Many non-tongue-talkers say that Paul was rebuking the Corinthian church for their abuse of tongues. But when we read 1 Corinthians 12-14, we don’t really find much rebuking. Instead, he starts off chapter 12 with “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” He isn’t rebuking so much as instructing.
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14 to see what Paul instructed about tongues. I realize that there’s more than just tongues in this chapter, but we’re just going to focus on tongues.
1. Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men. (v.2)
2. Anyone who speaks in a tongues speaks to God. (v.2)
3. When someone speaks in tongues, no one understands him. (v.2)
These first three negate what many non-tongue-talkers say about tongues being “known human languages.”
4. When someone speaks in tongues, he utters mysteries with his spirit. (v.2)
5. When someone speaks in tongues, he edifies himself. (v.4)
6. Paul would like “every one of you” (in the Corinthian church) to speak in tongues. (v.5)
7. In the church, however, Paul would much rather we prophesied “so that the church may be edified.” (vv.4, 5)
8. Tongues with interpretation is on the same level as prophesying because it edifies the church, not just the individual. (v.5)
9. If a person speaks in tongues in a church, he should pray that he may interpret what he says. (v.13)
This is a big one, because many non-tongue-talkers think that you need someone who understands the language to interpret, not realizing that the gift of interpretation is also a gift of the Holy Spirit.
10. When we pray in tongues, our spirit prays. (v.14)
This is another big one, even for Charismatics. I was always taught that when I pray in tongues, it’s the Holy Spirit praying through me, but that isn’t what Paul says. It isn’t the Holy Spirit praying. It’s “my” spirit. (v:14). Now we can take from Acts 2:4 that it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to speak/pray in tongues, but it’s “my spirit” that does it. Paul says this a few times: “with his spirit” (v.2), “my spirit prays” (v.14), “pray with my spirit” (v.15), “sing with my spirit” (v.15), “praising God with your spirit” (v.16).
I’m not sure about the significance of this, but this is what Paul is teaching us.
11. When we speak in tongues, we (a) speak to God (vv. 2 and 28), speak mysteries with our spirit (v.2), edify ourselves (v.4), pray (v.14), sing (v.15) praise God (v.16), and give thanks (v.17).
12. Paul is thankful that he speaks in tongues more than the whole Corinthian Church (v.18).
13. HERE’S A WARNING ABOUT TONGUES: “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue” (v.19).
14. HERE IS THE ONLY REBUKE ABOUT TONGUES: “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (v.20)
15. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers. (v.22).
16. When the church is busy speaking in tongues, and unbelievers come in, they will say that “you are out of your mind (v.23).
Compare this with Acts 2:6, 7, 12, 13 — “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment…Utterly amazed…amazed and perplexed…Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
WHAT FOLLOWS ARE INSTRUCTIONS OF HOW TO USE TONGUES
17. In the church, only 2 or 3 can give a message in tongues, but someone must interpret. (v.27)
18. If there is no one with the gift of interpretation (see #9 above), then the one speaking in tongues should only speak to himself and God. (v.28)
A fun sidenote: this is (1) private, (2) prayer, and (3) in an unknown language — that is, a “private prayer language.”
Notice that Paul never forbids in someone speaking in tongues, and v. 39 even commands “do not forbid speaking in tongues.” Instead, he says, (paraphrasing here), “If you speak in tongues in church, and there is no interpreter, then do it silently so that you don’t disturb others.”
I hope this breakdown helps you get a better picture of tongues and their proper use.
Do you have any added thoughts that I should consider?