Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 14:3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
But he that prophesieth – See the note at 1Co 14:1. He that speaks under the influence of inspiration in the common language of his hearers. This seems to be the difference between those who spoke in foreign languages and those who prophesied. Both were under the influence of the Holy Spirit; both might speak the same truths; both might occupy an equally important and necessary place in the church; but the language of the one was intelligible to the church, the other not; the one was designed to edify the church, the other to address those who spoke foreign tongues, or to give demonstration, by the power of speaking foreign languages, that the religion was from God.
Speaketh unto men – So as to be understood by those who were present.
To edification – See the note at 1Co 10:8, note at 1Co 10:23. Speaks so as to enlighten and strengthen the church.
And exhortation – See the note at Rom 12:8. He applies and enforces the practical duties of religion, and urges motives for a holy life.
And comfort – Encouragement. That is, he presents the promises and the hopes of the gospel; the various considerations adapted to administer comfort in the time of trial. The other might do this, but it would be in a foreign language, and would be useless to the church.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. But he that prophesieth] The person who has the gift of teaching is much more useful to the Church than he is who has only the gift of tongues, because he speaks to the profit of men: viz. to their edification, by the Scriptures he expounds; to their exhortation, by what he teaches; and to their comfort, by his revelation.-Whitby. I must here refer to my sermon on this text, intitled, “The Christian Prophet and his Work,” in which I have endeavoured to consider the whole of this subject at large.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Speaketh unto men; that is, to the understanding of men, and for the good and profit of men.
To edification; for their increase in knowledge and all habits of grace.
And exhortation; to quicken them in the exercise and practice of such duties as God hath, in his word, required of, them.
And comfort; and for the relief of them under their burdens, to support and uphold their troubled or wounded spirits. These expressions make it probable, that the apostle, by prophecy in this text, understands ministerial preaching; which more properly tends to edification, exhortation, and comfort, than the foretelling of things to come.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. Buton the other hand.
edificationof whichthe two principal species given are “exhortation” to removesluggishness, “comfort” or consolation toremove sadness [BENGEL].Omit “to.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Edification (). Building up.
Comfort (). Encouragement, calling to one’s side.
Consolation (). Old word (from , , 1Th 2:12 which see, a stimulating word), nowhere else in N.T., but in Php 2:1 with as here. Edification, cheer, incentive in these words.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
To edification – exhortation – comfort [ – – ] . Omit to. For edification see on build up, Act 20:32. Exhortation, so American Rev. Rev., comfort. See on Luk 6:24. Paramuqia comfort, Rev., consolation, occurs only here in the New Testament. Paramuqion, which is the same, in Phi 2:1. The two latter words are found together in Phi 2:1, and their kindred verbs in 1Th 2:11. The differences in rendering are not important. The words will bear either of the meanings in the two Revisions. If paraklhsin be rendered as Rev., comfort, paramuqia might be rendered incentive, which implies exhortation. Consolation and comfort border a little too closely on each other.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But he that prophesieth” (ho de propheteuon) “But the one prophesying.” He who speaks forth the words of God, actively, progressively, and intelligibly, in contrast with the unintelligible personal nature of the tongues gift.
2) “Speaketh unto men to edification,” (anthropois lalei oikodomen) “Speaks to edification of men.” The term (oikodomen) means to the maturity, building up of the house of one’s life. Prophesying was a priority gift to help build men up in the person of Christ and the work of His church.
3) “And exhortation, and comfort.” (kai paraklesin kai paramethian) “And encouragement and comfort.” The gift of prophecy was a pragmatic or practical gift to motivate the members of the church in helping others, putting others first, even as God’s love put His interest in man first, above all other creatures. This is set forth clearly, 2Co 4:3-4. Prophecy motivates the will, life, and spirit of the Christian worker.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
3. He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men “Prophecy,” says he, “is profitable to all, while a foreign language is a treasure hid in the earth. What great folly, then, it is to spend all one’s time in what is useless, and, on the other hand, to neglect what appears to be most useful!” To speak to edification, is to speak what contains doctrine fitted to edify. For I understand this term to mean doctrine, by which we are trained to piety, to faith, to the worship and fear of God, and the duties of holiness and righteousness. As, however, we have for the most part need of goads, while others are pressed down by afflictions, or labor under weakness, he adds to doctrine, exhortation and consolation It appears from this passage, and from what goes before, that prophecy does not mean the gift of foretelling future events: but as I have said this once before, I do not repeat it.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Edification, and exhortation, and comfort.They communed with God by the speaking with tongues; they communed with the brethren by prophecybuilding up, stirring up, cheering up, as each required.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Prophesieth As the Spirit selects for its instruments the persons most qualified by nature for its special work, so the individual naturally susceptible to presentiment would be gifted with the prophetic charism.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Co 14:3. But he that prophesieth, &c. That is, “Whereas he that prophesieth, in the sense in which I now use the word, i.e. discourses of divine things in a known language, speaketh to men, and affords them edification, and exhortation and comfort, according to the particular tenor and contents of what he says.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Ver. 3. To edification, to exhortation ] These three ends every preacher ought to propound to himself: 1. Edification in knowledge and holiness. 2. Exhortation, that is, reprehension and admonition. 3. Consolation, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way,Heb 12:13Heb 12:13 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
3. ] but (on the other hand) he who prophesies, speaks to men edification (genus) and (species) exhortation and (species) consolation . See the definition of prophecy given on ch. 1Co 12:10 ; and Stanley’s excursus introductory to this chapter.
