1 Corinthians 14:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Corinthians 14:6 kjv
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Corinthians 14:6 nkjv
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
1 Corinthians 14:6 niv
Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
1 Corinthians 14:6 esv
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
1 Corinthians 14:6 nlt
Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.
1 Corinthians 14 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Brief Point) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 12:7 | To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. | Gifts are for corporate benefit. |
| 1 Cor 14:2 | For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God... | Private tongues edify the speaker, not others. |
| 1 Cor 14:3 | One who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, exhortation, and comfort. | Prophecy directly edifies and builds up. |
| 1 Cor 14:4 | The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. | Contrasts self-edification vs. church-edification. |
| 1 Cor 14:5 | I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets... | Interpretation makes tongues valuable to the church. |
| 1 Cor 14:7-9 | If even lifeless instruments... do not give clear notes... how will anyone know what is played?... So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter intelligible words, how will anyone know what is said? | Illustrations on the necessity of clear sound/speech. |
| 1 Cor 14:12 | So with yourselves, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in gifts that build up the church. | Principle: Seek gifts that build the church. |
| 1 Cor 14:19 | In church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. | Prioritizes intelligible teaching over unintelligible speech. |
| 1 Cor 14:23 | If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? | Uninterpreted tongues deter unbelievers. |
| 1 Cor 14:26 | What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. | Order in worship must prioritize edification. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | He gave the apostles, the prophets... pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. | Gifts given for equipping and building the church. |
| Rom 12:6-8 | Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them... he who teaches, in his teaching. | Gifts are diverse and to be used purposefully. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards... whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God. | Use gifts for service and speak God's message. |
| Neh 8:8 | They read from the Book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. | OT example of making God's word intelligible. |
| Acts 2:6-11 | ...each one heard them speaking in his own language... | Pentecost tongues were diverse but intelligible. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness... | Scripture provides comprehensive teaching and knowledge. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom... | Emphasizes mutual teaching and wisdom from God's word. |
| Heb 5:12 | For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles... | Highlights the importance of clear teaching and understanding. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding come from God. |
| Joel 2:28 | ...I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... | Prophecy as a work of the Spirit. |
| Amos 3:7 | For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. | God gives revelation through His prophets. |
| John 16:13 | When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority... he will declare to you the things that are to come. | Holy Spirit reveals truth and knowledge. |
| Titus 2:1 | But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. | Sound doctrine and teaching are paramount. |
| 1 Cor 13:1 | If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. | Love is the governing principle for all gift usage. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. | Divine order is required in worship. |
1 Corinthians 14 verses
1 Corinthians 14 6 meaning
The Apostle Paul teaches that in public church gatherings, communication through uninterpreted speaking in tongues is unfruitful and fails to edify the assembly. For any spiritual utterance to benefit the community, it must be presented in an understandable manner, such as a direct divine revelation, deep spiritual knowledge, inspired prophecy, or systematic teaching, all of which impart truth and build up the hearers.
1 Corinthians 14 6 Context
1 Corinthians chapter 14 addresses the chaotic state of public worship in the Corinthian church, specifically regarding the use of spiritual gifts, especially tongues and prophecy. The Corinthians seem to have valued the ecstatic phenomenon of speaking in tongues as a sign of spiritual superiority, leading to its frequent, uninterpreted, and disorderly use in communal gatherings. Paul's primary concern in this chapter is the edification of the church as a whole. He argues that while tongues can be a valid gift for personal spiritual growth, their public expression without interpretation does not contribute to the spiritual growth or understanding of others. He elevates prophecy, which is inherently intelligible and serves to instruct, encourage, and comfort the assembly. Verse 6 functions as a pivotal point, laying down the fundamental principle that any utterance in public worship must convey an intelligible message for the benefit of the entire body of believers. This corrective addresses both the spiritual pride and the functional disarray within the Corinthian congregation's worship practices, ensuring that God's truth is communicated clearly.
1 Corinthians 14 6 Word analysis
- Now, brothers and sisters, (νῦν δὲ, ἀδελφοί - nyn de, adelphoi): A common Pauline transitional phrase. "Now" (nyn de) marks a shift in emphasis, introducing a direct application of his previous arguments. "Brothers and sisters" (adelphoi) indicates a loving and communal address to the Christian community, highlighting their shared family in Christ, making his teaching applicable to them personally.
