1 Corinthians 14- The Difference Between Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying!

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Intelligibility in Worship

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul starts out by clarifying the difference between prophesying and speaking in tongues. These are both supernatural gifts in which God speaks through believers. The main difference is that the one speaking in tongues is speaking to God in a language that humans cannot understand. Whereas one who prophesies speaks in a native tongue so that the words might build up the person who listens. The person who speaks in tongues "edifies" or "build themselves up" because they are communicating with God. 

The only way tongues can edify the body is if someone interprets the tongue in English. Paul is not against speaking in tongues but sees more value to the overall good of the church in prophesying. Note by acknowledging the gift of tongues, Paul is teaching that these extraordinary gifts did not cease after the apostolic age.  Paul shares that he also speaks in tongues, and in fact speaks more tongues than all of them. I don't know where he got this or how he determined this, or it could be a way of demystifying the gift of tongues. The Corinthian church seemed to value speaking in tongues above the rest of the gifts. So Paul ends by saying, "If you are really eager for these kinds of spiritual gift, pray for the gift of prophesy!" 

Paul was positive about the gift of tongues! Because of the tone of this chapter, it is easy to think he was “down” on the gift of tongues. Not at all; Paul valued the gift of tongues in his own life. In 1 Corinthians 14:18, Paul wrote I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. This passage shows that Paul also wanted other Christians to speak with tongues.

Why did Paul wish you all spoke with tongues? No doubt, because he knew the value of it in his own life. Paul was able, when in the spirit he spoke mysteries, to unburden his soul before God in a way beyond human language and intellect. He could pray, praise, and intercede beyond his ability to understand and articulate. Paul wanted every Christian to know this same blessing.

Then Paul says that the gift on tongues is for unbelievers not believers. This makes sense in the fact that at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles they spoke in tongues and unbelievers heard the gospel in their own language. Also, when Paul visited the early church the gift of tongues was a sign that people have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Many conservative commentators have a really hard time with this passage. They interpret the sign to mean a sign of judgment to unbelievers. But at Pentecost when the apostles spoke in tongues they translated the gospel to the Gentiles who were gathered fulfilling the Old Testament passage, 

“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.” Isaiah 28:11-12

Good Order in Worship

Then Paul addresses the issue of order in worship. Part of the issue was when people started speaking randomly in tongues it created a lot of confusion. Paul also made sure that if someone prophesied, or presumed to be speaking a word from the Lord, it needed to be weighed by the believers present. 

We can easily picture how this dynamic would work among the Corinthian Christians. They would, out of necessity, meet in small groups in different homes. There would be many “house churches” scattered all over the city of Corinth. As they would meet in these small groups, there would be a freedom and a responsibility to not only receive but to give. So, one might give by reading or singing a psalm. Another might offer a word of teaching. Someone might pray in a tongue, along with an interpretation. Still someone else might have a revelation, a word from God’s heart and mind to the gathered church. In a small, home-fellowship type setting, this is how the church should work together.

As we think about our churches today, we might be guilty of having too much order in the church. We can be so set on the order of the service we don't leave room for the Holy Spirit to work. It is definitely a balance, especially as the number people in the service increases. There is nothing wrong with having order in a service if it glorifies God and builds up the church. The Holy Spirit can work just as much through a service that has been structured as unstructured. 

I think the key thing is the sensibility and flexibility of the worship leaders and teachers to allow the Holy Spirit to be the true leader of worship. I know sometimes when I have been preaching, and even though I have prepared a manuscript, the Holy Spirit will lead me off the script in a way I hadn't expected. Those are exciting moments, but I would not be relying on this for my whole sermon. Again the Holy Spirit can be just as much at work as I am studying for a sermon, as when I am delivering it.