So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
- KJV Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
- NKJV Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
- NASB Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
- NLT So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.
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
Paul summarizes: eagerly seek to prophesy, yet do not forbid speaking in tongues. It matters because the gifts are good and meant to be valued, not suppressed.
Overview
After ranking prophecy above tongues for building up the church, Paul guards against overcorrection. Prophecy, which edifies plainly, should be earnestly desired, but tongues genuinely from the Spirit are not to be banned. The balance reflects God's design that every gift serve the body of Christ in love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Cor 12:31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
- 1 Cor 14:1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- 1 Th 5:20Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
- 1 Cor 14:3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
- 1 Cor 14:5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
- 1 Cor 14:24–25But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:39 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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