#1513 1 Corinthians 14 Part 3 That Sound

 

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. 1 Corinthians 14: 1-5 

1 Corinthians 14:3

Warning - To hopefully avoid some confusion here, let it be understood that these posts are part of an ongoing conversation between me and a friend, who is Pentecostal but who I also believe to be a brother in Christ. There is no disrespect of people intended. This will include posts #1511 to #1515.

Although it is not indicated consistently in some translations, the distinction between the "tongue" and the plural "tongues" is foundational to a proper interpretation of this chapter. Paul seems to use the singular to distinguish the counterfeit gift of pagan gibberish and the plural to indicate the genuine gift of a foreign language. It was perhaps in recognition of that, that the King James Version translators added consistently the word "unknown" before every singular form. The implications of that distinction will be noted as appropriate. Against the backdrop of carnality and counterfeit ecstatic speech learned from the experience of the pagans, Paul covers three basic issues with regard to speaking in languages by the gift of the Holy Spirit: 1) its position, inferior to prophecy (vv. 1-19); 2) its purpose, a sign to unbelievers not believers (vv. 20-25); and 3) its procedure, systematic, limited, and orderly (vv. 26-40). J Mac Study Bible notes 1 Cor. 14:2

V. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening - Verse 2 leaves off with no one understanding the one who speaks in a tongue, that they utter mysteries by the Spirit. I think we give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it is a known tongue, the person has the gift of tongues, which means languages, which could be understood but no one here understands it, and there is no one to interpret. Even with it being the actual gift it is clearly and pointedly stated to be less valuable than prophecy, why? If you look at the thrust of Corinthians this is a very carnal place, blended with pagan practices, they are calling themselves a church and so Paul is correcting them as such, certainly there are some believers there in various stages of maturity, but mostly everyone seems to be self absorbed. The gifts were given to the edification of the body, not just any body, but Christ's body, but here everyone is in a competition to be perceived as spiritual and the gifts are about them rather than about edifying the church.   We have a lot of snow flakes here, and I think they are a good representation of the modern charismatic movement and fringe movements throughout the ages. Let me be clear though, while they all have this same desire to be the mouth and no one wants to be the feet, I find this in every denomination. In reformed circles I find name droppers and we all go on much about our libraries, but so what, have you applied what you read? Have you taken those great old writers and held them and their works up to the light of Holy Scripture? Are you just wanting to be considered an intellectual? Do you use the pulpit to push forth your agenda or to proclaim the truths of God? Will you take care of Christ's least, the sheep that cannot repay you, that he tells us not to take a selfie with to post on Facebook showing people what great philanthropists we are? A pastor could use his gift of forth telling, of being a good teacher and speaker, yet be in love with the sound of his own voice, and no real shepherd at all. He may use it for connections, to obtain wealth, to get book deals, to see his name in memes, avoid having a physical job, all to the edifying of himself and not the body.  And crazy as it is, yet the man who prophesies, even for his own glory, if it is a faithful witness to Scripture, it is still more useful for the edification of the body than tongues. Even Balaam said what God said, but in the end was more akin to a Judas. I have come under conviction during a sermon where the truth was expertly expounded upon, even changed my course of thinking, but sadly found that person years later to be one whose life did not match up with the truths he so eloquently espoused. 

... he utters mysteries in the Spirit : As indicated in the note on Romans 8:10, it is an interpretive decision as to whether to understand this as a reference to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit. The fleshly, or carnal, Corinthians using the counterfeit ecstatic speech of paganism were not interested in being understood, but in making a dramatic display. The spirit by which they spoke was not the Holy Spirit, but their own human spirit or some demon; and the mysteries they declared were the type associated with the pagan mystery religions, which were espoused to be the depths that only the initiated few were privileged to know and understand. Those mysteries were totally unlike the ones mentioned in Scripture (e.g., Matt. 13:11; Eph. 3:9) which are divine revelations of truth previously hidden. See notes on 1 Cor. 12:7; Eph 3: 4-6). J Mac Study Bible note on 1 Cor. 14:2

V. 3B Encouraging and comfort - I don't want to overstate the obvious here, but if I come to learn and someone babbles at me, or I have a question about what they believe, and they answer in a tongue I can't understand, it's useless. I think we are pretty much agreed there though. The thrust so far is to the edifying of the body, which is one of the great themes of 12, 13 and 14. When I was a charismatic I would always accuse J Mac of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit for saying that what I was doing was not of the Holy Spirit, yet it never occurred to me that such is a two edged sword. I have seen people writhing on the ground, have been in churches where 10s if not hundreds were all "speaking in tongues" at the same time. Where a "prophet" interrupted the service almost weekly in order to give a message from God. I have spoken with a "preacher" in Ormond who did not study for his Sunday messages but waited on God to deliver them to him. "Usually', he said, 'they come in the shower the night before," but this time the Holy Spirit was withholding the message to get the minister to trust him, to increase his faith. Then, all of the sudden, in the middle of much talk about nothing, he stomps the stage like someone would do on WWE wrestling, and he shivers, then says, thank you, Lord. He received the message he said like a bolt of lightning, what that must have done to his poor body, and I guess the stomping of his foot was the following thunder. Jesus did not like acts done by the power of the Holy Spirit being attributed to Beelzebub, yet we seem to have very little trepidation about assigning things to Him that go against His own inspired word. Elijah didn't cut himself, chant or dance about like a mad man to call down fire. We hear Jesus pray to the Father and it is always in an understandable language. So when we test the spirits, is it the spirit of the man who is born again, is it of the Holy Spirit who gives this new birth, or is it the spirit of the man's flesh, or even worse, demonic? There is a great test here, does it edify the body? Does it match the fruits of the Spirit? What of self control and the spirit of the prophet being subject to the prophet?  No where do we find a test of  "because I said so, I know a guy, I heard about, I felt, or even saw", no, to each it is asked, what did he or she say and does it match Scripture, the same about stories and feelings, they are subjective and no true bar, and what did you see or experience? Again, does it align with Scripture and or are you trying to say it does by pulling things out of their context, away from the Author's intent?

