1 Corinthians 14.1-5 establishes the central theme of verses 1-19, the issue of intelligibility in communication and concern for the edification of the church (Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, pg. 653).
On one hand, Paul addresses the issue of intelligibility in communication by juxtaposing tongue-speaking with prophecy (1 Cor. 14.2-5). On the other hand, Paul’s concern for the edification of the church stems from the intelligibility of communication within the public assembly of the church (1 Cor. 14.3-5). It is by expounding these first five verses that I will observe Paul’s issue with intelligibility as well as his concern for the edification of the church.
1 Corinthians 14.1
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”
In verse 1, we observe that Paul resumes his exhortation from 1 Corinthians 12.31, by encouraging the Corinthians to “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14.1).
It’s important to draw your attention to the continuation that Paul places upon the pursuit of love in light of the Corinthians pursuit of spiritual gifts. This is significant for “The importance of love does not mean it should be pursued at the expense of spiritual gifts, they too are to be eagerly desired” (D.A. Carson, Showing the Spirit, pg. 101).
The Corinthian’s were not only exhorted to pursue spiritual gifts in general, they were particularly encouraged to seek the gift of prophecy. In verses 2 through 5, Paul provides us with an explanation as to why the Corinthian’s were to specifically seek this particular gift.
1 Corinthians 14.2
“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.”
Paul explains his exhortation in verse 1 by his use of “for” (gar) in verse 2. The reason that the Corinthians – as well as us today – are to seek the gift of prophecy instead of tongues, is because the “one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God.”
This point is further explained by Paul (note again his use of “for”) in our lack of understanding another person’s message in tongues, for they “utter mysteries in the Spirit.” Therefore, unless someone interprets (1 Cor. 14.5) a message spoken in tongues, this message is unintelligible to all, even the one speaking.
1 Corinthians 14.3
“On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”
After establishing the unintelligibility of tongue-speaking in verse 2, Paul now contrasts the unintelligibility of tongues with the intelligibility of prophecy in verse 3.
We are told that the one who prophesies does not speak to God, but to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. In light of this we can infer that a prophetic message has a threefold purpose: “it must be instructive, encouraging, and comforting for the believers” (Simon Kistemaker, 1 Corinthians, pg. 478; cf. 1 Thess. 2.12). It is for this reason that Gordon Fee says,
“these three words set forth the parameters of the divine intent of prophecy, and probably indicate that in Paul’s view the primary focus of a prophetic utterance is not the future, but the present situations of the people of God” (Fee, pg. 657).
Thus, a prophetic message is directed towards the church, whereas a message in tongues is directed towards God.
For more on the gift of prophecy, see my complete works on the gift of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14.4
“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophecies builds up the church.”
In verse 4 we discover that one who speaks in tongues “edifies himself,” whereas the one who prophesies edifies the church.
For one to edify themselves through speaking in tongues is best explained by George Thiessen, who said that tongue-speaking grants,
Access to the unconscious dimensions of the soul and allows repressed impulses access to the consciousness. It enters into an inner space dissociated from the everyday realities surrounding them and it may result in a feeling of peace and even euphoria (Taken from David Garland, 1 Corinthians, pg. 634).
Personal edification wrought through tongue-speaking is then contrasted by Paul with the church’s edification through prophecy, observed in his use of “but” (“de”).
Despite the personal benefit derived by speaking in tongues, we can gather from this passage that Paul’s primary concern is not with one’s private devotion, but rather with the church’s public worship. We can glean this from his emphasis on the church’s edification, not the individual’s (Fee, 657). This point is furthered by Paul in verse 5 (Note his use of “now”).
1 Corinthians 14.5
“Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
In verse 5, Paul expresses a wishful desire for everyone to speak in tongues, which is then contrasted with his greater desire for everyone to prophesy. For the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless a message in tongues is interpreted.
At the beginning of verse 5 we read “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues.” We should not take Paul’s expression here as his ideal for the entire church “any more than his desire in 1 Corinthians 7.7 that all be celibate as he is be his theological stance for the complete celibacy of the church” (Carson, pg. 102). It is by reading this passage in context that we cannot press it to mean that everyone should or will be capable of speaking in tongues. This passage Even though Paul expresses these desires for the Corinthians, he contrasts these desires with an even greater one for them to prophesy (Observed in his use of “but”).
It’s important for us to tie this back into the beginning of this paragraph by noting Paul’s repetition of the clause used in verse 1, “especially that you may prophesy.” This repetition in Even though tongues and prophecy both have edifying features, Paul’s verbiage “indicates that he values prophecy far above tongue” (Kistemaker, pg 481).
Not only does Paul repetition emphasize this point, he goes on to say that the one “who prophesies” is greater than the one who “speaks in tongues.” Even though Paul sees a greater value in prophesy than he does in tongue-speaking, he still sees value in tongue-speaking within the church if the message is interpreted. Therefore, the problem of intelligibility and the edification of the church are clarified and we realize that Paul’s problem is not with speaking in tongues, but rather with speaking in tongues in the public assembly without interpretation (Garland, pg. 435).
Some Final Thoughts
By observing this paragraph we discovered that Paul’s main issue is with the intelligibility of communication in public worship and that his main concern is for the edification of the church. We found this to be the cases by examining Paul’s juxtaposition of tongue-speaking with prophesy and their personal and communal edifying effects. Moreover, Paul’s main concern for the edification of the church comes to surface by observing this concept throughout the entirety of this passage.
There are two final points that I would like for us to come away with.
First, for one to forbid another from speaking in tongues in private is mere prejudice and not Biblical theology (Fee, pg. 659).
Second, for one to speak in tongues in a public assembly apart from interpretation is outside of the limitations established by Paul and is to be discouraged, if not forbidden (Garland, pg. 635; cf. 1 Cor. 14.2-5, 27).
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