Bible Study - 1 Corinthians Chapter Fourteen (vs.1-25)
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1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Study Questions
Study Questions
Verses 1-4
Verses 1-4
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
1. What is the difference between “pursuing” something, and “desiring” something? What does it mean that we are to “pursue” love, but “desire” spiritual gifts?
1. What is the difference between “pursuing” something, and “desiring” something? What does it mean that we are to “pursue” love, but “desire” spiritual gifts?
Pursue = to do something with intense effort and with definite purpose or goal
Desire = to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire—‘to be earnest, to set one’s heart on, to be completely intent upon.’
2. Look back at your notes from chapter twelve and familiarize yourself again with the spiritual gifts Paul listed in that chapter. Which gifts did Paul list in chapter 12 that he does not even refer to here in chapter 14?
2. Look back at your notes from chapter twelve and familiarize yourself again with the spiritual gifts Paul listed in that chapter. Which gifts did Paul list in chapter 12 that he does not even refer to here in chapter 14?
Healing - Miracles - Discerning Spirits - Faith
3. Do you think there is a reason Paul leaves out the majority of the gifts he described in chapter 12 in his teaching here in chapter 14?
3. Do you think there is a reason Paul leaves out the majority of the gifts he described in chapter 12 in his teaching here in chapter 14?
He focuses on gifts that we should “earnestly desire” — the spiritual gifts. Things NOT SEEN
4. Which gift does Paul encourage us in particular to desire?
4. Which gift does Paul encourage us in particular to desire?
Prophesy
5. Look up “prophesy” (in verse one) in the Greek. What does the word mean?
5. Look up “prophesy” (in verse one) in the Greek. What does the word mean?
Prophesy = to speak under the influence of divine inspiration, with or without reference to future events—‘to prophesy, to make inspired utterances.’
6. Look up “tongue” (in verse two) in the Greek. What does the word mean?
6. Look up “tongue” (in verse two) in the Greek. What does the word mean?
Tongue = a language, with the possible implication of its distinctive form—‘language, dialect, speech.’ ἤρξαντο λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις ‘they began to talk in other languages’ Ac 2:4. The miracle described in Ac 2:4 may have been a miracle of speaking or a miracle of hearing, but at any rate people understood fully, and therefore it seems appropriate in this context to speak of ‘languages’ in contrast with 1 Cor 14:2, in which case people required an interpreter if they were to receive the presumed content of the speech (see 33.3).
7. Who is the intended audience when speaking in tongues? Who is the intended audience of prophecy?
7. Who is the intended audience when speaking in tongues? Who is the intended audience of prophecy?
Tongues = God (2)
Prophecy = People (Other men) (3)
8. Who is benefited (built up) by tongues?
8. Who is benefited (built up) by tongues?
The individual speaking
9. Who is benefited by prophesies?
9. Who is benefited by prophesies?
The church (others)
Verses 5-12
Verses 5-12
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
10. In the church setting specifically, which is greater, prophecy or tongues?
10. In the church setting specifically, which is greater, prophecy or tongues?
Prophecy
11. Look up the Greek word translated “intelligible” in verse 9 and write down its definition.
11. Look up the Greek word translated “intelligible” in verse 9 and write down its definition.
pertaining to being easily understood—‘intelligible, easily understandable.’
12. What does every language have in common?
12. What does every language have in common?
They all have “meaning” (10)
13. Which will tend more toward greater manifestations of the Spirit, tongues or prophecy?
13. Which will tend more toward greater manifestations of the Spirit, tongues or prophecy?
Prophecy! A very non-intuitive reality for many (12)
Verses 13-19
Verses 13-19
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14. Look up the Greek words translated “spirit” and “mind” in verse 14. What distinguishes the spirit from the mind?
14. Look up the Greek words translated “spirit” and “mind” in verse 14. What distinguishes the spirit from the mind?
spirit = the non-material, psychological faculty which is potentially sensitive and responsive to God (πνεῦμαe contrasts with σάρξf, 26.7, as an expression of the divine in contrast with the purely human)—‘spirit, spiritual, spiritual nature, inner being.’
mind = the psychological faculty of understanding, reasoning, thinking, and deciding—‘mind.’
15. What should accompany prayers and speaking given in a tongue?
15. What should accompany prayers and speaking given in a tongue?
Interpretations (13)
16. Are our minds to be disconnected from our spirits as we worship, pray, prophecy, teach, sing?
16. Are our minds to be disconnected from our spirits as we worship, pray, prophecy, teach, sing?
Clearly not (14-15)
17. Which is greater, 10,000 words given in an unknown tongue, or five words spoken thoughtfully, with clarity, and understanding?
17. Which is greater, 10,000 words given in an unknown tongue, or five words spoken thoughtfully, with clarity, and understanding?
Five words with clarity
Verses 20-25
Verses 20-25
20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
18. Can you find the Old Testament verse(s) that Paul refers to in verse 21? Can you think of a time when the Lord spoke to His people (specifically the Jews) by the “lips of foreigners” and yet they still rejected Him? What was the “miracle” on that day? That people spoke in “unknown tongues” or that that everyone understood everyone else’s language?
18. Can you find the Old Testament verse(s) that Paul refers to in verse 21? Can you think of a time when the Lord spoke to His people (specifically the Jews) by the “lips of foreigners” and yet they still rejected Him? What was the “miracle” on that day? That people spoke in “unknown tongues” or that that everyone understood everyone else’s language?
Isaiah 28:11
11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people,
19. What benefit is given to outsiders when the church speaks in tongues?
19. What benefit is given to outsiders when the church speaks in tongues?
Nothing (23-25)
20. Do you see any irony in the fact that it is prophecy which reveals the secrets of the heart, and not tongues?
20. Do you see any irony in the fact that it is prophecy which reveals the secrets of the heart, and not tongues?
That which is “understood, clear, etc.” reveals the SECRETS of the heart more than that which is “mysterious, spiritually exciting, etc.”