Read & explore together
Prophecy and Tongues
This passage explains how spiritual gifts should serve others in the assembly. It compares prophecy and speaking in other languages by asking what people can understand and what will build them up.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
Addressing believers eager for spiritual gifts, this section discusses prophecy, other languages, interpretation, prayer, singing and thanksgiving in gathered worship. Again and again, the passage points to understanding, instruction and the building up of the assembly, while also noting the response of visitors.
1 Corinthians 14:1–25Main takeaway
In this passage, public speech is prized for being understandable and for building up others in the assembly.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Gifts guided by loveThe passage opens by joining love with spiritual gifts and especially prophecy. Prophecy is described as speech that gives edification, exhortation and consolation.
Explanation
The passage opens by joining love with spiritual gifts and especially prophecy. Prophecy is described as speech that gives edification, exhortation and consolation. By contrast, speaking in another language without interpretation edifies the speaker. The reason prophecy is preferred here is its benefit for the whole assembly.
02Understanding matters in worshipSpeech that others cannot understand does not profit them unless it brings revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching.
Explanation
Speech that others cannot understand does not profit them unless it brings revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching. The illustrations of pipe, harp and trumpet show that sounds must be distinct to communicate. Languages have meaning, yet unknown meaning leaves people like foreigners. So zeal for gifts should aim at building up the assembly.
03Prayer, song and thanksgivingA person speaking in another language should pray to interpret, because the spirit may pray while the understanding is unfruitful.
Explanation
A person speaking in another language should pray to interpret, because the spirit may pray while the understanding is unfruitful. The writer therefore wants both spirit and understanding in prayer and song. Otherwise, an unlearned person cannot say “Amen”, and though thanks are given, that other person is not built up.
04Few clear words, not many unclear onesThough the writer says he speaks with other languages more than they do, in the assembly he prefers five understandable words that instruct others.
Explanation
Though the writer says he speaks with other languages more than they do, in the assembly he prefers five understandable words that instruct others. He calls for mature thinking, quotes the law, and says other languages are a sign for unbelievers, while prophecy is for believers.
05The effect on visitorsIf everyone speaks with other languages, unlearned or unbelieving visitors may think the assembly is crazy.
Explanation
If everyone speaks with other languages, unlearned or unbelieving visitors may think the assembly is crazy. If all prophesy, the visitor is reproved and judged, the secrets of the heart are revealed, and the result is worship with the confession that God is truly among them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why is prophecy given more importance than uninterpreted speech in another language here?
Trace who is built up and the three purposes named for prophecy.
02Which examples show that speech in the assembly should be clear?
Notice the instruments and the point that unknown meaning leaves people unable to understand each other.
03How do the final verses contrast the effect on visitors?
Compare the response to everyone speaking with other languages with the response to prophecy.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 14:1–25
1Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
7Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
9So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What should I do? 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.
16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?
17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
19However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
21In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”
22Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
23If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.