1 Corinthians 14
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual {gifts,} but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in {his} spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
We must do everything in love. But to have something to do in the church you need to have a spiritual gift. Of all the spiritual gifts that one can desire, prophecy is the one to really seek after. Why? It is because it is the most valuable gift in a church – because it helps others hear what God is saying to them.
When you speak in tongues you speak to God, and since no one else understands you, they are not helped by what they hear. But when you prophesy you help others hear what God is saying to them.
Verse 3 gives us a good definition of what a prophet is supposed to do – a prophet tells people what God wants them to hear. To some it might be an exhortation, to others it might be consolation.
You see, for the members of the church to operate optimally in the spiritual realm they need to know what God is saying to them. Think of the Holy Spirit as the choir director, and the members of the church as the people playing the musical instruments. If the musicians cannot see the choir director then they don’t know what to play and when and you will get noise instead of music. In the same way, if the members of the church can’t hear what God is saying to them they can’t do what God wants them to do. That is where a prophet – one who speaks the mind of God – is useful. He can help the members of the church hear what God is saying to them.
4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but {even} more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
To edify is to build up spiritually. Prophecy is more valuable than tongues because prophesy builds other people up whereas speaking in tongues only edifies the person who speaks, unless there is an interpreter, in which case the interpretation edifies others.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
7 Yet {even} lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no {kind} is without meaning.
11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual {gifts,} seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What is {the outcome} then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit {only,} how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
Common sense applies here: when we get together, the idea is to bless each other. Therefore, it makes more sense to prophesy when in public, and use tongues when in private (unless someone is able to interpret the tongues).
21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.
22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy {is for a sign,} not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
Prophesy helps believers because God wants believers to understand what He is saying to them. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers because, since they didn’t listen what He said to them in a language they can understand, He will now speak to them in a language that they cannot understand (Is 28:11).
23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
To convince the unbeliever that God is among you, you need to disclose the secrets of his heart and call him to account via prophecy. This is how he will know that God is among you, and he may even get converted.
But if you just speak in tongues, since he doesn’t understand it he will think you are mad and be less inclined to want to hear you anymore.
26 What is {the outcome} then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, {it should be} by two or at the most three, and {each} in turn, and one must interpret;
28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
33 for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
The above verses describe in detail how a church should conduct itself when it comes together. I’ve seen very few churches actually do things this way though. Typically, just one person (the pastor) speaks.
34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
36 Was it from you that the word of God {first} went forth? Or has it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.
38 But if anyone does not recognize {this,} he is not recognized.
Paul clearly says that God doesn’t expect women to prophesy in the church meetings. Instead, they should do listen. If they have questions about what they hear then they should ask their own husbands, at home.
In other words, God will never give His message to the church through a woman.
This is not a cultural thing, and is applicable even today.
All spiritual people and prophets will understand that God has commanded this. And if a person refuses to recognize this commandment then God will not recognize him or her either.
39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
The church must be orderly and conducted in excellence. And there must be prophesy, and when interpretable, tongues as well.
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