Speaking in tongues
(I'm glad I do it more than any of you)
1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
prophesy.
2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto
God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh
mysteries.
3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation,
and comfort.
4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Try to be charitable,
but try even harder to get spiritual gifts,
like prophesy.
Those who speak in unknown tongues,
are speaking to God, not people.
No one but God understands them. [1]
5
I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for
greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he
interpret, that the church may receive edifying
6
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I
profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by
knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except
they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped
or harped?
8
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to
the battle?
9
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood,
how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of
them is without signification.
11
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that
speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye
may excel to the edifying of the church.
13
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may
interpret.
14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my
understanding is unfruitful.
15
What is it then? 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.
16
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth
the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he
understandeth not what thou sayest?
17
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I'd like you all to speak in tongues and prophesy.
Prophesy is better than speaking in tongues,
especially when there isn't an interpreter around.
18
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding,
that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an
unknown tongue.
Thank God I speak in tongues more than any of you.
20
Brethren, be not
children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be
men.
21
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I
speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith
the LORD.
Don't be childish in your understanding. [2]
22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them
that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but
for them which believe.
Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers. [3]
23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all
speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or
unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one
unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down
on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a
psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
If everyone speaks in tongues at church,
unbelievers will think you are insane.
27
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by
three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
So don't have any more than two or three
speaking in tongues at the same time.
And have someone interpret what they say.
28
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and
let him speak to himself, and to God.
29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold
his peace.
31
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be
comforted.
32
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
If no interpreter is present, don't speak in tongues. [4]
Talk to yourself and God.
33
For God is not the
author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Because God isn't the author of confusion. [5]
Don't let your women talk in church
(let them ask their husbands at home)
34
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
Don't let your women talk in church.
They aren't permitted to speak,
but must be obedient, as the law of Moses requires. [6]
35
And if they will
learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame
for women to speak in the church.
36
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
If they'd like to learn something,
let them ask their husbands at home.
Because it's a shame for women to speak in church.
37
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him
acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of
the Lord.
The things that I write to you are the commandments of God.
38
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
But let those who are ignorant stay ignorant.
39
Wherefore, brethren, covet
to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40
Let all things be done decently and in order.
Therefore, covet to prophesy, [7]
and don't forbid people from speaking in tongues. [8]
Notes
- He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:
for no man understandeth him (v.2)
Speak in tongues so no one but God can understand you.
Should you speak in tongues?
- Be not children in understanding. (v.20)
Is it good to be childish?
- Tongues are ... a sign ... to them that believe not. (v.22)
That believers are bat-shit crazy.
- If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself,
and to God. (v.28)
If you don't have an "interpreter", STFU.
- God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. (v.33)
Is God warlike or peaceful?
Is God the author of confusion?
- Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask
their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (vv.34-35)
Women are commanded by Paul to be silent in church and to be obedient to men. He further says that "if they
will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in
church."
In some manuscripts, verses 34-35 are found at the end of chapter 14, leading some scholars to think that they were not
written by Paul but originated from a misogynistic scribe's marginal note.
Can women be church leaders?
What the Bible says about women's rights
Should women have the same rights as men?
May a woman speak in church?
- Covet to prophesy. (v.39a)
Is it OK to covet?
- Forbid not to speak with tongues. (v.39b)
Should you speak in tongues?
- Speak in tongues.
- I would that ye all spake with tongues. 14:5
- When you speak in an unknown tongue, pray that someone will interpret it.
- Let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14:13
- Don't be children in understanding.
- Brethren, be not children in understanding. 14:20a
- Be children in malice.
- Howbeit in malice be ye children. 14:20b
- Be adults in understanding.
- But in understanding be men. 14:20c
- Edify one another.
- Let all things be done unto edifying. 14:26
- No more than two or three people should speak in tongues, with someone to interpret it.
- If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 14:27
- Don't speak in tongues unless an interpreter is present.
- If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 14:28
- At every church service, two or three prophets should speak and everyone else should judge what they say.
- Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 14:29
- If something is revealed to you while you're sitting, wait for the other prophets have finished their prophecies.
- If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn,
and all may be comforted. 14:30-31
- Women are not allowed to speak in church.
- Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law ...
for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 14:34-35
- If a woman wants to learn something, she should ask her husband at home.
- If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. 14:35
- If you think you are a prophet or spiritual, you must first acknowledge that everything that Paul says is a commandment from God.
- If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
14:37
- If any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 14:38
- Covet to prophesy.
- Covet to prophesy. 14:39a
- Don't forbid people to speak in tongues.
- Forbid not to speak with tongues. 14:39b
- Do everything decently and in order.
- Let all things be done decently and in order. 14:40
- Dwindling in Unbelief
- What if we could edit the Bible?
(Opening Karl Giberson's can of worms) (12:40)