1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (WEL) Press on towards love, and desire spiritual [gifts], especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in an unknown language is not speaking to people but to God, for no one understands him because he speaks mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and comfort. 4 He who speaks in an unknown language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the congregation. 5 I could wish all of you spoke in languages, but better yet that you all prophesied, for greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with languages, unless he interprets so that the congregation would receive edification.
Chapter summary: Box writes: “First Corinthians fourteen is the sad account of contentions that had been caused in the church at Corinth by attitudes dealing with spiritual gifts, especially the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. This chapter shows how the miraculous spiritual gifts were to be regulated and how important the edification of the church is in all matters. Whatever is done in the church is to be done humbly and in love.”
V1 Press on towards love, and desire spiritual [gifts], especially that you may prophesy.
Paul continues to teach about spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were seeking the spectacular instead of the most important gifts. Paul wants to correct their priorities.
The Greek word press is G1377 διώκω diōkō, which means (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) ‘To follow zealously.’
The word means to be serious about and to make developing the priority of love. We do this by reading and studying the Bible, praying, and fellowship. The fellowship is needed so we can practice love towards others and receive love from them, too.
Prophecy is both telling the future and telling the will of God. It is telling the unknown as in Matthew 26:68.
We are to seek God, not the devil, to know the future. If we do, we will be led astray. Those who seek God to know the future pray and search the Scriptures. Only God knows the future.
Telling the future—Genesis 49:1 and Revelation 1:19
Knowing the unknown—Matthew 26:68, Daniel 2:5-11, Daniel 2:19-23, and Daniel 2:31-45
Revealing the secret thoughts of people—Luke 9:46-47
Revealing sin—Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:1-12
V2 For he who speaks in an unknown language is not speaking to people but to God, for no one understands him because he speaks mysteries by the Spirit.
The languages are real spoken languages. If a Roman who did not know Hebrew started speaking in Hebrew delivering a message to the Jews, he is speaking an unknown tongue/language. If he/she does this but no one there speaks Hebrew nor can interpret, then he is only speaking in mysteries.
V3 But he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and comfort.
The purpose of prophecy is to edify the faith, exhort to greater service, loyalty, and faithfulness, and comfort those in afflictions and persecution.
V4 He who speaks in an unknown language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the congregation.
Prophecy is a greater gift because all will be edified, exhorted, and/or comforted by God’s message.
V5 I could wish all of you spoke in languages, but better yet that you all prophesied, for greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with languages, unless he interprets so that the congregation would receive edification.
God has priorities. Prophecy is more powerful than speaking in unknown languages because it strengthens the body of believers in their faith, inspires them to grow, live more fully, and show greater faithfulness, and provides comfort for those who are uncertain, facing challenges, suffering, or persecution.
Albert Barnes: “This gift is of more value, and he really occupies a more elevated rank in the church. He is more “useful.” The idea here is that talents are not to be estimated by their “brilliance,” but by their “usefulness.” The power of speaking in an unknown tongue was certainly a more striking endowment than that of speaking so as simply to be “useful,” and yet the apostle tells us that the latter is the more valuable. So it is always. A man who is useful, however humble and unknown he may be, really occupies a more elevated and venerable rank than the man of most splendid talents and dazzling eloquence, who accomplishes nothing in saving the souls of people.”
We learn:
- God has priorities regarding spiritual gifts.
- Prophesying is greater than tongues.
Questions:
- What is your priority—showiness or blessings to others?
- What are you doing to build up the local assembly?