1 Corinthians · chapter 14 of 16
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1 Corinthians 14 teaches how to use the gifts of tongues and prophecy in the church's gathering. Paul prefers prophecy because it builds up everyone, asks that tongues be used with interpretation, commands that everything be done for building up and concludes that God is not a God of confusion but of peace, so everything should be done decently and in order.
After the hymn to love, Paul returns to spiritual gifts and applies the principle of love to what happened in the Corinthian gatherings. Tongues were spoken so freely that no one understood, and meetings could become confusing. This chapter is the New Testament's fullest guide to order in worship.
Paul urges them to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, above all prophecy. The one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God and no one understands him, but the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself; the one who prophesies builds up the church. Paul would like all to speak in tongues, but even more that they prophesy, unless there is interpretation.
He uses the example of the flute, the harp and the trumpet, which are useless without a clear sound. So the Corinthians, eager for gifts, should excel in those that build up the church, and whoever speaks in a tongue should pray to interpret. Paul will pray with the spirit and also with the mind, and would rather speak five words with his mind to instruct others than ten thousand in a tongue. He calls them to be mature in thinking. If all speak in tongues and an outsider comes in, he will say they are out of their minds; but if all prophesy and an unbeliever comes in, he will be convicted, fall on his face and declare that God is among them.
He then gives rules: each brings a psalm, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation, all for building up. If tongues are spoken, let there be two or three, in turn, with an interpreter; if there is none, let them keep silent. Let two or three prophets speak and the others weigh what is said. God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Verses 34 and 35 ask that women keep silent in the congregation, a much-debated passage read alongside what Paul said about women who pray and prophesy. Paul concludes by encouraging them to desire to prophesy, not to forbid tongues and to do all things decently and in order.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Paul asks them to pursue love and to desire spiritual gifts, above all prophecy. He joins two things the Corinthians had separated: love and gifts.
In church Paul would rather speak five words with his mind to teach others than ten thousand in a tongue. What is not understood does not build up.
God is not a God of confusion but of peace. Order in worship does not quench the Spirit but reflects the character of the God who inspires it.
All things should be done decently and in order. It is the practical summary of the chapter: freedom in the Spirit, but in service of everyone's upbuilding.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Because the one who prophesies builds up, encourages and consoles the church, while a tongue without interpretation is not understood. — 1 Corinthians 14:3-5
Answer: The flute, the harp and the trumpet, which must give a clear sound. — 1 Corinthians 14:7-8
Answer: With the spirit and also with the mind. — 1 Corinthians 14:15
Answer: He is convicted by all and worships God, declaring that God is among them. — 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
Answer: Two or three, in turn, and someone to interpret. — 1 Corinthians 14:27
Answer: Decently and in order. — 1 Corinthians 14:40
1 Corinthians 14 invites us to ask whether our gatherings build up. A worship service, a Sunday school class or a small group can be enthusiastic and yet hard to follow for someone who comes for the first time. Speaking clearly, singing so that everyone can take part and making room for different gifts are ways of applying this chapter.
It also teaches that order and freedom are not opposed. God leads with peace, and gifts must be used with mutual respect, turns and discernment. Churches differ on the use of tongues today, but all can agree that the heart of it is building up, loving and welcoming clearly the people who visit.
1 Corinthians 14 ends with the rule to do everything decently and in order. In chapter 15 Paul turns to the most important matter of his faith: the gospel, the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of believers.
Paul speaks of a gift of speaking in tongues that are not understood without interpretation and that is directed to God. Christians disagree on whether it refers to human languages, a prayer language or both, and on whether the gift continues today. Paul does not forbid it but regulates it so that everything builds up.
It is one of the most debated passages in the letter, because in chapter 11 Paul assumes that women pray and prophesy in the gathering. Some understand it as a restriction on certain kinds of speaking, such as weighing prophecies or interrupting with questions; others as a rule for that specific situation in Corinth. It should be studied together with the whole context.
Paul says that not only his personal spiritual experience matters, but that his mind takes part too and that others can understand and say amen. It is a balance between devotion and clarity.