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Children's Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 14

Paul's teaching on the subject of tongues (speaking in an unknown language)

I have written this for children, based solely on the Word of God, but condensed for them... and used Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary for clarification of some words. My added comments are in italics, This is an extremely difficult chapter for children.. no memory verse for this chapter.

Follow love (the teaching to love one another in the purity of fellowship and caring), and desire spiritual gifts, but desire that you might have the gift of prophesy (the true prediction of future events).  Because he that speaks in an unknown language does not speak to men, but to God: because no man understands him; in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

But he that has the gift of prophecy, speaks to men to build them up, to encourage them, and to comfort them.

He that speaks in an unknown language builds himself up, but he that prophesies builds up the church.

A person that prophesies is greater than he that speaks with unknown languages unless he is interpreted so that the church can also be built up by what the person speaking with tongues is saying.

Brothers, if I were to come to you speaking with tongues, what good would that do you, unless I spoke to you the truth of God which was made known to me, or by knowledge, or by prophesying (telling them a truth of something that was to come), or by doctrine (truths which were taught by our Lord Jesus Christ)?

Unless you say words that are easy to be understood, how will anyone know what you have spoken? it is like you are speaking to the air.

As much as you desire greatly the spiritual gifts, seek those by which the church may be built up.

Therefore let him that speaks with an unknown language pray that he might interpret what he says.  If I pray in an unknown language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is not for the good of others. (unfruitful)

Therefore, I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with understanding also.  I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with understanding also.  Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will anyone say Amen when you give thanks if he doesn't understand what you are saying?

I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than all of you, but in the church I would rather speak five words with understanding so that with my voice I can teach others also, than I would speak 10,000 words in an unknown language.

Brothers, be men in your understanding.  Unknown languages are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that do not believe (because if a believer hears the gospel spoken in his language, he will be convicted by it, whereby he may be saved)  Prophesying (telling the truth about future events) does not serve them that do not believe, but those that believe.

Therefore, if the whole church is together and everyone speaks with tongues, and some come in that are unbelievers, won't they say that you are crazy? but if all prophesy, and one comes in that is not a believer, or one that has not learned very much, that person is convinced of all, he is judged of all.

And so the secrets of his heart are made known, and falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that truthfully God is in you.

Brothers, when you come together every one of you has a psalm (a song), a doctrine, (a truth taught by the Lord Jesus Christ) a tongue, a revelation, (a truth of God that was made known to that person) an interpretation (of that which is spoken in tongues).  Let all things be done to the building up (of the church)

If any man speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be not more than two or three, one at a time, and let someone interpret what the person is saying.

If there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let that person speak to himself, and to God.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let another judge.

If any thing is revealed to another that sits by, let the first person hold his peace (and say nothing) For you may all prophesy one by one, that all of you might learn, and all of you might be comforted.

God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak; they are commanded to be obedient.  If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, because it is a shame for a women to speak in the church.

Did the word of God come out from you? did it come to you by yourself?  If any man thinks that he is a prophet or that he is spiritual, let him say that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

But if a man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

And so brothers, desire to prophesy, but do not forbid to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently, and in order.

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V. Gross/Jan 11'07