1 Corinthians 14:2 kjv
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.
1 Corinthians 14:2 nkjv
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.
1 Corinthians 14:2 niv
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:2 esv
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:2 nlt
For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.
1 Corinthians 14 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 14:1 | Desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. | Foundation for vv. 2-5 |
| 1 Cor 14:4 | He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. | Contrasting statement |
| 1 Cor 14:5 | Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. | Prioritization explained |
| 1 Cor 14:12 | So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. | Goal of spiritual gifts |
| 1 Cor 14:14 | If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | Understanding vs. spirit |
| 1 Cor 14:16 | Otherwise, if you bless with your spirit, how can one who is at the [simple] position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not understand what you are saying? | Impact on outsiders |
| 1 Cor 14:18 | I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. | Paul’s personal use |
| 1 Cor 14:23 | If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? | Misunderstanding effect |
| 1 Cor 14:24 | But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all. | Prophecy’s effect |
| Eph 4:12 | to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. | Building up the church |
| Col 2:7 | having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness. | Growth of believers |
| Acts 2:4 | And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. | Pentecostal gift mention |
| Acts 2:11 | both Jews and converts, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. | Tongues understood |
| Rom 10:14 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? | Need for intelligible communication |
| Rom 15:2 | Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. | Neighborly edification |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | Now concerning food offered to an idol: we know that all of us possess knowledge. This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. | Knowledge vs. Love/Edification |
| Gal 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, | Spiritual fruit contrast |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Spiritual building |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Counsel and building |
| Isa 28:11 | Nay, but by⎤ people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue will he speak to this people. | Old Testament reference |
1 Corinthians 14 verses
1 Corinthians 14 2 Meaning
Speaking in a tongue (a language unknown to the speaker but understood by others present, or potentially a heavenly language) edifies the church, meaning it builds up, strengthens, and benefits the body of believers as a whole. It is presented as beneficial for the collective spiritual health and growth of the congregation.
1 Corinthians 14 2 Context
First Corinthians chapter 14 addresses the use of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church. The central theme is the importance of order and intelligibility in public worship. Paul contrasts speaking in tongues with prophecy, emphasizing that while both are from the Spirit, prophecy edifies the church universally. Chapter 13 has just defined love as the supreme virtue, which contextualizes the discussion by showing that even the most spectacular gifts are meaningless without love’s desire for the good of others. Paul’s primary concern in this chapter is not to eliminate spiritual gifts like tongues, but to regulate their exercise so that the entire congregation can be built up in faith. He desires that the church be edified, not confused or scandalized. The Corinthian believers were overly enamored with the more ecstatic gifts, particularly speaking in tongues, without considering their practical benefit to the community.
1 Corinthians 14 2 Word Analysis
- "For" (Gk. gar): This is a conjunction introducing an explanation or reason. It connects this verse to the previous one, providing the basis for why the gifts discussed should be sought.
- "he" (Gk. ho): This pronoun refers back to "one" who speaks in a tongue or prophesies.
- "who" (Gk. lalon): Derived from laleo, meaning "to speak" or "to talk." In this context, it specifically refers to the act of speaking.
- "speaks" (Gk. glossais): This is the dative plural of glossa, meaning "tongue" or "language." The phrase "speaks in tongues" refers to the gift of speaking in languages not learned by the speaker.
- "in tongues" (Gk. oikodomei): From oikodomeo, meaning "to build a house," thus signifying to edify, build up, strengthen, or construct.
- "edifies" (Gk. heauton): This reflexive pronoun means "himself."
- "himself" (Gk. de): A conjunction used to contrast or connect. Here, it connects the edification of self with the edification of the church.
- "but" (Gk. de): A conjunction showing contrast.
- "he" (Gk. propheteuon): The present participle of propheteuo, meaning "to prophesy."
- "who" (Gk. ten ekklesian): The accusative singular of ekklesia, meaning "the church" or "the congregation."
- "prophesies" (Gk. oikodomei): As before, "edifies" or "builds up."
Word Group Analysis:
- "speaks in tongues": This phrase refers to the spiritual gift of glossolalia, distinct from ecstatic utterances. It involved speaking in genuine, unlearned human languages (as seen in Acts 2:4-11) or possibly a heavenly language unknown to human comprehension but recognized by God and the Spirit (1 Cor 13:1).
- "edifies himself": This means that speaking in an unknown tongue primarily benefits the speaker's own spiritual life, strengthening his faith or experience with God directly, though not necessarily contributing to the public understanding or growth of the church.
- "but he who prophesies edifies the church": This highlights the contrasting effect. Prophecy, which is intelligible speech inspired by God that conveys divine truth to the listeners, has the direct purpose and impact of building up the entire community of believers.
1 Corinthians 14 2 Bonus Section
The concept of "edification" (oikodome) is a strong metaphor in the New Testament, depicting the church as a building being constructed. This building is spiritual, a temple of God inhabited by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19), with Christ as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20). Each believer is a living stone (1 Pet 2:5), and various gifts and ministries contribute to this ongoing construction and strengthening of the church community. Speaking in tongues, when unaccompanied by interpretation, is like adding a beautiful stone to the building that no one can see the value of or integrate into the structure because its unique contribution isn't understood. Prophecy, on the other hand, is like a craftsman explaining the blueprints or expertly placing a stone, contributing directly to the architectural integrity and beauty of the whole. The Old Testament provides a foreshadowing of intelligible prophecy edifying Israel in Isaiah 28:11, which Paul himself quotes. God promises to speak to His people, and though in that instance it is through "stammering lips and an alien tongue," it's still God speaking directly to His people’s needs, albeit in a way that initially might seem strange. However, in the New Testament context of 1 Corinthians 14, the emphasis shifts to intelligible, revelatory speech for universal understanding and upbuilding.
1 Corinthians 14 2 Commentary
This verse sets up a critical comparison for the Corinthian church’s worship practices. Paul distinguishes between two spiritual gifts: speaking in tongues and prophecy. He explains that when one speaks in an unknown tongue, the primary beneficiary is the speaker himself. It strengthens his personal relationship with God and his own spiritual understanding, but it lacks public utility for others present who do not understand the language. Conversely, prophecy—inspired speech that conveys God's message intelligibly to the assembly—builds up the entire church. The Corinthians’ zeal for tongues, without considering this essential distinction, led to disorder and missed opportunities for communal spiritual growth. Paul prioritizes what edifies the entire body of Christ.
- Practical Implication: Prioritize ministry that is clearly understandable and beneficial to the whole congregation over that which may be personally fulfilling but communally obscure.
- Emphasis: The focus of spiritual gifts in public worship should be the upbuilding of the church, not mere personal experience or display.