tongues, but ¹⁴even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who ¹⁵speaks in tongues, unless * he interprets, so that the church may receive ¹⁶edifying.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless * I speak to you either by way of ¹⁷revelation or of ¹⁸knowledge or of ¹⁹prophecy or of ²⁰teaching?

7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

8 For if ²¹the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

9 So also you, unless * you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ²²speaking into the air.

10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.

11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a ²³barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.

12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ²⁴edification of the church.

13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 ²⁵What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will ²⁶sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say ²⁷the "Amen " at your ²⁸giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ²⁹edified.

18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

20 ³⁰Brethren, ³¹do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ³²be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21 In ³³the Law it is written, "³⁴BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ³⁵prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together * * and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ³⁶you are mad?

24 But if all ³⁷prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is ³⁸convicted by all, he is called to account by all;

25 ³⁹the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ⁴⁰fall on his face and worship God, ⁴¹declaring that God is certainly among you.

26 ⁴²What is the outcome then, ⁴³brethren? When you assemble, ⁴⁴each one has a ⁴⁵psalm, has a ⁴⁶teaching, has a ⁴⁷revelation, has a ⁴⁸tongue, has an ⁴⁹interpretation. Let ⁵⁰all things be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a ⁵¹tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ⁵²interpret;

28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three ⁵³prophets speak, and let the others ⁵⁴pass judgment.

30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one * by one *, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;

32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

33 for God is not a God of ⁵⁵confusion but of peace, as in ⁵⁶all the churches of the ⁵⁷saints.

34 The women are to ⁵⁸keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ⁵⁹are to subject themselves, just as ⁶⁰the Law also says.

35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

37 ⁶¹If anyone thinks he is a prophet or ⁶²spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ⁶³are the Lord's commandment.

38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

39 Therefore, my brethren, ⁶⁴desire earnestly to ⁶⁵prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

40 But ⁶⁶all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

1 Corinthians 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1-5) The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (6-14) Exhortations to worship that can be understood. (15-25) Disorders from vain display of gifts; (26-33) and from women speaking in the church. (34-40)

Verses 1-5 Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if delivered in language such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent, spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.

Verses 6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for public worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name for learning or fine speaking.

Verses 15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.

Verses 26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age or station.

Verses 34-40 When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that which is good for it, to bear with that which is not hurtful to its welfare, and to keep up good behaviour, order, and decency.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Corinthians 16:14
• 2. 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:39
• 3. 1 Corinthians 12:1
• 4. 1 Corinthians 13:2
• 5. Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:18f
• 6. 1 Corinthians 13:2
• 7. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
• 8. Acts 4:36
• 9. Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:18ff, 26
• 10. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
• 11. 1 Corinthians 13:2
• 12. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
• 13. Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:18ff, 26
• 14. Numbers 11:29
• 15. Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:18ff, 26
• 16. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 12, 17, 26
• 17. 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 1:17
• 18. 1 Corinthians 12:8
• 19. 1 Corinthians 13:2
• 20. Acts 2:42; Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 14:26
• 21. Numbers 10:9; Jeremiah 4:19; Ezekiel 33:3-6; Joel 2:1
• 22. 1 Corinthians 9:26
• 23. Acts 28:2
• 24. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 5, 17, 26
• 25. Acts 21:22; 1 Corinthians 14:26
• 26. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
• 27. Deuteronomy 27:15-26; 1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 5:13; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalms 106:48; Jeremiah 11:5; 2Nehemiah 8:6; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 7:12
• 28. Matthew 15:36
• 29. Romans 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 5, 12, 26
• 30. Romans 1:13
• 31. Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 5:12
• 32. Psalms 131:2; Matthew 18:3; Romans 16:19; 1 Peter 2:2
• 33. John 10:34; 1 Corinthians 14:34
• 34. Isaiah 28:11
• 35. 1 Corinthians 14:1
• 36. Acts 2:13
• 37. 1 Corinthians 14:1
• 38. John 16:8
• 39. John 4:19
• 40. Luke 17:16
• 41. Isaiah 45:14; Daniel 2:47; Zechariah 8:23; Acts 4:13
• 42. 1 Corinthians 14:15
• 43. Romans 1:13
• 44. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
• 45. Ephesians 5:19
• 46. 1 Corinthians 14:6
• 47. 1 Corinthians 14:6
• 48. 1 Corinthians 14:2
• 49. 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:5, 13, 27
• 50. Romans 14:19
• 51. 1 Corinthians 14:2
• 52. 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:5, 13, 26f
• 53. 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:32, 37
• 54. 1 Corinthians 12:10
• 55. 1 Corinthians 14:40
• 56. 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 7:17
• 57. Acts 9:13
• 58. 1 Corinthians 11:5, 13
• 59. 1 Timothy 2:11; 1 Peter 3:1
• 60. 1 Corinthians 14:21
• 61. 2 Corinthians 10:7
• 62. 1 Corinthians 2:15
• 63. 1 John 4:6
• 64. 1 Corinthians 12:31
• 65. 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:1
• 66. 1 Corinthians 14:33

