1 Corinthians 14
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
The Greek word for “love” is ἀγάπη (agape), meaning divine love. Only believers in Christ can possess divine love. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” His commandments are Bible doctrine.
Bible doctrine is found in the entire counsel of the Word of God. A person cannot keep the commandments, unless he knows Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of God. One cannot love Christ and perform divine love unless he knows Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. Therefore, Paul was commanding the Corinthians to purse divine love through the study of the Scriptures.
After a believer is mature in faith by possessing divine love through the Scriptures, then he will eagerly possess the correct spiritual gifts. The correct spiritual gifts are those that the Holy Spirit has already given the believer at his new birth. A believer will not be satisfied in this world unless he is pursuing divine love by utilizing the spiritual gifts that were given to him by the Holy Spirit at his conversion.
Prophecy, not tongues, was listed as the most important spiritual gift. Prophecy is the gift of receiving direct revelation directly from God. This was an important gift in the infant apostolic church, because there were only the apostles and elders running each church. The New Testament was not complete. Most of the churches, especially the Corinthian church, were filled with baby Christians who had little knowledge of their new faith, but an abundance of knowledge of paganism. Many of the new converts were ignorantly wanting to bring paganism practices into the new church. After all, this was all that they knew. Since Paul could not be at every church at one time, and since his visitations were sparse and spread out, he had to communicate with these infant churches by circular letters. The Corinthian letter was written to help move the immature infant Corinthians into a matter relationship with God. Paul had already informed them that they were to gain their knowledge from apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. Paul also answered some of their questions and concerns about eating meats from idols, the use of spiritual gifts, and other various concerns of the church.
2 For the one speaking in a tongue (gibberish) does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.
Before the conversion of the Corinthians, many of them were worshipping in the pagan temples. For a price, many of the pagan priests drugged their temple priestesses with hallucinogen drugs. This caused the priestess to go into a trance and speak in gibberish tongues. The priests claimed that these tongues were messages from god, but they were actually human-oriented or demonically inspired messages. The priests would interpret the tongues message. Many of the Corinthians, either intentionally or out of ignorance, wanted to bring this practice into the church.
The Greek word for “tongues” is γλῶσσα (glossa), meaning gibberish or unknown languages. It seems that Paul was using the singular for the counterfeit gibberish use by pagans, but he used the plural form for the genuine gift of a foreign language. Most English translations ignore the Greek noun tenses when interpreting this passage. The King James translators translated the singular form as “unknown tongues” and the plural as “tongues”. In this chapter, the singular form will be translated as “gibberish” and the plural form as “genuine tongues”, but actual meaning will be placed in parenthesis.
The genuine gift of tongues was used by the apostles in Acts 2. The apostles spoke in their own Galilean language, but everyone present at Pentecost heard the speech in the language of their birth. Tongues was more of a miracle of hearing than it was of speaking. The spirit in this case are demonic evil spirits.
In verse 2, the singular is used, meaning gibberish. Gibberish cannot be plural, because there is no plurality of non-languages. However, the genuine gift of tongues is plural, because there are various kinds of actual languages heard whenever this gift is used. When the apostles spoke at Pentecost, the people present heard various plural languages of their birth.
There is no Greek article with God, so this can be translated as “a god”. The Greek word for “mysteries” is μυστήριον (mustarion), meaning a new revelation that has never been revealed. In the Greek and Roman cultures, this referred to the mystery religions which evolved from Nimrod’s Babylonian religious system. Paul is saying that when the Corinthians speak in gibberish, they are not communicating God’s will to man, but they are actually speaking to false gods, or idols, or demons. The mysteries are those of the pagan cults that originated from the Tower of Babel.
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
On the other hand, as Paul mentioned in verse 1, prophecy was a much better gift that tongues. Since the New Testament was incomplete at this time, prophecy provided direct revelation from God to the infant church. The infant church was heavily under attack by satanic forces. The prophets revealed direct revelation from God to the apostolic churches in order to strengthen them, encourage them, and console them. The early church needed this gift, but in the last chapter, Paul predicted that it would leave the Corinthians eventually.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue (gibberish) builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
Paul was not a seeker-friendly pastor. He used sarcasm to drive home the point that those who speak in gibberish are only building themselves up in pride. In comparison, the gift of prophecy builds up the church,
5 I wish you all spoke in (genuine) tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in (genuine) tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.
