A COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14 AND “TONGUES” – guest post

 

A Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 and “Tongues,” by Steve Swires

1 ¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Commentary – Charity (giving love) is the “heart” of Christianity. Children of God should desire spiritual gifts that are consistent with charity. Prophecy (the proclamation or forth-telling of God’s word or truth) in particular should be desired because it gives something valuable to others.

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

-The word tongue here means language. Spoken language is sound that has been specially modified by an intelligent person for the sake of communicating with another intelligent person. Speaking in a language that no one hearing it understands is useless to them since only God knows what it means. It wouldn’t be language at all and would be even useless in talking to God if the speaker didn’t know or mean what he was saying.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

-a man that proclaims the word of God is being charitable because he can build up, encourage, and comfort others, since the word of God when clearly understood is profitable for that.

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

-a man that speaks in a language unknown to the hearers can only benefit himself, because he’s the only one that knows what he is saying, but a man that proclaims the word of God in the church strengthens and builds up the church.

5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

-Paul expresses his desire that all in the church at Corinth could speak foreign languages, but he much more desired that they could proclaim the word of God, because the ability to speak a foreign language is of no value unless it is used in charity (see 13:1) and used to proclaim the word of God by interpreting what is meant into the language people understand, whereas the ability to proclaim the word of God can always be used at least in the person’s mother tongue.

6 ¶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

-Paul asks the church what good it would do them if he spoke to the church in foreign languages unless, once interpreted as indicated above, he was speaking truth that was either new revelation, something he already knew, something from the word of God, or an explanation of doctrine. This is a rhetorical question with the implied answer of nothing.

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

-Another rhetorical question: what use is there in making sounds with instruments unless there is some distinct order to the sound? It would be useless noise.

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

-Just like an instrument making noise is useless, it is useless for people to speak or say anything unless they say something that is easily understood. Otherwise, they speak into the air (to nobody).

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

-There are many different sounding languages in the world and none of them are used without meaning, yet if two people don’t speak and understand the same language they are foreigners to each other, unable to communicate anything useful by language.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

-Therefore, believers in the church that desire spiritual gifts, if they have the right heart of charity should seek only gifts that are useful for contributing to the spiritual growth of the church, and anyone who speaks a language that is not understood by the church should pray for the ability to interpret and speak in the language the church understands.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 ¶ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

-Like Paul, if a person were to pray in a language that he himself didn’t understand, his spirit could have things it is trying to say, but he wouldn’t profit from the prayer, because he wouldn’t understand what he was asking for. So, he should pray from the desires of the spirit but in a language where he understands what he is asking for. If he sings from the spirit, he must also sing in a language he understands.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

-If a person praises and gives thanks to God in a language that another person hasn’t learned, the person cannot honestly say that he is in agreement with it, because he doesn’t understand, so he cannot be blessed or gain anything from it. Spoken praise of God is meant to encourage those who hear it to see the truthfulness of the praise and be encouraged to put their faith in God.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

-Paul, who was highly educated, was thankful that he could speak more languages than any in the church at Corinth (it was very useful for preaching to people in different cities that spoke different languages) but he had absolutely no desire to say anything to anyone that he didn’t understand, and considered what little truth could be spoken in 5 words and understood to be worth more than 10,000 words that no one understood.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

-Christian brethren, grow up! Anyone who can’t understand the foolishness of desiring the gift of tongues, or has a desire for the gift of tongues is childish and carnal: selfish. Like Paul told them in chapter 13, put away childish things!

21 ¶ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

-It was prophesied in the Old Testament that God would speak to the Jews through the lips of other men who spoke other languages, but it obviously was only to be a sign from God that He would reject those who didn’t believe the clear message from God in their own language, and would accept and use other people that spoke other languages because they believed God’s message. So, clearly, the only use God has ever had for speaking to people in a foreign language is as a sign to unbelievers and not for the benefit of believers, whereas the proclaiming of God’s word is for the benefit of believers. (It is of no benefit to anyone when it is not believed).

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

-If people are speaking different languages that no one understands in the church, not only will the believers get nothing out of it, but unbelievers will not see it as any kind of sign. Even unbelievers will have enough wisdom to know that there is nothing miraculous or God honouring about it and will think that everybody is crazy, or nuts, or idiots!

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

-It’s the proclamation of the word of God that has the power to convince the unbeliever, not speaking in some foreign language, and if the people in the church proclaim God’s word in unity, it can bring the unbeliever to faith in Christ.

26 ¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

-If the proclamation of God’s word in the church is the way to reach the unbeliever and the way to edify believers, why are so many in the church focussed on other things? A church made up of godly people filled with charity would be in unity in their focus on the proclamation of God’s word and not striving for personal glory for having a new psalm, or doctrine, or tongue, or revelation, or interpretation. Everything done in the church must be for the one purpose of building up the body.

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

-If any one must speak to the church in a foreign language, it shouldn’t be more than two or three in one session, they should take turns and speak in order, and someone must interpret.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

-Two or three may preach in a session, but they must preach one at a time and the other preachers may listen and judge the truthfulness of the message. If God reveals further truth to one of the preachers listening, he should be given a turn to speak while the others listen and judge the truthfulness of the message so that all in the church may learn and be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

-The Spirit of God never takes control away from his preachers, but works through them so that their spirit is always subject to their will. If a preacher is taken over by a spirit, it is never the Spirit of God, but a deceiving spirit. When someone says that they are taken over and a message comes out of their mouth, regardless of the language, it is a deceiving spirit.

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

-God being a person of perfect truth and order never inspires, promotes, or condones any form of confusion, but rather unity and peace in all of His churches among His holy people.

34 ¶ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

-Because God made man first, God has ordered that men are in a position of authority over women and are to do the speaking in the church. Women are to obey God’s order and are forbidden to speak in a general assembly of the church, and if they have questions, rather than risk appearing rebellious and argumentative they should ask there husbands in private.

36 ¶ What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

-Beware of churches and movements that claim to have something new, that the truth was not known until they came along! Paul preached the full gospel, and the Lord’s saints and true churches have been preaching the full gospel message that he preached ever since!

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

-In conclusion, Christians in the church should desire to proclaim the word of God, not to speak in tongues, but if someone wants to speak to the church that doesn’t speak the same language, they should not be forbidden to speak as long as they have an interpreter. Everything must be done decently and orderly in the church.