Introduction and Review

In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul corrects the carnal Corinthians on the basis of their misuse and perversion of the gift of tongues (or languages). In the New Testament era, the true gift of tongues was the ability to speak a language which was unknown to the speaker but known to someone present. Now, God had a very definite purpose for this gift, which we'll see later on in this lesson, but the Corinthian assembly had taken the true gift and had twisted it for an untrue use. They also had added a counterfeit gift to the true gift.

It was common, in the pagan mystery religions of that day, for the people to believe that they could enter into a state of frenzy or ecstasy, slip out of their body, and commune on another level with a deity. And when they did that, they would speak to that deity in an unknown language--the language of that god. They believed that this ecstatic, supernatural phenomenon was a great act of devotion toward that god. Consequently, it was very self-edifying. Well, as with other practices of the world's system, this pagan practice of speaking in ecstatic languages infiltrated the Corinthian church.

The Corinthian Christians actually believed that the gift of tongues was speaking an ecstatic babble or gibberish and communing with God in a private prayer language. So, the Apostle Paul had to write this chapter to dispell the idea that the true gift is that kind of ecstatic gibberish. He also wrote this chapter to make sure that when the true gift was exercised, it was exercised properly in the right context to accomplish the right purpose.

First Corinthians 14 is a very urgent chapter for us today because Charismatics are constantly telling us that speaking in tongues is necessary in order to realize the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit--the full expression of His power in our lives. They're loudly crying out to us to have this experience, so we need to understand exactly what Paul is saying here.

This chapter can be divided, basically, into three major points. In our last two lessons, we talked about the position of the gift of tongues and saw that it was secondary. The second point, which we are going to look at in this lesson, is the purpose of the gift of tongues. And the third point, which we'll consider in the next lesson, is the procedure for the gift of tongues.

I. THE POSITION OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES: SECONDARY (vv. 1-19)

II. THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES: A SIGN (vv. 20-25)

This is an extremely vital area of study, because if we can determine the purpose of the gift of tongues, then we will be able to evaluate what's going on today, or at any time in history, relative to this gift. It either fits the biblical purpose or it does not. Consequently, we can determine whether it's legitimate or not.

1. PERSONAL EDIFICATION AND DEVOTION

a. Described

Now let me begin by reiterating what is often offered as the purpose of tongues--particularly today among our brothers and sisters in Pentecostal and Charismatic fellowships. They tell us that the purpose of tongues is primarily for personal edification and devotion. In other words, they say that it is to be used as a private prayer language because it builds you up and allows you to have devotions with God in a supernatural way.

Donald Gee, a well-known Pentecostal scholar, said, "...the revealed purposes of the gift of tongues are chiefly devotional, and we do well to emphasize the fact" (Concerning Spiritual Gifts [Springfield: Gospel Publishing House, 1937], p. 42). Larry Christenson, who is a more modern Charismatic, says, "One speaks in tongues, for the most part, in his private devotions. This is by far its most important use and value" (Speaking in Tongues and its Significance for the Church [Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1968], p. 28).

They are saying, then, that speaking in tongues is a new way to have your devotions, a new way to edify yourself, a new way to build yourself up, a new way for you to have communion with God and experience something deeper and more meaningful than you could experience any other way.

b. Disputed

In the first 19 verses of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul basically chides the Corinthians for their selfish use of tongues. When we studied verse 2, I showed you that Paul was telling the Corinthians, "When you speak in ecstatic gibberish, you are doing what is done in the mystery religions by people who are speaking to their gods. This is not the design of any spiritual gift, because all spiritual gifts are designed to speak to men or to serve others." In 1 Corinthians 12:7 Paul says that the gifts were given to profit all. So, they had misused this gift.

All the gifts are to be used to edify one another. The idea of self-edification is a perversion. In verse 4 of 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue [lit. `gibberish'] edifieth himself...." Now, he is not telling them to speak in tongues to edify themselves; he's merely recognizing that this is what they are doing. You say, "What's wrong with edifying oneself?" Well, that's selfish; and no gift is ever to be used selfishly! So Paul says, "You are actually speaking in this gibberish for the purpose of building yourselves up. But the truth of the matter is that your understanding is unfruitful (v. 14), and nobody who hears you can even say amen (v. 16). You are totally ignoring the people around you because you are selfish. As for me, I'd rather speak five words that others can understand, than ten thousand words in a foreign language" (v. 19). You see, they were speaking in tongues for self- edification, but that wasn't the point of the gift.

