1 Corinthians 14:3

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

a. ASV: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

b. YLT: And he who is prophesying to men doth speak edification, and exhortation, and comfort;

c. Classic Amplified Bible: But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who [b]interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.

1. “But…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

1). Paul is contrasting speaking in an unknown tongue/language to God with speaking in a known language to men.

2. “…he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

a. [Strongs: 3588 [ὁ] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

b. [he that] prophesieth [Strong: 4395 prophēteúō, prof-ate-yoo'-o; from G4396; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office:—prophesy.] [Zodhiates: to declare truths through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether by prediction or otherwise]

1). Kenneth E. Hagin, The Holy Spirit and his Gifts, p99. “Prophecy is supernatural utterance in a known tongue.”

2). I believe an example of this would be in Acts 13 when Barnabas and Saul were set apart for the Gentile mission field.

a). Acts 13:1, 2 “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

b). Clearly the Holy Ghost gave a prophetic utterance through one on the individuals in that assembly.

3). Another example is later in Acts when Paul was in the house of Philip the evangelist.

a). Acts 21:8,9 “And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.”
21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.”

b). We don’t know what they prophesied, we just know they prophesied.

4). Still another example is the next two verses.

a). Acts 21:10, 11 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

b). In this example we do know what was said.

5). In contrast to speaking in unknown tongues, the individual who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation and comfort to other men in a known tongue/language.

c. speaketh [Strong: 2980 laléō, lal-eh'-o; a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:—preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

d. [unto] men [Strong: 444 ánthrōpos, anth'-ro-pos; from G435 and ὤψ ṓps (the countenance; from G3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:—certain, man.]

e. [to] edification [Strong: 3619 oikodomḗ, oy-kod-om-ay'; feminine (abstract) of a compound of G3624 and the base of G1430; architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:—building, edify(-ication, -ing).]

f. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. exhortation [Strong: 3874  paráklēsis, par-ak'-lay-sis; from G3870; imploration, hortation, solace:—comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.]

h. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

i. comfort [Strong: 3874 paráklēsis, par-ak'-lay-sis; from G3870; imploration, hortation, solace:—comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.]