Why, brothers, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Why, brothers, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in languages.
Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Covet to prophesy - Let it be your endeavor and prayer to be able to teach the way of God to the ignorant; this is the most valuable, because the most useful gift of the Spirit.
And forbid not to speak with tongues - Let every gift have its own place and operation; let none envy another; nor prevent him from doing that part of the work to which God, by giving the qualification, has evidently called him.
Covet to prophesy - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. This is the "summing up" of all that he had said. It was "desirable" that a man should wish to be able to speak, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in such a manner as to edify the church.
And forbid not ... - Do not suppose that the power of speaking foreign languages is useless, or is to be despised, or that it is to be prohibited. "In its own place" it is a valuable endowment; and on proper occasions the talent should be exercised; see in 1 Corinthians 14:22.
14:39 Therefore - To sum up the whole.