1 Corinthians 14:1-12

Expanded Bible

Desire Spiritual Gifts

14 ·You should seek after [Pursue; Make your aim] love, and ·you should truly want to have [eagerly desire; be zealous for] the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ² ·I will explain why. [^LFor] Those who ·have the gift of speaking in different languages [or speak with ecstatic utterance; ^Lspeak in a tongue; 12:10, 29, 30; 13:1] are not speaking to people; they are speaking to God. No one understands them; they are speaking ·secret things [mysteries] ·through [by; in; with] the Spirit. ³ But those who prophesy are speaking to people ·to give them strength [for edification/upbuilding], encouragement, and ·comfort [consolation]. ⁴ The ones who speak in different languages are ·helping [edifying; building up] only themselves, but those who prophesy are ·helping [edifying; building up] the whole church. ⁵ I wish all of you ·had the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages [^Lspoke in tongues; v. 2], but more, I wish you would prophesy. Those who prophesy are greater than those who ·can only speak in different languages [^Lspeak in tongues; v. 2]—unless someone ·is there who can explain what is said [^Linterprets (the tongues)] so that the whole church can be ·helped [edified; built up].

⁶ Brothers and sisters, how will it help you if I come to you speaking in ·different languages [^Ltongues; v. 2], unless I bring you a ·new truth [revelation] or ·some new knowledge [^Lknowledge], or prophecy, or teaching? ⁷ It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If they do not make ·clear [distinct] musical notes, ·you will not [^Lhow will you…?] know what is being played. ⁸ And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ It is the same with you. Unless you speak ·clearly [intelligible words] with your tongue, ·no one can [^Lhow will anyone…?] understand what you are saying. You will be talking into the air! ¹⁰ It may be true that there are all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹ But unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like ·foreigners [barbarians] to each other. ¹² It is the same with you. Since you ·eagerly desire [are zealous for] ·spiritual gifts [or manifestations of the Spirit], seek ·most of all to have [to excel in] the gifts that ·help the church grow stronger [build up/edify the church].