1 There has been a lot of debate over the year about the topic of speaking in tongues. What is it exactly?

Is it biblical and what is its role in the church? Is it even for the church or is it for unbelievers? All of these different questions have been controversial in churches for quite some time. To find the answers believers should look back to the scripture, and one passage that refers to the subject of speaking in tongues is 1 Corinthians 14:1-25. 1 This particular Pauline Epistle talks about many different topics that the church of Corinth were going through ranging from sexual immorality to the roles in marriage. In chapter fourteen Paul address the topic of tongues and prophecy. It is important when reading 1 Corinthians that when reading it you need to take in historical, literary, and all the issues going on at the time to understand what the author is really trying to get at. Historical Context The city of Corinth suffered from many crises, but the biggest calamity was inflicted by Rome in 146 BC. The Roman general L. Mummius destroyed the city all the way to the ground and sold many of the citizens into slavery.2 But Corinth would not always stay that way, because of where the city was located right by an isthmus between Peloponnesus and Greece. It became a very important port city. Corinth became a main way of travel from North to South because there was no other way to get from Greece to Peloponnesus and vise versa. It also became a route boats took from east and west also is of the port and also it took six extra days to go around Peloponnesus. 3 Corinth was different than the other Roman colonies in that it wasnt settled by army veterans, those who were sent to Corinth were often recruited from the urban poor of Rome and
1 2

All scripture references are taken from the New International Version of the Bible. F.F. Bruce, Corinthians I and II (New Century Bible), New edition ed. (New York: Harpercollins/STL, 1981), page 18. 3 Gary M. Burge, Lynn H. Cohick and Gene L. Green, The New Testament in Antiquity (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009), page 294.

2 even some of them were freed slaves. But even with these differences in the people who settled this city, Corinth was still patterned after Rome. Its government consisted up of a council, also known as a boule. Only freedmen could serve on the boule. There were also two elected chief magistrates that presided over everything. After this government was more in place Corinth

soon became the capital of Achaia, a Roman province. This in turn made sure that Corinth was no longer a Greece city; it was now a city that would become the center of Roman culture in Greece. 4 Since Corinth was a city where many came and many passed through there were many differences of cultures and groups of people and with that brought a lot of immorality. It was this setting that Paul stepped into when he visited Corinth. His only goal was to preach Christ, and thats what he did. He went out preached; this preaching affected the lives of many in Corinth. Paul laid the foundation for the Christian church in Corinth. Then others built on that foundation that Paul had laid. But just because of the founding of this church doesnt mean that it was without its faults. There were separation of poor and rich in the church, arguments

about eating food offered to Idols, disagreements about marriage, and many other topics. All these different reason are why Paul wrote his first letter to the church of Corinth. 5 Literary Context 1 Corinthians is set up in the style of a Pauline letter. It has a from and to statement (1:1-2), grace and peace (1:3), thanksgiving (1:4-8), a body (1:10-15:58), final instructions (16:1-16), and final greetings (16:19-24). Even though this is a letter according to Artemon, There is often nothing so difficult to understand as a letter. This is because we dont know

4 5

Richard A. Horsley, 1 Corinthians (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998), page 24-25. C. K. Barrett, First Epistle to the Corinthians, The (Black's New Testament Commentary) (Peabody, MA: Baker Academic, 1993), page 5.

3 what the letter that Paul was responding to was, so we cannot fully know what he was replying to. 6 We can guess from what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth was struggling with many different issues and that the church wrote to Paul in order to get guidance on how to act. The letter starts off with a powerful arrangement of the cross and how it is the revelation of the Gods wisdom in power (1:17-25). Paul then goes into many different topics and discussing how Christians should be when it comes to these things. 7 The church was struggling with members of the church identifying themselves with different church leaders and Paul had to set them straight that they should be saying that they should be a follower of Christ and no other.
8

Paul gives arguments that are meant to persuade

the readers, he didnt write this letter in order to change the doctrinal treaties that were meant to form Christian belief. He uses this argumentation to help accomplish this task of persuading.
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Corinthians is a practical letter. Even though it is complex it is still practical principles of what the Christians at that time should do about the problems that were going on.
10

Paul

wrote to an immediate situation, he was not thinking of modern day readers when he wrote this letter. He was writing specifically to the early church at Corinth, it was writing to what they were struggling with and going through. 11 In the passage of 1 Corinthians Paul was addressing the issue of speaking in tongues and also prophecy.

William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians. Revised Edition. The Daily Study Bible Series (Edinburg, Scotland: The Westminster Press, 1975), page xiii. 7 Judith L. Kovacs, ed., 1 Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Pub Co, 2005), page xxi. 8 Gary M. Burge, Lynn H. Cohick and Gene L. Green, The New Testament in Antiquity (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009), page 300. 9 Richard A. Horsley, 1 Corinthians (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998), page 22. 10 C. K. Barrett, First Epistle to the Corinthians, The (Black's New Testament Commentary) (Peabody, MA: Baker Academic, 1993), page 5. 11 William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians. Revised Edition. The Daily Study Bible Series (Edinburg, Scotland: The Westminster Press, 1975), page xvi.

