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?

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} Now {G3570}, brethren {G80}, if {G1437} I come {G2064} unto {G4314} you {G5209} speaking {G2980} with tongues {G1100}, what {G5101} shall I profit {G5623} you {G5209}, except {G3362} I shall speak {G2980} to you {G5213} either {G2228} by {G1722} revelation {G602}, or {G2228} by {G1722} knowledge {G1108}, or {G2228} by {G1722} prophesying {G4394}, or {G2228} by {G1722} doctrine {G1322}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Brothers, suppose I come to you now speaking in tongues. How can I be of benefit to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Berean Standard Bible

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?

American Standard Version

But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Corinthians 14:6, the Apostle Paul articulates a foundational principle for the exercise of spiritual gifts within the gathered church: their ultimate purpose is the edification of the community through intelligible communication of divine truth. He employs a rhetorical question to challenge the value of uninterpreted ecstatic speech, asserting that any spiritual expression, including speaking in tongues, profits the hearers only if it conveys comprehensible revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine, thereby building up the body of Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Paul's extensive discussion of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, specifically focusing on the proper use of speaking in tongues and prophecy in public worship. Chapter 13, the "love chapter," immediately precedes this discussion, establishing love as the indispensable motive and guiding principle for all gift exercise. Paul's argument in chapter 14 consistently prioritizes prophecy over uninterpreted tongues because prophecy directly edifies the congregation by being understandable (e.g., [1 Corinthians 14:1-5](/1_corinthians/14-1-5 "1 Corinthians 14:1-5 - Prophecy is Greater Than Tongues Without Interpretation")). Verse 6 serves as a pivotal statement, illustrating why intelligibility is paramount, setting the stage for subsequent instructions on order and clarity in assembly (e.g., [1 Corinthians 14:26-33](/1_corinthians/14-26-33 "1 Corinthians 14:26-33 - Order in Public Worship")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The church in Corinth was grappling with various issues, including divisions, immorality, and a disordered approach to worship, particularly regarding spiritual gifts. It appears some Corinthians highly valued the ecstatic experience of speaking in tongues, perhaps viewing it as a sign of spiritual superiority or a direct, unfiltered connection to the divine, potentially influenced by pagan ecstatic cults prevalent in the Greco-Roman world. Paul's teaching here seeks to correct this imbalance, emphasizing that the true measure of a spiritual gift's value in public assembly is its ability to build up the entire community, not merely to provide personal spiritual experience or display. He is guiding them away from self-glorification towards corporate edification.

* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of [1 Corinthians 14](/1_corinthians/14 "1 Corinthians 14 - Order in Worship") and indeed much of Paul's letters is the **edification of the church**. Paul repeatedly stresses that all spiritual gifts are given for the common good, not for individual display or personal gratification (e.g., [1 Corinthians 12:7](/1_corinthians/12-7 "1 Corinthians 12:7 - Gifts for the Common Good")). This verse underscores the theme of **intelligibility in worship**, asserting that communication within the church must be clear and understandable to be beneficial. It also highlights the **purpose of spiritual gifts**, defining them as tools for ministry that convey divine truth through various comprehensible means, whether by direct **revelation**, insightful **knowledge**, public **prophesying**, or systematic **doctrine**. This emphasis on clarity and communal benefit is a direct application of the principle of love articulated in [1 Corinthians 13](/1_corinthians/13 "1 Corinthians 13 - The Way of Love"), where love is shown to be the supreme motivation for all spiritual expression.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **tongues (Greek, _glōssa_):** G1100. Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired). In this context, it refers to speaking in various languages, often without prior learning, or possibly ecstatic utterances. Paul's concern is not the nature of the language itself, but its intelligibility to the hearers.
* **profit (Greek, _ōpheléō_):** G5623. From the same as ὠφέλεια; to be useful, i.e. to benefit. This word emphasizes the practical utility and positive outcome expected from the exercise of spiritual gifts. Paul's rhetorical question highlights the lack of benefit when a spiritual expression does not contribute to the spiritual growth or understanding of the community.
* **doctrine (Greek, _didachḗ_):** G1322. From διδάσκω; instruction (the act or the matter). This refers to systematic teaching or instruction in Christian truth. It represents one of the four comprehensible ways divine truth can be imparted, indicating the importance of structured theological education within the church.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues":** Paul addresses the Corinthian believers ("brethren") and posits a hypothetical scenario where he, an apostle, would come to them speaking in "tongues" (languages unknown to the hearers). This sets up the rhetorical question that follows, immediately challenging the perceived value of such an act in a public setting.
* **"what shall I profit you":** This is the core of Paul's rhetorical question. He implies that if his communication is unintelligible, it offers no benefit or advantage to the congregation. The emphasis is on the *profit* or edification of the listeners, not the speaker's experience.
* **"except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?":** This clause provides the necessary condition for any spiritual communication to be profitable. Paul lists four distinct, yet complementary, categories of intelligible divine communication:
* **Revelation (_apokálypsis_):** A direct unveiling or disclosure of divine truth from God, often new or previously hidden.
* **Knowledge (_gnōsis_):** Insight and understanding of spiritual matters, often through divine impartation, which illuminates existing truth.
* **Prophesying (_prophēteía_):** Speaking forth God's message, which typically involves exhortation, edification, and comfort, and is inherently understandable to the audience.
* **Doctrine (_didachḗ_):** Teaching or systematic instruction in Christian truth, which builds up believers through structured learning.
These four categories represent the various ways God's truth can be clearly and comprehensibly conveyed, ensuring the spiritual growth of the community.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs a **Rhetorical Question** ("what shall I profit you?") to underscore his central point. By posing a question with an obvious negative answer, he compels his audience to acknowledge the futility of uninterpreted tongues in public worship. This device is highly persuasive, inviting the Corinthians to arrive at the conclusion themselves. Furthermore, the verse exhibits clear **Parallelism** in the listing of the four categories ("by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine"). This structured list not only provides a comprehensive scope of intelligible communication but also emphasizes the equal importance of each mode when it comes to edifying the church. There is also an implicit **Contrast** drawn between speaking in tongues without interpretation and speaking in a way that provides clear, understandable spiritual content, highlighting the practical difference in their impact on the congregation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Corinthians 14:6 is a pivotal verse for understanding the purpose and practice of spiritual gifts within the Christian assembly. It firmly establishes that the primary aim of all spiritual manifestations in public worship is not the personal experience of the speaker, but the clear, understandable communication of divine truth for the spiritual growth and strengthening of the entire body of Christ. This principle reflects God's desire for order and clarity in His house, ensuring that His people are genuinely built up in faith and knowledge, rather than confused or left unedified. It underscores that God's gifts are always purposeful, intended to equip and mature His church.

