1 Corinthians 14:1-5 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 which read,
v.1 - Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
The more excellent way is to have love at the core of the use of the spiritual gift given to the believer by the Holy Spirit. Paul gave us the definition of that love in chapter 13 and closed with love being the greatest because it continues on when spiritual gifts will not be needed when the end comes and we are in the presence of the Lord. The love guides the use of the spiritual gifts of the Spirit within the body of Christ.
Paul tells all of us to pursue love. Love knocks out pride and its effects of divisions and factions in the church. Paul tells us all to desire earnestly spiritual gifts. This is a desire to see them used and being a benefit to the body of Christ. We all benefit when the spiritual gifts are used with love guiding their use.
Now Paul is going to compare a real spiritual gift, the gift of prophecy and something that is not a spiritual gift that was being displayed in the church. This might get a little technical.
v.2-4 - 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.
Any spiritual gift used is to benefit the body of Christ. Paul speaks of the gift of prophecy, the speaking and proclaiming of the Word of God of revelation given to the body of Christ. Paul then compares that to someone speaking in a tongue and note that it is in the singular. I believe he is talking about something else rather than the spiritual gifts of tongues, plural. This action that was happening in the church doesn't fit the definition of a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit. It is just communication with God. It doesn't benefit the body of Christ because the body of Christ doesn't understand what is being said. It is self-centered rather than other-centered which the spiritual gifts are. The comparison to the spiritual gift of prophecy is to show that this, speaking in a tongue meant only for the speaker and God, is not a spiritual gift by definition given in this Scripture.
v.5 - Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Note first that Paul goes from tongue singular to tongues plural. Paul is switching from what is happening in the church in Corinth that is not a spiritual gift given to what is a spiritual gift given. The spiritual gift of tongues is beneficial to the body of Christ because it involves the spiritual gift of interpretation to translate to the body of Christ and therefore is of use. Prophesy is greater than tongues because it is readily used by the body of Christ and tongues is equal to prophecy if interpretation is given so it can be readily used by the body of Christ.
Paul is starting to help the church understand that if someone speaks in a tongue and there is no interpretation than that is not a spiritual gift because it can't be used by the body of Christ. It is something else and it was something else that the Christians were using to elevate themselves over others instead of serving one another. Something was happening in the church that looked like a spiritual gift but it really wasn't. Maybe that is the best I can do for now and we will let Paul explain more tomorrow.
"Lord, I think I am getting the bigger picture that our time together as the body of Christ is not about us but it is about You and also about serving others. When we look for ways to draw attention to ourselves then we have stepped out of line with You. Thank You for Your Word that gives definition to truth so that we can discern if something is of and from You and when something is not. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.1 - Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
The more excellent way is to have love at the core of the use of the spiritual gift given to the believer by the Holy Spirit. Paul gave us the definition of that love in chapter 13 and closed with love being the greatest because it continues on when spiritual gifts will not be needed when the end comes and we are in the presence of the Lord. The love guides the use of the spiritual gifts of the Spirit within the body of Christ.
Paul tells all of us to pursue love. Love knocks out pride and its effects of divisions and factions in the church. Paul tells us all to desire earnestly spiritual gifts. This is a desire to see them used and being a benefit to the body of Christ. We all benefit when the spiritual gifts are used with love guiding their use.
Now Paul is going to compare a real spiritual gift, the gift of prophecy and something that is not a spiritual gift that was being displayed in the church. This might get a little technical.
v.2-4 - 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.
Any spiritual gift used is to benefit the body of Christ. Paul speaks of the gift of prophecy, the speaking and proclaiming of the Word of God of revelation given to the body of Christ. Paul then compares that to someone speaking in a tongue and note that it is in the singular. I believe he is talking about something else rather than the spiritual gifts of tongues, plural. This action that was happening in the church doesn't fit the definition of a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit. It is just communication with God. It doesn't benefit the body of Christ because the body of Christ doesn't understand what is being said. It is self-centered rather than other-centered which the spiritual gifts are. The comparison to the spiritual gift of prophecy is to show that this, speaking in a tongue meant only for the speaker and God, is not a spiritual gift by definition given in this Scripture.
v.5 - Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Note first that Paul goes from tongue singular to tongues plural. Paul is switching from what is happening in the church in Corinth that is not a spiritual gift given to what is a spiritual gift given. The spiritual gift of tongues is beneficial to the body of Christ because it involves the spiritual gift of interpretation to translate to the body of Christ and therefore is of use. Prophesy is greater than tongues because it is readily used by the body of Christ and tongues is equal to prophecy if interpretation is given so it can be readily used by the body of Christ.
Paul is starting to help the church understand that if someone speaks in a tongue and there is no interpretation than that is not a spiritual gift because it can't be used by the body of Christ. It is something else and it was something else that the Christians were using to elevate themselves over others instead of serving one another. Something was happening in the church that looked like a spiritual gift but it really wasn't. Maybe that is the best I can do for now and we will let Paul explain more tomorrow.
"Lord, I think I am getting the bigger picture that our time together as the body of Christ is not about us but it is about You and also about serving others. When we look for ways to draw attention to ourselves then we have stepped out of line with You. Thank You for Your Word that gives definition to truth so that we can discern if something is of and from You and when something is not. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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