Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
All Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:1 Go To 1 Corinthians 14
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
Follow after Charity. Pursue it eagerly so as to obtain it, just as a huntsman pursues a wild animal.
Desire spiritual gifts. These are, S. Chrysostom says, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not His graces, as, e.g, the gift of tongues or of healing, and the others referred to in chap. xi. S. Paul bids them desire these, try to obtain them, especially by prayer, not from any desire for superiority but from charity, that they may profit others and the Church at large by means of those gifts.
But rather that ye may prophesy. Viz, that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ye may teach, say, or sing such things as may stir up the devotion of others. This has just been seen to be the force of "prophecy."
