Speaking In Tongues Privately
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I am going to attempt to show you that tongues can be used for private use.------------------------------------
1 Corinthians 14:2-4 King James Version (KJV)
2 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.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
First, and foremost, the gift of tongues being spoken of here specifically says that the language is being spoken to God, not man. This isn't me supernaturally speaking in a foreign dialect to a foreign people. This is me speaking in tongues, no matter the language, to the Lord. It is between God and I.
In verse 4 we see that the gift of tongues edifies the tongue speaker personally, where as prophesying edifies the church. This is important. Tongues, the gift, edifies the tongue speaker. This is emphasized multiple times in 1 Corinthians 14.
1 Corinthians 14:16-19 King James Version (KJV)
16 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?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 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.
There is a lot being said in the above verses, but lets go over each point. Tongues in this instance is not understood by the people hearing them, "seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest." So, again, tongues here is not speaking supernaturally in a language you are ignorant unto their edification (speaking a message to them in their language). They have no clue what you are saying.
Secondly, it says that through tongues you are giving "thanks well" but the other is not edified. Once again, the tongue speaker himself is using the gift of tongues and being edified ("blessing with the spirit"), and the audience (those hearing the tongues nearby) are not edified. Why? They don't know what you are saying, and it needs interpretation for them to be edified. Yet, the tongue speaker is edified regardless of interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:14, 1 Corinthians 14:17).
Thirdly, notice the apostles Paul's words here in verse 19. "Yet in the church" he'd rather speak five understood words than ten thousand in tongues. Notice, it can be inferred, that he speaks in tongues outside of the church. Yet in the church, as opposed to what? At home? In a home fellowship? In his prayer closet? In, can we speculate, private?
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 King James Version (KJV)
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
If the tongue speaker is speaking to himself and to God, is this not private? Please read verse 28 carefully. "Let him keep silence in the church", and we ask again, as opposed to where else? In private, which means we would "let him speak to himself and to God."
PS: Yes, this is a recent post of mine but I felt it needed its own thread.