1 Corinthians 14:18-40

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

¹⁹But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

²¹It is written in the Law:

“By strange tongues and foreign lips

I will speak to this people,

but even then they will not listen to Me,

says the Lord.”

²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

²⁴But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

²⁵and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

²⁶What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

²⁸But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

²⁹Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

³⁰And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

³¹For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

³²The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

³³For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace — as in all the churches of the saints.

³⁴Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

³⁵If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

³⁶Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

³⁷If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

³⁸But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

³⁹So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

⁴⁰But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

1 Corinthians 14:18-40

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Cross References for 1 Corinthians 14:18-40

The Berean Standard Bible