1 Corinthians 14:4 meaning

In the pursuit of spiritual gifts, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of understanding and edification within the church community. He contrasts the benefits of speaking in tongues with the gift of prophecy, highlighting that while the former serves to edify the speaker personally, it fails to communicate with and educate the church as a whole. This principle underpins his assertion that prophecy, being intelligible and directed towards others, significantly contributes to building up the church, which is the paramount purpose of any spiritual gift.

Paul's point is that the Corinthians should not merely seek personal fulfillment through self-edifying gifts but prioritize those that genuinely uplift the community. The message underscores the necessity of intelligibility in worship, ensuring that all members can engage meaningfully—this reflects a broader theme of mutual edification in faith practices. In this context, He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Thus, the pursuit of prophecy over tongues aligns with the foundational Christian calling to love and serve others through meaningful communication.