1 Corinthians 14
1 You must want to love others more [than you want anything else]. But you should [also] eagerly desire the abilities that [God’s] Spirit [gives to believers]. And you should desire most of all to have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God [MTY].
Διώκετε τὴν ἀγάπην, ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ πνευματικά, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε.
2 [I say that] because those who speak messages that come directly from God [are speaking in languages that they and the other believers in the congregation know, and so] they are able to strengthen them [spiritually] and to encourage and comfort them. But those who speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned] are not speaking to people. Instead, they are [only] speaking to God. No one understands them. By [the power/guidance of God’s] Spirit (OR, From within [their own] spirit) they speak things that others do not know.
ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ ἀλλὰ Θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια·
ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν.
4 Those who speak in languages [that they have not learned] are receiving a blessing for themselves, but those who speak messages that come directly from God are giving a blessing to [all the believers in] the congregation [because they are speaking in a language that the congregation knows].
ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ ἑαυτὸν οἰκοδομεῖ· ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἐκκλησίαν οἰκοδομεῖ.
5 I would like you all to have the ability to speak in languages [MTY] [you have not learned]. But I would like even more for you to have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God. People can speak messages in a language that they have not learned, but if there is no one there who can explain the meaning, that situation is not as helpful to the congregation as speaking messages that come directly from God [in the language that the congregation knows].
θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε· μείζων δὲ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ.
6 My fellow believers, suppose I came and spoke to you in a language that none of you knows [and I did not explain the meaning of what I told you]. Even if I told you something that God had revealed to me, or told you some message that had come directly from him, or taught you something that you needed to know, (that certainly would not help you!/how would that help you?) [RHQ]
νῦν δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς γλώσσαις λαλῶν, τί ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω, ἐὰν μὴ ὑμῖν λαλήσω ἢ ἐν ἀποκαλύψει ἢ ἐν γνώσει ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ ἢ διδαχῇ;
7 [It is like] lifeless [musical instruments], like flutes and harps for example. When they are played, if the notes are not played {if [those playing those instruments] do not play the notes} clearly, no one will know what tune is being played {what tune they are playing}. [RHQ]
ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα φωνὴν διδόντα, εἴτε αὐλὸς εἴτε κιθάρα, ἐὰν διαστολὴν τοῖς φθόγγοις μὴ δῷ, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον;
8 If someone playing the trumpet [wants to signal that the soldiers should prepare to fight a battle], [the soldiers] certainly will not get ready if [the call to battle] is not played {he does not play [the call to battle]} clearly. [RHQ]
καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον σάλπιγξ φωνὴν δῷ, τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον;
9 It is the same with you! If you do not speak words that other people can understand, (no one will know what you are saying./how will anyone know what you are saying?) [RHQ] [It will be as though] you are just speaking to the air!
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς διὰ τῆς γλώσσης ἐὰν μὴ εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον; ἔσεσθε γὰρ εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες.
10 There are many different languages in the world, and all of them convey meaning [LIT] [to the people who know those languages].
τοσαῦτα εἰ τύχοι γένη φωνῶν εἰσιν ἐν κόσμῳ, καὶ οὐδὲν ἄφωνον·
11 But if we do not understand the language that others are speaking, [it will be as though] they are foreigners to us, and we will be foreigners to them.
ἐὰν οὖν μὴ εἰδῶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς φωνῆς, ἔσομαι τῷ λαλοῦντι βάρβαρος καὶ ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ βάρβαρος.
12 So [I say this to] you: Because you are eager to have the abilities that God’s Spirit gives, earnestly desire those abilities that will do the most to help [all the believers in] the congregation.
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων, πρὸς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ζητεῖτε ἵνα περισσεύητε.
13 So, those who have the ability to speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned] should pray that [God will give them the ability to] explain the meaning of what they say.
Διὸ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.
14 If they pray in a language [MTY] [that they have not learned], their spirits are praying, but they are not using their minds.
ἐὰν γὰρ προσεύχωμαι γλώσσῃ, τὸ πνεῦμά μου προσεύχεται, ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστιν.
15 So I will tell you [RHQ] what we should do. [At times] we may pray, [using] only our spirits, [in languages we have not learned. And at other times] we should pray using our minds, [thinking about the words that we are praying. Similarly], at times we may sing using only our spirits, using languages that we have not learned, and at other times we should sing using our minds, [thinking about the words that we are singing].