Tongues were never intended for the purpose of edification. In fact, tongues can't edify the church because the members don't understand what's being said. And when they are interpreted, it is the gift of interpretation that edifies-- not the gift of tongues. Further, tongues can't edify an individual because his mind is unfruitful.

It isn't possible, then, that tongues can be defined as a self-edifying prayer language to God. If you study prayer in the New Testament, you will never find a verse that tells you to pray to God in an unknown language. In fact, when Jesus laid out the model for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, there wasn't any gibberish or ecstatic language involved, was there? I certainly don't think that we can come up with a better model than that of our Lord Himself. People say, "But speaking in tongues is a method of praising God in a marvelous and free way." Well, if it's such a great way to praise God, and praise is the very character of heaven, why does 1 Corinthians 13:8 say that tongues will cease?

So, we can't conclude that the gift of tongues is for self- edification or devotion. A second suggestion that some people give for the purpose of tongues is...

2. EVANGELISM

Some people say that the gift of tongues in the New Testament was to enable somebody to preach the gospel in another language. Now, that sounds like a good idea. And I wouldn't deny that somewhere on a mission field, God may have given somebody the ability to speak a language he didn't know in order to give the gospel to somebody in a very critical situation. However, that doesn't support the idea that the gift of tongues in the New Testament was to preach the gospel to people who didn't understand. Do you know why? Because there are no illustrations of the gift of tongues being used like that in the whole New Testament.

You say, "What about in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples spoke in tongues and everybody in the crowd heard them speak in his own language?" Yes, but do you know what the multitude heard? They heard them speaking "the wonderful works of God" (Ac. 2:11). In other words, they went over the great historical events that God had done in the Old Testament. Do you know why? They were drawing the attention of the Jewish crowd so that Peter could stand up and preach the gospel to them in a language that was common to all (Ac. 2:14- 40). So, rather than saying that the purpose of the gift of tongues was evangelism, you might say that it was more useful for pre-evangelism. It gathered the crowd and then the gospel was preached.

So, Charismatics have suggested that the gift of tongues is for edification, while others have suggested that it's for evangelism. But those don't really fit the New Testament pattern. A third suggestion for the purpose of the gift of tongues is that it is a...

3. PROOF OF SPIRIT BAPTISM

In our study of 1 Corinthians 12 (see the study notes entitled Spiritual Gifts), we discussed this erroneous view that the gift of tongues is the proof of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at great length. There are several problems with this view, as seen in the following passages:

a. 1 Corinthians 12:13, 30--Paul writes, "For by one Spirit were we all baptized...." How many were baptized? All! Look at verse 30: "Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" Well, the Greek construction of this verse implies a negative answer. In other words, all are baptized, but all do not speak in tongues. You cannot equate those two.

b. Acts 2:38--After Peter preached in Acts 2, he said, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for [lit. `because of'] the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Three thousand people responded to Peter's sermon that day (v. 41). Do you know how many of them spoke in tongues after they received the gift of the Holy Spirit? The Bible doesn't say that any of them did!

c. Acts 4:31--Referring to the early church, Luke writes, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit...." At that point, do you think they all spoke in tongues? No! "...they spoke the word of God with boldness."

In 1 Corinthians 12, all are baptized by the Spirit; in Acts 2, people receive the Spirit; and in Acts 4, people are filled with the Spirit. But in each of those cases, an accompanying phenomenon of tongues is not mentioned. Therefore, you can't equate the baptism of the Spirit, the receiving of the Spirit, or the filling of the Spirit with speaking in tongues.

You say, "John, if speaking in tongues isn't a sign of Spirit baptism, and if it isn't for the purpose of actually proclaiming the gospel, and if it isn't for the purpose of building myself up in a private way, what is the gift of tongues for?" Well, let's look at the text and find out.

