Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 aPursue love, yet bdesire earnestly cspiritual gifts, but especially that you may dprophesy.

2 For one who aspeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one 1understands, but 2in his spirit he speaks bmysteries.

3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for aedification and bexhortation and consolation.

4 One who aspeaks in a tongue bedifies himself; but one who cprophesies bedifies the church.

5 Now I wish that you all aspoke in tongues, but beven more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who aspeaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive cedifying.

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 arevelation or of bknowledge or of cprophecy or of dteaching?

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 athe 1bugle 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 aspeaking into the air.

10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 1languages 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 1abarbarian, and the one who speaks will be a 1barbarian 2to me.

12 So also you, since you are zealous of 1spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the aedification 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 aWhat is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will bsing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

16 Otherwise if you bless 1in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the 2ungifted say athe “Amen” at your bgiving 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 aedified.

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 aBrethren, bdo not be children in your thinking; yet in evil cbe infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21 In athe Law it is written, “bBy 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 aprophecy 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 1ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ayou are mad?

24 But if all aprophesy, and an unbeliever or an 1ungifted man enters, he is bconvicted by all, he is called to account by all;

25 athe secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will bfall on his face and worship God, cdeclaring that God is certainly among you.

26 aWhat is the outcome then, bbrethren? When you assemble, ceach one has a dpsalm, has a eteaching, has a erevelation, has a ftongue, has an ginterpretation. Let hall things be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a atongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must binterpret;

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 aprophets speak, and let the others bpass 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 aconfusion but of 1peace, as in ball the churches of the csaints.

34 The women are to akeep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but bare to subject themselves, just as cthe Law also says.

35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is 1improper for a woman to speak in church.

36 1Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

37 aIf anyone thinks he is a prophet or bspiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you care the Lord’s commandment.

38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he 1is not recognized.