1 Corinthians 14:1

14:1-5 Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if delivered in language such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent, spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.

1 Corinthians 14:1-4 . Follow after love — Namely, that love, the nature, necessity, and excellence of which are shown at large in the preceding chapter; pursue this, which far exceeds all extraordinary gifts, with zeal, vigour, courage, patience, otherwise you will neither attain nor keep it. And — In their place, as subservient to this; desire spiritual gifts — With moderation, and in submission to the divine will; but rather, or especially, that ye may prophecy — The word here does not appear to mean foretelling things to come, but rather opening and applying the Scriptures, and discoursing on divine things in an edifying manner. For he that speaketh in a tongue — Unknown to the auditory, to which he addresses himself; speaketh — In effect; not unto men, but unto God — Who alone understands him. Howbeit, or although, in or by the inspiration of the Spirit, he speaketh mysteries — Such things as are full of divine and hidden wisdom. But he that prophesieth — That is, who discourses of divine things, in a language understood by the hearers; speaketh to edification — To the building up of believers in faith and holiness; and exhortation — To excite them to zeal and diligence; and comfort — Support and consolation under their trials and troubles. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself only — On the most favourable supposition.

The apostle speaks thus, because a person who spoke in an unknown tongue might possibly, while he spoke, find his own good affections awakened by the truths he delivered with fervency, and he might find his faith in Christianity established by the consciousness he had of a miraculous power working in him. From this it is plain that the inspired person, who uttered, in an unknown language, a revelation made to himself, must have understood it, otherwise he could not increase his own knowledge and faith by speaking it. But he that prophesieth — While he edifies himself, edifieth the church also, the whole congregation.

Follow {1} after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may {a} prophesy. (1) He infers now of what he spoke before: therefore seeing charity is the chiefest of all, before all things set it before you as chief and principal. And so esteem those things as most excellent which profit the greater part of men (such as prophecy, that is to say, the gift of teaching and applying the doctrine: which was condemned in respect of other gifts, although it is the chiefest and most necessary for the Church) and not those who for a show seem to be marvellous, as the gifts of tongues. This was when a man was suddenly endowed with the knowledge of many tongues, which made men greatly amazed and yet of itself was not greatly of any use, unless there was an interpreter. (a) What prophecy is he shows in the third verse.

Ch. 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 . The superiority of the gift of prophecy to that of tongues 1 . desire ] Literally, be zealous for, envious of . See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 12:31 . The best gifts (see note there) were those that were within the reach of all. Still there was no reason why a Christian should not seek other special gifts from God by prayer. See 1 Corinthians 14:13 , and St James 1:5 . but rather that ye may prophesy ] The gift of prophecy, as is abundantly evident from the whole of this section, was not confined to the prediction of future events. As Kingsley remarks, the prophet was “not only a fore -teller but a forth -teller,” one who communicates the moral and spiritual truths which he has received by direct revelation from God.

XIV. (1) Follow after charity.—Better, Follow after love. The preceding chapter is parenthetical, and the Apostle here returns to the subject with which he had been immediately occupied before he branched off into that great Psalm of Love. He has spoken enthusiastically in praise of the superiority of love as the greatest amongst graces, and of all graces as superior to all gifts; but still, though we are to “do this,” we are not to leave the other undone. Spiritual gifts are to be “earnestly striven for.” As there was a priority in graces, so there is in gifts. To prophesy is the greatest gift; it is so, as we see afterwards, because it makes us useful to our brethren; therefore it is to be striven for rather than any other gift.

1 Corinthians 14:1 . Διώκετε , follow after ) This word implies more than ζηλοῦτε , emulously desire , here, and in 1 Corinthians 14:12 ; 1 Corinthians 14:39 ; 1 Corinthians 12:31 .— μᾶλλον , rather ) in preference to tongues. Paul here does not now any longer speak expressly of knowledge , for it, in respect of the other gifts, coincides with prophecy , 1 Corinthians 14:6 .

CHAPTER 14 1Co 14:1-25. Superiority of Prophecy over Tongues. 1. Follow after charity—as your first and chief aim, seeing that it is "the greatest" (1Co 13:13). and desire—Translate, "Yet (as a secondary aim) desire zealously (see on [2292]1Co 12:31) spiritual gifts." but rather—"but chiefly that ye may prophesy" (speak and exhort under inspiration) (Pr 29:18; Ac 13:1; 1Th 5:20), whether as to future events, that is, strict prophecy, or explaining obscure parts of Scripture, especially the prophetical Scriptures or illustrating and setting forth questions of Christian doctrine and practice. Our modern preaching is the successor of prophecy, but without the inspiration.

Desire zealously this (prophecy) more than any other spiritual gift; or in preference to "tongues" (1Co 14:2, &c.) [Bengel].1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Prophecy, for its greater tendency to edification,is preferred before speaking with tongues.1 Corinthians 14:6-11 Tongues not understood, like indistinct musicalsounds, are of no service to the hearers.1 Corinthians 14:12-20 All gifts should be referred to edification.1 Corinthians 14:21,22 Tongues are of use for the conviction of unbelievers,1 Corinthians 14:23-25 but in the assemblies of the church prophecy is more useful.1 Corinthians 14:26-33 Rules for the orderly exercise of spiritual gifts inthe church.1 Corinthians 14:34-38 Women are forbidden to speak there.1 Corinthians 14:39,40 An exhortation to use each gift freely, but withdecency and order.Follow after charity; that love to God and your brethren, concerning which I have been speaking so much, as preferable to all common gifts, follow that with your utmost diligence, as the persecutors follow you; for it is the same word that is ordinarily used to signify the violent prosecution of persecutors, though it be applied also to things which we ought eagerly to follow, Romans 9:31 14:19. But rather that ye may prophesy; but rather, or principally that you may be able to reveal the mind and will of God unto others.

Verses 1-25. - The gift of preaching superior to the gift tongues . Verse 1. - Follow after charity; literally, chase ; pursue. The word is one of which St. Paul is fond ( Romans 9:30, 31 ; Romans 13:13 ; Romans 14:19 ; Philippians 3:12, 14 ; 1 Timothy 6:11 , etc.). And desire; rather, yet be zealous for . But rather that ye may prophesy; and yet more strive after the gift of sacred preaching. 1 Corinthians 14:1

1 Corinthians 14:1-6 . § 44. THE GIFTS OF TONGUES AND OF PROPHECY. The digression upon ἡ ἀγάπη has not diverted us from the subject of this Div.; Love has shown the way ( 1 Corinthians 12:31 b ) in which all τὰ πνευματικά ( 1 Corinthians 12:1 , 1 Corinthians 14:1 ) are to be sought, the animating principle and ulterior aim that should govern their exercise. But the principle of Love supplies, further, a criterion by which the charisms are to be relatively estimated— their use in edification ( 1 Corinthians 14:3 ff., 1 Corinthians 14:12 ; 1 Corinthians 14:19 ; 1 Corinthians 14:26 ). Thus P. at length answers the question addressed to him from Cor[2015] as to the worth of the several “spiritual powers,” and in particular as to the relative value of Tongues and Prophesying. He has led up to this answer by his exposition of the general Christian truths bearing upon the matter— viz . the office of the Holy Spirit as the distributor of God’s gifts ( 1 Corinthians 12:3-11 ), the organic nature of the Church ( 1 Corinthians 14:12-31 ), and the sovereignty of love in the Christian life ( 1 Corinthians 14:13 ). [2015] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.