τί οὖν ἐστιν; προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι, προσεύξομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ· ψαλῶ τῷ πνεύματι, ψαλῶ δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ.
16 Suppose that any one of you praises God (OR, thanks God for what he has done), using only your [(sg)] spirit [and not using your mind]. Maybe some people [will be present who] do not know about [the abilities that God’s Spirit gives to believers]. Because they do not know what you are saying, after you thank God, they will not [RHQ] know when to say “Amen!/I agree!”
ἐπεὶ ἐὰν εὐλογῇς πνεύματι, ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου πῶς ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμήν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ; ἐπειδὴ τί λέγεις οὐκ οἶδεν·
17 You may be thanking God very well, but you are not helping them.
σὺ μὲν γὰρ καλῶς εὐχαριστεῖς, ἀλλ’ ὁ ἕτερος οὐκ οἰκοδομεῖται.
18 I thank God that I speak in languages [MTY] [that I have not learned] more than any of you do.
εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ, πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶ·
19 But during a worship service, [in order that others will understand what I am saying], I would prefer to speak five words using my mind, in order that I may teach others, rather than to speak 10,000 words in a language [MTY] [that is not understood by the congregation].
ἀλλὰ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ θέλω πέντε λόγους τῷ νοΐ μου λαλῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ ἄλλους κατηχήσω, ἢ μυρίους λόγους ἐν γλώσσῃ.
20 My fellow believers, stop being like little children in the way that you think [about these abilities that God’s Spirit gives]. Instead, think about them in a mature way. If you really want to be like little children, do as few wicked things as babies do!
Ἀδελφοί, μὴ παιδία γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε, ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶν τέλειοι γίνεσθε.
21 [When the Jews long ago refused to obey God, he warned them about what would happen when he allowed their enemies to punish them]. In the Scriptures it is written {[the prophet Isaiah] wrote} what the Lord [God] said [about that], [They didn’t listen to prophets speaking their own language, so I will send] people from foreign [lands to attack] my people. Those foreigners will speak languages that my people do not know [DOU]. [In that way], I will warn my people, but they will still not pay attention to what I say.
ἐν τῷ νόμῳ γέγραπται ὅτι Ἐν ἑτερογλώσσοις καὶ ἐν χείλεσιν ἑτέρων λαλήσω τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, καὶ οὐδ’ οὕτως εἰσακούσονταί μου, λέγει Κύριος.
22 If we speak in languages [MTY] [that we have not learned], unbelievers [who are there will realize that the Spirit of God is truly among us]. That will warn them [that they need to fear God]. But believers do not [need such a warning].
ὥστε αἱ γλῶσσαι εἰς σημεῖόν εἰσιν οὐ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀπίστοις, ἡ δὲ προφητεία οὐ τοῖς ἀπίστοις ἀλλὰ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν.
23 Suppose during the worship service everyone started to speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned]. If unbelievers or people who do not know [about the abilities that God’s Spirit gives to believers] come in [and hear that], they will surely think that you are crazy. [RHQ]
Ἐὰν οὖν συνέλθῃ ἡ ἐκκλησία ὅλη ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ πάντες λαλῶσιν γλώσσαις, εἰσέλθωσιν δὲ ἰδιῶται ἢ ἄπιστοι, οὐκ ἐροῦσιν ὅτι μαίνεσθε;
24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not know [about those abilities] comes in while all of you believers are [one by one] speaking messages that come directly from God, everything that you [say] will show that person that he is a sinner and that [God] will punish him [if he does not turn from his sinful behavior].
ἐὰν δὲ πάντες προφητεύωσιν, εἰσέλθῃ δέ τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἰδιώτης, ἐλέγχεται ὑπὸ πάντων, ἀνακρίνεται ὑπὸ πάντων,
25 He will realize that [God knows the evil things that he has done that], things that other people do not know. Then he will kneel down and worship God and say, “God is truly among you!”
τὰ κρυπτὰ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ φανερὰ γίνεται, καὶ οὕτως πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον προσκυνήσει τῷ Θεῷ, ἀπαγγέλλων ὅτι Ὄντως ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν.
26 So, my fellow believers, I will tell you [RHQ] what I think that you should be doing. When you come together [to worship God], some of you may have a hymn to sing. Others may have something to teach [the congregation]. Others may have [something to say that God has] revealed to them. Others may give messages in languages [that they have not learned]. Others will explain the meaning of those messages. Make sure that all of these things that you do will make the congregation become more mature spiritually.
