Chapter 14
Regarding the Gifts of Prophecy and Speaking in Tongues
14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Paul finishes his short essay on love with a simple “Pursue love,” followed by the encouragement to desire Spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy which he will elaborate in the following twenty-four verses.
14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Paul explains why he singles out prophecy and speaking in tongues, they both contain words that come directly from God. Speaking in tongues means you are speaking to God and no one else can understand, as He reveals things in the Spirit. But then Paul stops and thinks, “On the other hand…” anyone who prophesies speaks to people (not just one person) and offers words of encouragement and comfort. Paul weighs each one, speaking in tongues only benefits the one, while prophesying builds up others. He tells his readers that he wants all of them to speak in tongues, but then advises that he wants them to prophesy even more. He points out that the one who prophesies has the greater gift. But if there is a person present in a group that can interpret what the person speaking in tongues is saying, then just like the one who prophesies, many people can be edified by the words from God.
14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
To clarify that speaking in tongues doesn’t benefit anyone unless they receive some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching from God, he compares the utterances of the person speaking in tongues to musical instruments that are not playing understandable notes and a bugle that can’t be distinguished from other sounds. The words are unintelligible and the message lost. They might as well be talking to an empty room.
14:10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Paul notes that there are many languages around the world and that they are all valid and convey some form of information, but if you don’t know the language, the connection between people is lost. So they should instead desire manifestations of the Holy Spirit that will build up the church.
14:13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
If someone speaks in a language that is unknown or is otherwise indecipherable, they should pray for someone who can interpret and provide insight to those present. Paul explains why in the following six verses.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
Paul offers an unusual observation, when he is praying in a tongue he is aware of what he is doing but is not mentally involved. His mind is disengaged from his mouth. So he asks what should he be thinking about during this time.
14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
The answer is that he will pray in his mind at the same time he is speaking in a tongue. If he sings in the spirit he will likewise sing in his mind.
14:16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Paul returns to the question of comprehension for others, he uses the example of someone giving thanks while speaking in a tongue, “How can someone agree by saying ‘Amen’ when they have no idea what’s being said?” He notes that those listening are not being built up (their relationship with God is not benefited). He then notes that he speaks in tongues more than any of his readers (only God would know that information who is undoubtedly Paul’s source), but nonetheless while gathered with other believers he would rather speak just a few words from his mind to instruct rather than many words spoken in a different language.
14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
In the previous chapter Paul noted how thinking like a child was fine while still a child, but as an adult one must think like an adult, able to reason. Here Paul is calling on them to be mature in their thinking but be like infants, innocent, when it comes to evil.
14:21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
Paul then quotes Isaiah 28:11-12, his application of Isaiah here as justification for him to state that tongues are not for believers but for unbelievers and that prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers, has stumped many theologians and commentators. The passage refers to God sending people that will speak an unrecognized language to punish His people. The parallels are that both Paul’s message and the reference to Isaiah 28 refer to listening to a foreign tongue. Perhaps witnessing a person speaking in tongues sparks a dialog that leads to bringing the person watching to accepting Jesus.
14:23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Using a hypothetical scenario Paul asks that when believers are gathered and an unbeliever encounters the group while they are all speaking in tongues, “Will they not believe that everyone has lost their sanity?” But if everyone was prophesying in the same scenario, the unbeliever could be convicted and ultimately fall before God and declare that God is present.
Regarding When the Believers Gather Together
14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Paul next addresses what he refers to being from the Lord (see verse 37) for when they assemble together. Most modern readers assume this section refers to what is commonly known as the Sunday Morning Worship Service, it is a reference to any gathering of believers. He is not making a checklist of things that need to be done when he states that one will sing, one offer a lesson, a revelation from God, a tongue, or an interpretation of the tongue, he is saying that whatever is done it is to be done to build each other up.
14:27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
If someone desires to speak in a tongue there should not be more than three and they need to take turns, they are not to speak simultaneously. But only if there is an interpreter present, otherwise they need to be silent when assembled.
14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33a For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
If someone desires to prophesy, up to three are allowed to speak, as everyone else is to ‘weigh’ (Greek ‘diakrinetōsan’, to separate carefully, to evaluate discerningly) what was said. But if another person receives a revelation from God they are to speak and the prophet that is speaking is to stop. Paul says the prophets can speak one at a time so that each one can learn from the other and be encouraged. Paul makes an interesting observation that the prophets can control when they talk. When believers are assembled there should not be an “air of confusion,” things should be done in an orderly fashion as God is not a God of disorder or confusion, but of peace.
14:33b As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
The phrase “As in all the churches of the saints,” can apply to Paul’s reference to God being a God of peace (previous verse), or to following section (verse 34), or as I prefer, both. I placed it here only because this is where most modern English Bibles place it. For obvious reasons this passage is highly debated. This is not a restriction of women talking, Paul is referring to women speaking in a tongue or prophesying only. That instead they allow only the men to speak in tongues and prophesy publicly (remember the wives are under their husband’s authority while praying and prophesying out loud, see 1 Corinthians 11:7-12). If a wife has a question or desires to learn something, they are to learn from their husbands at home. This is not a moratorium on women prophesying as we read about women prophesying elsewhere in the Bible (see Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 21:9). Paul reminds them that this aligns with God’s law, a command given as a result of Eve offering the forbidden fruit to Adam (see Genesis 3:16; see also Numbers 30:3-12; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Colossians 3:18-19; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7). Many believe that the Jewish synagogues during this time allowed anyone to disrupt a gathering with a legitimate question and that practice carried over to gatherings of believers. In order to minimize this disruptive practice in their assemblies Paul suggests that the questions be asked at home. He notes again that it is inappropriate for a woman to speak.
14:36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
Paul asks two very direct questions, “Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?” (1 Corinthians 14:36, NLT) They were not the first, nor were they the only ones that received God’s message of salvation. He is saying that they don’t get to set the rules. So, Paul offers a way for them to test people to see if they should be listened to or not. The test is simple, if they read this epistle and agree that everything he wrote came from God, then that person can be heard. He once again tells them to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy (see 1 Corinthians 12:31), but at the same time don’t forbid speaking in tongues. He closes the subject of prophesying and speaking in tongues with the request that all things should be done decently and in order.
Apparently the church took several liberties and carelessly interpreted God’s Word which may have led to their disorder and poor conduct at their gatherings. But Paul understood that one’s corrupt or improper behavior can only surface if their thinking is equally corrupt or depraved, pointing to the need to review and hopefully renew their understanding of essential Christian doctrine which Paul does in the next chapter.
Considerations
What does Paul mean when he refers to church?
The word church (Greek ‘ekklēsia’, meaning “the called people,” a word used describe a congregation of Israelites, see Acts 7:38, as well as believers in Jesus), has, to some degree, been hijacked by modern English speakers to refer to everything from a building to an organization. When Paul uses the term he is referring to a group of believers usually in a particular location. There were no church buildings (the concept of dedicated locations and structures came many years later) nor were they organized like what we see today. The term is also used in the Bible to refer to all believers, often called by theologians the “Universal Church.”