1 Corinthians 14:3

3 But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them.

1 Corinthians 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he that prophesieth
Preaches, prays, or sings, in a language understood by the common people:

speaketh unto men to edification;
to the building of them up in Christ, and on their most holy faith, so that they grow up as an holy temple to the Lord: and exhortation; to the more vigorous exercise of grace, and the more cheerful and fervent discharge of duty:

and comfort;
of distressed minds, either through the temptations of Satan, or divine desertions, or inward corruptions, or outward afflictions; for all which ends and purposes the Scriptures are written, and gifts are bestowed on men to explain them; and which ends are answered when God gives a blessing to the word; but can never be expected, if delivered in a language not understood. This bears hard upon the Papists performing any part of divine worship in a language unintelligible to the common people.

1 Corinthians 14:3 In-Context

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.

2 When a person speaks in another language, he doesn't speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries.

3 But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them.

4 When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow.

5 I wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow.