Speaking in tongues in the context of 1 Corinthians 14.
The text from 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 is too long to cite in its entirety, therefore the following key verses will be discussed: “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
So likewise, you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
Even so, you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore, let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue (vv. 6-19)”.
What is the purpose of speaking in tongues?
Although St. Paul spoke in tongues, he used them solemnly for preaching purposes. Here, it might seem that St. Paul belittles the gift of speaking in tongues, in contrast to how St. Peter converted at least 3000 persons in Acts 2:1-8. Although this passage seems to contradict Acts 2:1-8, John Chrysostom explained how this is not the case by saying:
“At this point he makes a comparison between the gifts and lowers that of the tongues, showing it to be neither altogether useless nor very profitable by itself. For in fact, they were greatly puffed up on account of this, because the gift was considered to be a great one. And it was thought great because the Apostles received it first, and with so great display; it was not however therefore to be esteemed above all the others.
Wherefore then did the Apostles receive it before the rest? Because they were to go abroad everywhere. And as in the time of building the tower, the one tongue was divided into many. So then the many tongues frequently met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian and the Roman and the Indian and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him: and the gift was called the gift of tongues because he could all at once speak divers languages”. [Schaff, Philip. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series (Augustine), Volume III: On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatise. Hendrickson Pub, 1994, p. 216]
Interestingly, St. Paul compares musical instruments with speaking in tongues: Just as a musical instrument has no value or purpose if no one can understand the music, speaking in tongues has no value or purpose if nobody can understand it. In addition, just as musical instruments that produce inharmonious sounds irritate the listeners’ ears, so does inappropriate or unintelligible speaking in tongues irritate the listeners’ ears.
To stress the importance of the listeners understanding what is said, St. Paul further uses the example of trumpets in battles. St. Paul first explained that the sole focus should not be on speaking in tongues, and second, he stressed the importance of the listeners being able to understand what is said. At last, he compares speaking in tongues to speaking with “known” languages.
Something often forgotten
The ones who promote speaking in tongues often neglect the most important verses: verses 11-12. Verse 11 explicitly mentions how the one who speaks in tongues must himself understand what he is saying, otherwise it is in vain. Verse 12 explicitly mentions how everything that was done in (the name of) the Church must be for the edification of the Church. The correct understanding of these verses is crucial for the correct understanding of speaking in tongues.
If everything that is done must be for the Church’s edification, then everything must be done with the purpose of achieving salvation. We should be “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word” to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:2), and that we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
