Q&A

1. What gift does Paul tell us to especially desire? 14:1
   
   • ¹ Pursue love,
     and desire spiritual gifts,
     but especially that you may prophesy.
2. a. When a person speaks in a tongue, who is he speaking to? 14:2
   b. Why does nobody understand him? 14:2
   
   • ² For he who speaks in a tongue
     does not speak to men but to God,
     for no one understands him;
     however,
     in the spirit
     he speaks mysteries.
3. a. Who does he who prophesies, speak to? 14:3
   b. If a person speaks in a tongue, who does he build up? 14:4
   c. Does prophecy edify or build up the church? 14:4
   
   • ³ But he who prophesies
     speaks edification
     and exhortation
     and comfort to men.
   • ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,
     but
     he who prophesies
     edifies the church.
4. a. What did Paul wish everyone would do? 14:5
   b. What did Paul wish everyone would do even more? 14:5
   c. Is he who prophesies greater than he who speaks with tongues? 14:5
   d. What can make them equal? 14:5
   e. If someone interprets a tongue, what does that do for the church? 14:5
   
   • ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues,
     but even more that you prophesied;
     for he who prophesies
     is greater than he
     who speaks with tongues,
     unless
     indeed he interprets,
     that the church
     may receive edification.
5. If someone speaks with tongues, what must it be accompanied with for it to profit you? 14:6
   
   • ⁶ But now, brethren,
     if I come to you speaking with tongues,
     what shall I profit you
     unless
     I speak to you either
     by
     revelation,
     by
     knowledge,
     by
     prophesying,
     or by
     teaching?
6. a. If a flute or harp makes a sound, why must there be a distinction in the sound? 14:7-8
   b. If you do not utter words easy to understand, what will you be speaking into? 14:9
   
   • ⁷ Even things without life,
     whether flute or harp,
     when they make a sound,
     unless they make
     a distinction in the sounds,
     how will it be known
     what is piped or played?
   • ⁸ For if the trumpet
     makes an uncertain sound,
     who will prepare for battle?
   • ⁹ So likewise you,
     unless you utter by the tongue
     words easy to understand,
     how will it be known
     what is spoken?
     For you will be speaking into the air.
7.  Why must a person know the meaning of a language? 14:10-11
   
   • ¹⁰ There are, it may be,
     so many kinds of languages
     in the world,
     and none of them
     is without significance.
   • ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know
     the meaning of the language,
     I shall be a foreigner to him
     who speaks,
     and he who speaks
     will be a foreigner to me.
8. a. What must spiritual gifts be used for? 14:12
   b. Why must tongues be interpreted? 14:13-14
   c. What is the conclusion then? 14:15
   
   • ¹² Even so you,
     since you are zealous
     for spiritual gifts,
     let it be for the edification
     of the church
     that you seek to excel.
   • ¹³ Therefore let him
     who speaks in a tongue
     pray that he may interpret.
   • ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue,
     my spirit prays,
     but my understanding
     is unfruitful.
   • ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then?
     I will pray with the spirit,
     and
     I will also pray
     with the understanding.
     I will sing with the spirit,
     and
     I will also sing
     with the understanding.
9. a. If a person speaks with a tongue, why will the uninformed not be able to say Amen? 14:16-17
   b. Although Paul spoke with tongues more than them, what did he rather do? 14:18-19
   
   • ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless
     with the spirit,
     how will he
     who occupies the place
     of the uninformed
     say “Amen”
     at your giving of thanks,
     since he does not understand
     what you say?
   • ¹⁷ For you indeed
     give thanks well,
     but the other is not edified.
   • ¹⁸ I thank my God
     I speak with tongues more
     than you all;
   • ¹⁹ yet in the church
     I would rather speak five words
     with my understanding,
     that I may teach others also,
     than ten thousand words
     in a tongue.
10. a. How does Paul not want us be? 14:20
    b. How does he want us to be? 14:20
    
    • ²⁰ Brethren, do not be children
      in understanding;
      however,
      in malice
      be babes,
      but in
      understanding
      be mature.
11. a. What is written about this in the law of Moses? 14:21
    b. Who are tongues a sign for? 14:22
    c. Who are prophecies a sign for? 14:33
    
    • ²¹ In the law it is written:
      “With men of other tongues and other lips
      I will speak to this people;
      And yet, for all that,
      they will not hear Me,”
      says the Lord.
    • ²² Therefore tongues are for a sign,
      not to those who believe
      but to unbelievers;
      but prophesying
      is not for unbelievers
      but for those who believe.
12. a. If the whole church comes together, and all speak with tongues, what will the uninformed say about you? 14:23
    b. If all prophesy, what will happen to the uninformed? 14:24
    c. What will happen to the secrets of his heart? 14:25
    d. When he falls down on his face, what will he say? 14:25
    
    • ²³ Therefore if the whole church
      comes together in one place,
      and all speak with tongues,
      and there come in those
      who are uninformed
      or unbelievers,
      will they not say
      that you are out of your mind?
    • ²⁴ But if all prophesy,
      and an unbeliever
      or an uninformed person
      comes in,
      he is convinced by all,
      he is convicted by all.
    • ²⁵ And thus the secrets
      of his heart
      are revealed;
      and so,
      falling down on his face,
      he will worship God
      and report that God
      is truly among you.
13. a. Whenever the church comes together, what is to happen? 14:26
    b. How must all things be done? 14:26
    
    • ²⁶ 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.
14.  a. If anyone speaks in a tongue, what must happen? 14:27-28
    b. How many prophets can speak, and what should happen? 14:29-31
    
    • ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue,
      let there be
      two or at the most three,
      each in turn,
      and let one interpret.
    • ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter,
      let him keep silent in church,
      and let him speak
      to himself and to God.
    • ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak,
      and let the others judge.
    • ³⁰ But if anything is revealed
      to another who sits by,
      let the first keep silent.
    • ³¹ For you can all prophesy
      one by one,
      that all may learn
      and all may be encouraged.
15. a. Who are the spirits subject to? 14:32
    b. What is God not the author of? 14:33
    c. Who are to keep silent in the churches? 14:34
    d. What are they not permitted to do? 14:34
    e. Who should they learn from? 14:35
    
    • ³² And the spirits
      of the prophets
      are subject to the prophets.
    • ³³ For God is not the author
      of confusion
      but of peace,
      as in all the churches
      of the saints.
    • ³⁴ Let your women keep silent
      in the churches,
      for they are not permitted to speak;
      but they are to be submissive,
      as the law also says.
    • ³⁵ And if they want to learn something,
      let them ask their own husbands at home;
      for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
16. a. If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, what must he acknowledge? 14:37
    b. Are the things that Paul has written here, the commandments of the Lord? 14:37
    • ³⁶ Or did the word of God
      come originally from you?
      Or was it you only
      that it reached?
    • ³⁷ If anyone thinks himself
      to be a prophet
      or spiritual,
      let him acknowledge
      that the things which I write to you
      are the commandments of the Lord.
17. a. What are you to do with anyone who is ignorant? 14:38
    b. What are we to desire earnestly? 14:39
    c. What are we not to forbid? 14:40
    
    • ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant,
      let him be ignorant.
    • ³⁹ Therefore, brethren,
      desire earnestly to prophesy,
      and do not forbid
      to speak with tongues.
    • ⁴⁰ Let all things be done
      decently and in order.