People use this verse to prove a private prayer language…
1 Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Is this valid reasoning? It could appear that way, so...?
No! First thing, even if this was some type of private prayer language (although, in my study of Paul, I do not see this), what does it matter anyway?! What benefit would it be!? All those gifts have ceased! All those who believe in some so-called private prayer language, still don't acknowledge, nor deal with the fact that all of those spiritual gifts have passed away.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
So they are no longer in operation, and if they were, prophesying to edify all would be the chief one and not some private prayer language. So whether or not it was a private prayer language or not is moot today!
But more than that, 1 Corinthians14:2 has a context! The context of this verse is Paul's explanation of the spiritual gifts that were in operation in the early days of the Body of Christ before the Word of God was complete in general [1 Corinthians 12:1-3; 13:8-13), and in the context of chapter 14:1-5, in specific. So let's look at all the verses:
1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Notice here, that our Apostle begins this chapter summarizing his call for them to walk in Charity, and to desire those spiritual gifts that God was dealing out (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians12:4-11). But above all gifts, he exhorted them to ask God for the chief gift, the gift of prophesying! Why? Because that gift could be used to edify everyone in the Word of God's grace, which is the main goal of the Christian life!
So in verse 2, we see Paul giving a further explanation of why seeking to speak in an unknown tongue should not be as desirable for a saint, than prophesying. He is not commending speaking in an unknown tongue as some so-called private prayer language, as some (who do not rightly divide God's Word) say! In fact the opposite is true! Paul is rebuking those who seek and use the gifts of tongues (by the way, this gift was human languages, not some private prayer language between a person and God! God knows every language, so you do not need some special other language to communicate with God)! Paul rebukes and admonishes them because the greater gift is prophesying because others are edified therewith!
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
So when it came to the spiritual gifts, Paul in verse 5 says that prophesying, because it edified the entire church, was the chief gift to seek.
5 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.
Hopefully this
helps...Maranatha!
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you are correct, Pauls message was that the gifts were never for any personal self gain.
ReplyDeleteClearly, tongues will edify the church, just like prophecy, if it is interpreted. If not, the one praying in the Spirit (tongues), is talking to God and edifying himself!
ReplyDeleteYou need to re-read all of 1 Cor 14 in context. You have wrongly divided it. It clearly states tongues are in fact a private prayer language. In verse 18, after saying he thanked God he spoke in tongues more than them all, in verse 19 he said that IN CHURCH he would rather speak five words that are not in tongues than ten thousand that are. So clearly in his private prayer life Paul spoke in tongues, but not IN CHURCH, unless there was an interpretation!
It even says we can sing to God in tongues! Paul juxtaposes praying and singing with the understanding with prayer and singing in the Spirit (tongues).
To Anonymous...
ReplyDeleteYou should re-read chapter 14 in context of chapters 12 and 13, because you wrongly divided it. Clearly, the gift of tongues was NEVER given by God as a "private" prayer language! Why in the world would one pray to God in ANOTHER tongue than their NATIVE tongue? That does not make sense! Paul even tells us that trying to pray in an unknown tongue is FRUITLESS!
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, 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.
The gift of tongues was given to communicate God's Word to OTHERS! They were a sign to unbelievers, especially Jews! We see this first manifest with the Jewish Apostles at Pentecost in Acts 2 as they sought out a believing remnant of Jews for the earthly kingdom.
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. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together , and were confounded , because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled , saying one to another , Behold , are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born ? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome , Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
We also see this at work in the beginning stages our present dispensation of Grace, when the Body of Christ was in its infancy and God was still trying to provoke Israel to emulation (Romans 11). (Today, with the completion of God's WRITTEN Word, all the supernatural, direct gifts of the Spirit have ceased, failed and vanished according to our Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapters 8-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
1 Corinthians 14:21-22
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. 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.
1 Corinthians 1:22
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
John 4:48
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
So God gave the gift of tongues/languages as SIGN for unbelievers to respond to and believe, and NOT for someone's PRIVATE use!
Anonymous, you must RIGHTLY divide God's Word and study it from a Pauline, dispensational, progressive revelation viewpoint, because if not you will continue to err, not knowing the scripture, and thinking that the gift of tongues was a so-called "private" prayer language.
Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Lastly, we are going through 1 Corinthians verse-by-verse right now at our Assembly, so I have read and re-read and studied things out ad nauseam. You are more than welcome to join us (in peace), or to listen to the studies either on DVD or CD when we get to chapters 12, 13 and 14.
Grace and Peace,
Ron Knight
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ReplyDelete