What does Paul mean by “follow after charity” and desire spiritual gifts?

Paul is telling the church that love should be their main pursuit, not spiritual gifts for their own sake. “Follow after charity” means make love your aim and way of life. At the same time, he does not reject spiritual gifts. He wants believers to desire them, but to use them in a loving way. The point is that gifts are not for showing off, but for helping others. So love is the path, and gifts are tools that should serve that loving purpose.

Why does Paul say prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues?

Paul says prophecy is greater in the gathered church because it builds up others more directly. Prophecy here is speaking God’s truth in a way people can understand, so it brings teaching, encouragement, and comfort. Tongues, when not interpreted, only build up the one who speaks, because no one else understands the words. Paul is not saying tongues are bad, but that in church meetings, clear speech that helps everyone is better than mysterious speech that no one can follow.

Why is understanding so important in prayer and worship here?

Paul repeats that prayers, songs, and teaching in church should be understandable. If someone prays or gives thanks in a tongue that others do not know, those listening cannot say “Amen” because they do not know what was said. This means they are not truly joining in the worship. Paul wants both the spirit and the mind involved, so he says he will pray and sing with the spirit and with understanding. Worship is meant to involve the whole church, not just the person speaking.

What does it mean that God is not the author of confusion but of peace?

Paul uses this line to explain why church meetings should be orderly. In Corinth, many wanted to speak, pray, or use gifts at the same time, which led to noise and disorder. Paul says this does not reflect God’s character, because God brings peace and clear order, not chaos. So he gives simple rules: speak one at a time, limit how many speak in tongues, have an interpreter, let others weigh what is said, and keep everything aimed at building up the church in a calm, peaceful way.

Why does Paul limit speaking in tongues in church meetings?

Paul does not ban tongues, but he sets clear limits so that the church is helped rather than confused. He says if anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be only two or three, one after another, and there must be someone to interpret. If no interpreter is present, the person should stay quiet in the meeting and speak to himself and to God. The reason is simple: without understanding, the church is not built up. Order and clarity matter more than everyone using their gift at once.

What does this passage teach about how church gatherings should look?

This passage shows that church meetings should be focused on building up others, not on personal display. Paul expects that when believers gather, different people may bring a song, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, or an interpretation. But everything must be done in an orderly way, one at a time, and only if it serves the good of the whole group. There should be room for learning, encouragement, and correction, so that everyone leaves strengthened in faith and understanding.

Why does Paul say tongues are a sign for unbelievers and prophecy for believers?

Paul links tongues to God’s past use of foreign languages as a sign of judgment to a people who would not listen. So tongues can show God’s power, but they may not help someone believe if nothing is understood. When many speak in tongues and unbelievers enter, they may think the group is out of their mind. Prophecy, by contrast, speaks clearly. It can uncover the secrets of a person’s heart, leading them to worship and confess that God is truly among the believers.

How can I apply the teaching about edification to my own use of gifts?

This passage invites you to ask a simple question about any gift or ability you think you have: “Does this help others grow in faith, or is it mainly about me?” Paul’s test for every word in church is whether it builds up, encourages, or comforts others. In your own life, this means choosing clarity over show, love over impressing people, and order over drawing attention to yourself. When you use what God has given to help others understand him better, you are walking in the spirit of this chapter.

Why does Paul tell women to keep silent in the churches here?

These verses are hard for many readers, and they have been understood in more than one way. In this passage Paul is dealing with disorder in the meetings at Corinth. He tells women not to speak in a way that disturbs the gathering and to ask questions at home instead of interrupting. Some see this as a rule for that local situation, tied to customs of that time. Others read it more broadly. What is clear in the chapter is that Paul is aiming at peace, order, and edification in worship.

What does it mean that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets?

Paul is saying that those who speak for God are not out of control or carried away in a way they cannot help. A person with a message from God can wait, listen, and take turns. If something is revealed to another, the first can be quiet. This shows that spiritual gifts do not excuse disorderly behavior. Self-control is still expected. True spiritual speech fits with God’s character, who brings peace and order, and it respects the gathered church by allowing everyone to learn and be comforted.

1Cor.14.1

1 Corinthians 14:1

KJV

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Chapter:

Prophecy and Tongues

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Instruction for the Church

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Orderly Worship

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Context:

Prophecy and Tongues

Sub Context:

Prophecy a Superior Gift

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.