Paul teaches about church meetings
26 My Christian friends, this is what you should do when you meet together. Some of you may have a song to praise God. Some of you may have a lesson to teach about God. Other people may have something special that God has shown to them. Some people may have a message in a different language. Other people may explain what the message means. Do all these things in a way that helps the church to become stronger.
27 If some people speak in different languages, it should only be two or three people. They should speak one person at a time. Then someone must explain what each person said. 28 But perhaps there is nobody among you who can explain like that. Then, anyone who wants to speak in a different language must be quiet in your meeting. Instead, they should speak to God by themselves.
29 When you meet together, two or three people should speak a message from God. Then the other people there should think carefully about each message. 30 Someone who is sitting in your meeting may receive a special message from God. Then, the person who is already speaking should stop. 31 In this way, each person can speak a message from God, one person at a time. Then everyone will learn something that helps them. 32 All of you who speak messages from God are able to control your own spirits. 33 When we meet together as God's people, he wants there to be peace among us. He does not want people to be confused.
This is what happens in all the churches where God's people meet together. 34 The women should be quiet during the meetings. They should not speak. They should remember that they are under authority. That is also what God's Law teaches. 35 If a woman wants to ask about something, she should ask her husband at home. Women should be ashamed if they speak in the church. 36 Remember that God's message did not start from you in Corinth! You are not the only people who have heard it, either.
14:35See also 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Paul says that women may pray or speak a message in a meeting of the church. Here, he may mean that women should not speak to ask questions when someone else is speaking. 37 Someone may think that he has the gift to speak messages from God. Or he may think that he has received other spiritual gifts. A person like that should agree with what I have written to you. He should recognize that it is a command from the Lord himself. 38 If anyone refuses to accept this, you should not accept that person.
39 My Christian friends, it is good when you want to speak clear messages from God. And if anyone has the gift to speak in a different language, do not stop them. 40 But you must do everything in a proper way that helps people.
