Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
I Corinthians 14:1-5
I did not initially embrace Pentecostal / Charismatic (Continuationist) theology because I experienced some emotional or ecstatic phenomena. I did not land in this square because I was overwhelmed in a moment by the Holy Spirit (although I would not discount that possibility). But rather, I wrestled with Scripture for numerous years and refused to be hermeneutically strong-armed into a cessationist position which left far more questions for me than answers. I have listened to untold numbers of sermons and teaching on chapters 12-14 in I Corinthians, which quite honestly left me irritated at the so called expositor. Now, I do understand that people might land in some differing squares of interpretation with regards to spiritual gifts and especially tongues, but the square you land in must be Scripturally solid and not simply personally preferred or be denominational “pre-understandings” which were absorbed through Sunday School or group think.
A number of weeks ago I treaded lightly on some questions I faced as I worked through Acts 2 and the appearance of tongues (γλωσσολαλία). GLOSSA, seems indisputable to me to be an “unknown” spiritual language or what some disparagingly call an “ecstatic utterance” or even “gibberish”. I do not embrace the rather popular notion that the GLOSSA of Acts 2, was an earthly known language not known or learned by the speakers. It simply doesn’t fit the narrative. (Scroll back and see my discussion if interested)
The GLOSSA of I Corinthians 14 is almost universally accepted as an unknown spiritual language happening at Corinth. I would agree. The tricky part is following Paul’s instructions regulating public and private expression of tongues which of necessity is being dealt with in this chapter. To myopically assume that there is only one aspect of “tongue” talking would create irreconcilable problems in the chapter. The two aspects are often times conflated in this chapter by 21st century believers, especially those who are predisposed against the practice. When that happens, even more confusion is possible. Paul’s restrictions and freedoms are applied differently to each expression.
I’m going to walk through the chapter and attempt to provide a clear picture of what Paul was ordering…
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,”
There is not space to exegete the concept of “desire” except to say that the exhortation for the believer to want all the 9 spiritual gifts of chapter 12 is not a bad or selfish thing. All the gifts, including tongues, is an appropriate desire for the believer.
“but especially that you may prophesy.”
This prophecy Paul mentions is not as narrow as simply preaching. It would certainly encompass that, but should not be singularly identified as such. There is a specific word for preaching which he (through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) has used and will use in his epistles. He did not use that word in this instance. Paul actually refers to the prophecy indicated in his list of spiritual gifts in chapter 12. So, he is underscoring that his hope for the congregation is that they will avail themselves in particular to the supernatural gift of prophecy which we will see later edifies or “builds up” (strengthens) the people as they hear the heart of God in their midst. He is not pitting prophesying and tongues against one another. He is not elevating the one to the exclusion of the other. Rather, the apostle reminds them to pursue love and all the spiritual gifts for the good of the body, but to be especially open to the manifestation of the prophetic.
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
Read carefully. Paul begins to define this tongue as a means of communication TO GOD and NOT TO PEOPLE. This tongue has nothing to do with the congregation at this point. No one in the congregation could even understand it, because the Holy Spirit is working through the individual to communicate with God. We typically call this communication, prayer. Therefore, this early reference to tongues is put in the context of a “prayer language” or what would also be synonymously be referenced in the Scripture as “praying in the Spirit”. As the reader will see as we traverse through this chapter, there is never a requirement that this expression of tongues be interpreted. Why? It is directed to God and He needs no interpretation. The tongue is not FOR the congregation, therefore understanding what is being said is a moot point. In some ways, it’s nobodies business because it is between the individual and God.
“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
Paul makes the very point I mentioned above, but reminding the Corinthians that prophecy (in a known language) encourages and builds up the church, while this particular expression of tongues speaking encourages and builds up the individual believer (see Jude 1:20). He is explaining why the gift of prophecy in the life of the church is to “especially be pursued”. Everyone is helped and built up in their faith. Again, there is no diminishing of the prayer language, except to rightly define who gets strengthened at the moment of expression.
“I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
This is fascinating, because Paul switches to the plural usage of “tongue”. I will be the first to stipulate that the prayer language tongue and the tongues which might be expressed as a congregational message FROM the Lord TO the people can sound and appear almost identical. This will be made even clearer later in this chapter, but for now let me underscore that in these first 5 verses, Paul mentions a tongue FROM the believer TO God, as well as a tongue FROM God TO the congregation via interpretation. One needs no interpretation because it is between the believer and God. The other most definitely needs interpretation as it is from God to the people.
Paul states several important instructions:
- He wishes EVERYONE spoke with tongues. You can say what you want, but the 9 manifestation gifts listed in chapter 12 are for anyone and everyone, as the Spirit empowers at any moment. We cannot self-generate these gifts, but the Holy Spirit is more than available to release all these gifts as His people have need of them.
- I would also point out, that these gifts are not natural or innate attributes that God instilled at birth. These are not “learned” abilities. These are supernatural impartations from the Lord.
- Paul’s seeming elevation of prophesying, again, is not in juxtaposition of tongues or “in place of” tongues. Rather, it is more useful than tongues IF IT IS NOT INTERPRETED. He clearly states that prophesying is indeed greater UNLESS, the person speaking in tongues interprets that manifestation. If the tongue is interpreted, then it is as valuable to the church as the prophesying as the church is strengthened and encouraged.
The key, as I started to understand it, is to carefully distinguish what aspect of tongue speaking Paul is addressing as we move through the chapter and not inflict a restriction upon one usage that was meant for another.
…to be continued.
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