- if I come to you (ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς - ean eltho pros hymas): This forms a conditional clause, presenting a hypothetical scenario, making the argument relatable. Paul puts himself in their position, demonstrating that the principle applies to everyone, including an apostle.
- speaking in tongues, (λαλῶν γλώσσαις - lalōn glōssais): Refers to the spiritual gift of glossolalia – ecstatic, typically unlearned speech that sounds like a language. In this context, it specifically refers to uninterpreted public utterance in a tongue. While potentially God-inspired, its unintelligible nature for listeners is the key issue here.
- how will I benefit you (τί ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω - ti hymas ophelēsō): A rhetorical question that expects a negative answer: "I will not benefit you at all." "Benefit" (ophelēsō) means to profit, to help, to be advantageous. It directly connects the purpose of spiritual gifts to the edification and spiritual welfare of the collective church, not just the individual.
- unless I bring you (ἐὰν μὴ φανερώσω/λαλἠσω - ean mē phanerōsō/lalēsō - "unless I speak" or "make clear"): The condition for a benefit. While some translations say "bring," the underlying Greek (e.g., lalēsō from 14:9, 11; or phanerōsō 'reveal' or 'make known' implying communication) points to speaking or conveying an understandable message.
- revelation (ἀποκαλύψει - apokalypsis): An unveiling, a disclosure of divine truth previously hidden, directly from God. It's new spiritual insight.
- or knowledge (ἢ ἐν γνώσει - ē en gnōsei): Deep, divine insight, understanding, or illumination concerning spiritual realities. It might be the interpretation and application of revelation.
- or prophecy (ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ - ē en prophēteia): Inspired communication of God's message, which is always meant to be intelligible, providing edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3).
- or teaching? (ἢ ἐν διδαχῇ - ē en didachē): Systematic instruction, imparting divine truth, doctrine, or moral precepts in an ordered and clear manner. It's often based on revelations, knowledge, and prophetic insights.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you": This phrase highlights Paul's central argument that spiritual gifts in public must serve the assembly. Unintelligible speech, even from an apostle, is rendered useless for the purpose of corporate edification. The lack of benefit for them (the church) is the crucial point, contrasting with personal edification which Paul affirms elsewhere for private tongues (1 Cor 14:4).
- "unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching": These four categories represent the modes through which God's truth is communicated intelligibly and profitably to the church. They cover spontaneous divine disclosure (revelation, prophecy) and structured comprehension and delivery (knowledge, teaching). The inclusion of all four underscores that the value of public spiritual utterance lies in its understandable content that fosters spiritual growth, irrespective of the form, as long as it's clear.
1 Corinthians 14 6 Bonus section
This verse implies that God's primary intent in communicating with humanity is for clarity and understanding. His Spirit grants gifts not for enigmatic display but for the clear impartation of His will and truth. While private prayer in tongues might connect an individual to God in a mysterious way, public worship demands communication that others can affirm with "Amen" (1 Cor 14:16) and grow from. The categories of "revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching" also indicate that spiritual truth comes in various forms – from spontaneous divine utterance to careful, structured exposition, but always aimed at comprehension. The emphasis on "benefit" (ophelesō) underlines the functional and corporate nature of these gifts, underscoring Christian life as inter-dependent, where each member contributes to the well-being and growth of the entire body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14 6 Commentary
In 1 Corinthians 14:6, Paul asserts a foundational principle for the use of spiritual gifts in public worship: their value is directly proportional to their intelligibility and capacity to edify the church. He constructs a rhetorical argument: if even an apostle like himself were to speak in uninterpreted tongues in a communal setting, it would provide no spiritual benefit to the hearers. The underlying message, he insists, must be discernible and transformative. He lists four crucial avenues through which intelligible divine truth can be conveyed: direct revelation, profound spiritual knowledge, inspired prophetic declaration, or systematic instruction. All these mechanisms share the common goal of communicating God's message clearly, allowing the assembly to understand, learn, and grow. This verse does not diminish the gift of tongues itself but critically emphasizes that its public display without interpretation is counterproductive to the primary purpose of the church gathering—mutual edification and the building up of believers in truth and faith.