1 Corinthians 14:22 BSB

1 Corinthians 14:22

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.

KJV

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

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Commentary

1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Wherefore tongues are for a sign,.... Of wrath and punishment inflicted on a rebellious and unbelieving people, and not of grace and kindness, as prophesying, or speaking to them by the prophets, was; and so this is an inference from what is said in the preceding verse, and shows, that there was no reason why believers should be so very desirous of them.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Tongues are intended for a sign to unbelievers - To engage their attention, and convince them the message is of God. Whereas prophecy is not so much for unbelievers, as for the confirmation of them that already believe.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

If, when they were all assembled for Christian worship, their ministers, or all employed in public worship, should talk unintelligible language, and infidels should drop in, they would conclude them to be mad, to be no better than a parcel of wild fanatics. Who in their right senses could carry on religious worship in such a manner?

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

21 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ὥστε	hōste	So then	G5620 →
αἱ	hai	<the>	G3588 →
γλῶσσαι	glōssai	tongues	G1100 →
εἰς	eis	for	G1519 →
σημεῖόν	sēmeion	a sign	G4592 →
εἰσιν	eisin	are	G1510 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
τοῖς	tois	to those	G3588 →
πιστεύουσιν	pisteuousin	believing	G4100 →
ἀλλὰ	alla	but	G235 →
τοῖς	tois	to the	G3588 →
ἀπίστοις,	apistois	unbelieving,	G571 →
ἡ	hē	<the>	G3588 →
δὲ	de	but	G1161 →
προφητεία	prophēteia	prophecy	G4394 →
οὐ	ou	[is] not	G3756 →
τοῖς	tois	to the	G3588 →
ἀπίστοις	apistois	unbelieving	G571 →
ἀλλὰ	alla	but	G235 →
τοῖς	tois	to the	G3588 →
πιστεύουσιν.	pisteuousin	believing.	G4100 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
leads to
- Acts 5:16
  Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Luke 10:17
  The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 8:7
  With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- John 14:12
  Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Through
1 Timothy 1:9
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,
leads to
- Galatians 3:19
  Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
- 1 Peter 4:18
  And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Through
1 Corinthians 14:1
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:14
  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 14 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 14 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians