Speak in Tongues But Prophesy 1 Corinthians 14:5

Paul the apostle continued to share with the church members in Corinth about “spiritual gifts”, and he declared, “he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort”, and in chapter fourteen and verse five of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church members, “I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied”, where we read:

I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

The verse begins, “I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied:”. Paul began with the words, “I would” or “Paul willed, hand in mind, intended, resolved, determined and purposed” “that you all” which means “that each, every, the whole and everyone of the church members” “spoke” or “uttered, emitted and articulated sounds, talked or used words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts” “with tongues” or “the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “rather” or “more, to a greater degree, more willingly, readily and sooner” “that you prophesied” which means “that the church members speak forth by divine inspiration and predict with the idea of foretelling future events pertaining especially to the kingdom of God and to utter forth and declare a thing which can only be known by divine revelation and breaks forth under sudden impulse in loft discourse or praise of divine counsels to teach, refute, reprove, admonish and comfort others”. Though Paul desired for “all” of the church members to “speak with tongues”, he preferred that they “prophesy”,

The verse goes on to say, “for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” Paul continued with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “greater” or “larger, elder and more” “is he” which refers to “is the person” “that prophesies” or “speaks forth by divine inspirations and predicts with the idea of foretelling future events pertaining especially to the kingdom of God, utters forth and declares a thing which can only be known by divine revelation and breaks forth under sudden impulse in loft discourse or praise of divine counsels to teach, refute, reprove, admonish and comfort others” “than he” which means “than the person” “that speaks” or “utters, emits and articulates sounds, talks or uses words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts” “with tongues” which refers to “the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations”, “except” or “outside, beyond, besides or unless” “he interpret” which means “the person speaking in tongues unfolds the meaning of what is said and explains and expounds into one's native language”, “that the church” or “so the a company of Christians or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings and manage their own affairs according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake” “may receive” which means “might take hold of, carry away, claim, procure, catch, collect and gather” “edifying” or “the act of building up to promote another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness”. Paul declared the person who “prophesies” to be “greater” than the person who “speaks with tongues”, unless that person “interprets” what he or she has said so the “church” will be “built up” by their words.

When we think through these words from Paul, we see his exhortation for “all” the church members to “speak with tongues”, however, he preferred they would “prophesy” or speak forth God's truth to “edify” the church. Paul's reasoned that the person who “prophecies” benefits the church as a whole, and unless the person who “speaks with tongues” interprets what he or she declares, the church will not be “built up”. Jesus Christ desires for His “church” to be “edified”, and this is the purpose of these “spiritual gifts”. We have learned that “speaking in tongues” “edifies” the individual, and the “church” may be “built up” if those “tongues” are “interpreted”, however, when “prophesy” goes forth, it “edifies” the church as a whole. May the Holy Spirit teach us His concerning His “gifts”, and may we use them in a manner that “builds up” His “church”.

Next time Paul asks the church members, “what shall I profit you” “if I come unto you speaking with tongues”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.