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Chapter 14
Prophecy and Tongues
1
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially [the gift] of prophecy.
Διώκετε τὴν ἀγάπην δὲ ζηλοῦτε τὰ πνευματικά δὲ μᾶλλον ἵνα προφητεύητε Diōkete tēn agapēn de zēloute ta pneumatika de mallon hina prophēteuēte — NA/TR · 1
2
For he who speaks in a tongue vvv does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands [him]; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
γὰρ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ λαλεῖ ἀνθρώποις ἀλλὰ Θεῷ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἀκούει δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια πνεύματι gar ho lalōn glōssē ouk lalei anthrōpois alla Theō gar oudeis akouei de lalei mystēria pneumati — NA/TR · 2
3
But he who prophesies speaks to men [for their] edification, encouragement, and comfort.
δὲ ὁ προφητεύων λαλεῖ ἀνθρώποις οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν de ho prophēteuōn lalei anthrōpois oikodomēn kai paraklēsin kai paramythian — NA/TR · 3
4
The [one who] speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the [one who] prophesies edifies [the] church.
ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οἰκοδομεῖ ἑαυτὸν δὲ ὁ προφητεύων οἰκοδομεῖ ἐκκλησίαν ho lalōn glōssē oikodomei heauton de ho prophēteuōn oikodomei ekklēsian — NA/TR · 4
5
- 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.
δὲ Θέλω πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις δὲ μᾶλλον ἵνα προφητεύητε δὲ ὁ προφητεύων μείζων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία λάβῃ οἰκοδομὴν de Thelō pantas hymas lalein glōssais de mallon hina prophēteuēte de ho prophēteuōn meizōn ē ho lalōn glōssais ektos ei mē diermēneuē hina hē ekklēsia labē oikodomēn — NA/TR · 5
6
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?
Νῦν δέ ἀδελφοί ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς λαλῶν γλώσσαις τί ὠφελήσω ὑμᾶς ἐὰν μὴ λαλήσω ὑμῖν ἢ ἐν ἀποκαλύψει ἢ ἐν γνώσει ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ ἢ ἐν διδαχῇ Nyn de adelphoi ean elthō pros hymas lalōn glōssais ti ōphelēsō hymas ean mē lalēsō hymin ē en apokalypsei ē en gnōsei ē en prophēteia ē en didachē — NA/TR · 6
7
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?
ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα διδόντα φωνὴν εἴτε αὐλὸς εἴτε κιθάρα πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον δῷ ἐὰν μὴ τοῖς φθόγγοις διαστολὴν homōs ta apsycha didonta phōnēn eite aulos eite kithara pōs gnōsthēsetai to auloumenon ē to kitharizomenon dō ean mē tois phthongois diastolēn — NA/TR · 7
8
Again…, if [the] trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν σάλπιγξ δῷ ἄδηλον φωνὴν τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον Kai gar ean salpinx dō adēlon phōnēn tis paraskeuasetai eis polemon — NA/TR · 8
9
So [it is] with you. Unless… you speak intelligible words with [your] tongue, how will [anyone] know what you are saying? vvv You will [ just ] be speaking into [the] air.
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐὰν μὴ δῶτε εὔσημον λόγον διὰ τῆς γλώσσης πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον γὰρ ἔσεσθε λαλοῦντες εἰς ἀέρα houtōs kai hymeis ean mē dōte eusēmon logon dia tēs glōssēs pōs gnōsthēsetai to laloumenon gar esesthe lalountes eis aera — NA/TR · 9
10
vvv Assuredly, there are many different languages in [the] world, yet none [of them is] without meaning.
εἰ τύχοι εἰσιν Τοσαῦτα γένη φωνῶν ἐν κόσμῳ καὶ οὐδὲν ἄφωνον ei tychoi eisin Tosauta genē phōnōn en kosmō kai ouden aphōnon — NA/TR · 10
11
If, then, vvv I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and vvv [he is] a foreigner to me.
ἐὰν οὖν μὴ εἰδῶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς φωνῆς ἔσομαι βάρβαρος τῷ λαλοῦντι καὶ ὁ λαλῶν βάρβαρος ἐν ἐμοὶ ean oun mē eidō tēn dynamin tēs phōnēs esomai barbaros tō lalounti kai ho lalōn barbaros en emoi — NA/TR · 11
12
It is the same… with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive… to excel [in gifts that] build up the church.
Οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπεὶ ἐστε ζηλωταί πνευμάτων ζητεῖτε πρὸς ἵνα περισσεύητε τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας Houtōs kai hymeis epei este zēlōtai pneumatōn zēteite pros hina perisseuēte tēn oikodomēn tēs ekklēsias — NA/TR · 12
13
Therefore, the [one who] speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
Διὸ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ Dio ho lalōn glōssē proseuchesthō hina diermēneuē — NA/TR · 13
14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
γὰρ ἐὰν προσεύχωμαι γλώσσῃ μου τὸ πνεῦμά προσεύχεται δὲ μου ὁ νοῦς ἐστιν ἄκαρπός gar ean proseuchōmai glōssē mou to pneuma proseuchetai de mou ho nous estin akarpos — NA/TR · 14
15
What then [shall I do]? I will pray with [my] spirit, but vvv I will also pray with [my] mind. I will sing with [my] spirit, but vvv I will also sing with [my] mind.
