The illustrations of the superiority of prophesy over the gift of Tongue: (14:7-12):
Apostle Paul used three simple illustrations to prove that prophesy is much better than speaking in tongues. They are:
- Musical instrument: If the musical instrument viz, flute or harp is played rightly, people can understand the tune and enjoy the music. Imagine how much people feel uncomfortable if such an instrument without the right note or tune.
- The war trumpet: The sound of the trumpet must be clear. If the trumpet does not make clear sound, how can the soldiers know whether to retreat or charge forward for the war.
- The daily conversation: The daily conversation must be clear. There are many languages in the world and people who speak different languages can rarely understand each other.
It is the same with the speaking in tongues. The one speaking in tongues may be speaking with God but it makes no sense for the people around him. This gift is helpful to many people in private worship and may be helpful in public worship provided there is interpretation. That’s why Paul says he would rather speak 5-intelligible words rather than 10,000 words in tongues (14:18a).
The problems in the gift of Tongue: (14:2b, 4a, 20-25):
The believer who speaks in a tongue speaks to God in praise and worship; but the believer who prophesies shares the Word with the church and helps those who listen. Unless the tongues are interpreted (1 Cor. 12:10,30), the message cannot benefit the church. An interpreter is absolutely necessary if the gift has to be manifested in the church(14:28).
The Christians in the Corinth were behaving like immature children. They were trying to edify themselves with the gift of tongues without any botheration for the church or other believers.
Paul quotes from (Isa.28:11-12), that prophet Isaiah is announcing judgment to the people of Israel. They did not receive the word of the prophets who spoke to them in Hebrew or simply the prophesy but now they will hear the voice of men with other tongues and other lips. That is Assyrian invaders spoke a different language that Israelites could not understand, and it was an example of judgment to the Israelites. Here when we read the entire chapter (28:1-29) we find that tongues are a sign of judgment upon the Israelites. Foreigners who spoke in unknown tongues invaded their country.
Here God wanted to speak to them clearly about the coming of God’s judgement on the nation. But they were not in a position to understand due to their repeated sins which made this impossible. So God had spoken to them through His messengers in their own tongue, and the nation would not repent. Now He had to speak in a foreign tongue, and this meant judgment.
Again as a nation, the Jews were always seeking a sign (Matt.12:38; 1 Cor. 1:22). At Pentecost, the fact that the Apostles spoke in tongues was a sign to the unbelieving Jews who were there celebrating the feast. The miracle of tongues aroused their interest, but it did not convict their hearts. It took Peter’s preaching (in Aramaic), which the people all understood to bring them to the place of conviction and conversion.
It was quitting to Corinthians that the way the church was engaged in tongues was helping no one because believers did not understand what was being said, and unbelievers thought that the people speaking in tongues were crazy. Speaking in tongues was supposed to be a sign to unbelievers. After speaking in tongues, the believer must explain what was said, then it would convict the unbelievers.
The speaker himself if necessary to interpret: (14:13-17, 26-28)
Paul reminded the Corinthians that it is better to be a blessing to the church than to experience some kind of personal “spiritual excitement.” If the believer speaks in a tongue, his own spirit (inner person) may share in the experience, but his mind is not a part of the experience. It is not wrong to pray or sing “in the spirit,” but it is better to include the mind and understand what you are praying or singing. Here the spirit is not the Holy Spirit but a person’s spirit. If the speaker is to be edified, he must understand what he is saying. Then the believers in the assembly should would listen to the message and respond to it. But if they do not understand the message, how can they respond? How can a new person or seeker say “Amen” to what he listens. That person or seeker cannot be edified unless he understood what was being said.
Paul encourages all the believers to in the congregation, to share a revelation, or sing a hymn or song or some instruction from the Bible. Then if any comes up with a message through the gift of tongue, he must ask God for the interpretation of the message. Paul says that there must be an interpreter and if an interpreter is not there the speaker must God so that he himself can interpret the message (14:26-28). This is not true now-days in most of the churches. There would be continuous speaking of Tongues and the entire church would appear to be in chaos for a new believer or a seeker who comes to the church.
All these verses are once again emphasizing that prophecy is far superior to the speaking in tongues since prophecy needs no interpretation and can be a great blessing to all the people in the assembly.