1 Corinthians 14:17 Meaning: Giving Thanks Well, Yet Not Building Up
For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
for thou, indeed, dost give thanks well, but the other is not built up!
For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Meaning in one sentence
This verse shows that even sincere thanksgiving can fail to build up others if they cannot understand it. Paul prioritizes mutual edification in worship.
Context
Paul is writing to a church in Corinth where worship had become disorderly. People were eager to display spiritual gifts, especially speaking in tongues. But Paul keeps bringing the focus back to one question: does this help the church grow stronger? In chapter 14, he walks through a scene of public prayer and thanksgiving. If someone gives thanks in a language others do not know, the person praying may feel deeply grateful, but everyone else sits there lost. They cannot say “Amen” because they cannot follow. So Paul draws a sharp line: even the most heartfelt thanks, if it leaves others out, misses the purpose of gathering together.
Key Words
The word behind “give thanks” is eucharisteō, the same root as “Eucharist.” It carries the weight of real, felt gratitude. Paul says you do this kalōs, “well,” in a noble and fitting manner. He is not questioning your heart. The problem lands on the other side of the sentence: “the other person is not built up.” The Greek verb for “built up” is oikodomeō, which literally means to construct a house. In Paul’s letters it always pictures the slow, patient work of making someone’s faith stronger. Your private gratitude might be beautiful, but if no one understands it, their faith receives no new support. The words we use in church matter because God’s family grows through shared understanding, not just individual devotion.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, Christians read this verse with the same surprise: Paul does not tell the worshiper to try harder. The thanksgiving is already “well” done. Matthew Henry notes that public worship should be performed so it can be understood. Adam Clarke agrees: the thanks is real, but those who hear it receive no edification. The Cambridge Bible suggests the word “well” may point to the goodness of giving thanks itself, not just the manner. In all these readings, the central insight stands: the measure of corporate worship is not how sincere you feel, but whether others walk away stronger.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and think Paul is scolding an insincere worshiper. The mistake is to hear “you give thanks well” as sarcasm. In fact, Paul says the opposite: your thanks is genuinely good. The issue is not the quality of your devotion but the clarity of your speech. You can pour your whole heart out and still leave your neighbor unchanged. The verse calls us to check the listener, not just the worshiper.
Living This Out
This week, notice the gap between what you say in church and what others hear. Before you pray aloud in a group, ask yourself: can the person beside me follow what I am saying? Does my story about God help them see Him more clearly? Are there words I use that assume everyone shares my background? Paul is not banning heartfelt worship. He is inviting you to love your neighbor enough to let them say “Amen.” That might mean choosing simpler words, explaining a phrase, or asking if what you shared made sense. Let your gratitude build a house, not just fill a room.
Main takeaway: Sincere worship that others cannot understand may be accepted by God but still fails to build up the church.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you say thank you to God in church, that is good. But if you use words no one else knows, they cannot say “Amen” with you. Try to pray so your friends can join in.
For ages 9, 12
Paul says you can give thanks to God really well and still not help anyone grow. Imagine you share something in your small group, but no one gets it. God hears you, but your friends miss out. This week, when you talk about God, explain what you mean so others can learn and feel stronger in their faith.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the other person is not built up' mean?
It means they do not grow spiritually or feel strengthened by what you said. Paul uses the image of construction, like building a house. The other person’s faith receives nothing new because they could not understand your words.
Why does Paul say you give thanks well but then say it is not enough?
Because the thanks is genuine and pleasing to God. But Paul is focused on the effect on the listener. Worship that only benefits the worshiper misses the purpose of gathering together. The goal is the whole group being built up, not just the individual.
Does this verse apply to praying in tongues today?
Many Christians believe Paul is specifically addressing the use of uninterpreted tongues in public worship. The principle extends more broadly: any prayer or expression in church should aim to strengthen the whole congregation, not just the person speaking.
What is the 'giving of thanks' referring to?
It likely refers to prayers of thanksgiving during the worship service. The Greek word eucharisteō is used. Some commentators connect it to the Eucharist, but here it seems to be general thanksgiving.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study