Many people believe that those speaking in tongues at Pentecost spoke in the languages of those present (though it says they heard them in their own language), but lets say this is true. That the tongue speakers literally were speaking in the language of the people and the people were not just hearing their language supernaturally. These tongues were obviously languages currently on the earth, presently used as people understood them. This in mind, lets pull some scriptures up about tongues that clearly reveals a contradiction from the tongues used at Pentecost and the gift of tongues used by the Corinthians.
Please note in the following verses that the gift of tongues requires an interpretation, where as the tongues used at Pentecost were understood by the people listening with no one interpreting.
1 Corinthians 14:2
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
Please note: The tongues aren't being used to speak to the people but to God. Therefore they aren't speaking in the language of the people present supernaturally, because "no one understands them." Also, "they utter mysteries..." which means it is hidden.
1 Corinthians 14:27
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
Please note: Each individual speaks in a tongue and then a person, the interpreter, interprets what has been said in tongues. The people don't understand the tongue like at Pentecost, these tongues "someone must interpret."
1 Corinthians 14:13
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
Please note: The tongue speaker may pray that he/she interprets what they have spoken in tongues. This even points to another interesting thing; a tongue speaker can interpret their own tongues by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Again, the tongues require an interpretation where as at Pentecost they did not (as the belief is they spoke in the languages of those present).
You may be asking, "For what reason?" After having read the previous verse. For this reason...
1 Corinthians 14:9-12
9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Please note: The person speaking in tongues is being encouraged to interpret (in verse 13) so as to edify those listening. Notice verse 9 says, "how will anyone know what you are saying?" This means there exist in the use of the gift of tongues languages that those present do not understand. This is, obviously, contrary to how Pentecost is perceived where the people understood the tongues being spoken.
1 Corinthians 14:14-17
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[a] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Please note: This verse makes it clear that those listening to the tongues are not edified in mind without an interpretation because "they do not know what you are saying". Again, this reveals a different aspect to tongues that are contrary to how people perceive Pentecost. People will say tongues must be a language of the earth, or in the language of those present but clearly in these verses the tongues need to be interpreted for the edification of those around them.
You may be wondering what the point of all these verses are and what exactly is the argument I am putting forth. Simply, I am addressing the false notion that tongues must be an understood language of those present (meaning the tongue speaker is speaking supernaturally the language of those present) and that Pentecost is, contrary to popular belief, not the complete definition of the gift of tongues and all its operations. In the verses above it even mentions "singing in the spirit" and "praying in the spirit" (in 1 Corinthians 14:14-16) which points to worship and private prayer life, in tongues (context reveals this).
So, the notion that the gift of tongues is simply being gifted with the ability to address a foreigner in their native tongue has been shown, scripturally, to be incorrect. VVe have verses that completely contradict this premise, and therefore means that tongues are far more varied than people give the gift credit. Rather, give the Lord credit as God has put this gift into believers for the edification of the body of Christ and self. Keep this in mind, the whole chapter's focus is to emphasize edifying others and that is why the tongue speaker is to pray to interpret.
VVe are to use this gift for singing in the Spirit, giving a message to the body of Christ (with an interpreter), private prayer, and even intercession on behalf of others. The Holy Spirit guides this gift in our spirit to the Father. Remember the source of the use of our gifts. Love. To edify and uplift others as the Lord leads us to use these gifts for His glory and His comfort towards us. This thread is simply to address false notions that limit tongues and its use in edifying the body of Christ. Use the gift wisely and lovingly, in order. Use it to praise God and use your gifts so that others praise Him. Hallelujah.
Please note in the following verses that the gift of tongues requires an interpretation, where as the tongues used at Pentecost were understood by the people listening with no one interpreting.
1 Corinthians 14:2
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
Please note: The tongues aren't being used to speak to the people but to God. Therefore they aren't speaking in the language of the people present supernaturally, because "no one understands them." Also, "they utter mysteries..." which means it is hidden.
1 Corinthians 14:27
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
Please note: Each individual speaks in a tongue and then a person, the interpreter, interprets what has been said in tongues. The people don't understand the tongue like at Pentecost, these tongues "someone must interpret."
1 Corinthians 14:13
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
Please note: The tongue speaker may pray that he/she interprets what they have spoken in tongues. This even points to another interesting thing; a tongue speaker can interpret their own tongues by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Again, the tongues require an interpretation where as at Pentecost they did not (as the belief is they spoke in the languages of those present).
You may be asking, "For what reason?" After having read the previous verse. For this reason...
1 Corinthians 14:9-12
9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Please note: The person speaking in tongues is being encouraged to interpret (in verse 13) so as to edify those listening. Notice verse 9 says, "how will anyone know what you are saying?" This means there exist in the use of the gift of tongues languages that those present do not understand. This is, obviously, contrary to how Pentecost is perceived where the people understood the tongues being spoken.
1 Corinthians 14:14-17
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[a] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Please note: This verse makes it clear that those listening to the tongues are not edified in mind without an interpretation because "they do not know what you are saying". Again, this reveals a different aspect to tongues that are contrary to how people perceive Pentecost. People will say tongues must be a language of the earth, or in the language of those present but clearly in these verses the tongues need to be interpreted for the edification of those around them.
You may be wondering what the point of all these verses are and what exactly is the argument I am putting forth. Simply, I am addressing the false notion that tongues must be an understood language of those present (meaning the tongue speaker is speaking supernaturally the language of those present) and that Pentecost is, contrary to popular belief, not the complete definition of the gift of tongues and all its operations. In the verses above it even mentions "singing in the spirit" and "praying in the spirit" (in 1 Corinthians 14:14-16) which points to worship and private prayer life, in tongues (context reveals this).
So, the notion that the gift of tongues is simply being gifted with the ability to address a foreigner in their native tongue has been shown, scripturally, to be incorrect. VVe have verses that completely contradict this premise, and therefore means that tongues are far more varied than people give the gift credit. Rather, give the Lord credit as God has put this gift into believers for the edification of the body of Christ and self. Keep this in mind, the whole chapter's focus is to emphasize edifying others and that is why the tongue speaker is to pray to interpret.
VVe are to use this gift for singing in the Spirit, giving a message to the body of Christ (with an interpreter), private prayer, and even intercession on behalf of others. The Holy Spirit guides this gift in our spirit to the Father. Remember the source of the use of our gifts. Love. To edify and uplift others as the Lord leads us to use these gifts for His glory and His comfort towards us. This thread is simply to address false notions that limit tongues and its use in edifying the body of Christ. Use the gift wisely and lovingly, in order. Use it to praise God and use your gifts so that others praise Him. Hallelujah.
