Instructions for Worship

1 Corinthians 14

Y’all should pursue love, yet y’all should also earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that y’all may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to humans, but to God. Indeed no one understands, but in the Spirit that person speaks mysteries. But the human who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. The one who speaks in another tongue edifies themself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I would like all y’all to speak in tongues, but even more that y’all would prophesy. For the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

But now, siblings, if I come to y’all speaking in tongues, how would I help y’all unless I speak to y’all with revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless things that make sounds, such as a pipe or harp, if they don’t make distinct sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? For if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who would get prepared for war? So it is with y’all. Unless y’all speak words clearly with your tongue, how would anyone know what is being said? Y’all would be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker would be a foreigner to me. So it is with y’all. Since y’all are zealous for spiritual gifts, y’all should seek to excel in the edification of the church.

Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret it. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my mind. I will play an instrument with the spirit, and I will also play an instrument with the mind. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the uneducated say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since they don’t know what you are saying? For you giving thanks very well, but the other person is not edified. I thank God I speak in tongues more than all y’all. However, in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind so that I might instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Siblings, don’t y’all be children in your thinking. Instead, y’all must be babies in evil, but mature in y’all’s thinking. In the law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even then they won’t listen to me, says the Lord [YHWH].”+Isa 28:11-12 Therefore tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers, but for believers. Therefore if the whole church is gathered together and everyone speaks in tongues, and uneducated or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that y’all are crazy? But if everyone prophecies, and an unbeliever or uneducated person comes in, they will be convicted by all and judged by all. And thus the secrets of their heart are revealed. So they will fall down on their face and worship God, declaring that God is among y’all indeed.

Three Silences for Worship

What is the outcome then, siblings? When y’all come together, each has a psalm, or a teaching, or a revelation, or a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be two or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep silent in the church, and speak to themselves and to God. Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. But if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the first must keep silent. For y’all can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Women should keep silent in the church, for they are not permitted to speak but must remain in submission, as the law also says. If they desire to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the church. Did the word of God come out from y’all? Or did it come to y’all alone?

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let them recognize the things which I write to y’all, that they are the commandment of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant of this, let them be ignored.

Therefore, siblings, y’all should desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But let all these things be done decently and in order.