14:6 ¶ Now, brethren, if I come unto 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? 7 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? 8
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to
the battle? 9 So
likewise ye, except ye utter by
the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?
for ye shall speak into the air. 10
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of
them is without signification. 11
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him
that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian
unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye
are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying
of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that
speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my
spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
14:15 ¶ 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. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit,
how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of
thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the
other is not edified. 18 I thank my God,
I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19
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. 20 Brethren,
be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in
understanding be men.
14:21 ¶ In the law it is written,
With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people;
and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them
that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not
for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 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?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come
in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he
is judged of all: 25 And thus are the
secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he
will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Here is a piece of Paul’s logic that is very important. The church
is the assembly of believers who trust in Christ. Prophesying or preaching was
for their benefit. Speaking in other languages previously unknown to the
speaker was for the benefit of unbelievers to draw them to Christ. Review the
verses in Acts I quoted just previous to this.
Paul emphasizes the power of preaching over the tongues to edify
the believers. Notice in verse 23 how unlearned
is used. This is further evidence that the gift of tongues was a gift of other languages, not gibberish claimed to be
a secret message from God.
It is more likely for a person to be convicted and fall down on
his face to worship God and to confirm that God is present in the believers if
that person hears solid preaching than someone speaking in a language they
cannot understand. Verse 12 shows us that a primary function of preaching is
the edifying of the church and verse 25 reveals that it can convict the unbeliever
of the innermost secrets of his own heart and lead him to repentance and faith
towards God.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:
that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. 11 For the
scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 ¶ For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Verse 23 shows us that occasionally these churches that met in houses
in a city would come together in one place for worship and preaching. It would
be similar today if we each had Bible studies with our families and neighbors
and then we all met on Sunday for group worship. Not an exact parallel but a
parallel that can help us understand the early church a bit.
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