1 Corinthians 14:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

NIV: If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

NASB: but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.

CSB: But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

NLT: But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

KJV: But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

NKJV: But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

In this chapter, Paul has been insistent with the Christians in Corinth. He is explaining the relative value of the gift of tongues when compared with the gift of prophecy, for instance. He has warned against attempting to use spiritual gifts without love or the intention to build up others in the church. From that context, it appears that the Corinthian church was suffering from a disorderly and unhelpful application of tongues. This might have come to dominate the services of the Corinthian church, perhaps with many people speaking at once and nobody interpreting what was being said.

Paul has not condemned the use of tongues, in general. He has expressed his desire that all the Corinthians would receive the gift (1 Corinthians 14:5). He has not denied that those who practice it, even in a disorderly way, are truly doing so under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Instead, Paul is instructing them on how to use the gift in a church service, as well as how not to use it. He has written that two or three people may speak in a tongue, or unknown language, during a service. They must take turns, however, and they must be followed by someone with the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues to described what has been said.

Now he adds that if nobody is available to interpret what the tongues-speaker said, then those with that gift must keep it to themselves. Paul forbids them to exercise the gift in the service. Instead, they should use the gift only to speak to themselves—in silence or apart from the service—and to speak to God.

As Paul wrote in verse 4, someone with the gift of tongues may use it to build up himself, but without an interpreter it will not build up the church. If the expression of any gift does not build up others, Paul rejects it as an option for the worship service.

From this command, Paul is clear that those who exercise spiritual gifts can and must remain in full control of themselves. The gift of tongues is not irresistible, and the speaker does not give up personal control while exercising the gift. In fact, the presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life brings more self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). The idea that Christians can, or should, become frenzied through the influence of the Spirit is unbiblical.

First Corinthians 14:26–40 includes specific instructions to the Corinthians on an orderly worship service. These meetings should reflect the character of God. Everyone should have an opportunity to bring a hymn, a lesson, a prophetic revelation from God, and even to speak in a tongue if someone is able to interpret. Each must happen one at a time, in turn, and only two or three tongues-speakers or prophets should contribute during a single service. Wives must remain silent and be in submission to their husbands. Only that which builds up the church should be included.

Paul encourages the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy, especially, among the other gifts. He shows why its use in the church service is superior to the use of the gift of tongues if nobody is available to interpret. Prophecy benefits everyone; praying in tongues with nobody to interpret benefits only the speaker. Only two or three tongues-speakers should contribute to any service, and only then one at a time and followed by interpreters. The same applies to prophecy and the gift of discerning spirits. Orderliness and building up the church are guiding principles for any worship meeting. Modern churches are divided on the extent to who which these gifts are given, or should be practiced.

1 Corinthians 14 concludes Paul's teaching on the spiritual gifts begun in chapter 12. Between them, chapter 13 declared that Christlike love matters most of all. The gift of prophecy is better than the display of the gift of tongues in worship services unless someone with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Even then, only those things which build up the church should be included in any service, and everything should be done in an orderly way, reflecting the character of God. The final two chapters of this letter discuss the resurrection of Christ and Paul's concluding remarks.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.