The Epistles · Chapter 14 of 16

1 Corinthians 14

Paul teaches how spiritual gifts should function in worship, urging that everything build up the church. He prefers prophecy over uninterpreted tongues because prophecy edifies and instructs, while tongues without interpretation profit no one. He calls for intelligibility, order, and love. When believers gather, all should be done for edification, decently and in order, for God is not the author of confusion but of peace.

What happens in 1 Corinthians 14

Paul urges the Corinthians to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Speaking in an uninterpreted tongue addresses God but leaves others uninstructed, while prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts the church. Using images of musical instruments and a trumpet, he argues that unintelligible sound is useless; words must be understood to profit anyone. He would rather speak five understandable words than ten thousand in a tongue. Disordered tongues can make the church seem mad to outsiders, while clear prophecy convicts an unbeliever, exposing his heart until he falls down and confesses that God is truly present.

Paul then gives practical order: when they gather, everything should build up. Tongues should be limited, spoken in turn, and interpreted; prophets should speak in turn and be weighed, for God is not the author of confusion but of peace. He insists his instructions are the Lord's commandments, and concludes that all things should be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14 in context

The Corinthians valued the gift of tongues so highly that their gatherings had become chaotic, with people speaking over one another and little being understood. Fresh from teaching that love is the more excellent way, Paul now applies that love to public worship.

His governing principle is edification: gifts exist to build up the whole church, so worship must be intelligible, orderly, and welcoming even to outsiders and the unlearned.

Main themes of 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14 (KJV)

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.

Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 14

“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”1 Corinthians 14:12

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”1 Corinthians 14:26

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”1 Corinthians 14:33

Reflection

In worship and in gathered life, do I seek to build others up or to be noticed? Paul makes edification the test of everything. This week I can ask, before I speak or serve among believers, whether my words will strengthen the whole church and reflect the God of peace.

A prayer from 1 Corinthians 14