(9/12)← Back →

2. Convicting People More

20. Brothers, do not be children in your understanding, but in malice be babes and in your understanding be full-grown.
21. In the law it is written, By those of other tongues and with the lips of others I will speak to this people; 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 the unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign not to the unbelievers but to those who believe.
23. If therefore the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak in tongues, and some unlearned in tongues or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane?
24. But if all prophesy and some unbeliever or unlearned person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all;
25. The secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that indeed God is among you.

G. Functioning in the Church
1. Concerning Each One

26. What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

2. Concerning Speaking in Tongues

27. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two, or at the most three, and in turn, and one should interpret;
28. But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church, and speak to himself and to God.

3. Concerning Prophesying

29. And as to prophets, two or three should speak, and the others discern.
30. But if something is revealed to another sitting by, the first should be silent.
31. For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32. And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
33. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

4. Concerning Women
As? in all? the churches? of the saints,?

34. The women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they should be subject, even as the law also says.
35. But if they desire to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
36. Or was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or did it reach only to you?
37. If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him fully know the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
38. But if anyone ignores this, let him ignore it.

5. Conclusion

39. So then, my brothers, desire earnestly the prophesying, and do not forbid the speaking in tongues.
40. But all things must be done becomingly and in order.