…16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”… John 21: 16-18

30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.… Matthew 12: 30-32

…22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.… Galatians 5: 22-24

V. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church - Easy to see the contrast here of edification, but some would like to go to this and claim that the section confirms a prayer language, yet the context is edification of the body, abuses and misunderstanding of the gifts, and this within the broader sense again of the corporate body. But okay, this is your prayer language, so what does Paul say about that contextually? Is it a gift to help you grow spiritually through the inner groanings of the spirit, to build you up in the faith? That doesn't seem to fit here and for Paul's direction to Timothy we find things that all start through and are accessed by the mind. Understanding seems more critical than feelings. How are we to gauge this prayer language if you don't know what you're saying? Maybe you are different, maybe you pray indiscernibly and then God gives you the understanding, but that was never the gift I was taught of in the Pentecostal movement, and again I ask, what's the point? There, the teachers seemed to bypass the mind, go straight for the persons feelings and impose their will upon the mind to accept that this was a proof to the mind that something was real. It's like the song "hold on to that feeling", but I would contest that the bypassing of the mind is confirming another spirit. It is like playing Just As I Am at church, and the preacher pleading with people to walk forward, and then someone feeling something and coming forward, yet not knowing or understanding later why they came forward, but can only articulate that they felt something. I did that when I was young, tv commercials reach for that, I work at a place that taps into your feelings and emotions through experiences, and it's fun, but it doesn't form a basis for some great Biblical truth, it doesn't inform me as to the Christian life. I would have to say God's word is greater, and it should be had with the understanding. 

…13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.… 1 Corinthians 14: 13-15

I regard it as a great part of my calling in the ministry to emphasize the priority of the mind and the intellect in connection with the faith; but though I maintain that, I am equally ready to assert that the feelings, the emotions, the sensibilities obviously are of very vital importance. Martin LLoyd Jones from pg. 109 of the book Spiritual Depression It's causes and Cures.

One of the most striking things that conversion does is to take us out of some horrible pit, some miry clay and establish our feet upon a rock, and establish our goings and to put a new song in our mouth. Feelings are meant to be engaged, and when the gospel comes to us it does involve the whole man. It moves his mind as he sees its glorious truths, it moves his heart in the same way, and it moves his will. Martin Lloyd Jones pg. 111 Spiritual Depression It's causes and Cures.

1Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. 3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.… Psalm 138: 1-3

How then do we face this kind of position? The first thing the Apostle lays down is the question of authority. That must of necessity come first. These perplexities and problems are not a matter of feelings or of experience, and they must never be judged merely by results. False teaching can make people very happy. Let us be quite clear about that. If you judge only in terms of experience and results you will find that every cult and heresy the world or the Church has ever known will be able to justify itself. Martin Lloyd Jones pg. 182 Spiritual Depression It's causes and Cures.

Brian Bell - Paul deals with the 2 major objectives for the church: 1. The edifying of the believers! 2. The conversion of the unsaved! (1 Cor 12:25) This is the 2-fold purpose of the church,…let no church forget it! This chapter also shows what we should find when we go to church! (1) Teaching and preaching (1 Cor 14:3); praying and singing (1 Cor 14:15). A worship service should lift up the Lord & build up the saints, not puff up the participants!... Before the Scriptures were complete, Gods message came through the prophets. “So the prophet came & ministered the Word, until the Word came to minister prophecy.”(Swindoll) Prophesies doesn’t have to mean foretelling the future, but it is the speaking forth of the mind & counsel of God, or the will & message of God. - Precept Austin

Morris on KJV's "unknown" tongue - The word "unknown" is not in the original, but was supplied by the King James translators to emphasize that the language being used was one that was not known to the rest of the congregation, and so such an inspired message would be of no value to them. The gift of languages was spectacular and obviously supernatural. However, it was useful only if someone hearing it could actually understand it and interpret ("translate") it for the others, so they also could profit. It was given by the Holy Spirit both as a sign of His presence and also to convey a profitable message to at least some in the audience. The gift of prophecy was not as spectacular, though more profitable. Thus one possessing the gift of tongues could more easily become puffed up and be tempted to use his ability just to draw attention to himself (or herself)--that is, to "edify" ("build up") himself. In fact, it is probable that he might even open himself to demonic inspiration, for it is unlikely that the Holy Spirit would inspire a message that would be mere gibberish to its hearers. In the definitive passage on this gift, when it was first given on the day of Pentecost, the result was that "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...we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:6,7,11). When one really has the Spirit's "gift of tongues" and uses it properly, then such a result as this should follow. Otherwise it is useless, even dangerous. - Precept Austin