1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Spirit-empowered truth spoken clearly can bring conviction and reveal God’s presence.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
21 In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even hear me that way, says the Lord.”
22 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
Spirit-empowered truth spoken clearly can bring conviction and reveal God’s presence.
Paul calls the Corinthians to mature thinking about spiritual gifts and explains that intelligible prophecy can convict unbelievers and reveal God’s presence in the gathered church.
Paul continues his correction of Corinthian worship practices by appealing to maturity in thinking. After emphasizing intelligible speech in worship (14:6–19), he now explains the spiritual impact of different forms of speech on unbelievers and believers. Drawing from Old Testament prophecy, Paul shows that unintelligible speech can function as a sign of judgment, whereas clear proclamation of truth can lead unbelievers to conviction and worship. This reinforces his argument that intelligibility and edification must guide the church's worship.
Paul addresses a church that may have been emphasizing ecstatic spiritual speech in ways that confused both believers and outsiders. His concern is that worship practices should reveal God's truth rather than obscure it.
Pursue Love, Desire Gifts, and Let All Things Be Done for Edification and Order
Because love seeks the good of others, spiritual gifts in gathered worship must be exercised in ways that are intelligible, edifying, discerning, peaceful, and orderly under the authority of the Lord.