Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
- BSB So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in 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 covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
- 1 Cor 14:1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
- 1 Th 5:20Despise not prophesyings.
- 1 Cor 14:3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
- 1 Cor 14:5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
- 1 Cor 14:24–25But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
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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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