The contrast between the Gifts of tongues and Prophesy: (chap.14):
Prophesy involves the predicting the future, but the main part of it is speaking out God’s message directly to the people at large. They include blessings, instruction, correction, warning and encouragement. On the other hand the gift of Tongue is one speaking in different language ( a language unknown to human beings) with God. Apostle Paul clarifies the gifts of tongues and prophesies, the benefits and disadvantages in both.
The gift of Tongue: (14:1-2a):
The Corinthian church was eager to receive the gifts. They had developed a sort of egoism by speaking in tongues. Although the gift of tongues is a legitimate and worthy gift of the Holy Spirit, but the Corinthian believers were using it as a sign of spiritual superiority rather than as a means of spiritual unity. As Paul says, the one who speaks in tongues is speaking to God in worship and prayer. He alone would be edified, but the whole church gains no benefit. On the other hand, if someone interprets the tongues, the entire church would be benefitted and a new person who comes to the church would also be convicted. In our contemporary churches, we see this gift of tongues very much prevalent without someone interpreting what he is saying. If many people speak like that simultaneously, the new comer would find it confused saying that the people are drunk.
In speaking of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul says that every gift must follow love. If love factor is not there, whatever best gift one possesses, it would gain nothing.
The advantages of the gift of Prophesy: (14:3-5, 18-19):
The Apostle Paul had a longing for the Church which is the body of Christ. Although he did not look down the gift of the tongues, he gives greater importance to the prophesy. We must remember that in those days, people had no Bibles. The NT was not written fully and the OT scrolls were very expensive and common had no access to it. They were solely depending upon the prophesy and sometimes through tongues. The wisdom, Prophesy and tongues were being used in tandem. However tongues were useful where the interpretation was existing. That’s why Paul says Prophesy is a higher gift than speaking in tongues. We can find 3-benefits in the prophesy. They are
- Strengthening: It is supporting or building up in the Lord. The prophesy strengthens others but tears them down.
- Encouragement: It is a motivation, rallying the team to go and perform better. Prophesy encourages us to lead a better Christian life.
- Comfort: It includes both consoling and strengthening. The prophesy comforts one who is weak, worn and injured etc and at the same time strengthens them. Prophesy does not include any sort of discouragement.
As said above, any one who speaks in tongues edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. Because prophesy can be understood by all and any person who comes to the church and hears the prophesy will be convicted and repent for his sins.
The differences in the Gift of Tongues and Gift of Prophesy:
| Gift of Tongue | Gift of Prophesy |
| Speaking to God for their own good. | Speaking to men for the good of the church. |
| Can be understood unless there is an interpreter. Otherwise it appears as only sounds. | Can be understood by all. |
| This edifies the person who is speaking. | This edifies the church and all the congregation. |
| This is considered as lesser gift inferior to prophesy | This is the greater gift where both the speaker and the hearers would be benefitted. |
| This has more attraction in the present world. | This may be unattractive, but proclaims the message of the Lord to one and all. |
| It is not advisable to speak in tongues in the church without any interpreters. | It is always advisable to prophesy in the church which benefits all. |
| Any amount of speaking in tongues has very little effect on the congregation. | Each word of Prophesy is like 2000 words of speaking in tongues. So Prophesy is far superior to speaking in tongues. |