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "hears"
• [b]. Or "by the Spirit"
• [c]. Lit "trumpet"
• [d]. Lit "voices"
• [e]. Or "foreigner"
• [f]. Or "foreigner"
• [g]. Or "in my estimation"
• [h]. Lit "spirits"
• [i]. Or "with the"
• [j]. I.e. unversed in spiritual gifts
• [k]. V 16, note 2
• [l]. V 16, note 2
• [m]. Or "peace. As in all...saints, let"
• [n]. Or "disgraceful"
• [o]. Lit "Or was"
• [p]. Two early mss read "is not to be recognized"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 14

In this chapter the apostle discourses concerning the use of spiritual gifts, and prefers prophesying, or preaching, to every other gift; and directs to the order and manner of using it, and also points at the persons who should exercise it; and whereas there was much confusion and disorder in this church, in the management of the affairs of it, the chapter is concluded with a general exhortation to do everything in a decent and orderly manner. The apostle begins with an exhortation to follow after charity, which he had commended in the preceding chapter, and had preferred to gifts, and yet he would not have gifts slighted, but represents them as desirable; particularly prophesying or preaching, which he prefers above all, 1Co 14:1 and especially above the gift of tongues, and for which he gives his reasons; he that speaks with tongues, speaks to God and not to men; at least not to their understanding, though he may by his gift deliver the most excellent truths, 1Co 14:2 whereas he that preaches speaks to men, to their edification, exhortation, and comfort, 1Co 14:3 the one edifies himself, and the other the church, 1Co 14:4 wherefore since he had a sincere affection for this church, though he could wish they all had the gift of speaking with tongues, yet he rather desired they might have the gift of preaching, because that was most for edification, 1Co 14:5 and exemplifies this in himself, that should he come to them speaking with divers tongues, this would be of no use to them, unless he came revealing, making known, and preaching the doctrines of the Gospel to them, 1Co 14:6 and illustrates this by a simile taken from musical instruments, in which unless there is a distinction of sounds, the music will not be understood, and there can be nothing grateful and pleasant: and such is speaking with divers tongues, without an interpretation, 1Co 14:7 and particularly by a simile taken from the trumpet, as used in war; which if it gives a sound that is unknown, it will be no direction to prepare for the battle, 1Co 14:8 which similes are accommodated to the case in hand; showing that words easy to be understood by the hearer should be made use of by the speaker, or speaking is in vain, 1Co 14:9 each word in every language indeed has its signification, some idea or another annexed to it; but if this is not understood by the hearer as well as the speaker, they become barbarians to one another, 1Co 14:10,11 wherefore such as were eagerly desirous of spiritual gifts, should covet those that were most for edification; and if speaking with tongues were what they were most set upon, they should pray for the gift of interpretation also, 1Co 14:12,13 because, for instance, if prayer is made in an unknown tongue, the extraordinary gift indeed may be exercised, but not to the understanding, and so not to the profit of others, 1Co 14:14 hence the apostle determines for himself, that though he should make use of his spiritual gifts, both in praying and singing, it should be in such a manner as to be understood by others, as well as himself, 1Co 14:15 and it was right for everyone to do so likewise, otherwise persons not knowing what is prayed for, or thanks given for, would be so far from being able to join in the exercise, that they could not so much as say Amen at the conclusion of it, 1Co 14:16 and though thanks might be returned for a mercy received in ever so agreeable a manner, yet it could be no ways edifying to a man that did not understand the language in which it was expressed, 1Co 14:17 not that the apostle said all this, because he had not such a gift himself, for he had it to a greater degree than any in this church had arrived to, 1Co 14:18 yet after all it was more eligible to him to speak live words in a public manner, so as to be understood, than ten thousand in a language the people were ignorant of, 1Co 14:19 wherefore he exhorts the Corinthians not to act the