A common misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:4 is to view speaking in tongues as superior or more spiritual because it edifies the self, ignoring Paul's overarching argument that self-focused gifts are less valuable than those benefiting others, leading some to prioritize personal experiences over church edification or to justify uninterpreted tongues in worship without regard for clarity and order; another error is assuming all tongues are 'unknown' and private prayer languages only, overlooking contexts where they require interpretation for public use to truly edify the body.
I Corinthians 14:4
King James Version (1769)
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
In 1 Corinthians 14:4, Paul contrasts the effects of two spiritual gifts during worship: speaking in tongues primarily edifies the individual speaker by building their personal faith and spirit, whereas prophecy edifies the entire church by delivering understandable messages of encouragement, exhortation, and revelation that strengthen the community as a whole, underscoring the chapter's theme that love and communal benefit should guide the exercise of gifts in the assembly.