1 Corinthians 14:4

4 qui loquitur lingua semet ipsum aedificat qui autem prophetat ecclesiam aedificat

1 Corinthians 14:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:4

He that speaketh its an unknown tongue
Be it the Hebrew language, or any other; some copies, and the Ethiopic version, read, "with tongues":

edifieth himself;
his heart may be warmed, his affections raised, his devotion kept up, and he be in a very spiritual and comfortable frame, knowing and understanding what he himself says:

but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church:
which is the great end of the Gospel ministry, which is for the edifying the body of the church: wherefore that which tends to the edification of more, even the whole church, must be preferable to that, which at most can only edify one, and that the speaker himself.

1 Corinthians 14:4 In-Context

2 qui enim loquitur lingua non hominibus loquitur sed Deo nemo enim audit Spiritu autem loquitur mysteria

3 nam qui prophetat hominibus loquitur aedificationem et exhortationem et consolationes

4 qui loquitur lingua semet ipsum aedificat qui autem prophetat ecclesiam aedificat

5 volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis magis autem prophetare nam maior est qui prophetat quam qui loquitur linguis nisi si forte ut interpretetur ut ecclesia aedificationem accipiat

6 nunc autem fratres si venero ad vos linguis loquens quid vobis prodero nisi si vobis loquar aut in revelatione aut scientia aut prophetia aut in doctrina