14:1-5 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
14:1-5 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
We learn from this that while we are to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, we should give preference to the gift of prophecy over tongues. The reason for this is that unless they are interpreted tongues cannot be understood by anyone else in the assembly and therefore only edify the speaker.
Whereas prophecy, because it is spoken in the everyday language of the assembly, edifies the whole assembly. (edify means to spiritually profit, build up, strengthen, and establish in the faith). Paul is not depreciating tongues as a lesser gift, but is simply contrasting them with prophecy on the basis that the main purpose in all spiritual gifts is to excel in edifying the church (CP V12, 26, 39-40).
The Corinthian Christians were behaving like children in the assembly, talking over the top of each other in tongues, quoting Psalms, teaching doctrine, bringing down interpretations of tongues, prophesying and singing spiritual songs etc.
There was no order in the assembly, only confusion. Paul rebuked them and commanded that every gift had to be exercised separately and in order, so everyone in the assembly would be edified, believers and unbelievers alike (CP V23-33).
This applies for today too. At the most only three messages in tongues can be spoken in an assembly, and then only if they are interpreted. Otherwise the speakers have to remain silent.
The same applies to prophecy - only three prophecies can be proclaimed also, and if, while someone is speaking, another is hearing from the Lord, then the one speaking must defer to the one hearing from God.
In this way all who have the gift of prophecy can speak, one after the other, and everyone will learn and be encouraged and built up in the faith. Anyone with a prophecy to proclaim has the power to stop themselves and wait their turn. Everything must be done decently and in order (CP V39-40).