I CORINTHIANS: Prophesy & Tongues; " I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue!"

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. (I Corinthians 14:1-2)

In the previous lesson, Paul taught that And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13)  Love is the greatest expression of our Christianity, our love for God and our love towards one another.  But regarding the spiritual gifts, ...the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (I Corinthians 12:7-11)

Remember, the apostles and disciples who were in the upper room after Jesus ascension were instructed by Christ "...not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

The sole purpose of tongues was to spread the gospel throughout the world.  Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues [new to them]; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18) And on the Day of Pentecost  when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues; And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:5-6)

Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” (Acts 2:7-12; see ACTS: Tongues and Its Purpose, Spreading the Gospel and the Church)

And every time the apostles and disciples witnessed to the Gentiles, if the Gentiles accepted salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, ...the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts 10:44-46) ...Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ... Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:1-6)

So now Paul is addressing the issue of how and when to practice the spiritual gifts of prophesy and tongues. He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; 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 14:3-5)

Edify or edification means to instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.  Speaking prophesy is better because all who hear it can understand the words being spoken, and hopefully be edified by what they here.  However, tongues can be edifying also, as long as the person who speaks in the tongues interprets, that the church may receive edification. Remember, tongues is a spiritual gift given for the profit of all, just like all the other spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. (I Corinthians 14:6-9) This scripture should convict a lot of churches that practice speaking in tongues, but not having an interpreter.  Those churches are out of order, and God is a God of order!

Tongues is not gibberish, but an unknown language to the person speaking, and a known language to at least one person hearing. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (I Corinthians 14:10-14)

As Paul said earlier, 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 even being able to pray privately in a tongue language that we don't know is unfruitful; Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, 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? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (I Corinthians 14:15-19)

Privately, praying in tongues with out the understanding is unfruitful, but it is possible.  However, spiritual gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit for the profit of all. If you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore, in the church, prophesy is better, but tongues with interpretation is good also. Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”[Isaiah 28:11-12] says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. (I Corinthians 14:20-22)

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.  And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. (I Corinthians 14:23-25) AMEN!