1 Corinthians 14:13-19
13: Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15: What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16: Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17: For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
18: I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
19: however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Since we want our gatherings to be times of edification, let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. This indicates that we can, and should, pray for the interpretation of the tongues we speak. Our spirit may be active and edified when we pray in tongues, but our mind is left without understanding of these deep mysteries of God we speak.
Once again this shows a certain level of control we have over the gifts of the Spirit. Paul said a couple of times to desire the gifts and even to desire a specific gift—prophecy or interpretation of tongues—for the benefit of the church. So it would seem when we seek a specific gift, we can expect that God will grant our request (see also Luke 11:13).
So what do we do? We seek the gift. We pray for the interpretation of our tongues. We pray with the spirit (in tongues) then pray with the mind (the interpretation). We may sing this way also. As we’ve seen, tongues include praise—speaking of God’s mighty deeds—as well as the mysteries and depths of God, so the interpretation may be in the form of song, lyrics, poetry etc.
The one speaking prays for the interpretation so others may benefit. Paul said if you bless and give thanks in tongues only, how will the ungifted know to say amen, or agree with you, since he can’t understand what you’re saying? You are giving thanks well, but the other person is left in the dark, not edified by your blessing. Who are the ungifted? Paul distinguished them from unbelievers in verse 24 so it would seem they are believers who don’t operate in the gifts of the spirit, or at least not in the interpretation of tongues, for whatever reason.
To make certain they knew he believed tongues was important, Paul said he thanked God he spoke in tongues more than all of them. However, in the church---at the gatherings—he would rather speak a few words of instruction that people could understand and apply to their lives than 10,000 words in a tongue they wouldn't understand.
Does this mean tongues are worthless without an interpretation? No. As he said here, you are giving thanks well when you do so in tongues without an interpretation. Also, the speaker is edified when they speak in tongues, their faith built up as they speak these mysteries of God. A song of worship to the Lord in tongues may be the only way you can express what is in your heart toward Him at times. However, it is beneficial, whether praying alone to God in tongues or in a gathering of believers, to seek the interpretation and understanding of what you’re praying so you, and others, may be informed, prepared, and apply the revelation you receive to your life.
14: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15: What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16: Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17: For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
18: I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
19: however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
***
Since we want our gatherings to be times of edification, let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. This indicates that we can, and should, pray for the interpretation of the tongues we speak. Our spirit may be active and edified when we pray in tongues, but our mind is left without understanding of these deep mysteries of God we speak.
Once again this shows a certain level of control we have over the gifts of the Spirit. Paul said a couple of times to desire the gifts and even to desire a specific gift—prophecy or interpretation of tongues—for the benefit of the church. So it would seem when we seek a specific gift, we can expect that God will grant our request (see also Luke 11:13).
So what do we do? We seek the gift. We pray for the interpretation of our tongues. We pray with the spirit (in tongues) then pray with the mind (the interpretation). We may sing this way also. As we’ve seen, tongues include praise—speaking of God’s mighty deeds—as well as the mysteries and depths of God, so the interpretation may be in the form of song, lyrics, poetry etc.
The one speaking prays for the interpretation so others may benefit. Paul said if you bless and give thanks in tongues only, how will the ungifted know to say amen, or agree with you, since he can’t understand what you’re saying? You are giving thanks well, but the other person is left in the dark, not edified by your blessing. Who are the ungifted? Paul distinguished them from unbelievers in verse 24 so it would seem they are believers who don’t operate in the gifts of the spirit, or at least not in the interpretation of tongues, for whatever reason.
To make certain they knew he believed tongues was important, Paul said he thanked God he spoke in tongues more than all of them. However, in the church---at the gatherings—he would rather speak a few words of instruction that people could understand and apply to their lives than 10,000 words in a tongue they wouldn't understand.
Does this mean tongues are worthless without an interpretation? No. As he said here, you are giving thanks well when you do so in tongues without an interpretation. Also, the speaker is edified when they speak in tongues, their faith built up as they speak these mysteries of God. A song of worship to the Lord in tongues may be the only way you can express what is in your heart toward Him at times. However, it is beneficial, whether praying alone to God in tongues or in a gathering of believers, to seek the interpretation and understanding of what you’re praying so you, and others, may be informed, prepared, and apply the revelation you receive to your life.
Comments
Post a Comment