Τί οὖν ἐστιν προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι δὲ καὶ προσεύξομαι τῷ νοΐ ψαλῶ τῷ πνεύματι δὲ καὶ ψαλῶ τῷ νοΐ Ti oun estin proseuxomai tō pneumati de kai proseuxomai tō noi psalō tō pneumati de kai psalō tō noi — NA/TR · 15
16
Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how {can} [someone] vvv vvv vvv vvv who is uninstructed say “Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know… what you are saying?
ἐπεὶ ἐὰν εὐλογῇς ἐν πνεύματι πῶς ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμήν ἐπὶ σῇ τῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ ἐπειδὴ οἶδεν οὐκ τί λέγεις epei ean eulogēs en pneumati pōs ho anaplērōn ton topon tou idiōtou erei to Amēn epi sē tē eucharistia epeidē oiden ouk ti legeis — NA/TR · 16
17
You {may} be giving thanks vvv vvv well enough, but the other one vvv is not edified.
σὺ εὐχαριστεῖς μὲν γὰρ καλῶς ἀλλ’ ὁ ἕτερος οὐκ οἰκοδομεῖται sy eucharisteis men gar kalōs all’ ho heteros ouk oikodomeitai — NA/TR · 17
18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ λαλῶ γλώσσαις μᾶλλον πάντων ὑμῶν Eucharistō tō Theō lalō glōssais mallon pantōn hymōn — NA/TR · 18
19
But in [the] church, I would rather speak five vvv vvv coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
ἀλλὰ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ θέλω λαλῆσαι πέντε μου τῷ νοΐ λόγους ἵνα καὶ κατηχήσω ἄλλους ἢ μυρίους λόγους ἐν γλώσσῃ alla en ekklēsia thelō lalēsai pente mou tō noi logous hina kai katēchēsō allous ē myrious logous en glōssē — NA/TR · 19
20
Brothers, stop thinking vvv like children. In [regard to] evil be infants, but in [your] thinking be mature.
Ἀδελφοί μὴ ταῖς φρεσίν γίνεσθε παιδία ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε δὲ ταῖς φρεσὶν γίνεσθε τέλειοι Adelphoi mē tais phresin ginesthe paidia alla tē kakia nēpiazete de tais phresin ginesthe teleioi — NA/TR · 20
21
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.”
γέγραπται ἐν τῷ νόμῳ ὅτι Ἐν ἑτερογλώσσοις καὶ ἐν ἑτέρων χείλεσιν λαλήσω τούτῳ τῷ λαῷ καὶ οὐδ’ οὕτως εἰσακούσονταί μου λέγει Κύριος gegraptai en tō nomō hoti En heteroglōssois kai en heterōn cheilesin lalēsō toutō tō laō kai oud’ houtōs eisakousontai mou legei Kyrios — NA/TR · 21
22
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. - Prophecy, however, [is] for believers, not for unbelievers.
γλῶσσαι Ὥστε αἱ εἰσιν εἰς σημεῖόν οὐ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀπίστοις ἡ δὲ προφητεία ἀλλὰ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν οὐ τοῖς ἀπίστοις glōssai Hōste hai eisin eis sēmeion ou tois pisteuousin alla tois apistois hē de prophēteia alla tois pisteuousin ou tois apistois — NA/TR · 22
23
So if the whole church comes together… and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, vvv will they not say that you are out of your minds?
οὖν Ἐὰν ἡ ὅλη ἐκκλησία συνέλθῃ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ πάντες λαλῶσιν γλώσσαις δὲ ἰδιῶται ἢ ἄπιστοι εἰσέλθωσιν οὐκ ἐροῦσιν ὅτι μαίνεσθε oun Ean hē holē ekklēsia synelthē epi to auto kai pantes lalōsin glōssais de idiōtai ē apistoi eiselthōsin ouk erousin hoti mainesthe — NA/TR · 23
24
But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted - [and] called to account by all,
δὲ ἐὰν τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἰδιώτης εἰσέλθῃ δέ πάντες προφητεύωσιν ἐλέγχεται ὑπὸ πάντων ἀνακρίνεται ὑπὸ πάντων de ean tis apistos ē idiōtēs eiselthē de pantes prophēteuōsin elenchetai hypo pantōn anakrinetai hypo pantōn — NA/TR · 24
25
[and] the secrets of his heart will be made known. So… he will fall vvv facedown [and] worship God, proclaiming -, “God is truly among you!
τὰ κρυπτὰ τῆς αὐτοῦ καρδίας γίνεται φανερὰ καὶ οὕτως πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον προσκυνήσει τῷ Θεῷ ἀπαγγέλλων ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἐστιν Ὄντως ἐν ὑμῖν ta krypta tēs autou kardias ginetai phanera kai houtōs pesōn epi prosōpon proskynēsei tō Theō apangellōn hoti ho Theos estin Ontōs en hymin — NA/TR · 25
Orderly Worship
26
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 ].
