Sunday Sermons
Speaking in Tongues - Part 2
Introduction
Many religious groups view the tongues described in this First Corinthians chapter 14 as different from the tongues mentioned in Acts chapter 2:4-11. Barclay defines the popular view as follows: "In it a man becomes worked up to an ecstasy and a frenzy and in that state he poured out a quite uncontrollable torrent of sounds in no known language" (p. 142). Yet there exists no compelling reason to distinguish the tongues of Acts 2:4-11 (or 10:45-46; 19:6 or Mark 16:17) from the tongues of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. All the evidence points to the conclusion that all these passages refer to the same gift. 1. The same name is given to this gift in all the passages cited. 2. The Holy Spirit was the source of the gift mentioned. 3. The purpose of the tongues, as a sign for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:21), fits the purpose of Acts 2:4-11. 4. The gift in 1 Corinthians 14, included the possible ability to speak in more than one "tongue" (14:18). This also fits Acts 2:4-11. 5. Contrary to what Barclay said, Paul reveals that the tongue-speaker was not in an uncontrolled state of frenzy (14:27-32). 6. The tongues of this chapter are clearly described as being languages (14:9-11, 21). The passage that many people have misinterpreted in this chapter is 14:2. Many read this passage and automatically conclude that the tongue-speaker spoke in a language that nobody upon this planet would understand. One writer argues that 1 Corinthians 14:2 “makes it plain that the gift spoken of here is different from that in Acts 2, where all men understood.” On the contrary, in the first place, it was understood because there were people who understood the various languages in Acts chapter 2. Whereas, in this assembly at Corinth (the context of chapter 14), Greek was the language spoken. Secondly, it is not true that all men in Acts 2 understood the tongues. Some mocked because they could not understand (Acts 2:13) (or because they did not bother to listen for the Apostle who was speaking in their own native tongue.) Some of the people spoke Arabic and when they heard Arabic from ignorant Galileans, they were smitten. But what happened when they heard others speak Persian or Coptic or Latin?
1 Corinthians 14
14:1 “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” Love is the more excellent way described in chapter 13, and the “enduring way” (13:8), in addition, is the only proper motive for pursuing the spiritual gifts. Yet while the gifts are in operation, seek spiritual gifts them as well. “Prophesy” was speaking by inspiration. It must be borne in mind that Paul is discussing these two gifts (tongues and prophecy), in relation to assembly worship. In light of the needs of the assembly, prophecy was the more useful gift for edification.
14:2 “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries”. “For” introduces the reason for preferring the gift of prophesy over tongues in this situation. The KJV adds the word “unknown”, but there is no word in the original for “unknown”. This is the verse upon which many get mixed up. The claim is that men do not understand, because the tongues were “heavenly languages”. But this verse does not demand that tongues be understood as ecstatic utterance. Consider the Circumstances: In Acts Chapter 2 people understood the tongues, because there were people who understood all those different languages. Yet in Corinth we have an assembly of Greek speaking Corinthians. The circumstances of a person speaking in a foreign language before people who do not understand that language, would fit this verse as well. This is why Paul says “seek prophecy”. If one were out talking to foreigners, then tongues would be appropriate, as in Acts 2. But in the assembly of Greek speaking Christians, to begin using your gift of speaking in other languages one would contribute to a situation in which “no one understands”. This is why the man speaks only to God. It is because no one in the assembly at Corinth understands that particular foreign language. “No one understands”: This does not mean absolutely no one, for one who has the gift of interpretation, who is conversant with the particular foreign language used, would understand. Paul himself speaks about the possible presence of an interpreter, 27-28; in fact, the speaker himself may be able to act as an interpreter, as in verses 5,13. In addition, there were other people in the world that understood that dialect, and the point is, as the facts are, presently no one in the Corinthian assembly understood that language. “But in his spirit”: Even though none understood, the speaker is still inspired, and is speaking “mysteries”. Do not get hung up on the term “mysteries”. The word is used in the N.T. of God's plans, purposes, at one time hidden from man, but now revealed. (Ephesians 3:3-5.) The meaning is, although not understood (because none in the assembly spoke this dialect), yet what he utters contains divine truth. Acts 2:11 “We hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God”; Acts 10:46 “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God”. Truth was being revealed when one spoke in another language. The problem here at Corinth was a misuse, using this gift, when no one in the assembly spoke that dialect.
