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1 Corinthians 14 Analysis

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Prophecy In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul starts out by saying that believers ought to desire gifts of the Spirt, but especially prophecy. When someone prophesies, everyone around them can hear and understand the message that God has given through a chosen person. Through prophecy, Paul says that the church can gain knowledge, revaluation, or instruction. Therefore, Paul would rather have people prophesy, than speak in tongues (unless someone can interpret them). Paul say that prophesy is for believers. If an unbeliever comes into a place where prophesy is happening, then they will become convicted by their sin and be led toward repentance. Paul also addresses what should happen if there are many who come to prophecy or share words of encouragement. …show more content…

No one can understand a person who speaks in tongues, it is a mystery of the Spirit. Tongues can only bring understanding and comfort to that person, no one else benefits from it unless it can be interpreted. There are many languages in the world that different tongues can speak in, but no one can understand all of them. Paul urges those who can speak in tongues to pray for interpretation of them, because it is the spirt that is praying in tongues while the mind gains nothing from it if it does not comprehend the language. This way, people who are around you can understand what you are saying when you are praising or praying to God. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers. Paul makes a reference to a passage in Isaiah that says that the Lord would speak to people through tongues and the lips of foreigners, and they would not listen. For when an unbeliever enters a place where tongues are being spoken, then they will think that the act is crazy. Paul also addresses the issue of more then one speaker of tongues in the church, two or three should speak one at a time. Each speaker must be interpreted for everyone else to understand, if they cannot be interpreted they should them speak in tongues quietly to themselves and God. Paul ends by instructing those in the church to accept those who speak in tongues, because there is a time and place for all

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