Read & explore together
Orderly Worship
Paul gives practical instructions for church meetings. He expects several people to contribute, yet he keeps returning to one main aim: everything in the assembly should help others and take place in an orderly way.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul describes what may happen when believers come together: psalms, teaching, revelation, other languages, interpretation and prophecy. He then sets limits for who should speak and when, so the assembly is shaped by learning, exhortation, peace, submission and good order.
1 Corinthians 14:26–40Main takeaway
In this passage, gathered worship is to be understandable, peaceful and ordered so that the church is built up.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Many contributions, one purposePaul says that when believers come together, different people may bring a psalm, teaching, revelation, another language or an interpretation.
Explanation
Paul says that when believers come together, different people may bring a psalm, teaching, revelation, another language or an interpretation. The passage does not reject variety in the meeting. Instead, Paul gives one rule for all contributions: let everything be done to build each other up.
02Speaking in languages and prophecy with limitsFor speaking in another language, Paul sets limits: only two or three speakers, each in turn, and one person must interpret.
Explanation
For speaking in another language, Paul sets limits: only two or three speakers, each in turn, and one person must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker is to keep silent in the assembly. Prophets also speak in a measured way, with two or three speaking while others discern.
03One by one, for learning and peaceIf a revelation comes to another person who is sitting by, the first speaker is to keep silent.
Explanation
If a revelation comes to another person who is sitting by, the first speaker is to keep silent. Paul says all can prophesy one by one so that all may learn and be exhorted. He adds that the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets, because God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
04Final instructions for recognising orderPaul then gives instructions about wives being quiet in the assemblies and asking their own husbands at home if they want to learn.
Explanation
Paul then gives instructions about wives being quiet in the assemblies and asking their own husbands at home if they want to learn. He asks whether the word of God went out from them or came to them alone, says spiritual people should recognise his words as the Lord’s commandment, states, “if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant,” and ends by urging prophecy, not forbidding other languages, and doing all things decently and in order.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What is the main test Paul gives for anything shared in the meeting?
Look for the purpose statement in verse 26 that measures every contribution by its benefit to others in the church.
02What limits does Paul place on speaking in another language, and what should happen if those limits cannot be met?
List the instructions about number, taking turns and interpretation, then notice the command to keep silent if there is no interpreter.
03How does Paul end this passage with both authority and openness?
Notice his call to recognise his instruction, his statement about the ignorant person, and his final commands about prophecy, other languages and order.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 14:26–40
26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
27If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
30But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
31For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
34Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,
35if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”
36What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
40Let all things be done decently and in order.