1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

 ¹ Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ² For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.^{[b] 3} But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,^[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. 

Follow God and crave his presents, especially the present of telling the future and what the deal currently is. For anybody who talks spiritually only bestowed things doesn't talk to men but to God. Why do you think people look at him weird? He talks that way so that the communion between him and God can be strengthened since words/communication/prayer is essential. But everyone who makes the esoteric exoteric do so for the sake of building up fellow men. Talking in spiritually only bestowed things builds up the person doing so. But he who makes the esoteric exoteric builds up a whole lot more people. Spiritually only bestowed talk is good but making the esoteric exoteric is better. He who does the latter does better than he who does just the former, unless the former is able to somehow be translated into laymen's terms.


 ²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand^[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand^[h] comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, ²⁵ and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 

Spiritually bestowed talk then can serve as a sign for curious unbelievers; talk that gets straight to the point is for believers since they are more interested in growing. If believers congregate and communicate in exclusively spiritually bestowed talk, there will be some confusion in both unbelievers and believers. But if everybody talked straight to the point, the believers who understand would be edified and the unbelievers might just feel the conviction of the Spirit.

Orderly Worship

 ²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.  ²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

So then, what do we do? When we gather, everyone ought to chip in with a praise, a teaching, a spiritual secret and a translation of such. There's not a vessel who can't do at least one of these. Spiritual secrets should be unveiled by two or at the most three people and one at a time, interpretation included. If interpretation cant be provided, the secret ought to be whispered between that person and God so that it isn't simply wasted.

Two or three of those with profound discernment should speak and let everyone else listen. If something comes to mind to anyone, the speaker ought to stop since God reveals truths to EVERYBODY. Prophets are to be kept in check by prophets since prophets want glory for God and not for self.