B. The Purpose Stated (vv. 20-22)

1. THE PROBLEM OF THE CORINTHIANS DETECTED (v. 20)

"Brethren, be not children [lit. `stop being children'] in understanding; however, in malice [Gk. kakia=evil] be ye children [lit. `infants'], but in understanding be men."

Now this is a rather strong indictment, so Paul starts by calling them "brethren" to conciliate them a little bit before he hammers them. The admonition, here, suggests that because of their misuse of tongues they were practicing evil. Let me show you what I mean.

a. Their Lack of Understanding

Paul says that the Corinthians were "children in understanding." In other words, they hadn't really grown up spiritually to the point where they understood solid doctrine. They were "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine..." (Eph. 4:14). They didn't use their minds. In fact, 1 Corinthians 14:14 implies that their minds were unfruitful. They were not thinking through the right things--the biblical things-- that they had received. Consequently, the Corinthians were "children in understanding" rather than mature men with minds that grasped the truth.

b. Their Love of Evil

The Corinthians should have been infants in malice and evil...but they weren't. You say, "What do you mean by that?" Well, a little infant has no evil thoughts or malice toward anybody. A little infant is full of love, gentleness, kindness, tenderness, care, and sensitivity. So Paul is saying, "Why don't you treat each other like that? Why don't you be little infants when it comes to the way you act with each other and be mature in your thinking, instead of being infants in your thinking and mature in your evil?"

You see, because of their selfish exercise of spiritual gifts for the purpose of self-edification, they were ignoring the rest of the family of God. There was no room for any real teaching of the Word of God because of the total confusion that characterized their worship. In fact, not only couldn't the members of the church get anything out of the services, people who visited their congregation thought that they were insane because of the absolute chaos that occurred as everybody in the church just did his own thing.

The problem in the Corinthian church really boiled down to a preference of anti-intellectualism over existential experience--which is basically what we see happening today. A pervasive kind of anti-intellectualism has allowed the Charismatic movement to sweep into the church and accommodate that kind of thinking.

Paul says, "Stop being children and treating people unkindly, and start thinking like adults." After having said that and calling them to attention, Paul gives the purpose of tongues:

2. THE PURPOSE OF TONGUES DELINEATED (vv. 21-22a)

"In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not..."

Now if you never learn anything else about tongues, you can be sure about one thing: "...tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...." That statement alone is the heart of this chapter. In fact, if anyone today thinks he has the gift of tongues, all he needs to do is to deal with the reality of that statement, and he will be forced to reconsider just what he does have. It couldn't be any simpler. Tongues are for a sign to those who don't believe!

Now basically, the purpose of tongues as a sign is threefold. They are a sign of cursing, a sign of blessing, and a sign of authority. Let's look at each one separately:

a. A Sign of Cursing

This is the primary purpose of the gift of tongues, according to these verses. Let's look at verse 21 again: "In the law [which can refer to the Pentateuch or the entire Old Testament] it is written [freely quoting Isaiah 28:11-12], With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people [referring to Israel]; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord." Then, having stated that Old Testament proclamation of Isaiah to Israel, Paul applies it to the time of the Corinthians in verse 22, and tells them that if tongues were a sign in the time of Isaiah, they were still a sign: "Wherefore, tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...." So, Paul draws a conclusion from the Old Testament text. What's his conclusion? Tongues are not for believing people, they are for unbelieving people. What unbelieving people? Well, the phrase "this people" in verse 21 is referring to Israel, so tongues are specifically a sign to unbelieving Israel.

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Now, let me give you a little bit of background:

1) Old Testament Warnings of Judgment

a) Isaiah 28:7-12

In Isaiah 28, we find ourselves in the southern kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. The year is approximately 705 B.C. In 722 B.C., seventeen years earlier, the northern kingdom of Israel had been taken and destroyed by the Assyrians as a judgment of God on Israel's unbelief and apostasy. Now, in 705 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah was also behaving in a terrible, disobedient manner. So God spoke to them through the prophet Isaiah to warn them of their impending judgment. That is the message of the first 15 verses of Isaiah 28. It is a warning from the prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, that they are going to receive the same kind of judgment that the kingdom in the north received.

