Clarity on Tongues *
Clarity on Tongues
I use the NLT as my primary translation along with the NKJV & ESV. As I read through 1 Corinthians 14, to my understanding when it comes to speaking in tongues, there has to be an interpreter or an interpretation so we ourselves understand what’s being said.
Many have said that there is a benefit of speaking to God in tongues privately even without an interpretation because our spirit is the one speaking
But I point to them verse 2 & 14 that says we utter mysteries and we ourselves don’t know what we’re saying and other passages that emphasize in the NLT that the point of these gifts are to edify the church NOT oneself
They’ve pointed out verse 28 in the NLT which says:
1 Corinthians 14:28 NLT
“But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.”
I’m convinced the gift of tongues has ceased.
Speaking hypothetically, if tongues was still active cause many claim they speak in tongues, is it ok for them to speak in tongues privately even without an interpretation?
A: 1 Corinthians 14 simply includes instructions for a multi-lingual church gathering. Not the spooky-majooky of the gibberish of the charismatics today.
Tongues is the gift of HEARING in your own language, the talk of someone else that is NOT speaking your language. It is not an unknown language and is always interpreted by the hearers who do not speak the language of the speaker.
Tongues in scripture have ALWAYS been a method on God's part to show credibility of the message bringer to the hearer so that they can see that this must be a credible spear of God.
Tongues have ceased and are not happening anymore just as scripture says in I Corinthians 13:8-10, " Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears." Now that the cannon of Scripture is complete, the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of the credibility of the message and tongues are no longer needed so they have ceased.
One example how we would understand it would be the 2023 ai video clip going around. The person speaks in their native language and the 2 foreigners standing there hear it in their language with same vocal inflections and tones.
Pastor John MacArthur did a very good explanation on this in a sermon recently. I cant recall but it might be in pt 3 of 4.
He went on to speak about the most important part of that section/portion of Scripture which was the more important is Edification and Love.
You can find and listen to these here:
Tongues Series
Edification focus
Love
Related Resources
Errors of Charismaticism
Footnotes:
Thanks to Alan Kuehne for some answer material.
