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Posted by 1 Corinthians on Wednesday, 13 January 2016
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
14:1. That chapter 13 was something of a digression, however sublime, may be seen by the way Paul wove together the two strands which concluded chapter 12 (v. 31) and which began chapter 14 (v. 1). He did this in a chiasmus, a common literary style that connected a series of related words, phrases, or ideas by reversing their order of discussion in the second instance, for example, a1, b1, b2, a2. As a final note to his discussion on the unity and diversity of the gifts, Paul had exhorted the Corinthians to desire (a1) exercising the gifts which were of greatest benefit to the church as a whole (cf. 12:31). He then affirmed (b1) that, however splendid and profitable the gifts were, there was a greater way of life (chap. 13). Chapter 14 picked up on this note as Paul urged (b2) his readers to make this way of love (14:1) the definitive characteristic of their own course of life (cf. John 13:34-35). This in turn would lead them to “desire (a2) the greater gifts,” among which was prophecy (cf. 1 Cor. 12:31).
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures.
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
