The gift of prophesying is to be preferred before that of speaking
strange tongues.
14:1. Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather
that you may prophesy.
Prophesy.... That is, declare or expound the mysteries of faith.
14:2. For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto
God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Not unto men.... Viz., so as to be heard, that is, so as to be
understood by them.
14:3. But he that prophesieth speaketh to men unto edification and
exhortation and comfort.
14:4. He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself: but he that
prophesieth, edifieth the church.
14:5. And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to
prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with
tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive
edification.
14:6. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what
shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in
knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine?
14:7. Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp,
except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is
piped or harped?
14:8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare
himself to the battle?
14:9. So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how
shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.
14:10. There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world:
and none is without voice.
14:11. If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to
whom I speak a barbarian: and he that speaketh a barbarian to me.
14:12. So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to
abound unto the edifying of the church.
Of spirits.... Of spiritual gifts.
14:13. And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he
may interpret.
14:14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my
understanding is without fruit.
14:15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also
with the understanding, I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also
with the understanding.
14:16. Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that
holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? Because
he knoweth not what thou sayest.
Amen.... The unlearned, not knowing that you are then blessing, will
not be qualified to join with you by saying Amen to your blessing. The
use or abuse of strange tongues, of which the apostle here speaks, does
not regard the public liturgy of the church, (in which strange tongues
were never used,) but certain conferences of the faithful, ver. 26,
etc., in which, meeting together, they discovered to one another their
various miraculous gifts of the Spirit, common in those primitive
times; amongst which the apostle prefers that of prophesying before
that of speaking strange tongues, because it was more to the public
edification. Where also not, that the Latin, used in our liturgy, is so
far from being a strange or unknown tongue, that it is perhaps the best
known tongue in the world.
14:17. For thou indeed givest thanks well: but the other is not
edified.
14:18. I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.
14:19. But in the church I had rather speak five words with my
understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words
in a tongue.
14:20. Brethren, do not become children in sense. But in malice be
children: and in sense be perfect.
14:21. In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will
speak to this people: and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.
14:22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to
unbelievers: but prophecies, not to unbelievers but to believers.
14:23. If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and
all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or
infidels, will they not say that you are mad?
14:24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not or
an unlearned person, he is convinced of all: he is judged of all.
14:25. The secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so, falling down
on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.
14:26. How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of
you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue,
hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.
14:27. If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by
three, and in course: and let one interpret.
14:28. But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the
church and speak to himself and to God.
14:29. And let the prophets speak, two or three: and let the rest
judge.
14:30. But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first
hold his peace.
14:31. For you may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn and all
may be exhorted.
14:32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
14:33. For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I
teach in all the churches of the saints.
14:34. Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted
them to speak but to be subject, as also the law saith.
14:35. But if they would learn anything, let them ask their husbands at
home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
14:36. Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto
you?
14:37. If any seem to be a prophet or spiritual, let him know the
things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.
14:38. But if any man know not, he shall not be known.
14:39. Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy: and forbid not to
speak with tongues.
14:40. But let all things be done decently and according to order.