May 4, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Making Sense of Speech

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Opening Prayer

Father, I need perspective in perplexity, patience in trial, and strength in adversity. I pray for grace equal to today.

Read 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1-25

[1] Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. [2] For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. [3] But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. [4] Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. [5] I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. [6] Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? [7] Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? [8] Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? [9] So 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. [10] Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. [11] If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. [12] So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. [13] For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. [14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. [15] So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. [16] Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? [17] You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. [18] I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. [19] But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. [20] Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. [21] In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” [22] Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. [23] So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? [24] But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, [25] as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psa. 19:14).

We come now to the crux of the problem–the inordinate value placed on the gift of tongues. Paul’s concern throughout is the edification of the community (5), but due to the excessive value placed upon the gift of tongues and the lack of interpretation of these within the worshiping assembly, worship had descended into confusion and the community was not being edified. It is important to note that the issue is not the gift of tongues per se.

As Paul says in verse 18, he is grateful for the gift of tongues. His point is that he does not see this gift as one directed primarily at the community; that is the place of prophecy. The issue is intelligible speech versus unintelligible speech. It is not possible for uninterpreted tongues to edify the listeners, believers or unbelievers. An unbeliever entering the community and hearing a babble of uninterpreted tongues could think that the Christian community was just another mystery cult or that Christians were simply mad. Either way, the unbeliever would dismiss the Gospel, due to its inaccessibility, resulting in divine judgment. This is the “sign” that tongues represents for unbelievers (22) and explains the quote from Isaiah (21; Isa. 28:11-12), which is an oracle of judgment.

In contrast, prophecy, as intelligible speech, can both edify believers and lead unbelievers to faith through the conviction of sin and the realization that “God is really among you!” (25). Prophecy thus functions as a sign of God’s presence, since all can understand the message. This does not mean that all will become Christians, but intelligible proclamation of the Gospel has a greater likelihood of leading non-Christians to faith than unintelligible speech. “Whatever the place for profound, personal experience and corporate emotional experience, the assembled church is a place for intelligibility” (Craig Blomberg).

Apply

What teaching from this passage is helpful for your church? Your spiritual walk?

Closing prayer

Sovereign Lord, through Your Spirit, You give Your gifts to Your people. May they be used wisely and well for Your purposes.

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