What is Speaking in Tongues All About? - 1 Corinthians 14

 

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

The spirtual gift of speaking in tongues has caused a lot of confusion and some degree of division in the Church's history.  Basically "speaking in tongues" is speaking in an unknown language (at least to us) under the leading by the Holy Spirit.  One commentator explains, 

"He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God: With the gift of tongues, the speaker addresses God, not men. Disregard of this principle leads to one of the most significant misunderstandings regarding the gift of tongues – believing tongues is a supernatural communication “man to man” instead of “man to God.” Guzik

Paul contrasts this with the gift of prophesy.  He who speaks a word of prophecy is given a word from God, which they speak to people for their edification.  This word edification is used a lot by Paul.  It means to "build up", and where we get our term "edifice".  The idea is when someone speaks God's Word to a group of people or the community gather they are communicating a message God wants them to hear.  This is why Paul says that the gift of prophesy and the prophetic word is more useful to the church.  The only way the gift of speaking in tongues can similarly build up the church is if there is an interpreter who translates what the person is saying.  

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Paul explains the futility of speaking in tongues without an interpreter using the metaphor of an instrument that is played without any notes or beat. It is like a child playing a piano says Guzik,

"It may feel good for a child to bang on a piano, and they may like the sound, but for anyone else, it is unpleasant. Even so, someone talking to God with the gift of tongues may be blessed, but no one else is. Therefore, if someone is going to make an uncertain sound (speak in tongues unto God), let them do so unto themselves, and not among others.

Paul realizes the Corinthians are eager and excited to use their spiritual gifts which is understandable, but he urges them to focus on the gifts that build up the church rather than the individual. 

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[d] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

Paul then applies these principles to praying in and singing in tongues.  Again unless someone can understand what the person is praying and singing, they can't even say "Amen" to what they are saying. 

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”

Paul is not saying that "speaking in tongues" is an invalid gift, but he is trying to explain the context in which it is most helpful. He even admits that he speaks in tongues, but would rather have a few words that build up a fellow believer than thousands of words that don't. 

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Finally, Paul reasons that the gift of tongues is for unbelievers. What does he mean by that? If you are an unbeliever who comes to Christ is baptized and receive the gift of tongues, the experience will confirm the reality of the Holy Spirit and your new status as a born again son or daughter of God.  If you unexpectedly started talking in a foreign language that you didn't understand, wouldn't you think something was up.  

This is why when the believers were gathered at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit came down and manifested itself in all of the apostles, they started speaking in tongues.  It was a sign them that they were filled with the Spirit.  In this rare case there were also other God fearing foreigners gathered for the Jewish feast of Pentecost, and heard the gospel in their own language and came to faith in Jesus.  

So what can we conclude?  Paul clearly teaches that speaking in tongues in a valid spiritual gift.  But in the case of the Corinthians, they were prizing this gift above other gifts and using it as a badge of spiritual superiority. I.e. If you didn't speak in tongues you were not as spiritual as another person who does.  Clearly Paul says that not EVERYBODY speaks in tongues.  To teach that everyone speaks in tongues is harmful because it creates a situation when someone might try to "fake" speaking in tongues to be accepted by the community.  I have seen this happen and I really think it does a lot more harm than good.  

Let's remember folks its a spiritual GIFT.  If something is a gift you don't have to do ANYTHING to earn it.  While we shouldn't quench a spiritual gift like this, let's also not make it a badge of spirituality. and manipulate God into distributing it on our terms.