¹Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ²For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. ⁴One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

Certain words in Scripture carry a punctuation that slips by the English reader, and this chapter begins with one. The Greek word behind the term “pursue” conveys a connotation of doing something “with an intense effort and with a definite purpose.” The ancient Greeks sometimes used this word to speak of impelling or setting in rapid motion. Paul used the word to refer to his pre-conversion treatment of the church: “I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor. 15:9, also Gal. 1:13). So in following up on the “love chapter,” Paul, who himself was intensely committed to preaching the gospel, says we should above all pursue love with great intensity and with a definite purpose.

While most English translations render the next word as a simple connective, the NASB captures the contrast with “yet.” In the context of a passionate life of sacrificial love, and only in that context, should the spiritual gifts be sought. What a contrast and corrective for the Corinthians who got that backward! There is a place for desiring spiritual gifts, and desiring them “earnestly,” but they are not pursued for their own sake or for one’s own personal benefit. When Paul says to seek “that you may prophesy,” it is not so that the individual may bask in the glory of being used by God or preaching in front of a large audience. The same is true for tongues, which he will address in the next few verses. All must be done “for the edification and exhortation and consolation” of others. One who does these things for himself misses the mark.

The Corinthians were using tongues to edify the tongue speakers, not others (the statement in verse 4 being pejorative). So while Paul may censure the Corinthians for false or wrong-purposed tongues, spiritual gifts are to be hotly pursued. He adds, curiously, that among the gifts and certainly more than tongues, prophecy is to be desired. The Corinthians’ attempted use of tongues was for their own personal experience, supposedly speaking to God—but it was completely unintelligible and mysterious. That has no value for the edification of the church. However, prophecy speaks to the Christians “for edification and exhortation and consolation.” Notice this resonated with the similarly described Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Lord, help me to use my spiritual gifts for the benefit of others, not myself.