* [1 Corinthians 12:7](/1_corinthians/12-7 "1 Corinthians 12:7 - Gifts for the Common Good")
* [Ephesians 4:11-12](/ephesians/4-11-12 "Ephesians 4:11-12 - Equipping the Saints for Ministry")
* [Romans 15:2](/romans/15-2 "Romans 15:2 - Please Your Neighbor for His Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse stands as a timeless directive for all forms of Christian ministry and communication today. It challenges us to constantly evaluate our methods and messages, asking whether they genuinely serve to build up and enlighten those who hear. Whether we are preaching, teaching, leading worship, or engaging in personal evangelism, the ultimate measure of our effectiveness is not our eloquence or spiritual fervor, but the clarity and comprehensibility of the divine truth we convey. We are called to prioritize the spiritual profit of others, ensuring that our words are a source of revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine that can be readily understood and applied. This requires humility, a willingness to adapt our communication to our audience, and a deep commitment to the edification of the church above personal expression.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my spiritual expressions or communications, even with good intentions, fail to "profit" others if they are not clear or understandable?**
* **How can I ensure that my contributions to corporate worship or ministry are always aimed at the edification of the entire body, rather than personal display?**
* **Considering the four categories (revelation, knowledge, prophesying, doctrine), which areas do I need to develop more deeply to better serve and build up the church?**

### FAQ
**What does Paul mean by "speaking with tongues" in this context?**

Answer: In 1 Corinthians 14, "speaking with tongues" (Greek: _glōssa_) refers to speaking in a language unknown to the hearers, which could be an actual human language supernaturally given (as on the Day of Pentecost in [Acts 2:4-11](/acts/2-4-11 "Acts 2:4-11 - The Day of Pentecost")) or possibly ecstatic, non-human utterances. Paul's primary concern in this chapter is not the nature of the tongue itself, but its *intelligibility* and *benefit* to the church when exercised in a public gathering. If no one understands, it doesn't build up the community, which is the ultimate purpose of all spiritual gifts according to [1 Corinthians 14:12](/1_corinthians/14-12 "1 Corinthians 14:12 - Excel in Gifts for Edification").

**Why does Paul list "revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or doctrine" as alternatives to uninterpreted tongues?**

Answer: Paul lists these four categories because they represent distinct yet comprehensible ways that divine truth is communicated to the church, leading to its edification. **Revelation** is a direct unveiling of God's truth. **Knowledge** is a deep understanding of spiritual matters. **Prophesying** is speaking God's message, often for exhortation, edification, and comfort, which is inherently understandable. **Doctrine** refers to systematic teaching of Christian truth. All these modes of communication are intelligible and therefore capable of building up the faith and understanding of the congregation, unlike uninterpreted tongues, which leave the hearers unprofited.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Corinthians 14:6, though addressing a specific issue in the Corinthian church, finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfect embodiment in Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential "revelation" of God, the very Word made flesh, through whom the Father's truth was fully unveiled ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). In Him, all "knowledge" of God resides ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ are Hidden all Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge")), and His teachings are the ultimate "doctrine" for humanity, delivered with unparalleled authority and clarity ([Matthew 7:28-29](/matthew/7-28-29 "Matthew 7:28-29 - Jesus Teaches with Authority")). Christ Himself was the supreme "prophet," speaking God's words directly and powerfully, always for the edification and salvation of His hearers ([Luke 24:19](/luke/24-19 "Luke 24:19 - Jesus, a Prophet Powerful in Word and Deed")). His entire ministry was characterized by intelligible communication aimed at bringing light, understanding, and life to a lost world, perfectly demonstrating that divine truth must be clearly conveyed to profit humanity. The church, as His body, is called to continue this Christ-like ministry, ensuring that all its expressions, empowered by the Spirit, point clearly to Him and build up His people in truth and love, for His glory.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ephesians 1:17

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Romans 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

1 Corinthians 14:1

¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 Timothy 2:14

¶ Of these things put [them] in remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers.

Titus 3:8

[This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

1 Samuel 12:21

And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.