'Foreign' in the Bible

Not all have the gift of healing, do they? Not all speak in foreign languages, do they? Not all interpret, do they?

For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.

The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.

Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.

Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching?

Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you.

But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord.

Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they?

What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.

If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.

Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.