I promised to revisit I Corinthians 14 at the end of my article/sermon published on July 10, 2024 – seeking to repeat some of the things I said in my sermon on July 7, 2024 since my notes were minimal. I’ve grown over the last 35 years or so to love this chapter. May the Holy Spirit help us as we dive in.
By the way, the primary reason in these latter years I always try to make scripture quoted in my writings in bold letters is because all of us should be far more interested in what God has definitely said, than in what His servants have tried to say about what God has definitely said. I have to confess I have tended over the years to scan or even skip over quoted scripture in other’s writings (especially scriptures I was very familiar with) to get to what the said writer had to say about them. This is a foolish practice and one that all of us should repent of and get freed from.
Three primary gifts of the Spirit are addressed in I Corinthians 14 – prophecy, tongues and the interpretation of tongues. These are all wonderful, much needed gifts for the edification of the body, which is why Paul gives them a whole long chapter after introducing them in chapter 12. But tongues especially has been so greatly resisted and misunderstood that some of us come to this chapter with significant biases and hangups. I did for years.
One of the reasons some of us do this is because the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues appears last in two lists of gifts in I Cor. 12 – vs. 10 and vs. 30. Some have taught that means they are lesser gifts. Also because Paul in ch. 12 vs. 28 uses the words “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…some have taught this implies that tongues are the least important. Of course we could then say “pastors” aren’t even mentioned, so where are we in the ranking?
There are four listings of spiritual gifts in the New Testament. Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and I Peter 4. Teaching by the way is last in the Ephesians 4 list – just saying... None of these passages use the word “least”. Surely Paul and Peter’s purpose in these lists is not to rank them but rather to help equip believers to use them aright.
Well let’s see what Paul says in I Cor. 14 about tongues and their importance or lack of.
First please note he says in vs. 2 “..one who speaks in a tongues does not speak to men but to God.” The true and positive thing that we often overlook in this statement is a person who practices their tongue gift speaks to God. The limiting or negative thing is in terms of the overall objective of edifying the body - - no matter how much an individual speaks to God with their tongue gift, the rest of us in earshot have no idea what they are saying and thus are left unedified. Paul does go on to say in this verse that a person exercising their tongues gift “speaks mysteries.” As valuable and real as these mysteries may be - no one listening would be able to appreciate these mysteries (unless they are interpreted which Paul will address a little later).
Second, please note that in vs. 4 Paul states the truth that “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…”. While speaking in a tongue that is not interpreted does not edify the members of the body around the tongues speaker, speaking in one’s tongue does edify the tongues speaker. It is one of many ways or means Christ has provided edification or the building up of His sons and daughters.
Third, please note that Paul in vs. 5 states his sincere desire for all of the members of Christ’s church in Corinth (and implied for all of us), “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues…”. Now if you have meditated on this chapter you know Paul cannot mean in public or when the church is gathered.
Fourth, please note that in vs. 5 for the first time Paul admits that as great as the gift of prophecy is, if a tongue message is given and interpreted in a gathering of believers, it is on the same level of importance and value as the gift of prophecy. In fact they are one and the same: “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.”
Folks that is a huge “unless” in vs. 5! A prophetic word in a gathering of believers is coveted because it “speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation” (vs. 3). An interpreted tongue can accomplish the same result. Thus they are of equal value.
Then why does Paul say in vs. 5 “I wish that you all spoke in tongues…” and in vs. 18, “I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;”? Well because he is referring to one’s private prayer language or personal exercising of their gift of tongues. Every child of God can exercise this gift. So when Paul in I Cor. 12:30 says, “…All do not speak with tongues, do they? - he is saying all believers are not given the public or corporate gift of tongues and the gift of interpreting them in a gathering of believers. It would be foolish for Paul to say what he said in vs. 5 and vs. 18 if he was referring to the same gift I Cor. 12:30 is referring to.
In this vein then, let’s look at Paul’s instruction for how the corporate gift of tongues can and should be exercised in gatherings of believers. “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.” vs. 26-28
When we believers gather together to worship and seek God, each of us has something to offer for the edification of those gathered. We were never meant to be totally dependent upon one gifting and one gifted person to receive the edification we all need. Paul says some may be led by the Holy Spirit to recite a psalm or part of one or they may sing it per vs. 15, “…I will sing with the spirit…”. Some may be led by the Holy Spirit to give an unprepared spontaneous teaching. Some may be led to speak forth a revelation God gives them in the moment. It might be a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom.
How this works in our church is our worship leaders through the years have been instructed to be sensitive to when a pause should happen after a song so that believers can pray out loud, read a scripture out loud, prophesy out loud, give a tongue to be interpreted out loud, give a spontaneous teaching, etc. Not everyone in a given gathering can do this of course or our gathering would last for many hours. But the opportunity must be given for some to participate in this way.
Please note Paul’s instruction at the end of vs. 28, “…if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.” How this works is, if a person feels led by the Spirit to stand up and give a message for edification in tongues, he and everyone else must then wait for the interpretation. If one is not given, then no more tongues messages should be given. Admittedly it is a bit nerve wracking to stand up and give such a message and then sit down and wait for an interpretation. Every second seems like a minute and every minute like an hour sometimes. But I have yet to experience the lack of an interpretation. Interestingly Paul again here speaks to the legitimacy and value of privately speaking to ourselves or perhaps edifying ourselves by speaking to God (see vs. 2,4).
For many of us the private gift of tongues or private prayer language has been a needed and so appreciated boost to our daily walk with God. It has enabled us to more obediently and effectively “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17), as we learn like Paul to “…pray with the spirit and ..pray with the mind also;….” (I Cor. 14:15). It has proven to be a practical way to practice Jude’s exhortation, “…praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20) as a means of “...building ourselves up on your most holy faith..”.
Well I should stop here. Lord willing I will address tongues and the lost in I Cor. 14 and some other things next time I am able to speak to this chapter. May the Holy Spirit continue to give us all His heart and mind regarding the great truths in I Cor. 12 and 14 for the glory of God and the edification of His church and the winning of the lost. – especially as it relates to the gift of prophecy and the gifts of tongues and interpreting tongues.
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