How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Parallel translations
- WEB What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
- KJV How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
- BSB What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
- NASB What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.
- NLT Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When the church gathers, each may bring a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, or interpretation; let all be done for edification. Building one another up is the governing rule for worship.
Overview
Paul turns to practical order, picturing a gathering rich with varied contributions. The controlling principle is that everything be done to build each other up. This single criterion of edification shapes the specific regulations that follow, ensuring that Spirit-given gifts serve the whole body in love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Eph 5:19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
- Rom 14:19So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
- 1 Cor 12:7–10But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
- 1 Th 5:11Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
- Eph 4:16from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
- 1 Cor 14:12–13So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
- Eph 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- 1 Cor 14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.
- 2 Cor 12:19Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
- Eph 4:12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
- 2 Cor 13:10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
- 1 Cor 14:4–6He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
- 1 Cor 14:27If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 14:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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