What did the men with the gift of speaking the word of God do for the congregation?
They enhanced the congregation, helping all who heard them by exhorting and comforting them. Their speaking forth God's word brought edification, lifting up, supporting, and enlarging the hearers. They edified the whole congregation, not merely themselves. This helped the congregation.
Les explains that these men who had the gift of speaking the word of God were enhancing the congregation. They were helping all who heard them, and they would exhort and comfort. Their speaking forth the word as gifted individuals was unto men for edification—meaning to lift them up, support them, and enlarge them. In contrast, Paul says the one who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, which amounts to an ego trip. But the one who prophesies, or speaks forth the word of God, edifies the whole congregation. So the gifted speaker of God's word built up the whole congregation, not just himself.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
More Questions
What does 1 Corinthians 14:3 say speaking forth the word of God does for people?
In 1 Corinthians 14:3 Paul reemphasized that the one who speaks forth the Word of God speaks to men for edification, lifting up, support, exhortation, encouragement, and comfort.