Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 14:1-5”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Okay, once again, in chapter 12 Paul gave us a list of miraculous gifts that were all given by the Holy Spirit for the good of the congregation. In chapter 13 he taught of the temporary nature of these gifts and that love was the more excellent way that would far outlive the impermanent miracles. Now in chapter 14 he addresses some of the ways that the brethren were abusing their gifts and how they should be properly used or “regulated” in the assembly. Chapter 12 – the nature of the gifts. Chapter 13 – the duration of the gifts. Chapter 14 – The proper uses of the gifts.
“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts” (verse 1). Let’s not gloss over this statement because it is loaded with significance. Everyone can attain love so Paul urges us and them to pursue love by earnest endeavor. But miraculous gifts are just that—gifts. They were either given or they were not. No amount of effort could acquire someone a miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. Groups today who insist that people must be baptized by the Holy Spirit and speak in “tongues” as evidence of their salvation or approval by God miss this point. God gave gifts to people according to His own discretion (Ephesians 4:8). The Holy Spirit “fell on” only a select few (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-48). Gifts were definitely “desirable” and useful, but only a temporary measure and only if used in appropriate ways.
“But especially that you may prophecy” (verse 1). “Greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues” (verse 5). This is because the “prophet” spoke in the language that was common to the listeners, and therefore what he spoke was understandable by all. This potentially lead to the spiritual growth (edification) and encouragement (exhortation) and the comfort (consolation) of everyone in the assembly (verse 3). The one who spoke in tongues edified himself (verse 4), but the one who prophesied edified the whole congregation. So which was better? Folks, we call that one a “no brainer”!
“One who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (verse 2). Paul is not teaching that “tongue-speaking” was a special ecstatic “prayer language” that Christians were to use when speaking to God! He goes on to clarify WHY it was that a person speaking in an unknown language spoke to God and not to men: “for no one understands him” but God! As a matter of fact, the “tongue-speaker” himself often didn’t fully understand what he was saying when he spoke in a foreign language. Somehow he was “edified” spiritually by the experience (verse 4), but he still spoke “mysteries” in his own “spirit” (verse 2).
Tongues were a gift FROM God FOR revelation, not a gift FOR speaking TO God. That’s why it was important for a person to not speak in tongues unless there was someone there in possession of the gift of “interpretation” (verse 5). Paul will go on in the next several verses to present a series of arguments to show the uselessness of tongue-speaking that is not interpreted.
Please read 1 Corinthians 14:6-12 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
