After introducing "the most excellent way", that of acting with love in all things, Paul returns to questions raised about spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14: 1-4, Prophecy versus tongues
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
The NIV footnotes stress that everywhere the Greek word is translated "tongues" here, it could also be translated "languages."
1 Corinthians 14: 1-4, Prophecy versus tongues
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
The NIV footnotes stress that everywhere the Greek word is translated "tongues" here, it could also be translated "languages."
"Prophecy edifies" is a theme here; speaking out in a prophetic voice about the direction of the church is (should be) a constructive process. Paul emphasizes "edification" throughout this chapter.
1 Corinthians 14: 5-12, Tongues should be helpful
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
The Spiritual gifts are to build up the church. If someone babbles away in an untranslatable language, what good is that? Much better is to have a clear and helpful message for the church.
1 Corinthians 14: 13-17, Seek edification
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
This is an interesting passage, implying that good use of "tongues" should involve some type of "interpretation" or explanation?
1 Corinthians 14: 18-20, Instruction and maturity
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
"Be adults!" scolds Paul, almost in a sudden fit of exasperation.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
"Be adults!" scolds Paul, almost in a sudden fit of exasperation.
More on tongues in the second half of this chapter, tomorrow....
The distinction between speaking with the spirit and speaking with the mind is interesting and a little confusing. It raises the question whether these are mutually exclusive ways of praying or whether you can do both with intelligible speech. I can think off no reason why you can't do the latter. There appear to be scores of places in the Psalms where that is going on as well as in the prayers of Paul. So are tongues superfluous? Or do the Corinthians jus not understand the nature of tongues? Commentators probably come down several ways here. I have my own thoughts on the covenantal significance of tongues that I can share tomorrow since more pertinent to the second part of the chapter. But it probably doesn't exhaust the topic.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Certainly in the Psalms we see thoughtful prayer combined with emotional praise. But in this passage in I Corinthians, we repeatedly see "tongues" contrasted with "prophesy", with the sharpest contrast in verses 18-20, where five thoughtful words trumps 10,000 words in tongues. The contrast between the two is deliberately artificial (IMO) to make a point. Paul contrasts the two presumably to confront the Corinthians' emphasis on the ecstatic and chaotic nature of "tongues" in their services.
ReplyDeleteGood point--Paul is exaggerating the contrast. The guy's a master of rhetoric.
ReplyDelete