King James Version · Under Rome
1 Corinthians 14
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Follow after charity, and spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may . For he that speaketh in an speaketh not unto men, but unto : for no man understandeth him; howbeit in he speaketh . But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth . I would that ye all spake with , but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with , except he , that may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with , what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by , or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of . Wherefore let him that speaketh in an that he may . For if I in an , prayeth, but my is unfruitful. What is it then? I will with , and I will with the also: I will sing with , and I will sing with the also. Else when thou shalt with , how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my , I speak with more than ye all: Yet in I had rather speak five words with my , that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an . Brethren, be not children in : howbeit in malice be ye children, but in be men. In , With men of other and other will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith . Wherefore are for a sign, not to them that , but to them that not: but prophesying serveth not for them that not, but for them which . If therefore the whole be come together into one place, and all speak with , and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all , and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of made manifest; and so falling down on he will , and report that is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a , hath a , hath an . Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an , let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one . 28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in ; and let him speak to himself, and to . Let speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of are subject to . For is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of . Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under , as also saith . And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a for women to speak in . What? came the word of out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a , or spiritual, let him that the things that I write unto you are of . But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, to , and forbid not to speak with . Let all things be done decently and in order.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- Are the miraculous gifts still given today? · 1 Corinthians 12 to 14
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.