childish part, to covet speaking with tongues, but rather the more manly one, to prophesy, or preach, to the understanding of others, 1Co 14:20 moreover, the apostle deters them from seeking to speak with divers tongues, by citing a passage out of Isa 28:11 by which it appears, that speaking with divers tongues and strange languages was sometimes threatened as a punishment, and not given as a blessing, 1Co 14:21 besides, speaking with tongues was a sign of unbelief, and used for the conviction of unbelievers; whereas prophesying, or preaching, was a sign of faith, and was for the profit of believers, and therefore the most desirable, 1Co 14:22 to which he adds another reason, dissuading from the use of speaking with divers tongues in public, where they are not understood, taken from the opinion that ignorant and unbelieving persons coming into their assemblies would entertain of them, as though they were madmen, 1Co 14:23 whereas should they preach in a language understood, on the contrary it might be of use for the conviction of such persons, who having the secrets of their hearts laid open to them, will fall down and worship God, whose word they hear; and when they depart, report that the divine presence is with such a people, 1Co 14:24,25 hence the apostle proceeds to direct to the proper and orderly manner of using gifts; that whereas there were different ones among them, one had one gift, and another had another, they might all be used, provided they were used in such a manner as to tend to edification, 1Co 14:26 so for instance, if speaking in an unknown tongue was used, it should be only by two or three at most, one after another; and there should be an interpreter to make known the meaning of what was said to the people, 1Co 14:27 but if there were none that had the gift of interpreting, then it was most advisable for the speaker to be silent in public, and only in private speak to God and himself, 1Co 14:28 and then as for those that had the gift of prophesying, or preaching, these should exercise their gift two or three at a time, one after another, and the rest should sit and judge what they delivered, whether agreeable to the word of God or not, 1Co 14:29 and should anything be more clearly revealed to one that sat and heard, the speaker should be silent, and give way to him, that he might have the opportunity of declaring it to the edification of the church, 1Co 14:30 for all that had the gift of preaching might use it one after another, by turns, for general instruction and comfort, 1Co 14:31 seeing spiritual gifts are subject to and at the dispose of those that are possessed of them: or the doctrines preached by the one are subject to the examination and judgment of the other, 1Co 14:32 for God, the donor of all gifts, is the author of order and peace, and not of confusion in all the churches, 1Co 14:33 and whereas the apostle had suggested, that all might prophecy, or preach, that is, that had gifts qualifying for it, he would be understood only of men, and not women, who were not permitted to speak in the church in a way of preaching; no, not even to ask questions there about what they heard, but if they wanted to be informed of any thing they did not rightly understand, they were to ask their husbands at home; this the apostle argues, partly from the law, which commands them to be in obedience to men, and partly from the indecency of such a practice, 1Co 14:34,35 and seeing as it should seem such a practice did obtain in the church at Corinth, the apostle warmly reproves them for it, it being what was not to be observed in other churches, by intimating to them, that the Gospel neither came out from them, nor did it come to them only, 1Co 14:36 and whoever had a gift of preaching, or a spiritual understanding of things, must allow, that what the apostle said were not the commandments of men, but of God, 1Co 14:37 but as for ignorant persons, who were affectedly and wilfully such, they must so remain, there was no help for it, 1Co 14:38 upon which the apostle repeats his exhortation he set out with, to desire in the first place the gift of prophesying, or preaching, though he would not have speaking with tongues forbidden, provided the above rules were attended to, 1Co 14:39 and concludes with a general exhortation to do all the above things, and everything relating to the doctrine and discipline of the church, in a becoming and orderly manner, 1Co 14:40.