1 Corinthians 14:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul tells the believers to pursue love above all, and to long for spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
What Does 1 Corinthians 14:1 Mean?
Coming straight out of the great hymn to love, Paul carries its theme into a practical question that was troubling the Corinthian assembly: how the gifts of the Spirit should be used when believers gather. He sets love as the path they are to chase after, then turns to the gifts they prized.
Love is the highway; the gifts are what move along it. Paul does not despise the gifts, he urges his readers to desire them, yet he points them toward the gift that builds others up. To prophesy here is to speak God's truth so that hearts are strengthened. The principle endures: whatever the Spirit gives is meant to serve, and love decides how it is spent.
1 Corinthians 14:1 in the Original Language
prophēteuō (προφητεύω), 'prophesy' -- to speak forth God's message for the building up of others, not merely to foretell the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 14:1
What does 1 Corinthians 14:1 mean?
Paul tells the believers to pursue love above all, and to long for spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.