Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to people but to God; indeed, no one understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.
On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church.
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.
Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
Even lifeless things, such as the flute or the harp, when they produce a sound, whether uncertain or clear, can be distinguished.
So with yourselves, if you speak in tongues, no one will understand you; you will be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if you do not speak intelligible words with the tongue, how will anyone know what is said? You will be speaking into the air.
There are doubtless many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
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.
So with yourselves, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.
Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the uninformed say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since they do not understand what you say?
You give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
But in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
In the law it is written, “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.
So tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
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?
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, they are convicted by all, they are called to account by all;
the secrets of their hearts are disclosed; and so, they will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
What should be done then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, they should be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
If a revelation is made to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker must be silent.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints,
let the women keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.
If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
Or are you without knowledge? You want to be sure that the law is good.
There are many things to be considered, brothers and sisters. Let me say this: it is proper for a woman to pray with her head covered,
and it is disgraceful for a woman to have her head uncovered while praying or prophesying.
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
If anyone thinks they are a prophet or spiritual, let them acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are the commandments of the Lord.
But if anyone is ignorant, let them be ignorant.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
But all things should be done decently and in order.
This is the Patristics text that appears when you select Patristics.
