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Speaking Unknown Languages
1Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands. 3But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church. 5I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I prefer that you would prophesy. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp? 8If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9This is how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. 10There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. 11But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other. 12If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. 14For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless. 15Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
16Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”? 17You may be worshiping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped. 18I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you. 19But words that make sense can help the church. This is why in church I would rather speak five words that make sense than to speak 10,000 words in a language that others don't know.
20My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies. 21 In the Scriptures the Lord says,
“I will use strangers
who speak unknown languages
to talk to my people.
They will speak to them
in foreign languages,
but still my people
won't listen to me.”
22Languages others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers. 23Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are crazy? 24But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying. 25They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”
Reflect
Paul writes as a missionary-pastor to house churches in the Roman city of Corinth. This section of Paul’s letter contrasts prophetic speech with prayer in unknown languages. Modern readers need to recognize two things. First, there was a competition for “air time” or public recognition in the Corinthian house churches. Paul was concerned to establish a sense of order and dignity in the worship of the congregations. Second, Paul’s primary motivation was to strengthen the community of believers. The Greek verb “to build up” and its noun form are used six times in these verses. A clear expression of the apostle’s motivation is found in verse 12: “If you really want spiritual gifts (Greek: “things of the Spirit), choose the ones that will be most helpful for (build up) the church.”
When Paul used the word “prophecy” in this context he did not mean predicting the future. He was referring to Spirit inspired speech that was understandable to the listeners. Prophetic speech had the capacity to nurture believers, encourage those in despair, and console broken hearts (v 3). Women and men and spoke as prophets during times of worship (11:4-5). Prophetic speech required careful listening and discernment in regard to the content of the message (14:29).
The gift of tongues (speaking in other languages) is best understood as a form of ecstatic prayer in a language unknown to the speaker. It is a prayer of the human spirit that goes beyond words formulated by the mind (v 14). Paul recognizes the value of prayer in unknown languages – in fact he clearly states that it was one of his regular spiritual disciplines (v 18). But without interpretation, this form of expression has no value for the congregation.
Paul concludes by drawing attention to the power of the prophetic word to penetrate the hearts of outsiders that enter a place of worship.
Respond
Lord God, we pray for those you have called to speak prophetically to our congregations and to our nations. Inspire them through your Spirit to speak messages of grace, justice, and mercy so that the wounds of our broken world may be healed and lives transformed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gord King
Gordon W. King brings together the worlds of international development and biblical scholarship. His vocational background includes theological education in Bolivia, service with Canada's immigration and refugee board, director of corporate development with World Vision Canada, and director of The Sharing Way, Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM). King is passionate about including theological education in the professional training of community development workers. He lives with his wife Regine, a Rwandan genocide survivor, in Winnipeg, Canada. Publications: Seed Falling on Good Soil: Rooting our lives in the parables of Jesus (2016) and co-author of Going Global: A congregation's introduction to mission beyond our borders (2011).