1 Corinthians 14:1-6

§ 44. THE GIFTS OF TONGUES AND OF PROPHECY. The digression upon ἡ ἀγάπη has not diverted us from the subject of this Div.; Love has shown the way (1 Corinthians 12:31 b) in which all τὰ πνευματικά (1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians 14:1) are to be sought, the animating principle and ulterior aim that should govern their exercise. But the principle of Love supplies, further, a criterion by which the charisms are to be relatively estimated their use in edification (1 Corinthians 14:3 ff., 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 14:19; 1 Corinthians 14:26). Thus P. at length answers the question addressed to him from Cor [2015] as to the worth of the several “spiritual powers,” and in particular as to the relative value of Tongues and Prophesying. He has led up to this answer by his exposition of the general Christian truths bearing upon the matter viz. the office of the Holy Spirit as the distributor of God's gifts (1 Corinthians 12:3-11), the organic nature of the Church (1 Corinthians 14:12-31), and the sovereignty of love in the Christian life (1 Corinthians 14:13).

[2015] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.