This is the second part of a multi-part study.
In our previous study, we began looking at the foundation of spiritual tongues, and we also started to see a distinction being made between the different types of spiritual tongues: the first was the private personal tongue which is not for public consumption, but intended for private edification and giving thanks to God, personally.
The second, was a public prophetic tongue (tongues with interpretation), which is intended for public edification, exhortation and comfort of the assembly.
So thus-far we have seen two distinct types of spiritual tongues, each with a distinct purpose.
Now today in this continuing study, we will further examine the scriptures, and see more regarding these tongues, because there is a great benefit and blessing which God has given both of these two of the three types of tongues, that often gets missed (or dismissed) because of lack of understanding and fear in many cases.
As we begin today, let’s pick-up where we last paused in the scriptures, by reading 1st Corinthians 14:5-9:
“I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.”
What we can see here is that Paul right now, is mainly addressing the topic of edifying the church, the assembly of believers, and the point which he is making quite clearly here is further solidifying what we first saw in part one of this study: that private personal tongues, is exactly that… private and personal. It is not for the public assembly, and it does not benefit someone else to hear it.
Some have taken these comments by Paul here and built ideas and theologies around it, by saying that the private, personal form of tongues is useless, silly, or outright evil and demonic. However it is important for us to understand that Paul is saying no such thing here. In-fact he says right in verse 5 that he would prefer that everyone spoke with tongues (the private kind), but he also would prefer that when in the assembly, that they would speak the prophetic kind of tongue so that everyone would understand and be edified and built-up in Christ – and this is his point.
He points out in the second-half of verse 5, that in the assembly it is better to prophesy, than to speak in tongues unless it is interpreted. Because tongues with interpretation can then be understood, and then it can be beneficial for everyone.
So, it is not that the private kind of tongues is bad or wrong or evil – but it is simply that the private kind of tongues is exactly that… private. While tongues with interpretation (which is considered the same as general prophecy), is beneficial for everyone who hears it, because it is God speaking through people in a manner which can be understood. That is the Point of what Paul is saying here.
In-fact, he continues these points further in verses 10 through19:
“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me.
Even so you, for as much as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
Wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you say?
For you truly 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 had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
And many of these points are bolstering the ones which Paul has already made about private prayer tongues, and the public prophetic tongues (interpreted). Yet even so, he is not just driving home the same points over and over – because we see some more details here.
In verse 13, we can see that those who speak in an unknown tongue (the private prayer tongue) are encouraged to also ask God for the ability to interpret! Contrary to the popular idea, that private tongues is just babbling, if it was just babbling then there would be nothing to interpret at all! This point bears repeating, because we need to clearly see that the scriptures here are not against tongues; whether they be private or public tongues.
Likewise there are those who try to limit the second type of tongue (the prophetic interpreted tongue) to only a known human language understood by another person — but again this doesn’t make sense in light of what this verse is saying. Think about it… If this were simply another human language spoken to someone else who already knew the language, then this directive to also pray that you may interpret would make no sense. There would be no need to pray to be able to interpret if you were speaking by the power of God another humanly understood language, because there would already be another person there who understands the language naturally.
Moving on, Paul says in the very next verse (14) that if he prays in an unknown tongue (private personal tongue) his spirit prays – this is not a bad thing, in-fact it is a very good thing – but some have mistakenly thought that it is bad, because of the unfortunate working in the second-half of the verse, where Paul says that his understanding is unfruitful. Some people have taken this statement to be an indictment by Paul of private tongues. They say things such as “I would never want my understanding to be unfruitful, so it’s not a good thing!” – but that is not the case that Paul is making here at all.
Remember that the entire context of his statement here is still tongues in the assembly. Public tongues. Right now he is focused on blessing, uplifting and encouraging the public assembly – so private tongues is not the ideal form of tongues for that purpose; public prophetic tongues is. And there is even the third form of tongues which we have not yet even addressed. But for now, Paul is still speaking about the first two types of tongues in these verses. And the Spirit of God knew that some people would misinterpret Paul’s words here and use them as a negative argument against private tongues – why is why the Spirit moved Paul to write verses 15 through 19. Look at what he says:
“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you say?
For you truly 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 had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
Now pay good attention to what Paul says here… I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. He encourages both types of tongues! Why Because both have value! Both have a unique purpose designed by God, as we have been seeing in this study so far, both in Part 1 and Part 2 today.
He then takes it one step further by saying I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Again this is both…
What Paul is saying here is that He will pray and sing with the spirit, that is not bad, or wrong or out of place! And in addition to that Paul will also pray and sing with his understanding – why? So that as verse 16 says, if when you are in public, if you only pray and sing in spiritual private unknown tongues, others will not be able to join in with you when you are in the assembly of others.
Notice in verse 17 that Paul says very clearly that when you speak in private personal tongues you truly give thanks well! See that. Receive that. The Spirit wouldn’t have inspired Paul to say that if it wasn’t true! Speaking in private tongues is giving thanks to God well! That’s a good thing!
Yet among others in the assembly, they are not edified by it… because they don’t understand it!
Look at verse 18, Paul plainly admits, without any shame that he speaks in tongues more than all of them! He says this to show the amazing power and value in private personal prayer tongues! Otherwise Paul would not even mention it! And not only does he mention it, but he says that he thanks his God that he speaks in tongues so much! This statement and fact should cause everyone to take notice. Have you ever thanked God for the gift of tongues? Sadly there are many believers who not only haven’t thanked God for the gift of tongues, but many are calling it evil, demonic or mindless babbling.
And that is very short-sighted. In-fact, if you only ever pray based on the confines of your own limited understanding and human knowledge, then your prayers will be very limited indeed! That’s one of the reasons why the Spirit gives a private personal tongues, in addition to the public prophetic tongues.
We see evidence of this in the very next verse, because Paul says that in the assembly he would rather speak five words with understanding…. Why? So that he might teach others also.
Now catch that word “also” He wants to speak five words with understanding when he is around others, so that he might teach them also… so who is teaching him? That’s the second-half of the verse; it’s the five thousand words that he is speaking in his private prayer tongue when he is alone with God. That’s why he is so thankful to God for it, and that’s why he said at the very beginning of the chapter that private prayer tongues is for personal edification and building up in Christ!
So in conclusion today, we now see the benefit and blessing of both private prayer tongues, for personal edification, building us up in Christ, and giving thanks to God. And also of the public prophetic tongue with interpretation, for public edification and building up the assembly of believers.
These are both amazing blessings of the Holy Spirit, made possible through the finished work of Christ.
Next in Part 3 of this study, we will take a look (aptly) at the third type of spiritual tongues which is mentioned in 1st Corinthians 14, which is evangelistic tongues.
I look forward to being with you again next week.
Be blessed.