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1 Corinthians 14

Paul directs spiritual gifts toward the assembly’s growth through speech people can understand and worship governed by God’s peace.

Paul writes to the Corinthian church about speaking in other languages and prophesying when believers gather. He compares speech people cannot understand with speech that builds up the assembly, including its effect on unbelieving visitors. He then sets limits on speakers, requires interpretation and discernment, and addresses wives’ speech. His closing instructions affirm both prophecy and speaking in other languages while requiring order under the Lord’s authority.

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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?
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.
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.
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.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
1 Corinthians 14:20Paul calls for mature thinking about spiritual gifts while insisting that believers remain free from malice.
1 Corinthians 14:26Building up the assembly becomes the governing purpose for every contribution when believers gather.
1 Corinthians 14:34Paul places this restriction on wives’ speech within his instructions for submission and order in gathered worship.
Where this chapter reaches

Ephesians shares the link between spiritual gifts and building up Christ’s people, with maturity as a goal of their use. Acts also describes speaking in other languages through the Spirit, a shared gift that Paul here regulates for the gathered assembly.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What stands out about Paul’s preference for five understandable words over ten thousand in another language?

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How might the command to build each other up shape what you contribute when believers gather?

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Questions people ask about 1 Corinthians 14

What does speaking in tongues mean in 1 Corinthians 14?

Paul describes speech directed to God that others cannot understand without interpretation. He compares it with languages that have meaning and requires interpretation in the assembly. The chapter does not settle every question about the nature of these languages; its central concern is whether hearers can understand and be built up.

What is prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14?

Paul describes prophecy as speech that builds up, exhorts, and consoles the assembly. It can expose an unbeliever’s heart and lead to worship of God. He connects it with revelation, requires others to discern what is spoken, and insists that prophets take turns and exercise self-control.

Why does 1 Corinthians 14 say women should be silent?

Paul tells wives to keep quiet in the assemblies and directs those who want to learn to ask their husbands at home. He connects this with submission and the law. The reference to questions suggests an issue involving learning, though the situation is not described in detail. Christians differ over the restriction’s scope.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).