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Epiphany · Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year C

1 Corinthians 14:12b-20

Prophecy Builds Up the Church More Than Tongues

February 6, 2028

The Preaching of Saint Peter, Masolino da Panicale
The Preaching of Saint Peter, Masolino da Panicale, c. 1426-1427Brancacci Chapel, Florence
Peter speaking to a seated crowd in a Florentine chapel fresco, the listeners close enough to touch him.In church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.Masolino da PanicaleMasolino, working beside Masaccio on the chapel that taught the next century how to paint.Brancacci Chapel, FlorenceThe Brancacci Chapel, Florence.Brancacci Chapel, Florence
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 5:1-11Lk 5:1-11
Epistle1 Cor. 14:12b-201 Cor 14:12b-20
Old TestamentIsa. 6:1-8Is 6:1-8
PsalterPs. 138Ps 138

Overview & Insights

"I want to speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue." (1 Corinthians 14:19)

Paul urges the Corinthians to seek spiritual gifts that build up the whole church, teaching that intelligible prophecy instructs the assembly while tongues without interpretation leave outsiders and believers alike without understanding. He tells them not to be children in their thinking but mature, while remaining infants in evil.

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Commentary

1 Corinthians 14 Commentary: Order in Church Meetings1 Cor 14 Commentary: Order in Church Meetings Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse by verse evangelical commentary on prophecy, tongues, and building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14 Commentary1 Cor 14 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep study page gathering Greek word studies, cross references, and many expositors on the chapter.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Commentaries1 Cor 14:12 Commentaries BibleHub

A classic aggregator stacking Barnes, Gill, Ellicott, and other historic commentators verse by verse.

1 Corinthians 14 Verse-by-Verse Commentary1 Cor 14 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

Gill's Exposition read straight through the chapter for a further expositional voice.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 14:12 Interlinear1 Cor 14:12 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek text of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

Overview: 1 CorinthiansOverview: 1 Cor BibleProject

An animated overview of 1 Corinthians' design, framing Paul's concern for gifts that build up the church.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 14, patristic commentary1 Cor 14, patristic commentary Catena

A verse linked catena gathering patristic comment on prophecy, tongues, and order in worship.

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