New Testament interpreters

When we went to the Ukraine and Poland we had interpreters who interpreted what we were saying to those who were listening to us.  Obviously, when Paul had the gift of tongues the interpreter (if there was one?) was not interpreting for the audience because Paul was speaking their language. So my question is, in Paul's day what was the purpose of an interpreter and when was he used? 

What was the purpose of the interpreter?

The purpose of the interpreter was to interpret for the saints of the local assembly what was being communicated by one who was speaking in an unknown tongue.

1 Corinthians 12:10

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

This spiritual gift, like all of them, was given to the profit of everyone in the church...

1 Corinthians 12:7

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

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When was he used?

He was used whenever the saints were congregating together and someone with the gift of tongues desired to share a word from God. And only certain people had that particular gift.

1 Corinthians 12:30

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

If someone wanted to exercise his gift of tongues, God wanted an interpreter there also, so that others might be blessed by what was spoken.

1 Corinthians 14:27

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

So, if no interpreter was present, then the one who had the gift of tongues was not to exercise his gift at that time because no one there would understand what he had to say.

So the purpose of the interpreter was to translate unknown tongues into the language of the saints present in the meeting, so that they might be blessed with the Word of God being spoken.

Acts 2:4, 11

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Hopefully this helps!

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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