Spiritual gifts are a fantastic thing, many of them are still given, even to this day. However, no one is raising anyone from the dead like Elisha and Peter did through God. I have a retired work on this I should consider reviving. Also, I recommend, Are There Prophets That Have Dreams And Visions?.
With respect to speaking in tongues, I have seen this topic cause a lot of confusion.
1Co 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.
Notice, I crossed out the word “unknown” as it was added to our Bibles, it’s not in the manuscripts where our English text comes from. That’s why it’s italicized in your Bible.
Now the word “tongue” itself means,
Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.
So all we are talking about is speaking in a language. “One naturally unacquired” just means, speaking in a language you we’re not born with. I’m English and German and was born with the English tongue. If I pickup Spanish along the way, then Spanish is the “one naturally unacquired”.
1Co 14:5 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.
You will notice, the whole point of spiritual gifts is to “edify”, which is to build up the church. Paul is now talking about interpretation in order to edify the church. Interpretation of what?
Tongues, languages.
1Co 14:9 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.
Paul’s saying, if you speak to the church, it should be easy to understand words. Otherwise, it’s worthless, and it does not edify the church. Verse 12 even tells us, “forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” Then verse 26, “Let all things be done unto edifying.”
So it becomes clear, everything we do from a religious perspective should be done to uplift the church. No one can argue with that, right?
Unfortunately, some religions teach 1 Corinthians 14 is talking about babel speech. Where someone essentially speaks gibberish, and they claim it’s a divine gift that only God can understand. Now, if all we read was verse 2, perhaps we could come away with that conclusion as well.
But, let’s keep reading.
1Co 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.
Again, “unknown” is not in the manuscripts.
Paul is simply saying, if you go to a church and speak in a language the audience does not understand, ensure you have someone who can interpret the message to the audience. Otherwise, the audience will not understand your speech. If they do not understand your speech, they cannot be “edified”.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
This ties us back to verse 2.
If you speak to an audience in a language they do not understand, and there is no interpreter to interpret the language (tongue) then just sit on down. Instead, go ahead and say a prayer to God as He will understand it. God understands all languages.
So the whole point of this chapter is about lifting up the church. If babel speech was really the subject, it would contradict. You cannot speak gibberish to an audience and expect them to walk away edified, uplifted, and educated in God’s Word, right?
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Babel speech is certainly confusion by definition. Since God is not the author of confusion, and the point is to edify the church. We then discover the accurate meaning of the discussion. I hope this helps.
I’m looking forward to a great discussion on this as well!
