Lesson 478

(Lesson 478)(12-06-12) 1 Corinthians 14:1-19, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."

Today's lesson concerns spiritual gifts. As Christian people we should all know that, through the gift of the Holy Ghost, it is possible for us to accomplish anything, even move mountains. Jesus gave the faithful that promise in Matthew 21:21, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."

We are able tp prophesy and or speak a foreign language if, in faith, we choose to do so. Paul makes it clear, in this lesson, that being a prophet is a much more beneficial gift than being able to speak in an "unknown tongue", (foreign language).
NOTE: Strong's Bible Dictionary defines "tongue" as follows: "The language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations".

There are many, very devout and sincere, religious groups who have taken on the, scripturally unsubstantiated, idea that Paul, when referring to the gift of "tongues", is referring to a spirit granted ability to utter some unconscious verbal sounds that even the speaker can't understand. These sounds are not a part of any known language and in order to be understood, according to those who believe in it, must be translated by another person who is also "in the spirit".

These folks sincerely and devoutly believe this verbal muttering is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and that it is, in some mysterious way, beneficial to the assembly of the Church. That notion however, is sadly and sincerely wrong.

In this lesson, Paul goes out of his way to demonstrate the meaninglessness of speaking in a tongue (language) that no one can understand.

The fact that he is NOT referring to some spiritual tongue and is indeed referring to different languages, is established when he said, he himself, spoke with many different tongues, "I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."

If Paul was referring to one, spirit driven, "unknown" tongue, as those who profess to believe in spiritual "tongues" do, he would not have said "different" tongues. Paul was very educated man and knew all the languages and dialects of the region, of which there were many at that time.

An "unknown" tongue, as the term is applied in this lesson, is simply the language of another nation or people.

This lesson, in general, demonstrates that gifts, of all kinds are available to those of us who believe and can be very beneficial in the spreading the gospel of Christ. We are encouraged to use all of our talents (gifts) to further the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, this lesson very clearly demonstrates that the ability to speak in a tongue no one can understand avails nothing and is simply a waste of time.~