Τί οὖν ἐστιν, ἀδελφοί; ὅταν συνέρχησθε, ἕκαστος ψαλμὸν ἔχει, διδαχὴν ἔχει, ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει, γλῶσσαν ἔχει, ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει· πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω.
27 [It is all right] if two people, or at the most three people, speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned]. But they must speak one at a time, and someone must explain the meaning of what the others have said.
εἴτε γλώσσῃ τις λαλεῖ, κατὰ δύο ἢ τὸ πλεῖστον τρεῖς, καὶ ἀνὰ μέρος, καὶ εἷς διερμηνευέτω·
28 If [those who want to speak in a language that they have not learned realize that] there is no one [there] who will be able to explain the meaning [of what they will say], they should not speak in that language during the meeting. Instead, they should speak to God by themselves, [somewhere else].
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ διερμηνευτής, σιγάτω ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἑαυτῷ δὲ λαλείτω καὶ τῷ Θεῷ.
29 [During a meeting], two or three people should speak messages that come directly from God, and others who are there should think carefully about what those people have said.
προφῆται δὲ δύο ἢ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν, καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν·
30 If someone receives a new message directly from God while someone else is speaking, the one who is speaking should stop speaking [and let the other person tell what God has revealed to him].
ἐὰν δὲ ἄλλῳ ἀποκαλυφθῇ καθημένῳ, ὁ πρῶτος σιγάτω.
31 You can all, one by one, speak messages that have come directly from God, in order that you can teach others and all be encouraged {encourage everyone}.
δύνασθε γὰρ καθ’ ἕνα πάντες προφητεύειν, ἵνα πάντες μανθάνωσιν καὶ πάντες παρακαλῶνται.
32 Those who speak messages that come directly from God are in control of their own spirits, [so they can wait for their turn to speak].
καὶ πνεύματα προφητῶν προφήταις ὑποτάσσεται·
33 Remember that God does not desire that things be done in a disorderly way [during your worship services]. Instead, he desires that everything be done in an orderly way. Just like it happens in all the other congregations of believers,
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἀκαταστασίας ὁ Θεὸς ἀλλὰ εἰρήνης, Ὡς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῶν ἁγίων,
34 the women should not be permitted {do not permit the women} [to interrupt the meeting by] asking [questions]. They must keep quiet. They must be subject [to their husbands]. What Moses wrote [PRS] [about how God created the first two people] suggests [that the women should do that].
αἱ γυναῖκες ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις σιγάτωσαν· οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτρέπεται αὐταῖς λαλεῖν, ἀλλὰ ὑποτασσέσθωσαν, καθὼς καὶ ὁ νόμος λέγει.
35 If they want to know [more] about something [that a speaker said], they should ask their husbands when they get home, for it is disgraceful for women to [interrupt a service by] asking [such questions].
εἰ δέ τι μαθεῖν θέλουσιν, ἐν οἴκῳ τοὺς ἰδίους ἄνδρας ἐπερωτάτωσαν· αἰσχρὸν γάρ ἐστιν γυναικὶ λαλεῖν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ.
36 [If you do not agree with these things that I have been telling you], remember that [RHQ] the message from God did not first come from you [people in Corinth]. Also, you are not [RHQ] the only ones who have heard it! [Many others have heard it and accepted it, so you should not act as though you are the only believers who have heard the message from God].
Ἢ ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐξῆλθεν, ἢ εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους κατήντησεν;
37 Those of you who think that you have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God, or think that you have some other ability [that God’s] Spirit gives, should realize that the things that I have written about in this letter are things that the Lord has commanded.
Εἴ τις δοκεῖ προφήτης εἶναι ἢ πνευματικός, ἐπιγινωσκέτω ἃ γράφω ὑμῖν ὅτι Κυρίου ἐστὶν ἐντολή·
38 But if they are not willing to accept [my authority], [God] will not accept them (OR, they will not be accepted [by the congregation]).
εἰ δέ τις ἀγνοεῖ, ἀγνοεῖται.
39 So, my fellow believers, be eager to speak messages that come directly from God, and do not prevent anyone from speaking in a language [that he has not learned].
Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, ζηλοῦτε τὸ προφητεύειν, καὶ τὸ λαλεῖν μὴ κωλύετε γλώσσαις·
40 But make sure [that] everything that you do [during the worship services] is done in a proper and orderly way.
πάντα δὲ εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν γινέσθω.