14:3 “But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation”: Because the Prophet spoke in the common language of the people and because people understood it, they benefited! It is clear that prophecy is a gift more suitable for assembly worship than tongues, where everyone spoke the same native tongue.
14:4 “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church”
The context seems to indicate that not all tongue speakers “understood” their message. 14:13. Hence, the man appears to be edified by the mere fact that he is aware that God is using his body as an instrument of revelation.
14:5 “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying”: Clearly all at Corinth did not have this gift. This is opposed to those who regard tongues as the indispensable mark of having received the Spirit of spiritual maturity. Not even all first century Christians, when spiritual gifts were available, had them! The term “greater” is used in the sense of congregational benefit. Because the prophet benefits more people, more understand his message. But there is an exception: The gift of tongues could be used, only if a translation was made into the common language of the assembly, so that people could understand. Clearly the tongues were a language! One cannot interpret nonsense!
14:6 “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?” This verse is designed to show the uselessness of uninterpreted tongues. “Unless I speak to you either by way of revelation”: “Unless my words contain some revelation” (TCNT). “I can only profit you if I came revealing something”. Again the idea of edification and benefit to the whole congregation. The only way that the Corinthians could benefit from Paul's preaching, is when that preaching revealed, gave knowledge, and taught in the language of the people.
14:7-8 “Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?”: This is only common sense. Even in the realm of musical instruments, it is important to communicate clearly. Even “lifeless things” must give clear sounds and notes, if they are to benefit anyone.
14:9 “So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air”: “Therefore, in speaking, you too must use a language that men can understand”(Nor). When there is no communication, the one speaking is wasting his breath, and his words die in the air. This emphasizes the total uselessness of speech that does not result in communication.
14:10-11 “There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me”: But it only means something to those who understand it. What is the advantage of speaking all the languages of the world if the people to whom you speaking do not understand any of the languages being spoken? This is exactly what was happening in Corinth. People used this gift when the whole assembly spoke the same language, and it seems that the Corinthians put great pride in this ability (14:12). But in reality, this impressed no one. The tongue speaker looked down on his audience for not comprehending, and the audience considered the tongue-speaker as a foreigner. People, who were looking for edification, were instead faced with the speaker they could not understand, and thought the speaker was a barbarian (a favorite slur cast by Greeks on non-Greek speaking people).
14:12-13 “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret”: It appears that the Corinthians had been using the gifts for their own personal glorification. Note that the gifts were not used for private benefit. “Pray that he may interpret”: Edification being the main importance, the tongue-speaker ought to pray for the gift of interpretation, so he could use his gift to truly benefit the congregation!
14:14-15 “I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What is the outcome then? I shall pray with the spirit and I shall pray with the mind also; I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also”: Some have a problem with the above, but no problem should exist concerning this concept. Those who insist that the tongues were heavenly languages or ecstatic utterances are faced with the same conclusion concerning what they believe the tongues to have been. Both views of the tongues run into the same wall, that is, of tongue-speakers who did not understand what they were saying. It would be a miracle to be able to speak fluently in a language one had never previously studied, but would it not be another miracle (or take another miracle) to be able then to understand what one had just said? People will say, “How can one say something, without mentally comprehending what one said?” Yet such does happen in the natural world, children say words before they understand what those particular words mean. If that happens without a miracle, then certainly God can cause you to fluently speak in a foreign language, without the demand that you comprehend what you just said. Someone may say, “But what benefit would it be to have the preacher preach a message to people that the preacher did not understand? If the preacher did not understand the content of his sermon, then how can he properly field any questions that his listeners might have?” This problem I think is based on a misconception concerning the tongues. Apparently the tongues existed for the purpose of attracting the attention of those listening (Acts 2:4-12 “ they continued in amazement and great perplexity”). We might be under the wrong impression if we think that the tongues were always used to reveal entire sermons. In the First Century, the universal language was Greek, which was spoken almost anywhere. The tongues were not necessarily needed to preach to people. Rather, they were used to attract the attention, to move people to enquire about the meaning of this event, that is, “here you are, an obvious foreigner, and yet you are speaking fluently in the local dialect”. After the speaker had gained the attention of his audience, he could then preach to the people in a language that both of them understood.
