We continue in I Corinthians 14 and Paul’s instruction to the church in Corinth regarding the spiritual gift of speaking in foreign languages. And before we go on, let me remind you Paul started this specific teaching in 12:1 with, “Now regarding the spiritual gifts, my brothers, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding.” If what was being practiced in the Corinthian church was the genuine spiritual gift of speaking in a foreign language prompted by the Holy Spirit, then Paul would have had no reason to think there was any misunderstanding and no reason to write chapters 12 through 14. So, let’s continue.
The last lesson ended with 14:5 where Paul contends that the one who prophesies is more beneficial to the church than the one who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets what he said, so the church can understand it. He continues that thought in verses 6-13. In verse 6 he uses himself as an example, “Now, brethren, if I come to you and all I do is praise God in foreign languages, how will that benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching, as well?” His meaning here needs no explanation. No one will understand the foreign language; everyone will benefit from revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching.
But just to be clear, Paul uses musical instruments to illustrate his point in verses 7 and 8, “Even lifeless instruments, such as a flute or harp, if they don’t give a clear distinction in notes, how can anyone understand what tune is being played? And if the trumpeter plays an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” He could have said, “If you’re going to say anything when you come together, make sure it’s something the others can understand.”
“And so it is with you, if you speak in a foreign language words that are not intelligible, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You may as well be speaking to an empty room.” (Verse 9) Again, no explanation is needed. And he follows with this explanation in verses 10-12, “There are, no doubt, many different languages in the world, and yet none of them lack meaning (to those who speak them). But if I don’t know the meaning of the language, I will be like a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker like a foreigner to me. So, just as it is with you, since you are so eager to possess spirits, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church.”
OK, now there is some explanation needed. First of all in verse 10 Paul says that there are many languages in the world, but none of them are without meaning, that is, those who speak the language can understand it! The spiritual gift of speaking in an unknown tongue is the gift of speaking in a known (but unlearned) foreign language. There is no such thing as a mystical, ecstatic, so-called spiritual language that neither the speaker nor the hearer can understand. If you don’t understand what you’re saying and the person listening doesn’t understand either, what’s the point?What Paul says in verse 12 must be understood. Let me quote it for you again. “So, just as it is with you, since you are so eager to possess spirits, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church.” Now check whatever translation you have. Where I have “spirits”, the KJV will show “spiritual gifts” (indicating “gifts” is not in the original, correct, it’s not there), the NIV has “spiritual gifts” (no italics, and totally wrong) and the Amplified Bible has “spiritual endowments and manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit” (doubly wrong, no spiritual endowments, no reference to the Holy Spirit).
The original Greek manuscript (what Paul wrote) has “spirits”. It should never be translated “spiritual” or “spiritual gifts” or “manifestations of the Holy Spirit”. It is, in fact, a reference to the spirit realm where both good and evil spirits reside. Paul is telling them that since they’re so eager to see manifestations out of the spirit realm, they should seek things that will build up the church.
Then in verses 13-19 Paul again uses himself as an example to teach them how to insure the genuine gift of speaking in a foreign language can benefit others in a public meeting. “Therefore, the one who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret what he says.” (Verse 13) This suggests that when the Holy Spirit gives someone the genuine gift of speaking in a foreign language, He will also give the ability to interpret.
“For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” (Verse 14) What’s he saying here? I know in my spirit when I’m praising God in a foreign language I’ve never learned, but in my mind I have no clue what I’m saying. “So, what should I do? I will pray with my spirit and I will pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit and I will sing with my mind.” (Verse 15) Keep this in context; don’t make it something it’s not. When my spirit prays or sings in a foreign language I don’t understand, I’ll always pray or sing with my mind that I (and others) can understand. I’ll never do one without the other.
“Otherwise, when you’re praising God with your spirit, how can anyone who has never learned that language say, Amen, to your thanksgiving, since he does not understand what you are saying?” (Verse 16) So, what’s the point of speaking in a foreign language in a public assembly when there’s no interpretation? It allows for no participation from those present being able to even say, Amen. “You might be giving thanks well enough, but (without interpretation) the other is not edified.” (Verse 17) Again, a not too subtle way of saying, if you’re doing something others don’t understand and can’t benefit from, what’s the point?
Paul then concludes this part of his instruction with this in verses 18-19, “I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. Nevertheless, in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a foreign language.” Here Paul says he speaks in foreign languages more than all of them, but when did he do it?
You have only to realize that Paul is now on his third missionary journey, has been traveling through foreign countries for over 12 years, talking to anyone who would listen, many of whom were bilingual. So, it’s only reasonable that the Holy Spirit would enable him to exhibit the genuine gift of speaking in foreign languages not his own to demonstrate the power of God in his life and give validity to his message. Was that not one of the things that happened at Pentecost?
Now, I know full well one of the arguments some Pentecostals and Charismatics use to say speaking in unknown tongues is a private matter, to be done at home as a prayer language, is the fact that Paul plainly teaches it should not be done in church unless there is interpretation. And that may sound good to them on the surface, if they choose to (continue to) ignore the Scriptures. First of all, there’s no example of a private prayer language in scripture. And second, all the examples of speaking in foreign languages are obvious public demonstrations where others are involved.
On to verse 20, “Brethren, stop thinking like children, be babes in malice, and start thinking like mature men.” Let’s try to get into Paul’s head here and understand what he’s getting at. Stop being so immature and naïve that you assume everything you hear and see is from God. Be like babies and have unfamiliarity with “malice” (from kakia, malice, the willingness to cause distress or pain in others), some mature thinking is needed here. It’s not that difficult to see what Paul is talking about. Remember, he’s is writing this letter because he had gotten a visit from the three sons of Chloe (1:11 and 16:17) who had filled him in on what was going on in Corinth.
Let me spell it out for you. There had always existed in the Babylonian idolatrous cults these Corinthians had grown up in an ecstatic babbling that could be mistaken for a foreign language. To the uninitiated people listening it could be difficult to tell the difference. However, to others who were familiar with it, they would know the difference and that was the problem. There were evidently some who insisted on exercising this false spiritual gift in their meetings and some who knew full well it was false.
This is why Paul used the word kakia in verse 20: the insistence of some in continuing to display this selfish, false spirituality had created a contentious atmosphere in the church. It should be obvious there were some in the church that were disrupting the meetings by their continual displays of a false spiritual gift, pretending to speak in a foreign language. Again, as I said earlier, if it had been a true spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, Paul would have had no reason to even write chapters 12, 13 and 14 to correct this error. And there are those even today (almost 2,000 years later) who refuse to look at what Paul says here like mature men, still insisting on the validity of this false gift.