Welcome back to our series on tongues speaking. Today i would endeavor to cover most portion of the remainder verses so that we can complete this series sooner and move to other topics of similar importance. Before we continue from where we left it the other time, I would labor to give a scanty detail of what we discussed last time.
RECAP
We talked about how the church is going to benefit from tongues speaking. Paul gave several rhetorical questions concerning tongues. "6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? (1 Corinthians 14:6-9, NASB).
After these rhetorical questions, he then added that For you will be speaking into the air . We also saw from the text how Paul illustrates this idea of tongues not able to edify by giving two allusions.
- The pipe and harp : he implied that if these musical instruments do not produce distinctive sounds, they would not make sense to the hearer.
- The trumpet : He illustrated this by using a trumpet that gives an uncertain sound. This can mean that the trumpet either gives an improper sound for the specific purpose or the sound not distinct enough to be discerned from any other sound. This would mean that it will be speaking into the air . Therefore if these unintelligible languages are spoken, the believers will become foreigners to one another since they can not engage in what the other says and will not be helped. The church is a group of Saints with the same purpose and not a community of different tribes. With these details given, let us come back to today's task.
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.(1 Corinthians 14:13-19, NASB)
Let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. Yes, the speaker in tongues must endeavor to edify the whole church by interpreting what he says. The word interpret used here comes from the Greek hermeneutics which means to translate. So in effect Paul is charging the tongue speakers to ask God to give them the ability to translate what is said for the common good. So here too we see the apostle Paul highliting the need for church edification since that is the goal of every spiritual gifts.
Why should he seek to interpret what is said? For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful . Absolutely, the speaker does not understand what he says, his mind becomes unfruitful . And since his mind is unfruitful, the minds of his listeners who do not have the special ability of interpreting what is said too will be unfruitful. That calls for the need for interpretation. So that the minds of the hearers would be fruitful and get the understanding of what is said.
15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also Paul suggest that he would therefore pray with both his mind and his spirit, sing in both Hebrew (dialect) and in tongues. He would pray with the special ability of tongues and also with his mind. But in connection to what is said earlier, Let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret, I can infer from his words that he would speak in tongues, interpret the tongue for edification and pray in his language too. But the following text talks about why he would practice both speaking in tongues and praying with his mind.
16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? Notice the word amen. It is used to express confirmation of something. Here Paul is trying to let them know that if someone utters a prayer in tongues, how would the one who does not have the ability to interpret even confirm and agree on what is said?. He would not be built up in that situation. Everything must be done in harmony. All the different parts of the body must work in harmony for a successfull worship. That is the service God seeks. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:14, NASB)
He later added that though someone would be praying well, the other would not be edified. But someone may ask, why should I even care about edifying the church if I am giving thanks to God?. I think this question had already being answered in a previous part. And that is, our spiritual gifts are not for helping God but man. Do not become a hypocrite here by offering what is supposed to be given to men unto God as the Pharisees do. Just be obedient and God will bless your service.
Finally Paul employs another hyperbole as he had done in previous verses and chapters. He said that 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; . Paul is not elevating himself above them in spirituality. He is just letting them know that he also speaks in tongues that much though he suggests teaching as a superior gift. But later he added that 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. He valued five words in intelligible language than ten thousand words in an unintelligible languages. How can this be reconciled with the previous verse? . This shows that though Paul spoke much in tongues, he did not do it in pride. Not for people to notice his spirituality, but rather his love superabounded. Because of his love for the fellow brethren he would not utter words that were of no understanding to them. But rather intelligible words so that he might build each and everyone up.
Thank you for following today's exposition. Kindly Leave your concerns and questions in the comments below.
Watch out for part 4
Previous parts can be accessed below 👇
https://steemit.com/christianity/@gadol/understanding-tongues-speaking-part-1
https://steemit.com/christianity/@gadol/understanding-tongues-speaking-part-2
https://steemit.com/christianity/@gadol/what-does-romans-8-26-really-say