Daily Scripture Reading 1Corinthians 14:1-22
Over the past century or so, there are many in the charismatic movement who have promoted the practice of speaking in tongues during church services. Apparently, the Christians in 1st century Corinth were doing the same thing. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul explained why speaking in tongues is something they should not desire. His reasons are just as applicable today as they were back then.
Yesterday, we read Paul’s definition of love. Love is the opposite of self-centeredness. Paul defined love in the context of telling the Corinthians that being a loving person is more valuable than having some of the temporary gifts such as prophecy or tongues, which both ceased to exist when the Bible was completed.
1Cor. 14:1 ¶ Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
In line with what Paul had written earlier about the supremacy of love, Paul commanded the Corinthians to pursue love. Desiring gifts was also good. According to 1Cor 12:28, prophecy was ranked higher than speaking in tongues, and that fact undergirded Paul’s words throughout chapter 14.
1Cor. 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.
1Cor. 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and encouragement.
1Cor. 14:4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
There are many in the charismatic movement who encourage speaking in tongues. Besides the fact that the gift of tongues no longer exists, Paul gave reasons in this passage regarding why speaking in tongues should not be highly desirable.
Since speaking in tongues was speaking in a foreign language, if no one in the local assembly spoke the language that was being spoken, then no one was edified by speaking in tongues.
1Cor. 14:5 But 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 translates, so that the church may receive edification.
This explains why prophecy was better than tongues. When a person prophesied, everyone was edified. When someone spoke in tongues, only those who knew that language, if any, were edified.
1Cor. 14:6 ¶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
1Cor. 14:7 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?
1Cor. 14:8 For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
1Cor. 14:9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue a word that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
1Cor. 14:10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning.
1Cor. 14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
1Cor. 14:12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
Many in the charismatic movement desire to speak in tongues. However, Paul wrote it is better to seek to edify the whole church. Speaking in tongues does not edify the church because the listeners do not benefit from it.
1Cor. 14:13 ¶ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may translate.
1Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
One of the problems with speaking in tongues is the mind of the speaker doesn’t even know what is being said. That means the mind is unfruitful while speaking in tongues. Notice Paul wrote from the perspective that an unfruitful mind is a bad thing.
One of the trends in modern Christianity is to focus on emotions at the expense of truth. Truth is not valued in the 21st century church. However, since an unfruitful mind is a bad thing, then at some point an emphasis on emotions is a bad thing because emotions also leads to an unfruitful mind.
1Cor. 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
1Cor. 14:16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the uninformed say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
1Cor. 14:17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
1Cor. 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all;
1Cor. 14:19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Those in the charismatic movement should take note of this verse. Five intelligent words that everyone understands is far better than ten thousand words that no one can understand. Substance is better than the appearance of substance.
1Cor. 14:20 ¶ Brothers, do not be children in your thinking; rather in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1Cor. 14:21 In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord.
1Cor. 14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
The first time anyone spoke in tongues was on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. The Apostles suddenly had the ability to speak in other languages, so that they could preach the gospel to all the foreigners who were in Jerusalem at that time. The purpose of tongues was to preach the gospel to foreigners.
Meanwhile, prophecy was a tool used by God to give messages to Christians before the New Testament was complete.
Apparently, the Corinthians were very desirous to speak in tongues during their church services, but that was inappropriate because tongues was given to reach non-believers, not to edify believers.
Since the gifts of prophecy and tongues no longer exist, this passage should not have much practical application today. However, over the past multiple decades, many in the charismatic movement have advocated for speaking in tongues during church.
Just as Paul wrote in the 1st century, speaking in tongues, whether it is a foreign language or meaningless sounds, is of little value because very few, if any, people in the church are edified by what is being said. It is much better for the words spoken in church to be something that everyone can understand.
What are things your church does that lack substance and lead to idle minds?
To what extent do the services at your church lead to fruitful minds that edify everyone in the church?
What improvements could your church make to their services so that the minds of everyone would be engaged and fruitful?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”