Understanding Spiritual Tongues (part 3)

This is the third part of a multi-part study.

view part 1, view part 2

Welcome back to part 3 of our study on Spiritual Tongues. In the first two parts of this study, we looked (appropriately) at the first two types and forms of tongues that Paul described in the first nineteen verses of 1^st Corinthians 14 – the private, personal tongue, and the public, prophetic tongue with interpretation. We saw the distinctions and individual use and purpose of each of those… and how neither of them are “useless” but how each has a specific purpose and benefit.

Now today in this study, we will be continuing with 1^st Corinthians 14, as we see Paul begin to transition to the third type and form of Spiritual Tongues, which is the evangelistic tongue. Where a person can speak another human language (one which they do not know), for the purpose of sharing Christ and the message of His Gospel to unbelievers who need to hear it. We see this most clearly in the book of Acts chapter 2. This type of tongues is no more or less valuable than any of the previous two types, and like the others, it has its place, its purpose, and its benefit, which we will see today.

So let’s pick-up right were we previously left off in last-weeks study by reading 1^st Corinthians 14:20-23:

“Brothers, be not children in understanding: however, in malice be you children, but in understanding be men.

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, said the LORD.

Why tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?”

Right in verse 20, we see something noteworthy regarding the will of God for us…. Do not be children in understanding, however be children in malice. And this is interesting because from this we can see that it is not God’s will for us to lack understanding – in-fact God wants us to be mature (not children) when it comes to understanding, including about these gifts of tongues. Naturally God wants us to know and fully understand the gifts that He gives, otherwise there is no point to giving the gifts at all! For example, if you give someone a computer as a gift, and they never bother to learn about it, how it works, or how to use it effectively, then the gift was ultimately pointless.

Sadly the same exact thing has been happening with God’s gift of tongues to us, because many people have been left completely oblivious to the fact that the gift even exists! Pastors, generally shy away from tongues, for fear of appearing “too crazy” or “extreme”, and some people have heard horror stories about “hyper-charismatic” or “hyper-pentacostal” experiences, and so they have been scared away from tongues altogether.

Yet I encourage you to remember what we learned way back in part one of this study, that the giver of tongues (and all the spiritual gifts) is God Himself! And God will never give us a bad, useless or worthless gift! So we should keep this in perspective here.

So the scripture here tells us to not be children in understanding (in other words, be mature) – but be children in malice… and the word “malice” which is used here, means malignity – to speak critically, or spitefully. Which is exactly what some Christian circles are doing regarding tongues (and the other gifts of the Spirit) whenever they claim that tongues is useless babble, gibberish, or demonic.

Remember that the Pharisees claimed that Jesus was using demon power to perform miracles, in Matthew 9:24, and 12:24; and Jesus warned them strongly about such an accusation, because it is a direct insult to the Holy Spirit of God.

In verse 21, right after the instruction to be mature in understanding, and to not be spiteful or critical of the gifts, Paul immediately quotes a prophetic scripture (Isaiah 28:11-12) where God has promised the third type of tongues, which is evangelistic tongues. He then continues to confirm this further in verse 22, by saying:

“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

Now, a question that must be addressed is, how can we be sure that this is a third type of tongue, and not just Paul still speaking about the second type (prophetic interpreted tongues)? And we find our answer right here in this verse… because as we know, the first two types of tongues (private personal, and public prophetic with interpretation), are both for believers.

The private personal tongue is for personal edification in Christ, and giving thanks to God

The public prophetic tongue with interpretation is for edification in Christ of the public assembly (the church).

In contrast to those, we see here in the verse that this third type of tongue is not for them that believe, but for the unbelievers! Then he continues that prophesying (including the prophetic tongue with interpretation) is not for the unbelievers, but for those that believe!

So Paul makes it very clear that each tongue is separate and distinct, each with a purpose and benefit in different situations. Each has a use, and none of them are useless.

Now in the next few verses, Paul explains some things that have been massively misunderstood over the years, and it’s mainly because of the fact that people have not properly grasped the two main points that we have been studying:

1. That there are three different types of tongues, and
2. That context is key, especially in this chapter of 1^st Corinthians 14

So let’s read the next few verses, and then we will break it down to examine it. Verses 23-25:

“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”

What we see here is that Paul says if the whole church comes together and everyone is speaking with tongues (the first or second kind), and someone else walks in… someone who is uneducated about spiritual tongues, or someone who doesn’t believe at all, they will think that everyone is crazy!

This is not an indictment against the use of tongues, it is simply a reiteration of the importance of a time and place for when tongues is useful, and how each spiritual tongue has unique purpose.

Paul then goes on to say that if on-the-other-hand, everyone in the assembly is prophesying (that is regular straight-up prophecy in a known human language, and someone uneducated about spiritual tongues, or someone who doesn’t believe walks in… they will be convicted of the truth, even though they don’t know or believe.

So as we prepare to close part 3 of this study today, let’s recap what we have seen so far in our study on tongues.

We have seen that there are three different and distinct kind of tongues, with different purposes for each. There’s the private, personal tongue… the public prophetic tongue with interpretation… and there’s the evangelistic tongue.

We have seen that the private tongue is exactly that private. It is for personal edification and building-up of yourself in Christ – not for public use.

We have seen that the public prophetic tongue with interpretation, and the evangelistic tongue are for public use.

The public prophetic interpreted tongue is for use in the public assembly of believers, to build-up and encourage believers in Christ.

While the evangelistic tongue is for use among unbelievers, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We also saw that God wants us to know and understand the spiritual gifts, including tongues, and not to spitefully speak against it, or remain in ignorance.

And as we conclude today, I would encourage you to spend some time in prayer about what we have seen so far, and let God Himself speak to you about His gift… and next week we will continue with part four, as we look at some of the public rules of order regarding both tongues and prophecy.

Be blessed.