1 Cor. 14
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 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.
When one speaks in tongues, it may not be known what they say, making this gift seem a bit selfish, however we can't really say it is, after all can we say that when a person prays in the spirit, that they are not praying for others?
Prophecy on the other hand is clear to everyone that hears it. Even if that word that comes to us, is meant to correct us or lift us up. One thing that we may miss in this, is that if one uses the gift loaned to them for self edification, they loss 2 things. First they loss the respect they were trying to gain, second that gift is removed from them. I know it doesn't say that, however as one loks at the gifts, and studies them, it becomes clear. This is why the ability to do the things Paul speaks of, I call loans, and not true gifts. After a gift is yours, and can't be removed. A loan on the other hand can be removed.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
Paul seems to trying to make it clear why speaking in tongues may not be seen as a good thing. Just a person that goes out side of their homeland, may well have find it hard to find what they are looking for, unless they first learn the language of the place they are going to. Yet one can't over look that this gift may be loaned to us in order that we can speak to others, even if we don't know their language. Is that not what was seen in Acts chapter 2?
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
It isn't hard to see what Paul is talking of. If one thinks of being in a place of learning, and never understanding a word that is said, you learn nothing at all. It would much better to understand what is said, so that we can learn. Yet that same time if you see, Mary lamb had a little. A little what? what ever it was the lamb was happy to have it.
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Though Paul uses Deut.28:49, and Isa. 28:11-12, one can also see Acts 2 in this. After all in Acts did not some 3000 turn to Yeshua that before seeing what was going on, didn't believe.
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
It is hard for one to say that Paul doesn't teach from the Tanakh when we read the above. Useing Temple Warship as the foundation, Paul teaches both order, as well the place of every person in the church. Don't get me wrong, if HaShem moves a women to give a word of encouragement or to correct us, we should never set that a said. Didn't Paul give thanks to many women in the book of Romans? In fact Phobeb was named as a deacon, a a sister, and a benefactor. The there is always, Priscilla, who along with her husband work along side Paul.
In the teaching that the Law was nailed to the cross, and is not longer valid, does it not also negate the words of Paul? After all if all the commandments are done away with, then for Paul to say his words are commandments from the Lord, removes all authority would it not? Yet as we know that Paul has never said the all commandments are done away with, this would not be the case. What it may be speaking of, is that Paul was in hopes that they would take his teaching seriously, as though it was a commandment from HaShem. In this case, one can't remove the attached idea that all commandments hold truth, and that is not Pauls intent to remove them. I am not telling any one that we must follow the letter of the law, keep in mind that we are to follow the spirit of the law. As noted before, the Holy Spirit leads us not into sin, but away from sin. He does this by leading us with in the Spiritual intent of Torah.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