Paul needed the gift of genuine tongues on the mission field. Paul walked through most of the Roman Empire. He did not know the languages of every nation, province, city, and individual that he contacted during his missionary journeys. Therefore, he would us the gift of tongues to authenticate this his message was from God for people of all different languages. Paul used this gift among the Gentiles, just as the apostles used this gift among the Jews and proselytes at the Day of Pentecost. Paul wished that all of the Corinthians would go to the mission field and use this genuine gift. Therefore, the genuine gift was very valuable to building up the numbers of the church. Gibberish only built up the individual.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in (genuine) tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
The genuine gift of tongues was not useful in the Corinthian church, unless revelation, prophecy, or teaching was communicated. However, it was very valuable on the mission field, when large groups of multi-languages Gentiles needed to hear the gospel for the first time and know that this message was actually from God.
7 It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?
Gibberish in the church is like inanimate musical instruments making sounds that are scratchy and not pleasant to the ears. No one wants to hear that kind of unharmonious concert.
8 If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?
Gibberish in the church was like a trumpet making an unclear call on the battlefield. The result would be disastrous.
9 It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue (gibberish), how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
If one speaks gibberish in the church like the pagans, then no one can understand what is being said with normal language. This person who speaks gibberish is simply speaking into the air.
10 There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.
The purpose of language was to produce sounds that could deliver a message that could be understood by the listeners. Gibberish was producing sounds in the air, but nothing else. There was no message delivered. It was pagan superstition and pagan occultic.
11 If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
If a person speaks in gibberish, it is just like a person speaking in a foreign language that Paul does not know. Paul will not be able to understand the message.
12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
The Corinthians were speaking in gibberish, but no one could understand them. They were speaking into the air. There were edifying themselves instead of the church. There was no message behind their gibberish.
13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue (gibberish) should pray that he may interpret.
Paul was speaking sarcastically again. Instead of speaking in gibberish, the Corinthians should pray for an interpreter.
14 If I pray in a tongue (gibberish), my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
If the Corinthians pray in gibberish, then the mind is unproductive. It is not even thinking actual thoughts. It is thinking of sounds that cannot communicate.
15 What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind.
Instead of thinking, praying, and speaking in gibberish, the Corinthians should pray in a real language with their own spirit. They should pray a real language with their mind. They should sing praises not in tongues, but in actual real words in their spirit. They should sing praises with their mind, not with gibberish.
16 Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
If God is praised in gibberish, then no one can say "Amen", which means “Let it be true”, because they do not know what is being said.
17 For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.
Speaking or singing in gibberish does not strengthen other believers at the assembly. The individual is building up himself, rather than the church.
18 I thank God that I speak in (genuine) tongues more than all of you,
Paul did not condemn the genuine gift of tongues. Paul spoke in tongues just as the apostles did at Pentecost. He went to the Gentile mission fields, he spoke in his own language, and everyone else heard Paul’s words in the language of their birth. This was a miracle. The good news about Christ from Paul was authenticated among these unbelievers.
19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue (gibberish).
Paul would rather teach five words that everyone can understand than to speak 10,000 words of gibberish. The emphasis on the church is teaching the Word of God.
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were his brothers and sisters, because they were believers in Christ. However, they needed to grow up and mature. They needed to quit speaking, thinking, and singing in gibberish. They needed to desire to listen to prophets, who were actually giving them direct information from God.
21 It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,” says the Lord.
Paul quoted Isaiah 28:11-12. In this prophecy, Isaiah warned Israel that they were going to be judged by the Assyrian Captivity. When the unbelieving Jews heard the various languages of the Assyrians, then they would know that this prophecy was fulfilled. Jeremiah made the same warning to Judah, but they would instead go into the Babylonian Captivity (Jeremiah 5:15).
