1 Corinthians 14:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

NIV: But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

NASB: But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation.

CSB: On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.

NLT: But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

KJV: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

NKJV: But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Paul is comparing the relative values of the gifts of prophecy and of speaking in tongues. It may be that an excessive emphasis on tongues—and those with that gift—had created either division or an unbalance among the Christians in Corinth. Paul has urged them to desire the gift of prophecy more than the gift of tongues.

Now he reveals that the gift of prophecy serves a specific purpose in the life of the church. God means for this gift to be used to build others up: to encourage and comfort them. In other words, God would reveal some special truth, idea, or knowledge to a believer with this gift. That person was meant to speak this revelation to others in order to bring healing and encouragement. From this, we see that "prophetic" gifts were not always intended to reveal otherwise unknowable information from God.

Paul writes something similar about the public speaking gifts in Ephesians 4:11–12: "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

First Corinthians 14:1–25 describes why the gift of prophecy is superior to the gift of tongues in church services, especially when nobody with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Prophecy benefits everyone in the room with a revelation from God. Praying in a tongue, when nobody can interpret, only benefits the one praying. In fact, displaying the gift of tongues without interpretation may do more harm than good—it generates confusion and division. In contrast, the use of prophecy provides the opportunity for unbelievers to hear from God, be convicted about sin, and come to faith in Christ and genuine worship.

Paul encourages the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy, especially, among the other gifts. He shows why its use in the church service is superior to the use of the gift of tongues if nobody is available to interpret. Prophecy benefits everyone; praying in tongues with nobody to interpret benefits only the speaker. Only two or three tongues-speakers should contribute to any service, and only then one at a time and followed by interpreters. The same applies to prophecy and the gift of discerning spirits. Orderliness and building up the church are guiding principles for any worship meeting. Modern churches are divided on the extent to who which these gifts are given, or should be practiced.

1 Corinthians 14 concludes Paul's teaching on the spiritual gifts begun in chapter 12. Between them, chapter 13 declared that Christlike love matters most of all. The gift of prophecy is better than the display of the gift of tongues in worship services unless someone with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Even then, only those things which build up the church should be included in any service, and everything should be done in an orderly way, reflecting the character of God. The final two chapters of this letter discuss the resurrection of Christ and Paul's concluding remarks.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:30:25 AM