occurs Plato, Axioch. p. 365, , : and lian, V. H. xii. 1, fin., , . , . , . .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
to. Supply the ellipsis by “for”.
edification. Literally building. Greek. oikodome. See 1Co 3:9. Here used metaphorrically.
exhortation. Greek. paraklesis. See Act 4:36 with Act 13:15. Compare App-134.
comfort. Greek. paramuthia. Only here. Compare Php 1:2, Php 1:1, and the verb in Joh 11:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
3.] but (on the other hand) he who prophesies, speaks to men edification (genus) and (species) exhortation and (species) consolation. See the definition of prophecy given on ch. 1Co 12:10; and Stanleys excursus introductory to this chapter.
occurs Plato, Axioch. p. 365,- , : and lian, V. H. xii. 1, fin., , . , . , . .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 14:3. , edification) Two principal species are added to this genus; , exhortation, takes away sluggishness; , consolation takes away sadness.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 14:3
1Co 14:3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.-He who, by the gift of prophecy, makes known the will of God instructs, strengthens, builds up, and comforts Christians in their temptations, troubles, and distresses.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
edification: 1Co 14:4, 1Co 14:12, 1Co 14:26, 1Co 8:1, 1Co 10:23, Act 9:31, Rom 14:19, Rom 15:2, Eph 4:12-16, Eph 4:29, 1Th 5:11, 1Ti 1:4, Jud 1:20
exhortation: Luk 3:18, Act 13:15, Act 14:22, Act 15:32, Rom 12:8, 1Th 2:3, 1Th 4:1, 1Th 5:11, 1Th 5:14, 2Th 3:12, 1Ti 4:13, 1Ti 6:2, 2Ti 4:2, Tit 1:9, Tit 2:6, Tit 2:9, Tit 2:15, Heb 3:13, Heb 10:25, Heb 13:22, 1Pe 5:12
comfort: 1Co 14:31, 2Co 1:4, 2Co 2:7, Eph 6:22, Col 4:8, 1Th 2:11, 1Th 3:2, 1Th 4:18, 1Th 5:11-14
Reciprocal: 1Sa 19:20 – when they Rom 12:6 – whether 1Co 12:10 – prophecy 1Co 14:5 – for 1Co 14:22 – but for 1Co 14:39 – covet 1Th 5:20 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 14:3. This verse gives the practical form of prophesying, that w hich edifies, exhorts and comforts men.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 14:3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification (in general), and comfort, and consolation.
1Co 14:4. He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himselfeven when not understanding his own words (as the next verse shews to be meant). But how so? Feeling himself to be the immediate organ of the Spirit of God, he would be filled with awe, as standing very near to God,but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (as already stated, 1Co 14:3).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
3. He that prophesieth speaketh to men edification, exhortation and comfort. Never forget this broad and comprehensive inspired definition of prophesying; you see it simply means talking for Jesus, whether to one or a thousand, telling them the way of salvation as revealed in the Bible, exhorting them to flee the wrath to come and make sure of Heaven, and comforting the brokenhearted with Gods precious and infallible promises.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] {d} edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(d) Which may further men in the study of godliness.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
In contrast to the foreign speech uttered by tongues-speakers, those present could understand what a prophet spoke in the language of his audience. It benefited the hearers by building them up, encouraging them, and consoling them. "Edification," "exhortation," and "consolation" set forth the primary ways in which prophecy (preaching) builds up the church. Its main purpose as a gift was not to predict events in the future but to build up believers in the present.
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Official Apostles |
The Twelve and the Apostle Paul |
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Functional (unofficial) apostles |
Church planters and missionaries |
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Official Prophets |
Communicated new revelation |
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Functional (unofficial) prophets |
Communicated edification, exhortation, and consolation |