Now, let's see how Isaiah approaches the problem. In verse 7, he finds the leaders of Israel, the prophets, and the priests, in a drunken stupor: "But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way...." They had failed to fulfill their function as leaders because they were drunk. Verse 7 continues: "...The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they err in vision, they stumble in judgment."

Look at the ugliness of verse 8: "For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean." Isaiah finds them at some party in a drunken stupor, having vomited all over the tables. So he unloads his message of rebuke and of coming judgment.

Do you know what their reaction is? They mock him, scorn him, chide him, and deride him. Look at what they say in verse 9: "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts." In other words, "Who could he ever teach? Babies!" Why? "Because he always goes `precept...upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little' (v. 10). He must think we're babies. He keeps repeating the same simple stuff over and over again."

So, they mock him. They don't appreciate his attitude, so they begin to sneer at the prophet and call his teaching simple and childish. He tried to teach them over and over again, but they never heard him. So, in verses 11-12, Isaiah speaks for God, and says, "For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest by which ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear." In other words, God says, "You wouldn't hear the simple, repeated, childlike message of Isaiah, so I'm going to talk to you in a language you'll never understand." He was referring to the babbling Babylonians who had already encompassed their city, who would take them out of their land, destroy them, slaughter them, and burn them. And when they began to hear that unintelligible language of Babylonia, they would know that the judgment of God had fallen. By the way, the Babylonian invaders did come in 588 B.C. Because of Judah's unbelief and apostasy, God brought a terrible judgment.

b) Deuteronomy 28:49

The people of Israel had been warned before the warning we just saw in Isaiah. Back in the fifteenth century before Christ, Moses gave the following warning in Deuteronomy 28:49: "The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand." I believe that this warning could have reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

So, in the fifteenth century, God warned them that when they heard a strange language it would mean judgment. And in the eighth century, God warned them through the prophet Isaiah that when they heard a strange language it would mean judgment. There was also a similar warning in the sixth century by the prophet Jeremiah:

c) Jeremiah 5:15

That great weeping prophet said, "Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD; it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say."

In the Old Testament, then, God had clearly pointed out to the people of Israel that when they were going to be judged there would be a sign. That sign was that they would hear a language they couldn't understand.

2) New Testament Warnings of Judgment

When Paul quotes Isaiah 28 in 1 Corinthians 14, he is saying, "Look, just as when Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah said it, those languages are a sign to the unbeliever that God is about to act in judgment." That's what he's saying. "But what did it mean in Paul's generation?" you ask. Well, when they began to speak those languages on the Day of Pentecost, every Jew should have known that the judgment of God was eminent. And it was! In A.D. 70, the Roman Emperor came in and wiped out Jerusalem. And the sacrificial system of Judaism, which ceased when the Temple was destroyed, has never been restored. They should have known the judgment of God was going to fall.

If the judgment of God fell on the unbelief and apostasy of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C., and if the judgment of God fell on the unbelief and apostasy of the Southern Kingdom in 586 B.C., then it seems to me that God's judgment would certainly fall on a nation that turned its back on and crucified its own Messiah in the first century. Well, it did. It also seems to me that once the destruction of Jerusalem came in A.D. 70, the whole purpose for the gift of languages ceased. It did! The gift of tongues was never intended to be something for a Christian. That's not my opinion; it's what 1 Corinthians 14:22 says. The gift of tongues was for a Jew who didn't believe, so that he might know God was going to act in judgment.

a) Proclaimed by Jesus

In Luke 13:35 Jesus said, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate...." And in Luke 21:20, He carried it a step further: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is near." Then in verse 24: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shalt be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles...." In other words, Jesus was saying, "Hey, judgment is coming!"

b) Presented in Acts

This purpose for the gift of tongues can be traced and verified in the book of Acts. In Acts 2, many unbelieving Jewish people were present. And later on in the book of Acts when speaking in tongues occurred (in chapters 8, 10, and 19), even though there were no unbelieving Jews present, the message of judgment was still the same. The recurrence of the same phenomenon that occurred at Pentecost reinforced, in the mind of the believing Jews present, the reality that God was going to judge the nation of Israel. Also, when these believing Jews told their fellow countrymen what had occurred, God's judgment would again be confirmed.

