Neville Goddard on 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Corinthians 14 in context

Scripture Focus

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Biblical Context

Paul says pursue love and desire gifts, but prophesy to edify the group. Tongues speak to God and are private unless interpreted; prophecy builds the church.

Neville's Inner Vision

In the inner drama, the I AM within you is the speaker and the church is the collective state of your mind. Tongues are private whispers of your inner mind to God, speaking mysteries that may comfort only the speaker. Prophecy represents a clearer state of consciousness, speaking to others with edification, exhortation, and comfort, thereby unifying the whole. The invitation is to treat gifts as inner states to be used for the common good, not performances. When you assume you are now addressing humanity to uplift, your inner talk aligns with love and unity. The greater gift is the prophecy that reveals a shared reality; tongues remain private unless interpreted and thus do not serve the outer church. By training imagination to assume the role of a prophetic speaker, you translate private insights into messages that bless and harmonize both inner and outer circles.

Practice This Now

Imaginative Act: Assume you are already delivering a prophetic message to your inner church; feel the edifying words rise as if spoken to others. Then revise any private tongue-like murmuring into a clear, comforting message for the group, and feel it as real.