1 Corinthians 14:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

The apostle, in the foregoing chapter, had himself preferred, and advised the Corinthians to prefer, Christian charity to all spiritual gifts. Here he teaches them, among spiritual gifts, which they should prefer, and by what rules they should make comparison. He begins the chapter, I. With an exhortation to charity (1 Cor. 14:1): Follow after charity, pursue it. The original, diokete, when spoken of a thing, signifies a singular concern to obtain it; and is commonly taken in a good and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

14:1-19 Pursue this love. Covet the spiritual things, especially the gift of forthtelling the truth to others. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one can understand. By the Spirit he speaks things which only the initiated can understand. But he who forthtells the truth to men speaks something which builds them up and encourages them and comforts them. He who speaks in a tongue builds up his own spiritual life, but he who forthtells the truth builds up the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:3

But he that prophesieth ,.... Preaches, prays, or sings, in a language understood by the common people: speaketh unto men to edification ; to the building of them up in Christ, and on their most holy faith, so that they grow up as an holy temple to the Lord: and exhortation; to the more vigorous exercise of grace, and the more cheerful and fervent discharge of duty: and comfort ; of distressed minds, either through the temptations of Satan, or divine desertions, or inward... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:3

But he that prophesieth - The person who has the gift of teaching is much more useful to the Church than he is who has only the gift of tongues, because he speaks to the profit of men: viz. to their edification, by the Scriptures he expounds; to their exhortation, by what he teaches; and to their comfort, by his revelation. - Whitby. I must here refer to my sermon on this text, intitled, "The Christian Prophet and his Work," in which I have endeavored to consider the whole of this subject at... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:3

Verse 3 3.He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men “Prophecy,” says he, “is profitable to all, while a foreign language is a treasure hid in the earth. What great folly, then, it is to spend all one’s time in what is useless, and, on the other hand, to neglect what appears to be most useful!” To speak to edification, is to speak what contains doctrine fitted to edify. For I understand this term to mean doctrine, by which we are trained to piety, to faith, to the worship and fear of God, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Love controls zeal in behalf of spiritual gifts. In the opening verse we have three ideas, viz. love as a virtue to be diligently sought and practised, spiritual gifts as objects worthy of desire, and prophesying as a gift among gifts to be especially prized. "Rather that ye may prophesy" is the formative thought of this chapter, and it must be kept in view by the reader, since it is explicit or implicit in every associated idea. But this leading thought is closely connected with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Usefulness. I. THE DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS LEGITIMATE AND PRAISEWORTHY . 1. We must not rest content even with the possession of love. We must seek qualification for making that love effective. Inactive love is both suspicious and useless. If we have a true love for men, we shall seek to be helpful to them, especially in their spiritual life, and to this end we shall seek all possible means for conveying to them the knowledge of the love of God and. the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

The gift of preaching superior to the gift tongues . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Grace and gifts. "Follow after charity," etc. There are many separate verses in this chapter implying or suggesting thoughts capable of being wrought out into sermonic sketches, but my purpose now is to take a homiletical glance at the whole. The following general propositions will bring all the parts into a logical connection:— I. THE GRACE OF CHARITY IS SUPERIOR TO ALL ENDOWMENTS . I say "charity," for I prefer the word to the word "love," which the New Version... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:3

To edification, and exhortation, and comfort. The "to" should be omitted. His words build up the Christian soul, by rousing its efforts and consoling its sorrows. The "Son of prophecy" (Barnabas) is, as Stanley points out, also "a Son of consolation" ( Acts 4:36 ). "Support" ( paraklēsis ) involves "comfort," i.e. strength and calm. read more

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