So first of all, and primarily, the gift of tongues is a sign of cursing to unbelieving Israel. A secondary purpose, which is actually a residual effect of the primary purpose, is that the gift of tongues is also...

b. A Sign of Blessing

When tongues occurred at Pentecost, the message to the Jews was this: "God's not going to work exclusively through one nation any longer--speaking only one language. God's not going to favor one people any longer. Instead, God's going to go to the world and through the world to build His church." You see, the very fact that all those languages were spoken at Pentecost was God's way of saying, "It's all over for the uniqueness of Israel. I'm going to speak in the world's languages and build the church that was hidden in the Old Testament."

So primarily, tongues speak as a sign of the curse on Israel. But notice that a residual effect of that curse is the blessing that comes to the whole world. You see, as Christ turned away from a rebellious people, He opened His arms to the world. So the gift of tongues was also a sign of blessing, residually. Paul speaks to this issue in Romans 11:12 when he talks about the fall of the Jews becoming the riches of the world. Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel was temporarily set aside--and we became beneficiaries as God reached out to us.

At Pentecost, the disciples suddenly burst out declaring the wonderful works of God in every language (Ac. 2:11). This was an unmistakable sign that a transition had come--a curse on one hand, but a blessing on the other. And even Jews could still come to God, couldn't they? Three thousand Jews were saved on the Day of Pentecost (Ac. 2:41). So in a sense, while being a judicial sign of a curse, residually it was also a sign of blessing. A third purpose for the gift of tongues is that it is...

c. A Sign of Authority

Who were the great messengers who preached this transition? Who were the men of God who spoke of the curse and the judgment? Who were the men of God who spoke of the blessing to come to all nations? The Apostles and the prophets. And it was to them that God gave the ability to speak these languages as an authenticating, validating sign that what they were saying was indeed the truth. To the Jewish mind, the idea that God would make such a transition, would be so shocking, so shattering, so incomprehensible, so stupendous, that there would have to be some kind of reinforcement that what they were saying was true. So God gave them the ability to speak these languages.

In 1 Corinthians 14:18, Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all." The gift of tongues authenticated Paul's position as an Apostle, as well as the other sign gifts that he had. He even said, in 2 Corinthians 12:12, that he had "the signs of an apostle...signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." So, the gift of tongues was a sign of authority to those who preached the message of transition.

A good way to remember this threefold purpose of the gift of tongues is to remember it as the ABC's of the purpose of tongues: A (authority), B (blessing), and C (cursing). The purpose of tongues is not private devotions, evangelism, or a proof of Spirit baptism. The purpose of tongues was very unique. Once the transition was made, the church was born, and Jerusalem was destroyed, the sign was no longer necessary.

When is a sign no longer necessary?

When I take a trip somewhere, I rely on signs to tell me how close I am to my destination. For example, if I'm driving north from L.A. to Sacramento, the first sign I see may indicate that I have 300 miles to go. The next sign may say, "Sacramento--200 miles," then, "Sacramento--150 miles," then, "Sacramento--30 miles." Once I arrived in Sacramento, however, the signs would stop. Why? Because the purpose for the signs, as they pointed ahead to something, ceased once the destination was reached. Well, tongues were a sign. They pointed to something--a curse of God upon Israel. And once the curse came, the sign was no longer necessary.

3. THE PRIORITY OF PROPHECY DEMANDED (v. 22b)

"...but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them who believe."

Prophesying isn't restricted to unbelievers during a limited period of history; it is for believing people through all the years of the church age. Tongues were a sign, pointing to something else; but prophesying is something in and of itself. The New American Standard Version has the phrase, "prophecy is for a sign," in verse 22. They did put it in italics, indicating that it's not in the original, but it's an unfortunate translation. Prophecy is not a sign! Prophesying doesn't point to something, it is something. Prophesying is that which edifies. Verse 3 says, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." Verse 4 says, "...he that prophesieth edifieth the church." And verse 1 says, "...desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." You say, "What does it mean to prophesy?" It simply means "to proclaim the Word of God."

The Corinthian church was characterized by hysterical, selfish, self-centered, ego-building confusion. So Paul says, "Cut all that stuff out. Tongues have a specific purpose, for a specific time, to accomplish a specific thing. But when you meet together, seek to prophesy and proclaim the truth." It's far more important to preach the Word.

