Pursue love, and eagerly desire spiritual expressions — especially that you may speak in ways that build others.
The one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God — no one understands them, they are speaking mysteries by the spirit.
But the one who speaks prophetically speaks to people for strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.
The one who speaks in a tongue builds themselves; the one who speaks prophetically builds the assembly.
I want all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you speak prophetically. The one who speaks prophetically is greater than the one who speaks in tongues — unless interpretation is given, so the assembly is built up.
If I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching?
Even lifeless instruments — a flute or harp — if they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone recognise the tune?
If a trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?
So it is with you: unless your speech is intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? You will be speaking into the air.
There are many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. But if I do not understand the meaning, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker a foreigner to me.
So since you are eager for spiritual expressions, seek to excel in those that build the assembly.
For this reason, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret.
If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
So what is the outcome? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the mind also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind also.
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can someone in the place of the uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the assembly I would rather speak five understandable words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but mature in your understanding.
In the Law it is written: “By people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, yet even then they will not listen to Me.”
So tongues function as a sign — not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophetic speech, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
If the whole assembly comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and uninstructed or unbelieving people enter, will they not say you are out of your mind?
But if everyone speaks prophetically, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person enters, they are convicted, examined by all,
the secrets of their heart are exposed, and so they fall on their face and acknowledge that God is truly among you.
So what follows, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
If there is no interpreter, let them remain silent in the assembly and speak to themselves and to God.
Let two or three speak prophetically, and let the others weigh what is said.
If a revelation comes to another who is seated, the first should stop speaking.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.
The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace — as in all the assemblies of the saints.
As in all the assemblies, women are not to disrupt the gatherings. They are to be in submission, as the Law also says.
If they wish to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to disrupt the assembly.
Did the word of God originate with you? Or did it reach only you?
If anyone thinks they are a prophet or spiritual, let them recognise that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s instruction.
If anyone ignores this, they are to be ignored.
So then, my brothers and sisters, eagerly desire to speak prophetically, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
But let everything be done properly and in an orderly way.
Corinth is confusing spiritual vitality with noise and spectacle. Paul does not extinguish spiritual expression — he matures it. Love governs gifts, and edification defines legitimacy.
These expressions operate within the already-arrived New Covenant community to establish, instruct, and unify. They are not proof of spiritual rank, but tools for corporate formation during covenant maturity.
Tongues echo Isaiah’s warning language — foreign speech signalling judgment on hardened hearers. This is covenantal, not mystical spectacle.
Paul grounds order in God’s character. Chaos does not display freedom; it obscures presence. Peaceful intelligibility reflects the New Creation reality.
Paul’s restrictions aim at clarity and honour, not silencing. Everyone contributes — but no one dominates.
The New Creation is not loud to prove it is alive. It speaks clearly, serves humbly, and builds people up. Love gives structure, and structure protects love.
Where might expression be replacing edification — and how can love reshape the way I speak and participate?
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