1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NKJV

“1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”

A Controversial Topic

Now this is a very controversial topic, and one I don’t generally want to delve into, but it needs to be discussed, for in our world today there is a lot of abuse of the gifts in these two areas of prophecy and of speaking in tongues, in both the areas of the teachings on these gifts and in the operating of these gifts. But prophecy is not just future telling, as many regard it, but it is preaching (proclaiming) the Word of God, which is how Paul was using it here, which to me is obvious by his description of it.

First of all, there are many people today falsely teaching that to receive Christ you must speak in tongues. Just not biblical! And some church gatherings will not allow certain people to participate in their gatherings unless they speak in tongues. But in the lists of the gifts of the Spirit, tongues are generally listed last as one of the lesser gifts. And it is the Spirit who determines who gets what gifts. And they are to be used according to the teachings of the Scriptures, and not according to human beings.

The Gifts Defined

Prophecy – Paul defined prophecy as speaking edification and exhortation and comfort to the people. And to edify is to teach, to instruct, to give constructive criticism, and to say what will help other believers in Christ to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ and to live the life that God has for them to live for God’s glory. And an exhortation is an appeal, a holy urging, urgent request, counsel, caution and strong encouragement to do what is right. And comfort is to give them strength and support in their walks of faith in Christ.

Tongues – And then he went on to say that those who prophesy edify the church, and that they are greater than those who speak with tongues, not as a matter of superiority or pride in giftedness, but having to do with what prophecy produces in comparison to what speaking in tongues produces. For those who speak in tongues speak to God, not to the people, for no one understands what they are saying. And he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. But he who prophesies edifies the church, which is what is needed.

Tongues Interpreted

Now, if we keep reading in 1 Corinthians 14 we will learn that tongues must be interpreted or otherwise they serve no valuable purpose in the gatherings of the church. But even the interpretations of the tongues must be tested against the teachings of the Scriptures, just as we would test prophesies, too, to make sure they are of God and not of human flesh. For there are all sorts of people out there who are prophesying over other people falsely and who are using tongues in an unbiblical manner which causes confusion.

For the purpose of our gatherings is for mutual edification in words we can understand which we can then put into practice in our daily lives, if what we are receiving is from God, and it is supported in the Scriptures, and it does not contradict the Scriptures. And all of this must be done in an orderly and godly manner. But regarding the speaking in tongues in a public gathering, one person should speak at a time and there must be an interpretation and it must be tested against the Scriptures, so that lies are not being spread.

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:11-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

Teach Me, Lord

An Original Work / June 12, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Teach me, Lord, to walk in Your ways,
And observe all You command.
May I ever hasten to You,
And desire to not offend.
Teach me how to follow Your steps,
Gently guiding me each day.
May I love and serve You always,
Loving others, this I pray.

Teach me, Lord, to listen to You
Speaking Your words to my heart.
May I never stray from Your truth,
And from Your law ne’er depart.
Teach me how to instruct others
In the way that we should go,
Leading them by my life witness,
So that Jesus they should know.

Teach me, Lord, to be a light in
This dark world of grief and sin.
May I always care for others;
Share their burdens; help to mend.
Teach me how to share with them that
Jesus came to set them free,
So that they could be forgiven;
Live with Christ eternally.

Prophecy and Tongues
An Original Work / June 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love