December 4, 2024

I may be stirring the pot today with the topic of tongues and prophecy; both can be controversial among Christians and seem to have been a stumbling block for the Corinthians, too. Paul was very clear on these subjects. Much like today, the Corinthians may have been using their gift of tongues to impress others in the assembly with their presumed superior spiritualness. Paul makes it plain that speaking in tongues in a general assembly with people who don’t understand the language only makes them look ridiculous. He told them that it was more advantageous to desire the gift of prophecy, which is the interpretation of scripture as explained by Matthew Henry. Prophecy is not fortune telling as many understand it. However, a word of knowledge, also a gift, may reveal information about a person by the Holy Spirit to help lead them to Christ. Do you remember the point of receiving your spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit? It is to bring others to know Jesus. I can see the gift of tongues as beneficial if, like Peter’s sermon, people of many different languages understand the words that reveal Christ and bring them to salvation. Unlike many in today’s society who discourage tongues, Paul does not prohibit them from utilizing their gift, but he does explain that if using it in public, someone should be interpreting so the hearers understand.

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 1 Corinthians 14:5

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 1 Corinthians 14:23

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39