1 Corinthians 14:4-5

14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, ¹  but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 14:5 I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.

1 Corinthians 14:12

14:12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, ²  seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

1 Corinthians 14:14

14:14 If ³  I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

1 Corinthians 14:26

Church Order

14:26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? ⁴  When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

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¹ sn The Greek term builds (himself) up does not necessarily bear positive connotations in this context.

² tn Grk “eager for spirits.” The plural is probably a shorthand for the Spirit’s gifts, especially in this context, tongues.

³ tc ‡ Most witnesses, including some important ones (א A D^s Ψ 048 Ï lat sy bo), have γάρ (gar, “for”) here, while an equally impressive array of witnesses lack the conjunction (Ì⁴⁶ B F G 0243 1739 1881 sa). This conjunction was frequently added by scribes in epistolary literature as a clarifying word, making the connection with the preceding more explicit. As such, it has the earmarks of being a motivated reading and thus should be rejected. NA²⁷ places the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.