1 Corinthians 14 26

1 Corinthians 14:26 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.

1 Corinthians 14:26 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.

1 Corinthians 14:26 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.

1 Corinthians 14:26 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.

1 Corinthians 14:26 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.

1 Corinthians 14 verses

1 Corinthians 14 26 Meaning

First Corinthians 14:26 describes the diverse and participatory nature of Christian corporate worship in the early church, emphasizing that when believers assemble, various spiritual contributions should be present. Each person potentially brings a song, a teaching, a divine insight, a message in an unknown language, or an interpretation of such a message. The ultimate and unifying principle for all these activities is that they must contribute to the building up and strengthening of the entire gathered body of Christ, known as edification. This verse underscores the purpose-driven nature of worship: to bless and mature the community, not merely to showcase individual gifts or create disarray.

1 Corinthians 14 26 Context

First Corinthians 14 concerns the proper and orderly exercise of spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy, within the corporate worship assembly. Paul is addressing disorder and a misplacement of values in the Corinthian church, where the showier gift of tongues was seemingly prioritized over the more edifying gift of prophecy. Prior to verse 26, Paul has argued extensively that gifts, particularly tongues, are less valuable than prophecy for the overall church because prophecy can be understood by all and thus builds up the entire body (vv. 1-25). He asserts that unintelligible speaking is only edifying to the individual speaking in tongues unless there is interpretation. Verse 26 thus serves as a foundational statement regarding the composition of a Corinthian assembly, leading into specific regulations for how these various elements should be managed for maximum spiritual benefit and order, culminating in the instruction that "all things should be done decently and in order" (v. 40). The historical context reveals a church struggling with unity and a desire for ostentatious displays, prompting Paul to steer them back to a worship rooted in love, understanding, and mutual edification.

1 Corinthians 14 26 Word analysis

• "What then?" (Greek: Ti oun?) - This interrogative phrase functions as a rhetorical question, marking a transition point. Paul asks "So what is the conclusion?" or "What should be done?" after laying out his arguments, signaling a move from theoretical explanation to practical application concerning their worship practices.
• "When you come together" (Greek: hotan synerchēsthe) - This indicates the context of a formal or informal corporate assembly of believers. It refers to the church gathering, highlighting that the instructions that follow pertain specifically to public worship, not private spiritual disciplines. It underscores the communal aspect of Christian life and worship from the earliest days.
• "each one has" (Greek: hekastos humōn echei) - Emphasizes the individual participation and the expectation that every member, having received a gift, contributes actively. It contrasts with a purely clergy-led model, suggesting a vibrant, interactive worship environment where all believers are empowered by the Spirit.
• "a psalm" (Greek: psalmon) - Refers to a song of praise, spiritual melody, or perhaps even an impromptu inspired song, as distinct from a more formalized hymn. It could have been drawn from the Old Testament Psalms or a newly composed spiritual song, intended for corporate singing and spiritual reflection (cf. Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).
• "a teaching" (Greek: didachen) - Denotes an instruction, doctrine, or exposition, likely drawing from the Old Testament scriptures or new revelation from the apostles. This was a direct, clear communication designed to impart knowledge and understanding, contributing to the church's doctrinal soundness and spiritual maturity.
• "a revelation" (Greek: apokalypsin) - Implies a direct unveiling of truth from God, a divinely given insight or perception, possibly prophetic in nature. It's a spontaneous word from the Lord that illuminates a spiritual truth or offers direction to the gathered assembly, distinct from prepared teaching.
• "a tongue" (Greek: glossan) - Refers to speaking in a divinely given, unlearned language (often xenolalia – foreign languages, or glossolalia – uninterpretable utterances) which serves as a sign or personal edification, but requires interpretation to be useful to the corporate body (cf. 1 Cor 14:2-4).
• "an interpretation" (Greek: hermeneian) - The explanation or translation of a message spoken in tongues, making it understandable to the congregation. This gift ensures that messages delivered in tongues can fulfill the purpose of edification, thereby integrating them into the orderly worship service.
• "Let all things be done for edification." (Greek: Panta pros oikodomēn ginesthō.) - This is the central, guiding principle and imperative of the entire chapter and for all spiritual expressions within the church. Oikodomē literally means "building" or "house-building," but here metaphorically refers to the spiritual building up, strengthening, and maturity of the believers and the entire body. Every action, every spiritual gift, must contribute to the church's spiritual growth, unity, and strength, rather than self-glorification or disarray.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "What then? When you come together, each one has...": This phrase initiates the practical discussion and immediately paints a picture of a participatory and perhaps even spontaneous worship gathering in Corinth, where multiple individuals had a contribution ready. Paul is not squelching this vibrant atmosphere, but regulating it.
• "a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation...": This specific list illustrates the diverse range of spiritual contributions that were expected in a Corinthian church gathering. It covers expressions of praise, doctrinal instruction, prophetic insight, supernatural utterance, and the translation of that utterance, showing the breadth of Spirit-empowered ministry present. The fact that Paul lists five different categories indicates the rich, multifaceted nature of their communal worship.
• "Let all things be done for edification.": This is the supreme principle overriding all other considerations. It defines the singular, non-negotiable goal for all spiritual activity in the church gathering. It acts as a clear directive against chaotic or self-serving uses of gifts, firmly establishing the collective good as the priority.

