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.
This is not about a supernatural gift at all. Paul is speaking to a group who are ignorant concerning the gifts of the Spirit and are not doing what is right. But you could say exactly what Paul is saying in the following circumstance. If I speak English in a church that is full of Germans who only speak German then I edify only myself because I am the only one that understands and connects with my words. I speak only to God and not to man as no man there can understand but God can. The word tongue is just language and there is no context here that indicates anything else.
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?
Pure speculation brother, it lines up again with someone who gives thanx to God in a language others don't speak. Thus he gives thanx to God but profits no one else as they do not speak the language.
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."An interpreter is of course someone who knows both the language of the speaker and the listeners. And is able to communicate the thoughts of one language to another. But if there is no one like that, then its better to not speak and just commune between God and yourself as it would not help anyone else.
PS: Yes, this is a recent post of mine but I felt it needed its own thread.
1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
People have made a big deal out of this chapter because the language is not modern. and they neglect the overall context of the book and especially the fist two chapters before this.
What this first verse says in modern english is simple: Make love your first priority and also its good to desire spiritual things, but only so that you can spread the word.
Paul's first point is not a comparison as some suggest but rather showing a reason for spiritual gifts, they are for edifying others that is their very purpose. They are not for self edification as it is written:
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
They are to profit everyone.
But notice this important point that many miss.
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
notice the gift of tongues and interpretation is separate from working of miracles. The working of miracles includes the miraculous unnatural gift of tongues in Acts. It includes healing and signs and wonders. everything else is not miraculous in nature at least to the human understanding.
They are all gifts as all good things come from God. Some are gifted with the ability to learn many languages but you will know that not all who can speak many languages are good at interpreting. Some are gifted healers they grasp the workings of the human body etc.
blessings hope this helps someone.