Τί οὖν ἐστιν ἀδελφοί ὅταν συνέρχησθε ἕκαστος ἔχει ψαλμὸν ἔχει διδαχὴν ἔχει ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἑρμηνείαν πάντα γινέσθω πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν Ti oun estin adelphoi hotan synerchēsthe hekastos echei psalmon echei didachēn echei apokalypsin echei glōssan echei hermēneian panta ginesthō pros oikodomēn — NA/TR · 26
27
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or [at] most three, [should speak] in turn, and someone must interpret.
Εἴτε τις λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ δύο ἢ τὸ πλεῖστον τρεῖς κατὰ καὶ ἀνὰ μέρος καὶ εἷς διερμηνευέτω Eite tis lalei glōssē dyo ē to pleiston treis kata kai ana meros kai heis diermēneuetō — NA/TR · 27
28
But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in [the] church and speak [only] to himself and God.
δὲ ἐὰν ᾖ μὴ διερμηνευτής σιγάτω ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ δὲ λαλείτω ἑαυτῷ καὶ τῷ Θεῷ de ean ē mē diermēneutēs sigatō en ekklēsia de laleitō heautō kai tō Theō — NA/TR · 28
29
- Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully [what is said].
δὲ δύο ἢ τρεῖς Προφῆται λαλείτωσαν καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν de dyo ē treis Prophētai laleitōsan kai hoi alloi diakrinetōsan — NA/TR · 29
30
And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first [speaker] should stop.
δὲ ἐὰν ἀποκαλυφθῇ ἄλλῳ καθημένῳ ὁ πρῶτος σιγάτω de ean apokalyphthē allō kathēmenō ho prōtos sigatō — NA/TR · 30
31
For you can all prophesy in [turn] so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
γὰρ δύνασθε πάντες προφητεύειν καθ’ ἕνα ἵνα πάντες μανθάνωσιν καὶ πάντες παρακαλῶνται gar dynasthe pantes prophēteuein kath’ hena hina pantes manthanōsin kai pantes parakalōntai — NA/TR · 31
32
- [The] spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
καὶ πνεύματα προφητῶν ὑποτάσσεται προφήταις kai pneumata prophētōn hypotassetai prophētais — NA/TR · 32
33
For [God] is not a God of disorder, but of peace— as in all the churches of the saints.
γάρ ἐστιν οὐ ὁ Θεὸς ἀκαταστασίας ἀλλὰ εἰρήνης Ὡς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῶν ἁγίων gar estin ou ho Theos akatastasias alla eirēnēs Hōs en pasais tais ekklēsiais tōn hagiōn — NA/TR · 33
34
- Women are to be silent in the churches. vvv They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
αἱ γυναῖκες σιγάτωσαν ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις γὰρ οὐ αὐταῖς ἐπιτρέπεται λαλεῖν ἀλλὰ ὑποτασσέσθωσαν καθὼς ὁ νόμος καὶ λέγει hai gynaikes sigatōsan en tais ekklēsiais gar ou autais epitrepetai lalein alla hypotassesthōsan kathōs ho nomos kai legei — NA/TR · 34
35
- 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.
δέ εἰ θέλουσιν μαθεῖν τι ἐπερωτάτωσαν τοὺς ἰδίους ἄνδρας ἐν οἴκῳ γάρ ἐστιν αἰσχρὸν γυναικὶ λαλεῖν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ de ei thelousin mathein ti eperōtatōsan tous idious andras en oikō gar estin aischron gynaiki lalein en ekklēsia — NA/TR · 35
36
{Did} the word of God originate with you? Or [are] you the only [ones] it has reached?
Ἢ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐξῆλθεν ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ἢ εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους κατήντησεν Ē ho logos tou Theou exēlthen aph’ hymōn ē eis hymas monous katēntēsen — NA/TR · 36
37
If anyone considers [himself] a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is [the] Lord’s command.
Εἴ τις δοκεῖ εἶναι προφήτης ἢ πνευματικός ἐπιγινωσκέτω ὅτι ἃ γράφω ὑμῖν ἐστὶν Κυρίου ἐντολή Ei tis dokei einai prophētēs ē pneumatikos epiginōsketō hoti ha graphō hymin estin Kyriou entolē — NA/TR · 37
38
But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
δέ εἰ τις ἀγνοεῖ ἀγνοεῖται de ei tis agnoei agnoeitai — NA/TR · 38
39
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and {do} not forbid speaking in tongues.
Ὥστε μου ἀδελφοί ζηλοῦτε τὸ προφητεύειν καὶ μὴ κωλύετε τὸ λαλεῖν γλώσσαις Hōste mou adelphoi zēloute to prophēteuein kai mē kōlyete to lalein glōssais — NA/TR · 39
40
But everything must be done in a proper and vvv orderly [manner].
δὲ πάντα γινέσθω εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν de panta ginesthō euschēmonōs kai kata taxin — NA/TR · 40