....that Ye may prophesy

Paul's follow up to 1 Corintians 13 comes rather sharply..

And there seems to be a premium on teaching the truth of a God.

1Co 14:1    Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Co 14:2    For 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.

1Co 14:3    But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Gill notes..

1 Corinthians 14:1

Follow after charity,.... The apostle having so highly commended charity, or love, in the preceding chapter, presses here to an eager pursuit after it; that is, to an exercise of it, and after those things which make for it, and will serve to maintain and increase it: and everything he has said in praise of it before serves as an argument, or reason, to follow hard after it, with an eagerness used in hunting, and with such violence as persecutors express in pursuing and laying hold on those they seek after, to which there is an allusion in the word here used:

and desire spiritual gifts: for though he had given charity the preference to them, he did not mean that they should despise and neglect them, or treat them with indifference, and be unconcerned about them; but, on the other hand, that they should be very zealous for them, ambitious of them, and earnestly covet them; since being rightly used and kept in their proper place, they were greatly beneficial and profitable to the churches of Christ, and the glory of God:

but rather that ye may prophesy: of all the gifts of the Spirit, the apostle prefers prophesying, and recommends this to the Corinthians, as what they should be chiefly desirous of, and more desirous of than of speaking with tongues, which many among them were so very fond of: by which he means, not so much the gift of foretelling future events, though there was such a gift bestowed on some persons in those times, and, in certain cases, was very profitable to the churches; but a gift of preaching the word, or explaining the prophecies of the Old Testament, and of praying and singing of psalms, all which, as appears from some following parts of this chapter, were included in it; and that not in an ordinary, but in an extraordinary way; a person possessed of this gift could at once, without the use of means, or help of study, preach the word, and open the more difficult parts of Scripture; he had an extraordinary gift of prayer, which he could make use of when he pleased, and at once compose and deliver out a psalm, or hymn, in the public congregation.

The whole chapter is devoted to this....and repeatedly emphasizes tongues must be understood or have interpretation.

1Co 14:27    If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, andthat by course; and let one interpret.

1Co 14:28    But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1Co 14:24    But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

1Co 14:25    And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1Co 14:26    How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

The first church had the benefit of the teaching of the APOSTLES including Paul.

Act 1:15    And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Act 13:16    Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Act 17:22    Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Act 2:42    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It was later that we received the written word of God, these books and letters were read in the churches, though at the time they did not have them all gathered together in one book.

Yet even then we have examples of testing the word of God..

 Act 17:10    And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Act 17:11    These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

It wasn't always so...as revealed by Jesus, Peter, Paul and John.

Mat 7:12    Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14    Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:15    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2Pe 2:1    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachersamong you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2    And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Co 11:13    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2Co 11:14    And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:15    Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

1Jn 4:1    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Rev 20:10    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.