In our study of 1 Corinthians chapter fourteen, we will look at what Paul meant by speaking in tongues and compare it to what is going on in the church today.
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Pursue love! However, keep on eagerly seeking the things of the Spirit; and especially seek to be able to prophesy.
In chapter 13, Paul explained what love is and he continues by telling us to want spiritual gifts so that we can serve the body of Christ and not for ourselves. He specifically tells us to desire the gift of prophecy. So, what is this gift? It is simply the ability to teach the Word of God in a way that can be understood by others. There are some who have misunderstood this gift and tried to make it some kind of circus sideshow telling people their future but that is not prophecy.
For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit. But someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them. A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation.
Now, Paul compares the gift of prophesy (teaching the Word of God) with speaking in tongues. So what is this "speaking in tongues" that he is talking about? In Acts 2, we see that the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. There were people there from all different parts of the world and, although the apostles did not know their language, they were able to share the gospel with the people in their own languages. This was clearly from God as they had no training in these other languages. Paul compares this speaking in tongues (without someone to interpret) with the gift of teaching in a language that people understand. If someone speaks in a foreign language that his audience does not know, then, it is as if he were speaking only to God. Many in the church today have misunderstood this gift of tongues and it has become babbling in a supposedly "unknown" language that is known only to them and God. This is a lie and goes against what Paul taught as the reason for the spiritual gifts which is to build up the body of believers. I have actually been in the midst of bodies of believers that were trained to yell and scream in these "unknown tongues" on cue and they would call it praying. They would even criticize you if you did not take part in it and others would go so far as to say you are not in Christ if you don't have your own language. This is not of God but a learned behavior of men.
I wish you would all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you would all prophesy. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless someone gives an interpretation, so that the congregation can be edified.
Paul has been speaking about unity in the body of Christ (see chapter 12) but now he seems to create division? What he is saying is that one who can teach the Word of God in a manner and language that people can understand is more valuable to the church than someone who speaks in a language that they cannot understand. This is unless someone can interpret (translate) the words for the people.
Brothers, suppose I come to you now speaking in tongues. How can I be of benefit to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even with lifeless musical instruments, such as a flute or a harp, how will anyone recognize the melody if one note can't be distinguished from another? And if the bugle gives an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? It's the same with you: how will anyone know what you are saying unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech? You will be talking to the air!
Paul explains that the words have to have a meaning and not just some babble in an "unknown tongue". He compares the words to musical instruments and the fact that they have to have distinguishable notes to be useful. He also gives the example of sounding a trumpet for armies to go to war. He is reminding us that there is a purpose for all of the spiritual gifts and it is building up the body of believers. Many times this so-called "speaking in an unknown tongue" is used to beat down other people and make them feel unsure about their salvation. My friends, that is not of God but instead is a scheme of the devil.
There are undoubtedly all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is altogether meaningless; but if I don't know what a person's sounds mean, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation.
Anyone who has been in a land where they do not speak the language can relate to what Paul is saying. All the languages of the world can be interpreted by someone or they would be useless. God has a purpose for everything that He does and the idea that He would have us babble in some unknown "prayer language" is a bunch of nonsense. There are those who hold up this notion of their own personal unknown prayer language but, as Paul has already said, the purpose of the spiritual gifts is to build up the church.
Therefore someone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit does pray, but my mind is unproductive. So, what about it? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. Otherwise, if you are giving thanks with your spirit, how will someone who has not yet received much instruction be able to say, "Amen," when you have finished giving thanks, since he doesn't know what you are saying? For undoubtedly you are giving thanks very nicely, but the other person is not being edified.
Why do we, as Christians, pray aloud? In explaining "tongues", Paul helps us to see that we not only pray as an act of worship but also to build up others in Christ. He says that this idea of praying aloud in a "personal prayer language" where the mind is disengaged is not in keeping with the purpose of the spiritual gifts.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, but in a congregation meeting I would rather say five words with my mind in order to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue!
Paul had traveled through many places that spoke foreign languages and, back in his day, they did not have all of the ways of learning a foreign language that we do. We never see that Paul had an interpreter but he was always able to share the gospel in a language that the locals could understand. This glorified God as everyone could see that it was clearly a gift from Him.
Brothers, don't be children in your thinking. In evil, be like infants; but in your thinking, be grown-up. In the Torah it is written, "By other tongues, by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people. But even then they will not listen to me," says ADONAI.
Paul quotes from Isaiah the words of the Lord that warned Jerusalem about their legalism and the fact that it would be foreigners (Gentiles) who would reveal the truth. Once again, we see that this "speaking in tongues" was talking about the language of foreign countries.
Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole congregation comes together with everybody speaking in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers come in, won't they say you're crazy? But if you all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed person enters, he is convicted of sin by all, he is brought under judgment by all, and the secrets of his heart are laid bare; so he falls on his face and worships God, saying, "God is really here among you!"
Paul gives a wonderful example of the purpose for the spiritual gifts and the result when they are properly used. In this, we see that God gives us the tools to use to bring people to faith in Him.
What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification.
Paul now speaks of the necessity of allowing the gifts of God to be put to use in the church meetings. Once again, he reminds them and us that the purpose is for building up the believers.
If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret. And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets - they can speak to themselves and to God.
Keeping in mind that the tongues (languages) are to be used to teach others, Paul gives some guidelines for their use in meetings of believers. If the speaker cannot be understood, he or she is to keep quiet. I have been to some meetings of believers where this is ignored. The congregation will make all kinds of strange noises on cue because they have been told that, if they do not do so, they do not have the Holy Spirit and so are not saved. This is a lie from the devil and is used to divide the people of God.
Let two or three prophets speak, while the others weigh what is said. And if something is revealed to a prophet who is sitting down, let the first one be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, with the result that all will learn something and all will be encouraged. Also, the prophets' spirits are under the prophets' control; for God is not a God of unruliness but of shalom.
Now, Paul shifts his focus from the messenger and the subject of tongues to the message as delivered by a prophet. He reminds the church that God should be in control of the service and, since He is a God of order, the message He wants delivered should be shared so the church can be built up in the faith.
As in all the congregations of God's people, let the wives remain silent when the congregation meets; they are certainly not permitted to speak out. Rather, let them remain subordinate, as also the Torah says; and if there is something they want to know, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak out in a congregational meeting.
This passage is one of the most misinterpreted in all of scripture and has been used to beat down Christian women for centuries. We must understand that Paul was saying that the women, like those speaking in tongues and prophesying, were to be orderly in doing so. The silence that he speaks of is speaking of a temporary silence and not a total ban on speaking. It seems that they may have been interrupting the meetings with irrelevant questions or maybe even gossip. Paul reminds them that the questions could be answered at home by their husbands as that is one of the major responsibilities of a husband (see Ephesians 5). Once again, we are reminded that Paul was teaching the Corinthian believers about the purpose of meeting as brothers and sisters in Christ which was to build each other up in the faith. Therefore, questions that were off topic or gossip would have been contrary to the whole purpose of meeting together. For the good of the body, it was best if those matters were handled in private.
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or is endowed with the Spirit, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is a command of the Lord. But if someone doesn't recognize this, then let him remain unrecognized.
Paul is referring to the fact that we are all a part of the body of Christ. Parts of the body recognize each other and work together. In the same way, Christians can recognize teaching from God.
So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but let all things be done in a proper and orderly way.
Paul sums up this part of his letter by encouraging the believers to seek the spiritual gifts but to remember their purpose. The next time you see someone "speaking in tongues", ask yourself whether it is in keeping with the purpose of the gift or is it some kind of show to make the person appear to be a super saint.
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