1 Corinthians 14:3

Contextual Overview

¹Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ¹ Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ¹Love should be your highest achievement, but I ain't saying you shouldn't want some of these other special abilities the Holy Ghost gives—especially the gift of telling folks the truth. ¹ Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ¹Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ¹ Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power. ¹ Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual [manifestations], but rather that ye may prophesy. ¹ Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. ¹ Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ¹ Follow after love: and desire spiritual gifts; but especially that ye may prophesy.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

edification: 1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:12, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 10:23, Acts 9:31, Romans 14:19, Romans 15:2, Ephesians 4:12-16, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Timothy 1:4, Jude 1:20

exhortation: Luke 3:18, Acts 13:15, Acts 14:22, Acts 15:32, Romans 12:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Timothy 4:13, 1 Timothy 6:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:9, Titus 2:6, Titus 2:9, Titus 2:15, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 13:22, 1 Peter 5:12

comfort: 1 Corinthians 14:31, 2 Corinthians 1:4, 2 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 6:22, Colossians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 19:20 - when they Romans 12:6 - whether 1 Corinthians 12:10 - prophecy 1 Corinthians 14:5 - for 1 Corinthians 14:22 - but for 1 Corinthians 14:39 - covet 1 Thessalonians 5:20 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah-from the LORD out of the heavens.

Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens.

Genesis 19:24
And Yahweh rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Yahweh out of heaven,

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven,

Genesis 19:24
Then the Lorde rayned vpon Sodome and Gomorrhe brymstone and fire, from the Lorde out of heauen:

Genesis 19:24
and the Lord began to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He caused fire and burning sulfur to fall from the sky.

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomor'rah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Genesis 19:24
Therfor the Lord reynede on Sodom and Gomorre brynston and fier, fro the Lord fro heuene,

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained vpon Sodome & vpon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire, from the LORD out of heauen.

Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 corruptions, or outward afflictions; for all which ends and purposes the Scriptures are written, and gifts are bestowed on men to explain them; and which ends are answered when God gives a blessing to the word; but can never be expected, if delivered in a language not understood. This bears hard upon the Papists performing any part of divine worship in a language unintelligible to the common people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But he that prophesieth - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. He that speaks under the influence of inspiration in the common language of his hearers. This seems to be the difference between those who spoke in foreign languages and those who prophesied. Both were under the influence of the Holy Spirit; both might speak the same truths; both might occupy an equally important and necessary place in the church; but the language of the one was intelligible to the church, the other not; the one was designed to edify the church, the other to address those who spoke foreign tongues, or to give demonstration, by the power of speaking foreign languages, that the religion was from God.

Speaketh unto men - So as to be understood by those who were present.

To edification - See the note at 1 Corinthians 10:8, note at 1 Corinthians 10:23. Speaks so as to enlighten and strengthen the church.

And exhortation - See the note at Romans 12:8. He applies and enforces the practical duties of religion, and urges motives for a holy life.

And comfort - Encouragement. That is, he presents the promises and the “hopes” of the gospel; the various considerations adapted to administer comfort in the time of trial. The other might do this, but it would be in a foreign language, and would be useless to the church.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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 endeavoured to consider the whole of this subject at large.