1 Corinthians 14 26 Bonus section

The spontaneous and diverse nature of the Corinthian assembly, as described in 1 Corinthians 14:26, stands in stark contrast to many modern worship services that are often highly structured and audience-centric, with participation largely limited to congregational singing. This verse highlights an early church model where a multiplicity of spiritual gifts were actively exercised by various members, not just designated leaders. It underscores the biblical ideal of the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet 2:9), where every individual member has a contribution to make to the body's well-being and growth. This passage acts as a challenge for contemporary churches to evaluate whether their gatherings foster environments where spiritual gifts, particularly those that require active expression (like teaching or prophecy), can be exercised in an orderly, edifying manner by all gifted members for the common good. The ultimate criterion remains constant: is the practice truly "building up" the saints?

1 Corinthians 14 26 Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:26 is a pivotal verse in Paul's instructions regarding worship in the Corinthian church. It first portrays a snapshot of their vibrant yet potentially chaotic gatherings, where many individuals seemingly came prepared to contribute spiritual expressions. This indicates a church environment that highly valued participation and the exercise of spiritual gifts by many members, not just a few leaders.

The range of contributions—psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, and interpretation—shows the diverse operations of the Holy Spirit. A "psalm" speaks to spontaneous worship in song; "teaching" indicates the importance of biblical instruction and theological understanding; "revelation" points to prophetic insight or a word from God; "tongue" refers to glossolalia, a spiritual language; and "interpretation" makes tongues intelligible to the assembly.

However, the concluding phrase, "Let all things be done for edification," serves as the overarching directive and the corrective lens through which all these diverse activities must be filtered. Edification (oikodomē) is the paramount goal, signifying the building up, spiritual growth, and maturity of the entire church body. This implies that no gift, however miraculous or personally fulfilling, should be exercised if it does not contribute tangibly to the common good and understanding of the assembled believers. This principle directly addressed the Corinthian church's problems of individualistic and chaotic use of gifts, particularly tongues, which caused confusion rather than strengthening the body. It established a boundary and purpose: gifts are for others, for the health and spiritual progress of the whole.

Practically, this verse means that true Christian worship is not merely about receiving but also about contributing to the spiritual nourishment of others. Each gift, whether teaching or revelation, is valuable when used for mutual spiritual benefit. For instance, if one has a teaching, its purpose is to instruct the ignorant. If one has a song, its aim is to lead others in worship. If one speaks in a tongue, it must be interpreted to build up the entire community, not just for personal display. The verse implies that worship should be participatory and purposeful, leading to genuine spiritual growth for everyone present.