Paul quoted this verse to warn the unbelieving Corinthians that they were also about to go into judgment. When the apostles spoke miraculously in many foreign nations at Pentecost, the Jews should have known that their time was very short. The speaking of tongues meant that the Romans were about to destroy them. The Romans destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. After the temple destruction, tongues disappeared from the church. The gift was no longer needed. judgement had been administered.
22 So then, (genuine) tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
This is a very important verse. The genuine tongues at Pentecost was a warning sign for unbelievers that they were about to be destroyed by a foreign nation. Their fathers did not listen to the warnings of Isaiah or Jeremiah, so they were eventually destroyed by the Assyrians and Babylonians. The unbelieving Jews who rejected Jesus did not listen to his warning either, so the temple was to be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The Corinthian unbelievers had about 13 more years of speaking in this gibberish, and then they would be killed or taken captive, never to speak this gibberish in Israel again.
The church was not to speak in gibberish, but instead, they were to listen to prophets. Prophets gave direct revelation from God that the infant churches needed in order to survive the persecution that was to come.
23 So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues (gibberish), and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?
If unbelievers come into the church and see the Corinthians speaking in gibberish, then they will not be impressed. These unbelievers will think that the Corinthians have lost their minds. They will not stay around and listen to the Word of God.
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.
If an unbeliever comes into the assembly and hears a direct revelation from God through a prophet of God, then he may be convicted and turn to Christ. Again, the emphasis of the local church was to teach the Word of God.
25 The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”
The Word of God is living and active and it divides those who believe from those who disbelieve. Speaking in gibberish is nothing but speaking into air. It has no power to convict someone that they need a Savior.
Church Order
26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue (gibberish), and has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
Paul taught the Corinthians how they were to worship. They were to use their spiritual gifts for praise, sermon, and prophecy. If a person spoke in gibberish, if no one could interpret this gibberish, then it was a false message.
27 If someone speaks in a tongue (gibberish), it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, then then the gibberish is simply gibberish.
28 But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.
If there is no interpreter, then the gibberish is to stop. The individual is to be silent. He will only speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.
Prophets were to speak orderly and systematically. Prophets were used in the early apostolic church, but they seemed to disappear at the end of Paul’s ministry. Paul did not mention prophets in 1, 2 Timothy or in Titus. Therefore, it seems that the gift of prophecy disappeared early in the church. As the canon of Scripture was completed and at the death of the apostles, elders began to take over the churches.
30 And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.
If a person sitting down receives a message from God, then whoever is on the podium must sit down and listen.
31 For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.
Prophets were to use their gift one after another, not at the same time.
32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
The prophets were not to go into a trance, like the pagan occultists. Their spirit was to stay in their body as they stood and prophesied to the congregation.
33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.
God is a God of peace and order, so there should be no chaos in the service. There was to be no yelling, no screaming, no rolling on the floor, no hysterical laughing, no slain in the spirit, no singing in tongues, or no babbling in tongues, Charismatic gimmicks and pagan tongues were not allowed in the church assembly.
34 As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.
Women were to be silent in the churches. The church is a called-assembly by the elders. Charismatic and Methodist women pastors are not in the will of God.
35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
When women are always asking questions in a church assembly, then this church is out of the will of God. When wives ask questions at church, then they are shaming their husbands, because they are showing the congregation that either the wife is not submissive to her husband, or the husband is too ignorant to know the biblical answer to her questions.
36 Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?
The Word of God came to the Corinthians through Paul, who purchased them out of the demonic slave pits.
37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.
If anyone is really a prophet or a spiritual person from God, then he will recognize Paul’s apostolic authority.
38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
If someone does not recognize Paul’s apostolic authority, then he is not from God.
39 So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in (genuine) tongues.
Again, Paul called the Corinthians his brothers and sisters, meaning that they were believers. He commanded them to be eager to receive direct information from God through prophets. He encouraged the genuine gift of tongues.
40 And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.
The church was to be righteous and orderly, like God.