Did you know that there is absolutely no record in the entire Bible of anything ever said by anybody in tongues? Do you know why? Because it was a sign that was meant to pass away. It had no lasting value, even in a revelatory sense. But on the other hand, Peter calls the entire Bible "a more sure word of prophecy" (2 Pet. 1:19). You see, there's just no comparison between something that's a sign and something that's a reality.

So, tongues are a sign to unbelieving Jews, attached irretrievably to one point in redemptive history. They served well to show that Christianity was not to be distinctly Jewish, but worldwide. They served to corroborate and authenticate the speakers and the messengers who brought that message. And they served to show Israel that they had again rejected God in unbelief and apostasy. People say, "Well, don't you think that tongues could have a purpose today?" No. If tongues were around today, they would still have to have the same purpose that they always had. And what point would there be in signifying today that God is moving away from Israel to open the gospel to the nations? He did that two thousand years ago. That's fairly clear, isn't it? We don't need more information on that. It's already done.

Now, having stated the purpose of tongues, watch how Paul relates it to the assembling together of the Corinthians:

C. The Purpose Scrutinized (vv. 23-25)

1. THE RESULTS OF TONGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY (v. 23)

"If, therefore, the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"

Why would someone entering the Corinthian assembly think that they were mad? Well, there are two reasons. Reason number one: If the person was a Gentile, he wouldn't understand the sign of tongues. Reason number two: If the person was a Jewish unbeliever, the true gift of tongues wouldn't mean anything to him because of the chaotic way in which it was exercised. In verse 27, Paul states that when the true gift is used properly, there would only be two or three people in the entire church who would speak in tongues, and each one would do it in order-- not all at the same time.

So, when an unbeliever came into the Corinthian assembly, he said, "These people are mad!" Now, the word "mad" (Gk. mainomai) is a word that means "frenzied." Plato used this word to describe the ecstatic experiences that were involved in pagan worship. In other words, an unbelieving Gentile would enter the Corinthian church and say, "Hey, this is no different than the temple of Diana." And an unbelieving Jew who entered the church would say the same thing. You say, "But tongues were supposed to be a sign to the Jews." Yes, that's true. But if it was exercised in a chaotic fashion, it wouldn't mean anything to them--even if it was the true gift used in the wrong way.

So, the gift of tongues was a specific gift, to be used at a specific time, in a specific way, with a specific person in mind, with a specific intent. Apart from that, its significance is nonexistent. "On the other hand," says Paul, "instead of speaking in tongues in your assembly, prophesy." Look at verses 24-25:

2. THE RESULTS OF PROPHECY IN THE ASSEMBLY (vv. 24-25)

"But if all prophesy [speak the Word of God], and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth."

Tongues are useless to edify either the church or an individual, and they're useless to evangelize. They were simply a pre-evangelism sign to a nation that it had been cursed. So Paul says, "Rather than speaking in tongues, make sure that you are proclaiming God's Word to edification, exhortation, and consolation. Then, when an unbeliever comes into your midst, some amazing things are going to happen...

a. "...he is convicted of all..."--In other words, he will feel guilt.

b. "...he is judged of all"--In other words, the verdict will be rendered that he feels guilty, because he is guilty.

c. "...the secrets of his heart [will be] made

manifest..."--In other words, his sin will become apparent--unmasked.

Then in humiliation, with a sense of self-condemnation...

d. "...falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you..."--In other words, he will say, "I have found the true God here in your midst."

Paul's point is this: "You're going to get results if you prophesy." Beloved, don't you want that to be the case in your fellowship? Don't you want the people who come into your fellowship to see God? You don't want confusion. You want to be obedient to God's pattern. This is a thrilling promise to a church that exalts the proclamation of the Word of God. The impact will be tremendous. But a service of speaking in tongues will produce sterility in the congregation and confusion among the visitors.

The gift of tongues was very limited and very regulated, for a day and time that has long since passed. And what we're seeing today, I'm afraid to say, is the Corinthian perversion all over again. Now, I'm not questioning the motives of those who claim to have the gift of tongues. I'm just saying that they have the same approach to an individual, private prayer language that was characteristic of the pagan mystery religions. Beloved, I want to exalt the Word of God and lift it up. It is the "more sure word of prophecy" and contains all the answers to everything. I hope you're devoted to the truth.

