1 Corinthians 14:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: What then, brothers? 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.

NIV: What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

NASB: What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.

CSB: What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

NLT: Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

KJV: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

NKJV: How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Paul has taken care to show why the gift of tongues should not be displayed unless exercised alongside the gift of interpretation. He has demonstrated why the gift of prophecy is so much more valuable in church gatherings than uninterpreted tongues. He has also shown that love is far superior to any of the gifts that may be used within the church.

Now Paul comes to some bottom-line instructions for how and when to use spiritual gifts at gatherings of the church. He describes a service very differently from the way most modern churches hold Christian services. This speaks to the wide freedom believers have in how we arrange worship meetings. Instead of those in charge presenting content to the congregation, Paul's picture of a service in Corinth resembles an open microphone format, as members of the community present one item after another.

From the context, it seems the Corinthians may have been practicing something similar but far less orderly. Perhaps many people were speaking in tongues or exercising other spiritual gifts at the same time. Paul will insist on two things in every service: orderliness—specifically in the form of taking defined turns—and that everything be done for the purpose of building up the others present.

He lists things that each person may contribute, and does not insist every person must contribute. These include a hymn, perhaps from the Psalms, a lesson, most likely from one with the gift of teaching, a revelation, perhaps by someone with the gift of prophecy, speaking in a tongue, followed by someone exercising the spiritual gift of interpreting tongues by describing what was just said in the language of those present.

Paul further narrows what is allowed in a service in the following verses.

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.