@ForthAngel,
and what of Scripture such as this?
Romans 8:26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
1 Corinthians 14: 2-4
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him;however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
and what of Scripture such as this?
Romans 8:26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
1 Corinthians 14: 2-4
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him;however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Look at the context:
Romans
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [SUP]21 [/SUP]that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [SUP]22 [/SUP]For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [SUP]23 [/SUP]And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.[SUP]24 [/SUP]For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [SUP]25 [/SUP]But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [SUP]27 [/SUP]And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [SUP]21 [/SUP]that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [SUP]22 [/SUP]For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [SUP]23 [/SUP]And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.[SUP]24 [/SUP]For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [SUP]25 [/SUP]But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [SUP]27 [/SUP]And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 14:2-4 is Paul correcting the church of Corinth for misunderstanding and misusing gifts. We already know from Acts 2 what the gift of tongues is. It's plainly stated there that it is human languages. Scripture doesn't contradict itself. The bible teaches against self-edification, therefore the tongues being practiced by the church at Corinth were in vain and useless. Paul was telling them to stop.
Paul says this in Romans:
Romans 14:19
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding [edification].
Why would he contradict himself?