1 Corinthians 14:13-19 - The iuuse of tongues

In verses 1-12 Paul is clearly concerned about the building of the whole body. He had placed priority and emphasis on prophecy over tongues that were not interpreted. He knew that prophecy has the potential of ministering to more people. When we come to verses 13-19, the concern for building up the whole body is still very much on Paul’s mind. So he said, if one chose to speak in tongue, that person should also pray to be given the ability to interpret what he had said.

 

In verse 14, Paul then veered into talking about tongue being used as a language of prayer. The context here seems to be in one’s private prayer time. That’s why instead of saying speaking in tongue, Paul said praying in tongue. Why did he use pray? He had already established earlier in verse 2 that he who speaks in tongue speaks mysteries to God. Prayer as we know is speaking to God. So he returned to the fact that when praying in tongue, one’s mind does not understand the words spoken. Should one therefore discard praying in tongue in private? No, of course not! Paul’s remedy is found in verse 15, i.e. to use both. For him the solution was to pray and sing in the language which his mind understood, and he would also do them with languages that his mind did not understand.   

 

In verse 16, he returned to the context of a public gathering and worship. Paul felt that it was better to pray in a language that everyone understood rather than in a language that no one could understand. Otherwise how could others who could not understand your language, agree with your prayer and join you in thanking God. Certainly, you might be giving thanks to God, but because the others could not understand, they would not be built up.  Then referring to himself as an example, Paul maintained that he spoke in tongue much more than any of them. But when in a Christian gathering, he would rather speak fewer words in a language that all could understand, rather than a lot of words in a language that they don’t. Why? So that they could be edified.

 

Praying in tongue is so misunderstood. Using logical analysis one would avoid using tongue that the mind cannot understand. Paul here gives us the right perspective. In using tongue, we speak to God and nothing can be more edifying than speaking and praying to God. But for the sake of the people attending a meeting, we should prefer the known language so that more can be benefitted by what we say in prayer. By all means pray in tongue in private. In public meeting, let’s seek to edify all.