“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 14:3 Mean?
"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." Paul defines prophecy's purpose with three words: edification (building up), exhortation (urging forward), and comfort (strengthening). This is placed in contrast with speaking in tongues (which edifies the speaker) to emphasize prophecy's communal value. Prophecy serves the body; tongues serve the individual.
The threefold purpose is comprehensive: edification addresses the mind (building understanding), exhortation addresses the will (motivating action), and comfort addresses the emotions (providing strength in difficulty). Genuine prophecy touches the whole person and serves the whole community. It's not prediction of the future but proclamation of God's word that meets people where they are.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When was the last time someone spoke a word that genuinely built you up, urged you forward, or comforted you?
- 2.How do you evaluate whether a 'prophetic word' is genuine using Paul's three criteria?
- 3.In what relationship do you need to function prophetically — building up, exhorting, or comforting?
- 4.What's the difference between prophecy as Paul describes it and the popular understanding of prophecy as prediction?
Devotional
Three purposes. Building up. Urging forward. Strengthening. That's what prophecy does when it's genuine. Not fortune-telling. Not mystical predictions about the future. Speaking God's word into people's lives in a way that builds, motivates, and comforts.
Edification: your mind grows. You understand something about God, about yourself, about your situation that you didn't understand before. Exhortation: your will engages. You're moved to act, to change, to step forward into what God is calling you to. Comfort: your heart is strengthened. The weight you've been carrying gets lighter because someone spoke a word that came from above, not just from their own opinions.
This is the test for anything claiming to be prophetic. Does it build up? Does it move people toward God? Does it comfort? If a "prophetic word" tears down, creates fear, or leaves people worse than it found them — it failed the test, regardless of how spiritual it sounded.
You don't have to carry a title to fulfill this function. Every time you speak truth that builds someone up, urges them forward, or strengthens them in difficulty — you're functioning prophetically. It's not about the gift on a spiritual inventory test. It's about the effect on the people who hear you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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speaketh unto…
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture