Prophecy and Tongues 1 UST You should seek to love others always. Also, you should eagerly seek that the Holy Spirit specially empowers you, particularly that you might be able to proclaim what God says. BSB BSB: Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2 UST { You should desire this} because people who talk in unknown languages are talking with God, not with other people.{ This is} because no one knows what they are saying. Rather, they say secret things as the Holy Spirit empowers them. BSB BSB: For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 UST On the other hand, those who proclaim what God says do talk to other people. They help other believers become stronger, urge other believers to act in proper ways, and comfort other believers. BSB BSB: But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
4 UST People who talk in unknown languages help themselves become stronger. On the other hand, people who proclaim what God says help the group of believers become stronger. BSB BSB: The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 UST I want all of you to talk in unknown languages. What I want even more, however, is that you might proclaim what God says. Proclaiming what God says is more important and helpful than talking in unknown languages. Of course, if someone explains{ the unknown language}, then it{ too} can help believers become stronger. BSB BSB: I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
6 UST Here{ is what I am trying to say}, my fellow believers: imagine that I{, for example,} visited you, and I talked in unknown languages. I would not be helping you at all. To actually help you, I would need to reveal things{ to you}, help you know things, proclaim what God says{ to you}, or teach{ you}. BSB BSB: Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 UST Even things that are not alive but that we use to make sounds{ illustrate what I am saying}.{ When someone plays} a flute or a harp, the instrument must make various distinct sounds. Otherwise, no one would understand what a person plays on the flute or the harp,{ since all the sounds would be the same}. BSB BSB: Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?
8 UST Further, suppose that a trumpet did not make clear sounds{ when a person used it to warn others}. No one would know that they needed to get ready to fight the enemy. BSB BSB: Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
9 UST Whenever you do not use words that other people recognize when you talk, you are like{ an instrument that does not make a clear sound}. No one will comprehend what you are saying, and you will be{ like} a person who talks to nobody. BSB BSB: So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
10 UST It seems to be true that a great many varieties of languages exist. Every one of them communicates clearly. BSB BSB: Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11 UST So, when I{, for example,} do not understand how a language communicates, I am a stranger to everyone who speaks{ that language}, and they are strangers to me. BSB BSB: If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
12 UST So, here is what you must do: because you desire that the Holy Spirit specially empowers you, you should strive more and more{ to use what the Holy Spirit empowers you to do} to help the group of believers become stronger. BSB BSB: It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13 UST Therefore, those who talk in unknown languages should ask God to enable them to explain{ what they are saying}. BSB BSB: Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14 UST When I{, for example,} pray{ to God} in an unknown language, only part of me is praying since I am not thinking about what I am saying. BSB BSB: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 UST Therefore, here is what{ you and I should do}. We should pray{ to God} not only with just some parts of us but also by thinking about what we are saying. We should sing{ to God} not only with just some parts of us but also by thinking about what we are singing. BSB BSB: What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16 UST Imagine that people who do not understand{ unknown languages} hear you praising God when you are using just some parts of you{, and you are not thinking about what you are saying}. Those people will not be able to participate when you praise God because they do not understand{ the unknown language} that you are speaking. BSB BSB: Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 UST In this situation, you praise God appropriately. However, you do not help other people become stronger. BSB BSB: You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18 UST I give thanks to God that I talk in unknown languages more than you all do. BSB BSB: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 UST However, when I gather together with fellow believers to worship God, I want to speak only a few words that I think about. In this way, I can teach other believers and{ not just myself}.{ It is better for me to do that} than{ to say} a million words in an unknown language. BSB BSB: But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 UST My fellow believers, I do not want you to be foolish{ about these things, like} little children{ are}. Rather, you should know much{ about these things, like} a fully grown adult{ does}. You should{ only} be{ like} little children by not doing what is wrong. BSB BSB: Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 UST The prophet Isaiah wrote in the Scriptures what the Lord says,“I will talk to my people Israel by means of people who speak foreign languages. However, they will not listen to me in this way.” BSB BSB: It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
22 UST Therefore, talking in unknown languages signifies that God judges people who do not believe{ in the Messiah}, not people who do believe{ in the Messiah}. On the other hand, proclaiming what God says{ signifies that God acts kindly toward} people who believe{ in the Messiah}, not toward people who do not believe{ in the Messiah}. BSB BSB: Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23 UST So, imagine that the whole group of believers gathered together to worship God, and all of you talked in unknown languages. Imagine further that people who do not understand{ unknown languages} or who do not believe{ in the Messiah} visit your group. They will tell{ others} that you are crazy. BSB BSB: So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 UST On the other hand, imagine that all of you proclaimed what God says. Imagine further that any people who do not believe{ in the Messiah} or who do not understand{ unknown languages} visit your group. Everything that you say will show them and confront them with{ what they have done wrong}. BSB BSB: But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25 UST { In this way,} everyone will know the things that these{ visitors} hide from others. In response, they will kneel down and worship God. They will proclaim{ to others} that God truly is with you. BSB BSB: and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
Orderly Worship 26 UST My fellow believers, here is what I mean. Whenever you gather together{ to worship God}, each believer{ has something to do}. Some sing songs, others teach, others reveal things, others speak in an unknown language, others interpret an unknown language. Believers should do all these things to help other believers become stronger. BSB BSB: What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
27 UST When believers are talking in unknown languages, only two or three at most{ should speak}. They should talk one after the other, and someone needs to explain{ what they are saying}. BSB BSB: If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
28 UST On the other hand, when believers gather to worship God and a person who can explain the unknown language is not there, everyone who can talk in unknown languages should keep quiet. Instead{ of talking out loud}, they should talk{ in unknown languages} privately to God. BSB BSB: But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
29 UST Similarly,{ around} two or three people who proclaim what God says should speak. Everyone else should decide whether{ what they say} is correct or incorrect. BSB BSB: Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 UST Now, whenever God reveals something to a person who is listening{ to someone else proclaim what God says when believers gather together}, the person who is speaking should stop speaking. BSB BSB: And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
31 UST { You should do that} so that everyone has a chance to proclaim what God says, one after the other. In that way, everyone learns something, and everyone becomes stronger. BSB BSB: For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 UST Those who proclaim what God says control how and when they proclaim it. BSB BSB: The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 UST { That is true} because what is peaceful and orderly, not what is disorderly, characterizes God.{ I want you to act} like all the{ other} people whom God has set apart for himself act when they gather together to worship God. BSB BSB: For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
35 UST Now, when wives want to learn more{ about what their husbands are saying}, they should ask their husbands questions in their own houses.{ They should do this} because wives who talk when believers gather together{ and their husbands are speaking} shame{ themselves and their families}. BSB BSB: If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
36 UST { If you dislike what I have said,} remember that you are not the source of what God has said, and you are not the only ones who have heard{ and believed what God has said}. BSB BSB: Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37 UST All people who consider themselves to be those who proclaim what God says or those whom the Holy Spirit has specially empowered must recognize that the Lord himself requires what I am writing to you. BSB BSB: If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
38 UST On the other hand, you should not recognize{ as authoritative} any people who do not recognize{ that the Lord requires what I have said}. BSB BSB: But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39 UST In the end, my fellow believers, eagerly seek to proclaim what God says. Further, do not prohibit people from speaking unknown languages. BSB BSB: So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 UST Finally,{ when you gather together to worship God}, you should always act in honorable and orderly ways. BSB BSB: But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.