1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul starts by saying "pursue love" before mentioning spiritual gifts. This isn't just a suggestion; it's a fundamental ordering, implying that love is the foundation and ultimate purpose for which all gifts should be sought and used. The desire for prophecy, even when presented as the "especially," is meant to serve and enhance this greater pursuit of love within the community.
Paul is addressing the chaotic worship services in Corinth, where the misuse of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues, is causing confusion and hindering the church's growth. He's urging them to prioritize love as the guiding principle for all their activities, including the exercise of spiritual gifts, and to seek gifts that build up the community, like prophecy, rather than those that might just impress. This advice directly sets up the following discussion on how these gifts should function in a way that edifies everyone present.
Paul kicks off this chapter with a command, not a suggestion. What does it mean to 'pursue' love, and why is it the starting point for everything spiritual?
Paul isn't just saying 'be nice.' The Greek word for 'pursue' suggests a relentless, active chase. It's about going after love with all your might, making it your highest aim.
The Goal of Gifts
Spiritual gifts are amazing tools, but they aren't the main event. Paul frames them as secondary to love. Think of it like this: Love is the engine, and gifts are the wheels. You need both to go somewhere, but the engine is what makes it all possible and directs the journey.
Love is the primary pursuit because it reflects God's very nature and is the motivation behind using any gift for its intended purpose: building up others.
Paul tells us to 'earnestly desire' spiritual gifts. So, what's the difference between a healthy spiritual hunger and a misguided obsession?
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The phrase 'earnestly desire' carries a sense of passionate longing, even eagerness. Paul wants the Corinthians to be excited about the gifts God gives. However, this desire is immediately qualified.
The Priority of Prophecy
Paul singles out prophecy as the gift to desire 'especially.' Why? Because prophecy, in this context, isn't just fortune-telling. It's about speaking God's message forth to encourage, comfort, and build up the church. It directly serves the community.
This points to a principle: our desire for spiritual gifts should be guided by their ability to edify (build up) the body of Christ, not by personal status or spectacle.
Understand the original words
agape · Greek Noun
Refers to the self-sacrificial, unconditional, and godly love that seeks the highest good of another, modeled perfectly in God's love for humanity.
pneumatikos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Supernatural abilities or manifestations given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the common good and the edification of the body of Christ.
propheteuo · Greek Verb
The divine gift of declaring God's truth to his people; it involves inspired utterance that instructs, convicts, encourages, and reveals the mind of God.
Paul's instruction to prioritize love and prophecy over other gifts arose from a specific situation in Corinth where uncontrolled and boastful use of gifts was causing chaos and disunity in their worship.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's Arrival
The day of Pentecost marked the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' followers, empowering them with spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy.
c. AD 40s-50s
Spread of Christianity to Corinth
The Apostle Paul visited Corinth and established a church, but faced significant challenges from the city's divided culture and internal disputes.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
Writing from Ephesus, Paul addresses the deep divisions, doctrinal errors, and practical problems within the Corinthian church, including misuse of spiritual gifts.
c. AD 55
Disputes Over Spiritual Gifts
The Corinthian believers were quarreling over which spiritual gifts were most important, leading to disorder and pride, especially concerning speaking in tongues.
This passage immediately preceding highlights that without love, even the most spectacular spiritual gifts and abilities are utterly worthless in God's eyes.
1 Corinthians 12:31Paul explicitly states, 'But eagerly desire the greater gifts,' setting the stage for this chapter's focus on orderly and loving pursuit of spiritual gifts, especially prophecy.
Romans 12:6-8This passage describes various spiritual gifts and emphasizes that they are all given to function within the body of Christ for the common good, underscoring the purpose behind desiring them.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21This passage encourages not quenching the Spirit, not despising prophecies, but testing all things and holding fast to what is good, echoing Paul's desire for the church to engage with prophetic gifts.
Paul starts by saying "pursue love" before mentioning spiritual gifts. This isn't just a suggestion; it's a fundamental ordering, implying that love is the foundation and ultimate purpose for which all gifts should be sought and used. The desire for prophecy, even when presented as the "especially," is meant to serve and enhance this greater pursuit of love within the community.
Paul is addressing the chaotic worship services in Corinth, where the misuse of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues, is causing confusion and hindering the church's growth. He's urging them to prioritize love as the guiding principle for all their activities, including the exercise of spiritual gifts, and to seek gifts that build up the community, like prophecy, rather than those that might just impress. This advice directly sets up the following discussion on how these gifts should function in a way that edifies everyone present.
Paul is addressing the chaotic worship services in Corinth, where the misuse of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues, is causing confusion and hindering the church's growth. He's urging them to prioritize love as the guiding principle for all their activities, including the exercise of spiritual gifts, and to seek gifts that build up the community, like prophecy, rather than those that might just impress. This advice directly sets up the following discussion on how these gifts should function in a way that edifies everyone present.
"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." — Paul starts by saying "pursue love" before mentioning spiritual gifts. This isn't just a suggestion; it's a fundamental ordering, implying that love is the foundation and ultimate purpose for whi…
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