Someone who I've been patiently discipling for three years called me recently and said, "John, I just had the greatest spiritual breakthrough I've ever had. Something just happened in my life that has dramatically transformed me. I finally understand what you've been saying to me for three years. I want the Word of God so much, that it's consuming me." Then he said, "I just want you to know that if somebody told me I would have to choose between my Bible and food and water, I would tell them to take the food and water and leave my Bible. That's my sustenance! I have to have it to live." Well, that's great, isn't it? God help all of us to be people of the Book--not seeking the experience but seeking the truth; fruitful in our understanding; and ministering to each other that which edifies and builds up.

Focusing on the Facts

1. What did the Corinthian Christians believe the gift of tongues was for? 

2. Why is it important to determine the biblical purpose for the gift of tongues? 

3. According to most Pentecostals and Charismatics, what is the major purpose for the gift of tongues? How does this view compare to the view that the Corinthian church had? 

4. Based on Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 14, why can't tongues be defined as a self-edifying, devotional, prayer language? 

5. Discuss the possibility of evangelism as the purpose of tongues. Is this what occurred on the Day of Pentecost? Explain. 

6. Some people suggest that speaking in tongues is proof of being baptized by the Holy Spirit. What are the problems with this view? 

7. What did Paul mean when he told the Corinthians to stop being children in their understanding? Why were they in this state? 

8. In what ways were the Corinthians evil toward one another? 

9. According to 1 Corinthians 14:22, what is the purpose of tongues? Does this verse leave any room for the notion that the gift of tongues can be used as a private prayer language? Explain. 

10. Basically, the purpose of tongues as a sign is threefold: a sign of _____, a sign of _____, and a sign of _____. 

11. What Old Testament passage does Paul quote in 1 Corinthians 14:21? Why does he do this? 

12. Was the concept of tongues as a sign of cursing (or judgment) an unfamiliar one to the Jews that were present on the Day of Pentecost? Explain. 

13. If the speaking in tongues that occurred on the Day of Pentecost was a sign to unbelieving Jews of impending judgment, what were the specifics of that judgment and when did it take place? 

14. On what date did the purpose for the gift of tongues cease? Why? 

15. How can tongues be seen as a sign of blessing? 

16. God gave the Apostles and the prophets the gift of tongues for what unique purpose? 

17. How does Paul compare tongues and prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14:22? Based on this comparison, which gift is superior? Why? 

18. Why isn't it possible that tongues could have a valid purpose today? 

19. Why would someone entering the Corinthian assembly think that they were mad? 

20. What is the literal meaning of the Greek word translated "mad" in verse 23? What light does this shed on what was going on in the Corinthian assembly? 

21. In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Paul describes the response of an unbeliever who enters into a church where the proclamation of God's Word is emphasized. What steps lead to this response? 

22. According to verses 23-25, why should a church exalt the proclamation of the Word of God instead of emphasizing speaking in tongues? 

Pondering the Principles

1. Paul told the Corinthians to stop being children in their spiritual understanding and to grow up to be men (1 Cor. 14:20). On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your spiritual understanding? What can a Christian do to increase his spiritual understanding? What steps are you taking, or will you commit to take, to become spiritually mature?

2. In the Old Testament, God constantly pleaded with His people to repent from their wicked ways. And when they didn't, He warned them of coming judgment--even then, giving them the opportunity to repent. But when they refused to repent, God always followed through with His promise of judgment. As Christians, God promises to discipline and chasten us when we disobey Him. Fortunately, He has given us the Holy Spirit to convict us when we sin. And graciously, He allows us the opportunity to continually confess our sin to Him. However, if we don't listen to His convictions, and we shut our ears to His warnings, we will suffer the consequences of that sin. In fact, sin that is not repented of can cause sickness and even death (see 1 Cor. 11:29-30; 1 Jn. 5:16). Will you take a moment to examine your own life for any willful disobedience or defiance? Confess it, and then thank God for forgiving your sin and for cleansing you from all your unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).