The Gift of Tongues
—1Corinthians 14
In this chapter for study, (1Corinthians 14), Paul taught the Christians at Corinth about the gift of speaking in tongues. We will look at this chapter a few verses at a time, under seven headings. The Corinthian Christians were not using the gift of tongues in an orderly or appropriate manner. Paul aimed his teaching at that problem.
1 Prophecy Greater than Tongues.
1Cor 14, Verses 1-5
Paul told the church at Corinth to pursue love. That was his theme in the previous chapter. But he also allowed that they should desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. The gift of tongues was most valuable when spoken to people who understood the language being used. If that were not so, Paul disallowed use of the gift of tongues, unless the gift of interpretation was available.
Paul taught that edification was better than speaking mysteries. Speakers in the church were to encourage and strengthen their hearers with an understandable message, not puzzle them with an exotic language.
2 Speaking Understandably
1Cor 14, Verses 6-12
Paul wrote that the gifts of revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or teaching were suitable for speaking the gospel in an assembly. Those gifts produced clear speech. On the other hand, speaking in foreign tongues to people who did not understand them, was speaking into the air, and it resulted in confusion.
For illustration, Paul mentioned musical instruments such as flute, harp, and trumpet. They had to make not just a sound, but a melody. When the soldier heard a trumpet calling him to battle, he responded to its meaningful notes. In the same way, a speaker in church should provide meaningful words.
3 Tongues Must be Interpreted
1Cor 14, Verses 13-20
Paul told the Corinthians that those who could speak in a tongue should pray for the gift of interpretation of tongues. That would make sure that everyone who listened to them was able to understand what was said. It was also allowable for someone else to interpret for the one speaking in a tongue.
Paul said that if he prayed in a language he did not know, his spirit prayed and God understood his prayer. However, he himself did not understand it, nor did people listening to him. Yes, that is curious, and obviously not ideal.
Paul’s attitude was that whether praying, singing, or teaching, he would do it with his spirit but also with his understanding. In church he would rather have spoken five words everyone understood, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
4 A Sign to Unbelievers
1Cor 14, Verses 21-25
Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11-12. "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." Paul’s point was that the gift of tongues was mainly for preaching to the unbelieving. He said that tongues were a sign not to believers but to unbelievers because they were called in their native tongue to believe, repent, and obey.
There was, however, an opposite effect when the church was assembled. Many spoke in tongues, and did so in a disorderly manner. An unbeliever who happened to come in would likely not have understood the meaning and purpose of the languages being spoken and he would have left the assembly in disgust. In this case, it would have been better to prophesy so that everyone, even the visitor, could understand God’s message in everyday Greek, and the visitor could be convicted.
5 Order in the Church
1Cor 14, Verses 26-33
Paul set rules for the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the assembly. "Let all things be done for building up... God is not the author of confusion". Later he added, "Let all things be done decently and in order." The Corinthians did not understand that those who had a revelation from the Holy Spirit, and were eager to communicate it, had to limit their speaking so as to maintain order.
In an assembly, no more than three prophets were to speak, and no more than three speakers in tongues. The latter could speak only if there was interpretation. Other gifts of revelation were likewise to be used in an orderly way. Over time, all who had the gift of prophecy could, one by one, take a turn at speaking in an assembly, using Paul’s rule. Paul wanted prophecy, tongues with interpretation, but not Babel.
6 Women Keeping Silence
1Cor 14, Verses 34-35
Paul did not permit women to be speakers in the assembly. They were to keep silent in church. That directed their spiritual gifts to other needs, especially among women and children. (Paul did not suggest that women in subjection are diminished as human beings. Jesus Christ is subject to his Father, but not at all diminished as God.)
Paul even told women not to ask questions in the public assembly but to ask their husbands at home. A woman without a Christian husband could ask some other suitable Christian person, and obey the spirit of Paul’s rule.
7 Paul’s Words are God’s Words
1Cor 14, Verses 36-39
Paul summarised the lesson about tongues by repeating three rules of those he had laid down. "Desire earnestly to prophesy. Do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."
Paul also told those who thought they had the Spirit, to acknowledge that the things he wrote to them were the commandments of the Lord. He thus declared his writings to be Holy Scripture. Those who ignored this were on their own before God.