1 Corinthians 14
Corinthians 14
Tongues and Prophecy
1 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
Observation: At the end of this teaching on spiritual gifts, Paul confronts the issue of “speaking in tongues”. Apparently this was a gift that was given to many of the believers there. But it was causing confusion, just like there remains great confusion today in our churches about this gift.
So let us look at Paul’s teaching and extract what he has to say about speaking in tongues.
1.) Speaking in tongues in a public assembly isn’t very helpful unless there is an interpreter. (Notice verses 27-28 give a way for two or three to speak and be interpreted so Paul is not forbidding it, just trying to make the gift more useful in a public worship experience.)
2.) Prophesy is more helpful as gift, because it is understandable by all and is useful to edify or build up people. (Notice too that members of the congregation are encouraged to use this gift during the service.)
3.) Speaking in tongues isn’t limited to just speaking, but also praying and singing in tongues as well.
4.) Speaking tongues is edifying to the individual believer, because God understands what the person is saying.
5.) Speaking in tongues is an evidence or manifestation of the Spirit that will help an unbeliever recognize that they are saved and filled with the Spirit when they come to faith.
6.) Speaking in tongues isn’t particularly helpful or hospitable to outsiders, who will be confused as to what people are doing and possibly “spooked”.
So Paul doesn’t forbid the speaking and tongues and doesn’t at all suggest that speaking of tongues should end with the first century church, as some theologians and churches teach. In keeping with other teachings, Paul reminds them that spiritual gifts should be used to build others up. When a gift becomes self centered and about one’s own spiritual experience it is only self edifying, and not building up of the body which is the purpose of the gifts.
Application:
So what is the use of the speaking in tongues today? I have been in many ministry situations where there is speaking in tongues, praising in tongues, and praying in tongues. These weren’t public worship services necessarily (although in Pentecostal/Charismatic traditions it is sometimes practiced this way), but gatherings of people inclined to seek and operate in these gifts.
I have heard it described as a prayer language, or a way to speak to God when human words can’t seem to express what one is trying to say. As the great hymn goes, “Or for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise”. If the gift is taught correctly (ie. not lifted up as a superior spiritual gift for the truly spiritual ones!) and exercised in a safe environment, I think it can be helpful for people to experience new ways of communicating with and connecting with God. Part of it is a sense of letting go and not being in control. For many of us being in control is a big thing. And we all know being a Christian means to allow God to control your life.
We know that speaking in tongues is a gift from God. As we acknowledge and use this gift in a way that builds up the body it can be useful in the body today.
Prayer: God thank you for all of your gifts that you give us to build the local church. Help us not to get focused on any one gift but to see every gift as valuable because it comes from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tongues and Prophecy
1 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
Observation: At the end of this teaching on spiritual gifts, Paul confronts the issue of “speaking in tongues”. Apparently this was a gift that was given to many of the believers there. But it was causing confusion, just like there remains great confusion today in our churches about this gift.
So let us look at Paul’s teaching and extract what he has to say about speaking in tongues.
1.) Speaking in tongues in a public assembly isn’t very helpful unless there is an interpreter. (Notice verses 27-28 give a way for two or three to speak and be interpreted so Paul is not forbidding it, just trying to make the gift more useful in a public worship experience.)
2.) Prophesy is more helpful as gift, because it is understandable by all and is useful to edify or build up people. (Notice too that members of the congregation are encouraged to use this gift during the service.)
3.) Speaking in tongues isn’t limited to just speaking, but also praying and singing in tongues as well.
4.) Speaking tongues is edifying to the individual believer, because God understands what the person is saying.
5.) Speaking in tongues is an evidence or manifestation of the Spirit that will help an unbeliever recognize that they are saved and filled with the Spirit when they come to faith.
6.) Speaking in tongues isn’t particularly helpful or hospitable to outsiders, who will be confused as to what people are doing and possibly “spooked”.
So Paul doesn’t forbid the speaking and tongues and doesn’t at all suggest that speaking of tongues should end with the first century church, as some theologians and churches teach. In keeping with other teachings, Paul reminds them that spiritual gifts should be used to build others up. When a gift becomes self centered and about one’s own spiritual experience it is only self edifying, and not building up of the body which is the purpose of the gifts.
Application:
So what is the use of the speaking in tongues today? I have been in many ministry situations where there is speaking in tongues, praising in tongues, and praying in tongues. These weren’t public worship services necessarily (although in Pentecostal/Charismatic traditions it is sometimes practiced this way), but gatherings of people inclined to seek and operate in these gifts.
I have heard it described as a prayer language, or a way to speak to God when human words can’t seem to express what one is trying to say. As the great hymn goes, “Or for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise”. If the gift is taught correctly (ie. not lifted up as a superior spiritual gift for the truly spiritual ones!) and exercised in a safe environment, I think it can be helpful for people to experience new ways of communicating with and connecting with God. Part of it is a sense of letting go and not being in control. For many of us being in control is a big thing. And we all know being a Christian means to allow God to control your life.
We know that speaking in tongues is a gift from God. As we acknowledge and use this gift in a way that builds up the body it can be useful in the body today.
Prayer: God thank you for all of your gifts that you give us to build the local church. Help us not to get focused on any one gift but to see every gift as valuable because it comes from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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