Tongues and Prophecy
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (NLT)
In this passage Paul compares the ability to prophesy with the ability to speak in tongues.
The Corinthian church appeared to have a preoccupation with tongues.
For many Corinthians, seeking personal edification appeared to surpass communicating Biblical truths to others.
Speaking in tongues takes on different forms. It may be speaking gibberish (for lack of a better term) or it may mean speaking in a foreign language.
Today’s lesson:
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (NLT)
Tongues and Prophecy
14:1 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.
6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”
says the Lord.
22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (NLT)
Tongues and Prophecy
14:1 Let love be your highest goal!
Act out of love for God and others.
This is addressing a specific weakness in the Corinthian Church, but at the same time it is good teaching for all Christians.
The use of Spiritual gifts should always be regulated by love.
- Let love be your highest goal!
But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.
Prophesy:
Teaching and explaining the scripture.
The Bible is all we need to equip us for a life of faith and service. It provides a clear demonstration of God’s intention to restore the broken relationship between Himself and humanity through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior through the gift of faith. No other writings are necessary for this good news to be understood, nor are any other writings required to equip us for a life of faith.
Teaching Biblical truths in a manner that is beneficial to the listener and honors God.
Teach others, using language that is plain and easy to understand.
Desire the ability to communicate Biblical truths.
The Holy Spirit is a crucial component in prophecy, but this is different than speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (NLT)
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
John 14:26 (NLT)
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- Value the ability to prophesy.
2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, (Refer to verses 13-17) 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.
Personal benefits vs. benefits of the body.
Spiritual gifts are valuable in proportion to their usefulness.
Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Many Corinthians were preoccupied with “tongues” vs. sharing the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 10:24 (NLT)
Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
- Prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues,
Paul knows this will not happen.
1 Corinthians 7:7 (NLT)
7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
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.
6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, you might as well be talking into empty space.
10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
- Value spiritual gifts that benefit the whole church.
13 So anyone who speaks in tongues (Verse 2 – if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, … You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,) should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
- Praying in the Spirit without interpretation will not strengthen the people who hear you.
Praying, singing, and praising in tongues is a very personal and intimate communication with God.
Romans 8:26 (NLT)
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Along with praying, singing, and praising in tongues, Paul also prays, sings, and praises using words.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues (a form of worship for Paul) more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
What cannot be understood, never can edify.
- Teaching requires understanding.
20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
Uninterrupted tongues.
A curse on Israel when they refused to listen to God. Here it symbolized God’s rejection.
Following up on the leaders’ mimicking, Isaiah said that if they did not want to listen to his “lecturing” then they would be “lectured” by another people who had a difficult and different speech. Foreign lips would deliver the message of judgment on them. Isaiah was referring to the Assyrians who were advancing on Israel and would soon conquer it. Though God had offered Israel rest and repose they refused to listen to Him and His messenger. Therefore the Lord would turn their mocking back on them and they would be injured… snared, and captured by a people whose language they did not understand.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
Soon God would speak to Israel through the unintelligible (to the Israelites) language of the Assyrian conquerors. This verse is quoted by Paul in 1 Cor. 14:21 to show that tongues are a sign of rebuke to unbelievers.
Ryrie Study Bible.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”
says the Lord.
22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers,
Benefits those who are able to understand Biblical truths.
not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
If all of you are prophesying, unbelievers will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. If you are speaking in tongues, unbelievers will think you are crazy.
