Day 147 – Thursday, July 24, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Corinthians 14

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 

(1 Corinthians 14:1–5, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• After Paul’s well-known discussion of love in chapter thirteen, Paul then moves back into a discussion of the spiritual gifts.
• He reminds the believers to pursue love, and to desire spiritual gifts. He then elevates the place of prophecy in the group of gifts.
• He does not prohibit or deny tongues, but logically shows how tongues are for a believer to speak to God directly by the help of the Holy Spirit. When one speaks in tongues, not one else understand the mysteries of the words. Those who prophesy, however, are understood by all, and edification and comfort are provided.
• Paul then expresses his hope that everyone would speak in tongues, but again lifts up prophecy as logically more valuable to the entire body.
• Tongues that are interpreted are edifying to the church, but tongues without interpretation do more to edify the individual than the entire church.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 

(1 Corinthians 14:6–19, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Some see this passage as a mandate that all tongues be interpreted in church services.
• While Paul does express the importance of words and exhortation being understandable, he does not outlaw or ban tongues that are not interpreted in the church service.
• Speaking in tongues does not edify the entire congregation unless the message is interpreted. However, Paul still affirms that he speaks in tongues more than all of the congregation in Corinth. Yet, Paul said that he would rather speak just a few words in an understandable tongue that would teach others.
• Tongues as a prayer language is not out of order in the church service. However, it is not as profitable as prophecy unless an interpretation is also given.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰ Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

²¹ In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

says the Lord.

²² Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 

(1 Corinthians 14:20–25, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then lifts up tongues as a sign to unbelievers. When a tongue is uttered in a language unknown to the speaker and the unbeliever hears and understands, it is a sign that God is speaking through the speaker.
• However, if they hear speakers speaking in tongues and they do not understand the language, or if there is no interpretation given, then they will think that the speakers are crazy and simply babbling.
• Prophecy will help a sinner hear the truth of the gospel, feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

³⁴ Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. ³⁵ And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

³⁶ Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order. 

(1 Corinthians 14:26–40, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then moves into a discussion of order in the church. He allows many forms of ministry: singing, teaching, spiritual gifts, etc.
• He does insist, though, that if anyone speaks out in a tongue during a service, that there should only be a few, and that there should be an interpretation. If there is not interpreter, then the tongue should not interrupt service, but be spoken quietly unto God.
• Prophecies should be done one at a time, and the prophecies should be judged for accuracy. God does not send ministry that causes confusion. Each person should be disciplined in their use of the gifts.
• Paul says something that seems unusual in today’s society. He says that women should keep silent in the church service. He says that if women have questions in church, they should ask their husbands at home.
• In New Testament times, the meetings were held with the men sitting separate from the women. It was a cultural thing, with men and women segregated in most public meetings. When things were said in the church meetings (services) that a woman did not understand, they would have to shout across the room to their husbands to ask for clarification. This created confusion and disruption. Most scholars believe that this is the cause for Paul’s call for women to not speak in the service.
• Paul reminds everyone that the gospel and the word of God are not of human origin, but of divine origin.
• He then reminds the believers to desire to prophesy, but not forbid speaking in tongues. The bottom line is: “let all things be done decently and in order.”

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.