I do not forbid speaking in tongues, but that it should not be without interpretation. And let a few speak in tongues, lest there be confusion and confusion; And then separately, that is, continuously. But, in any case, there must be an interpreter.

If there is no interpreter, then be silent in church, and speak to yourself and to God.

If he has no interpreter, let him not speak in church, lest he appear to be a stranger, uttering things that are incomprehensible and incomprehensible to many. But if he is so vain that he does not want to be silent, then let him speak to himself and to God, that is, quietly and secretly, to himself, so that his words may be heard only by God, and not by men. See how, it would seem, he permits, and yet forbids.

And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the rest reason.

Sorcerers also took refuge among the prophets. Therefore he says: let others reason about them, so that the sorcerer may not somehow hide in secret. For as above (12:10) it is said that there was a gift and discernment of spirits to discern false and true prophets. He commands two or three to prophesy, in order to observe good order and so that the sorcerers do not hide in the multitude.

But if there is a revelation to another of those who are sitting, then the first shall be silent. For you can all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn and all may receive consolation.

Here he teaches decency and humility. When, he says, the Spirit stirs up another, you, the first, be silent. For if it were pleasing to the Spirit that you should speak, then all, one by one, can prophesy, that is, do not grieve, for you and the other, and all can prophesy, separately and in succession. For this gift is not limited to one, but is given to all, so that the whole Church may learn and be encouraged to virtue.

And the spirits of the prophets are obedient to the prophets.

And this is for the consolation of the one whom he commanded to be silent. These words have the following meaning: do not object, do not resist. For the Spirit Himself, that is, the gift that is in you, and the work of the Spirit that is in you, obeys the gift of another who is stirred up to prophecy: and if the Spirit obeys, how much more should you, who have received the Spirit, not object. Some understood it thus: the pagan soothsayers, if once possessed by a demon, even if they wanted to, could not remain silent; but our holy prophets are not so, but it depends on their will to be silent or to speak. This is the meaning of the words: prophetic spirits, that is, gifts, are obedient to the prophets and the will of the prophets to be silent and not to be silent. Lest he who has this gift say, "How can I, by thy commandment, be silent, when I speak at the prompting of the Spirit?" he says that this Spirit, which prompts thee, obeys thee, and it is already in thy power to be silent, and therefore do not refer to the Spirit in vain.

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. This happens in all churches with saints.

He shows that it is so pleasing to God that the former should be silent; for God is not a God of disorder and disorder (and there will be disorder if no one is silent, but all prophesy), but of peace. This peace is observed in all the Churches by the saints, that is, by the faithful. For there are Hellenic and Greek churches. Be ashamed to behave differently from the way all churches do.

Let your wives be silent in the churches, for it is not lawful for them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also says.

Having pointed out a good order to everything that concerned the gift of tongues and prophets, namely, that few should prophesy, and from then on there should be no confusion and disorder, he now abolishes the disorder that has arisen from women, and says that they should be silent in the church. Then he says something more, namely, that it is more proper for them to be in subjection. For submission means silence out of fear, as it happens in slave women. And he calls the Book of Genesis the law, in which it is written: "Thy desire is for thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Gen. 3:16). If the wife is destined to be subordinate to her husband, how much more to the spiritual teachers in the church.

But if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands about it at home.