Anyone who speaks in an unknown language doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them, because what they say by the Spirit remains a mystery.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all the secret things of God and know everything about him, and if I have enough faith to move mountains, but I don’t have love, I’m nothing at all.
Without question, true godliness comes from this great mystery: Jesus came as a human being, and he was declared right with God by the Holy Spirit. He was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.
My goal is that they will all be encouraged in their hearts and joined together in love. Then their understanding will be rich and complete, and they will know the mystery of God, which is Christ.
No, we share God’s wisdom, which is a mystery that has been hidden until now. But before time began, God planned that this wisdom would bring us heavenly glory.
God is able to strengthen you through the good news, which is the message I preach about Jesus Christ. There was a mystery that had been kept hidden for a very long time.
Otherwise, if you’re thanking God in the Spirit and there are visitors present who want to know what’s going on, how can they say “Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you’re saying.
To another he gives the power to do miracles, or to prophesy, or to tell spirits apart, or to speak in different kinds of languages they hadn’t known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages.
God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, guiding, and speaking in different kinds of languages.
Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you should bring something—a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a message in another language, or an explanation of what was said in another language. Everything must be done to build up the church.