1 Corinthians 14:1-5

¹ “Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit, he speaks mysteries. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. ⁴ The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.”

Verse 1: Paul encourages the Corinthians to prioritize love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of prophecy because prophecy edifies a large amount of people. Because prophecy edifies so well it is an expression of love. In the context, prophecy is simply teaching people about Jesus in an encouraging way. This benefits everyone who hears.

Verse 2: Paul distinguishes between speaking in tongues and prophecy. Prophecy is edifying for all believers because it encourages them in Christ. Speaking in tongues, however, is a form of communication meant for evangelism. The gift of tongues is when people speak the gospel in foreign earthly languages. However, something of an abuse of tongues was occurring in the Corinthian church. The evangelistic gift of tongues was brought into church services. Such an action was not edifying for believers because they had already believed the gospel. So, the gift of tongues was being used as a spiritual exercise instead of as an evangelistic gift. Paul is not speaking about a heavenly language available to believers as a gift. Rather, Paul is addressing a church service, not privately praying at home. Believers had apparently taken this evangelistic gift, something that anyone can understand as people speak the gift of tongues in a foreign earthly language, and had turned it into some form of a mysterious language that was not beneficial to anyone. The Corinthians had taken their gift off the street and away from the purpose of evangelism and are abusing it. If they abuse it, then nobody understands except God because He is all knowing.

Verse 3: In contrast to speaking in tongues, prophecy is directed towards people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. The purpose of prophecy is to build up the body of Christ and bring edification to believers. It is a gift that operates in love and serves the needs of others.

Verse 4: Those who were speaking in tongues during the church services were only edifying themselves because, very practically, the believers were not speaking the gospel in foreign earthly languages to unbelievers. Instead, they were speaking it in the midst of believers who did not need the gift.

Verse 5: Paul has no problem with the gift of tongues provided it is used evangelistically. In fact, he wants all people to have the gift! However, Paul recognizes that prophecy, or encouraging people about the gospel, is more universally edifying to those in the church service because they are all, or mostly all, believers and tongues is for unbelievers.