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Prophecy a Superior Gift

^1 (C1)Pursue this love with eagerness, make it your goal, yet ^(C2)earnestly desire and cultivate the ^(C3)spiritual gifts to be used by believers for the benefit of the church, but especially that you may ^(F1)(C4)prophesy to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people.² For one who ^(C1)speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks ^(C2)mysteries secret truths, hidden things.³ But on the other hand the one who prophesies speaks to people for ^(C1)edification to promote their spiritual growth and speaks words of ^(C2)encouragement to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God and speaks words of consolation to compassionately comfort them.⁴ One who ^(C1)speaks in a tongue ^(C2)edifies himself; but one who ^(C3)prophesies ^(C2)edifies the church promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy.⁵ Now I wish that all of you ^(C1)spoke in unknown tongues, but even ^(C2)more I wish that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater and more useful than the one who ^(C1)speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains what he says, so that the church may ^(F1)be ^(C3)edified instructed, improved, strengthened.

⁶ Now, believers, if I come to you speaking in unknown tongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you clearly either by ^(C1)revelation revealing God's mystery, or by ^(C2)knowledge teaching about God, or by ^(C3)prophecy foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people, or by ^(C4)instruction teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity?⁷ Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct musical tones, how will anyone listening know what is piped or played?⁸ And if ^(C1)the war bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?⁹ So it is with you, if you speak words in an unknown tongue that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be ^(C1)talking into the air wasting your breath!¹⁰ There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world unknown to us, and none is lacking in meaning.¹¹ But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will appear to be a ^(F1)(C1)foreigner to the one who is speaking since he knows exactly what he is saying, and the one who is speaking will appear to be a foreigner to me.¹² So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will ^(C1)build up the church spiritually.

¹³ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may be gifted to translate or explain what he says.¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive because it does not understand what my spirit is praying.^15 (C1)Then what am I to do? I will pray with the ^(F1)spirit by the Holy Spirit that is within me and I will pray with the mind using words I understand; I will ^(C2)sing with the spirit by the Holy Spirit that is within me and I will sing with the mind using words I understand.¹⁶ Otherwise if you bless and give thanks to God in the spirit only, how will any outsider or someone who is not gifted in spiritual matters say ^(C1)the "Amen" of agreement to your ^(C2)thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ^(VR1)17 You are giving thanks well enough in a way that God is glorified, but the other person who does not understand you is not ^(C1)edified and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving.¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in unknown tongues more than all of you;¹⁹ nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue which others cannot understand.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (C1)Brothers and sisters, ^(C2)do not be children immature, childlike in your thinking; ^(C3)be infants in matters of evil completely innocent and inexperienced, but in your minds be mature adults.²¹ It is written in ^(C1)the Law, "^(C2)BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF FOREIGNERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND NOT EVEN THEN WILL THEY LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord. ^(VR1)22 Therefore, unknown tongues are meant for a supernatural sign, not to believers but to unbelievers who might be receptive; while ^(C1)prophecy foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people is not for unbelievers but for believers.²³ So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in unknown tongues, and outsiders or those who are not gifted in spiritual matters or unbelievers come in, will they not say that ^(C1)you are out of your mind?²⁴ But if all ^(C1)prophesy foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people, and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is ^(C2)convicted of his sins by all, and he is called to account by all because he can understand what is being said;^25 (C1)the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, ^(C2)falling on his face, he will worship God, ^(C3)declaring that God is really among you.

^26 (C1)What then is the right course, ^(C2)believers? When you meet together, ^(C3)each one has a ^(C4)psalm, a ^(C5)teaching, a ^(C5)revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a ^(C6)tongue, or an ^(C7)interpretation. Let ^(C8)everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church.²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(C1)tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must ^(C2)interpret what is said.²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, the one who wishes to speak in a tongue must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God.²⁹ Let two or three ^(C1)prophets speak as inspired by the Holy Spirit, while the rest ^(C2)pay attention and weigh carefully what is said.³⁰ But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.³¹ For in this way you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged;³² for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets the prophecy is under the speaker's control, and he can stop speaking;

³³ for God who is the source of their prophesying is not a God of ^(C1)confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As is the practice in ^(C2)all the churches of the ^(C3)saints (God's people),

³⁴ the ^(F1)women should ^(C1)be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but ^(C2)are to take a subordinate place, as ^(C3)the Law says.³⁵ If there is anything they want to learn that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a ^(F1)woman to talk in church.³⁶ Did the word of the Lord originate from you Corinthians, or has it come to you only so that you know best what God requires?

^37 (C1)If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet a true spokesman for God or ^(C2)spiritually astute filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(C3)are the Lord's commandment.³⁸ If anyone does not recognize this that it is a command of the Lord, he is not recognized by God.

³⁹ Therefore, believers, ^(C1)desire earnestly to ^(C2)prophesy to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people, and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues.⁴⁰ But ^(C1)all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.