Paul then returns to the teaching of Maturity :
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Nowhere in the scriptures is the gifts of the Holy Spirit called childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
We cannot fully know all things, but what we can know and see are:
Faith
Hope
Love
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
My Cessationist types would have you believe this is all there is to say about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. and nothing more after verses 8-10 of chapter 13.
The context of gifts of the Holy Spirit must be seen in all scripture contextually. And chapter 14 of 1Corthians is very much important.
Chapter 14:
Pursue( to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire)
love, and desire (to burn with zeal in the Greek )
Spiritual gifts,
but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,
for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;
for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Greater means More effective Unless there is an interpretation.
Prophesying and tongues & interpretation both are able to edify the body. According to 1cor chapter 14: 5
Paul then teaches more on Maturity and operates in the church setting of these two gifts Prophesying and tongues and interpretation of tongues.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?
For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language,
I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Paul said if I come to you speaking in tongues what shall it profit you?
UNLESS I SPEAK TO YOU EITHER BY REVELATION, KNOWLEDGE, Prophsying or by Teaching
No sound or language spoken, just like a flute or harp or trumpet, is good unless there is understanding.
That is why interpretation is needed. In one's desire to seek The gifts of the Holy Spirit, it must be done for the right reasons.
1. the betterment of others, the body, the church, and self.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
Your desires to speak in tongues in the church setting? You must pray that you interpret also.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is the conclusion then?
I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.
I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not about you; they are about the body and edification of all.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers;
but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are [f]out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.