1 Corinthians 14

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 40 verses.

King James Version

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.[2]

New King James Version

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]

• "In a tongue" (KJV: "in an unknown tongue"): some manuscripts and the Ethiopian version read "with tongues".[4] Lightfoot assumes that it refers to the Hebrew language,[4] which had become a dead language, and understood only by few people at that time, but nonetheless was used in the public prayers, preaching, and singing of psalms among the Jews.[5] Paul states that the ministers, who had the gift of mastering this language (could read the Scriptures, preach, pray, and sung psalms in Hebrew), won't be helpful for non-Jews Christians, who don't understand it, so they should instead prophesy, pray, and sing in a language that can be understood.[4] Otherwise, people may hear the sound, but cannot tell the meaning of it, and so it is of no use and advantage to them [4]
• "In the spirit he speaks mysteries": Under the influence and by the special gift of the Holy Spirit, a person is able to speak of 'the deep things of God, and the mysteries of his grace', but the meaning of his words could be unintelligible, without an understandable language.[4]

Cross reference: Isaiah 28:11,12.

Paul writes "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

The quotation comes from the book of Isaiah, "but the term "the Law" was applied generally to the Old Testament".[6]

• Glossolalia
• Related Bible parts: 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 13

• Becker, Eve-Marie. "An Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians" 14: 33b-36.
• Carson, D. A. Showing the Spirit : a theological exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Book House, 1987. ISBN 0801025214
• Gates, J. Terry. "A Historical Comparison of Public Singing by American Men and Women". Journal of Research in Music Education, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Spring, 1989), pp. 32-47 JSTOR 3344951
• Hoehner, H.W. "The Purpose of Tongues in 1 Corinthians 14: 20-25"
• Köstenberger, A. J. "Women in the Church", - Evangelical Quarterly 2001
• Schaibley. "Gender Considerations on the Pastoral Office: in Light of 1 Corinthians 14: 33-36"

• Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 by David Guzik
• The Textual Problem of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 by Daniel B. Wallace
• Near-to-Greek-translation of 1 Cor 14. Interesting new thoughts for question of women ordination
• 1 Corinthians 14 Commentary by Albert Barnes
• 1 Corinthians 14 King James Bible - Wikisource
• English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
• Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)