Read the Passage: 1 Corinthians 14

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 1 Corinthians 14

Need for Interpretation (14:1–12)

In the preceding two chapters, Paul mentioned the gift of tongues six times, as it was apparently one of the spiritual gifts that the Corinthians sought. Despite their prizing of this gift, from this chapter it seems the church was abusing tongues when they assembled. Tongues can be defined as speaking spiritual truths to God (cf. 1 Cor. 14:2), before unbelievers, in a language other than one’s own native tongue (cf. Acts 2:2–12). While Paul will explore the gift of tongues throughout this chapter, here in 1 Cor. 14:1–5 he exhorts the church to focus on the gift of prophecy, which is simply the ability to explain Scripture. Paul views prophecy to be a greater gift than tongues, for prophecy results in edification, exhortation, and comfort to believers (cf. 1 Cor. 14:3). In contrast, apart from interpretation, tongues only edify the speaker (cf. 1 Cor. 14:4) and are a sign for unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor. 14:22).

In 1 Cor. 14:5 Paul taught that the only way the church is edified by tongues is if there is an interpreter present. Paul explains this idea in more depth in 1 Cor. 14:6–12 as he likens the speaking of tongues, without interpretation, to a cacophony of musical instruments playing without a musical score. Indeed, apart from interpretation, writes Paul, “You will [merely] be speaking into the air” (1 Cor. 14:9). Some define the gift of tongues as the speaking of a special, spiritual, or angelic language. Yet, from 1 Cor. 14:10–11 it is clear Paul is writing about speaking in a language other than one’s own native tongue, as in this passage he mentions the “languages of the world” (1 Cor. 14:10) and twice refers to the one speaking in a tongue as “a foreigner” (1 Cor. 14:11). In 1 Cor. 14:12, as he attempts to move his readers’ focus away from self-expression and toward the church, Paul again reminds the Corinthians that “spiritual gifts . . . [are] for the edification of the church” (1 Cor. 14:12).

Goal of Conversion (14:13–25)

While Paul has been writing about speaking in tongues, in 1 Cor. 14:13–19 he broadens his teaching to include praying in tongues (cf. 1 Cor. 14:14–15a) and singing in tongues (cf. 1 Cor. 14:15b). As one would assume, just as speaking in tongues requires someone to interpret (cf. 1 Cor. 14:13), so when praying or singing in tongues, writes Paul, there is a need for “understanding” (cf. 1 Cor. 14:14–15). This is in accord with the repeated teaching in this chapter that spiritual gifts, including the gift of tongues, must be used for the edification of the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7). In 1 Cor. 14:16 Paul asks, “If you bless with the spirit (i.e., by praying or singing in tongues), how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?” Next, in 1 Cor. 14:19 Paul claims that five words with understanding are better than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue.

The main teaching in 1 Cor. 14:20–25 is captured in Paul’s statement, “Tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22). Before giving this instruction, Paul exhorts the church toward maturity and understanding (cf. 1 Cor. 14:20–21), as he cites Isa. 28:11–12 as a reminder that in the past God has sent those who speak in different tongues (i.e., the Assyrians) as a sign to His people (i.e., the Israelites) when they did not believe. While tongues are a sign for unbelievers, in 1 Cor. 14:23 Paul warns the church about the futility of allowing everyone to speak in tongues at once, even before unbelievers. In contrast to this, in 1 Cor. 14:24–25 Paul upholds the gifts of prophecy, as prophecy will not only edify the church (cf. 1 Cor. 14:3), but also it will convince and convict unbelievers and result in worship. Indeed, it seems the gift of prophesy is easier to utilize and apply—and perhaps is less prone to abuse—than the gift of tongues.

Instructions for Practice (14:26–40)

Having described the function and effect of tongues in 1 Cor. 14:1–25, in the remainder of this chapter Paul instructs believers on how to properly use the spiritual gift of tongues in the church. In sum, Paul gives five guidelines for tongues-speaking: tongues should be spoken before unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor. 14:22), tongues should be used for edification (cf. 1 Cor. 14:26), no more than three people should speak in tongues in an assembly (cf. 1 Cor. 14:27a), those who speak in tongues must do so one-at-a-time (cf. 1 Cor. 14:27b), and there must be an interpreter present when tongues are spoken (cf. 1 Cor. 14:27c). Many have noted Paul’s teaching related to prophecy where he wrote, “Let your women keep silent in the churches” (1 Cor. 14:34). Here Paul is not suggesting that women cannot speak when believers are assembled. Rather, in the context of teaching about prophesy in this passage, Paul is referring to women publicly teaching doctrine within the setting of the assembled church (cf. 1 Tim. 2:12).

Application Questions:

1. What is the spiritual gift of tongues? Are any of the spiritual gifts no longer in operation in the modern church?
2. Why were the believers in Corinth more attracted to the gift of tongues than the gift of prophecy?
3. In the use of spiritual gifts, do you believe most Christians focus upon the edification of the church?
4. How do spiritual gifts, apart from tongues, edify the church? What happens to a church when spiritual gifts are neglected?
5. What does Paul mean in writing, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32)?