---
title: 1 Corinthians 14:39
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-14-39/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-14-39.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: 1 Corinthians 14:39
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# 1 Corinthians 14:39

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

## JW Usage

rs argues that tongues have ceased altogether and that modern tongues-speakers have the wrong spirit. In practice this becomes a de facto prohibition of tongues in JW contexts. 14:39 itself — Paul's explicit command not to forbid tongues — is typically not engaged, because it directly blocks the rs conclusion that modern tongues must be treated as spurious.

## Protestant Usage

14:39 in the NWT: "keep zealously seeking the prophesying, and yet do not forbid the speaking in tongues." Paul's explicit rule is: do NOT forbid tongues. The strongest form of cessationism — outright prohibition — is exactly what Paul forbids here. Even a Reformed cessationist has to reckon with this verse. At the door, the move is simple: "Your own rs book effectively forbids tongues by declaring modern tongues-speakers to have the wrong spirit. Paul says do not forbid. One of you is on Paul's side, and it is not the rs book."

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Tongues — The Watchtower Case Breaks on Acts 10](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/tongues-cessationism-rebuttal.md) — Acts 10:44-48 / 1 Corinthians 14:39 / 14:2 [Practice]