Prophecy and Tongues

Paul says they should pursue love and especially desire prophecy, because tongues spoken without interpretation address God in mystery while prophecy speaks to people for strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. Using examples from music, battle signals, and languages, he argues that speech without intelligibility cannot build the church, so their zeal for gifts should be directed toward what most edifies others.

E¹arnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ²For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. ³But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. ⁴The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵I wish that all of you could 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. ⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? ⁸Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? ⁹So 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. ¹⁰Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. ¹²It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Paul says the one who speaks in a tongue should pray to interpret, because prayer, singing, and thanksgiving in the spirit alone leave the mind and the hearers unfruitful. Though Paul himself speaks in tongues more than all of them, he says that in church he would rather speak a few understandable words that instruct others than many thousands in a tongue.

¹³Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵What then 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. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified. ¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul urges them not to think like children, then draws on Scripture to explain that tongues function as a sign in a different way than prophecy does. If outsiders enter a gathering full of unintelligible tongues they will think the church is mad, but if they hear prophecy they may be convicted, have their hearts exposed, and fall down acknowledging that God is truly among them.

²⁰Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹It is written in the Law: ²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. ²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, ²⁵and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”