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Prophecy a Superior Gift

^1 (C1)Pursue love, yet earnestly ^(C2)desire ^(C3)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(C4)prophesy.² For the one who ^(C1)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one ^(F1)understands, but ^(F2)in his spirit he speaks ^(C2)mysteries.³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for ^(C1)edification, ^(F1)(C2)exhortation, and consolation.⁴ The one who ^(C1)speaks in a tongue ^(C2)edifies himself; but the one who ^(C3)prophesies ^(C2)edifies the church.⁵ Now I wish that you all ^(C1)spoke in tongues, but ^(C2)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who ^(C1)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(C3)edification.

⁶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(C1)revelation, or of ^(C2)knowledge, or of ^(C3)prophecy, or of ^(C4)teaching?⁷ Yet even lifeless instruments, whether 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 ^(C1)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?⁹ So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(C1)talking to the air.¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^(F1)languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning.¹¹ So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(C1)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^(F1)to me.¹² So you too, since you are eager to possess ^(F1)spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(C1)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret.¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.^15 (C1)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(C2)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^(F1)in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^(F2)outsider know to say ^(C1)the "Amen" at your ^(C2)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying?¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(C1)edified.¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (C1)Brothers and sisters, ^(C2)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(C3)be infants, but in your thinking be mature.²¹ In ^(C1)the ^(F1)Law it is written: "^(C2)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 ^(C1)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.²³ Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^(F1)outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(C1)you are insane?²⁴ But if all ^(C1)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^(F1)outsider enters, he is ^(C2)convicted by all, he is called to account by all;^25 (C1)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(C2)fall on his face and worship God, ^(C3)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (C1)What is the outcome then, ^(C2)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(C3)each one has a ^(C4)psalm, has a ^(C5)teaching, has a ^(C5)revelation, has a ^(C6)tongue, has an ^(C7)interpretation. ^(C8)All things are to be done for edification.²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(C1)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(C2)interpret;²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.²⁹ Have two or three ^(C1)prophets speak, and have the others ^(C2)pass judgment.³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent.³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be ^(F1)exhorted;³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

³³ for God is not a God of ^(C1)confusion, but of peace. As in ^(C2)all the churches of the ^(F1)(C3)saints,³⁴ the women are to ^(C1)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(C2)are to subject themselves, just as ^(C3)the Law also says.³⁵ If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^(F1)improper for a woman to speak in church.³⁶ Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

^37 (C1)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or ^(C2)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(C3)are the Lord's commandment.³⁸ But if anyone does not recognize this, ^(F1)he is not recognized.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, ^(C1)earnestly desire to ^(C2)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.⁴⁰ But ^(C1)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.