4 Content Verse one of first Corinthians fourteen states that is was apparent in previous chapters that there was a misunderstanding in Corinth. This is why Paul felt the need to write this letter. Some of what Paul has said has been in reference to spiritual gifts. And now it was time to address the topic of the gift of tongues.12 Verse one recognizes how important love is, which is a good connector from the previous chapter which is known as the love chapter.
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After this first verse Paul starts getting into the meat of this subject. In verse two he really dives into the matter of speaking in tongues and what it means to the people of God. Speaking in tongues was more common in the early church than it is now a day.
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At first

glance when reading verse two one might think that speaking in tongues is just a personal prayer langue between you and God because the word says For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. So if you were to take that verse out of context speaking in tongues is only a prayer langue. But you have to read the rest of the passage to fully understand the context of what this particular gift is. 15 Paul starts going into detail about the gift and how that it is useless without an interpreter. This statement conflicts with the idea of this gift being a personal prayer langue between you and God. But then why in verse two does it say that you speak not to men, but to God. According to William Barclays commentary when Paul says that you speak to God and

12

F W Grosheide, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS the English Text with Introduction, Exposition and Notes (New International Commentary) (Ann Arbor, MI: Wm B Eerdmans, 1974), page 316. 13 C. K. Barrett, First Epistle to the Corinthians, the (Black's New Testament Commentary) (Peabody, MA: Baker Academic, 1993), page 314. 14 William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians. Revised Edition. The Daily Study Bible Series (Edinburg, Scotland: The Westminster Press, 1975), page 128. 15 H. A. Ironside, I Corinthians (Addresses On the First Epistle to the Corinthians) (Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux, 1973), page 439.

5 not men Paul is meaning that speaking in tongues is not impresses men, but it is to glorify God. When one uses this gift it is to spread the word of God to people who dont know it.
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Continuing on to verse three Paul states what the aim of teaching must be. It is to build up a mans knowledge in the truths of God and it must encourage. If someone who says that they have the gift of tongues is not doing these things to the glory of God and they must be also raising up and encouraging the people around them then they do not have the gift of tongues according to Paul.
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This gift must be edifying to the church. When people hear the word of

the Lord being taught in their own langue it encourages and helps their spiritual relationship grow stronger. This is what the gift of tongues purpose is. 18 Paul then changes subject for a little bit to the gift of prophecy, but then in verse fourteen he goes back to talking about tongues. Paul says that he thanks God that he speaks in tongues more than they do, which is saying that Paul had this gift and that it probably a fact that most people dont know about this apostle. (Verse 18)
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Paul goes on to say that when you

are speaking in tongues you better be praying that someone may interpret it, because without interpretation speaking in tongue is worthless.
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Paul also states in verses twenty through twenty-five the speaking in tongues is for the unbeliever and not for the believer. If unbelievers come into the church and hear people just

16

William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians. Revised Edition. The Daily Study Bible Series (Edinburg, Scotland: The Westminster Press, 1975), page 128. 17 William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians. Revised Edition. The Daily Study Bible Series (Edinburg, Scotland: The Westminster Press, 1975), page 144. 18 F.F. Bruce, Corinthians I and II (New Century Bible), New edition ed. (New York: Harpercollins/STL, 1981), page 130. 19 Judith L. Kovacs, ed., 1 Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Pub Co, 2005), page 232. 20 F W Grosheide, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS the English Text with Introduction, Exposition and Notes (New International Commentary) (Ann Arbor, MI: Wm B Eerdmans, 1974), page 322.

6 talking in random gibberish then they are going to be turned away from the church and the good news of Christ. When they walk into that type of setting them would more than likely think that everyone there is crazy and would run away as fast as possible and never look back at the church.
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But if someone who is an unbeliever hears you speaking in tongues and they are

able understand you it will help attract them to the church. When you hear someone speaking in your home langue one is more likely to feel at ease and more willing to listen to what you would be saying. Unbelievers listen to what they understand and not gibberish.
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Pauls

closing note about this spiritual gift is that there is a time and place to do it and that whenever it is done it needs to be done in the glory of God. Conclusion This passage verifies that the gift of speaking in tongues is not a personal prayer langue between someone and the Lord. Its purpose is to bring glory to God. By reaching out to unbelievers and helping them come know the Lord. It is repeated several times that speaking in tongues without interpretation is worthless, it doesnt do anyone any good. Therefore to be effective speaking in tongues needs an interpretation or someone who understands what you are saying. Paul says it best what speaking in tongues should be and what it should accomplish for the unbelievers. And the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you! (1Corinthians 14:25)
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21

F.F. Bruce, Corinthians I and II (New Century Bible), New edition ed. (New York: Harpercollins/STL, 1981), page 133. 22 Richard A. Horsley, 1 Corinthians (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998), page 185. 23 Judith L. Kovacs, ed., 1 Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Pub Co, 2005), page 235.