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Prophecy, Tongues, and Edifying Worship

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

14
Chapter 14
1 Pursue love, but be zealous for the spiritual things, but rather that you prophesy. 2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to humans but to God, for no one hears; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification and exhortation and comfort. 4 The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but the one prophesying builds the church. 5 But I want you all to speak in tongues, but rather that you prophesy; greater is the one prophesying than the one speaking in tongues, except if he interprets, that the Church might receive edification. 6 Now then, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you if I do not speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching? 7 Yet soulless things giving a voice—whether flute or lyre—if they do not give distinction to the sounds, how will the thing being fluted or the thing being lyred be known? 8 And indeed, if a trumpet gives an indistinct voice, who will prepare for war? 9 So also you, through the tongue, if you do not give a clear word, how will what is being spoken be known? For you will be speaking into air. 10 There are so many kinds of voices in the world—and none of them is voiceless. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking and the one speaking will be a barbarian to me. 12 In this way also you, since you are zealots of spirits, seek toward the edification of the church so that you may abound. 13 Therefore the one speaking in a tongue should pray that he might interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What then is it? I will pray with the Spirit, I will pray but also with the mind; I will sing with the Spirit, I will sing but also with the mind. 16 For if you bless in the Spirit, the one filling the place of the layman, how will he say the Amen upon your thanksgiving? For what you say he does not know. 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not built up. 18 I give thanks to God; I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 but in church I want to speak five words with my mind, so that I might also instruct others, than ten thousand words in tongues. 20 Brothers, do not become children in the minds, but in wickedness be infants, but in the minds become perfect. 21 In the Law it is written, "With other tongues and with lips of others I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me," says the Lord. 22 So tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for the unbelievers, but prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 If therefore the whole church comes together in one place and all speak in tongues, but uninitiated ones or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all and examined by all. 25 The hidden things of his heart become manifest, and in this way, falling on his face, he will worship God, proclaiming, "Really God is among you."