First Corinthians

First Corinthians was taught by Dr. James Modlish
Outline provided by Randy Rogers

 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Intro: Chapter 14, could best be summed up as the guidelines on how “tongues” should be used in the local assembly. Paul explains where the Corinthians are wrong in their approach to tongues and their use.

The term “unknown” is mentioned 6 times in this chapter. This term is a reference to a tongue that the speaker does not know, or the hearer does not know or understand.

While Charismatics like to flaunt this term, they don’t understand it true meaning. This will become clear as the chapter proceeds.

14:1 “Follow after” - In this verse, Charity could be classified as a “way” in which to follow. Making charity a life long lifestyle, as it were, is a good thing.

“Desire Spiritual Gifts” - NOthing wrong with desiring spiritual gifts as you travel along this way called “Charity.” Paul admonished the Corinthians to “covet” the best gifts
(1 Cor. 12:31).

Prophecy is one of the “best gifts” that a Christian can have.

14:2 Now we come to the first of six times that the term “unknown” is used in relation to tongues. One thing to notice about this term is this - In your King James AV1611 Bible, the translators were honest enough to put in ‘italics” words that were not found in the original texts. This was done so that the reader would understand they were added, and to make proper English grammar, and also they could see which ones were added. The new Bibles which come from corrupt Greek and Hebrew manuscripts have none of this. They just simply leave out the words altogether, or put them in the margin with a footnote stating they should not be in the text, because latter manuscripts… blah, blah, blah!

Here is an example of how the translators added words to make proper English sentences. In Greek the word “my” does not exist. The word appears like this - mou and is pronounced as - mou {moo}. In a Greek sentence you would say, “The brother of me,” went to the store.” In English you would say, “My brother went to the store.”

It is quite clear after reading this chapter, that all the italicized words in your King James AV1611 Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit who wrote the book.

“Tongues” - in you Bible are languages (Acts 2:6)

There are 3 different types of tongues or languages in your Bible:

[1]. “New tongues” - Languages that are new and the speaker has not learned them (Mk. 16:17).
[2]. “Other tongues” - Languages that are not the native tongue of the speaker (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 14:21), which he may have learned and the hearer understands (1 Cor. 14:18).
[3]. “Unknown tongues” - These are languages that are unknown to everyone in the congregation, and need an interpreter (vs. 13, 27).

“Speaketh not... but unto God” - Some of the Corinthians were speaking languages that no one knew or understood, so they were not speaking unto men but unto God. Only God had the understanding. They were speaking mysteries!

“In the spirit” - This is not a reference to the Holy Spirit, but “mans spirit” (1 Cor. 2:11).

14:3 Prophecy does much more to edify, exhort, and comfort the brethren than speaking in tongues.

14:4 “Edifieth himself” - This is what happens when you speak in a tongue or language that no one else knows or understands. Many Charismatics like the fact that they can speak in tongues, and have often said that they are more “spiritual” than those who do not speak in tongues. The conversation goes something like this - If you have the Baptism of the Holy Ghost you will have the evidence of speaking in tongues, and since you don’t speak in tongues, you are not filled with the Holy Ghost.

These same people can’t read in the Bible where the evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost is speaking the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31), not speaking in tongues.

14:5 Paul states that he wish that they all spoke with tongues, but more importantly, that they prophesied. Once again you see Paul stating that there is a gift that is greater than tongues, and that is Prophecy. The only exception (which proves the rule) would be if the person speaking in tongues interprets what he has spoken.

14:6 Paul does have the ability to speak in tongues. He spoke in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

“By revelation” - this is something that God has revealed to him.
“By knowledge” - something that he already knows.
“By prophesy” - something that is in the future.
“By doctrine” - teachings from the Word of God.

14:7 This is pretty self explanatory in that a piano does not sound the same as a trumpet. When you are at a concert and the music says that a trumpet should give out a loud peel, it sure would sound funny if the banjo chimed in and strummed a cord or two.

Just banging around on a piano does not mean that you are producing music, but rather just a bunch of noise. There is no life to it… you don’t know what is being played.

14:9 Speaking words that are not understandable is like talking to the air. There’s no fruit that comes from it.

14:10 Tongues do have significance in the world, since they are languages. Look at the list in Acts 2 and the names of the people are listed there.

14:11 Barbarian was someone that did not know the language of that time.

14:12 The Corinthians were no doubt very zealous of spiritual gifts, but needed to spend more time on edifying the church that glorifying the fact that they may have had gifts.

Notice that Paul never asks to covet tongues (see 12:31; 14:1,5).

14:13 The unknown tongue here is a reference to a tongue that no one knows. Paul states that the speaker should pray that he interprets.

This is taking place in a local assembly, and not in a private prayer room somewhere.

14:14 Paul says his spirit prays and is understanding is unfruitful. Even though Paul understands what he prayed, the others aren’t getting it.

Here it is talking about man’s spirit (vs. 16).

“My understanding” - people being able to understand what Paul is speaking, not his own understanding of what he spoke. No fruit is being born among the hearers, since they don’t understand the tongue.

14:15 Pray and Sing with both.

14:16 “Unlearned” - has not learned the language.

14:18 Paul knew more than one language and spoke in more tongues than the Corinthians.

14:19 Put it out there where the other guy can get understand it.

14:20 Paul is simply say GROW UP! If you want to act like children and get mad at me go ahead, but act like men when it comes to understanding.

14:21 “Law” - (Isa. 28:11)
“This People” - Jews (Acts 2, 10, 19)

14:22 Since the Jews require a sign (1 Cor. 1:22), tongues are not for the Christian. They are a sign to Israel that God is dealing with them. The Jewish nation started out with signs in Exodus 4.

Every time that tongues is spoken, there is an unbelieving Jew present (Acts 2, 10, 19).

14:23 The Corinthians abused the use of tongues by all of them trying to speak at the meeting.

14:25 If the spirit is moving and is in a sermon that the preacher is preaching, an unsaved fellow will think that the preacher has been looking in on him, or someone has told him about what he has been doing.

14:26 “A Psalm” - Song in the heart.

“A Doctrine” - Truth from the Scripture.
“A Tongue” - A language that God has given him.
“A Revelation” - What God has shown him in his studies.
“An Interpretation” - God gives the meaning of the unknown language that is spoken.
Make sure that you edify, when using these things.

14:27 Here are the rules for speaking in tongues (commandments from Paul vs. 37)

Women are not to speak in tongues (vs. 34) This is a far cry from what goes on in the Charismatic and Pentecostal churches today. They are disobeying God’s word on the matter of tongues.

If there is an interpreter present let him interpret.

14:28 If no interpreter is present than the tongue speaker is to keep his mouth shut and speak to himself and God.

14:29 Rules are similar in that there needs to be order where 2-3 speak, and the other judge what is spoken. Prophecy is similar to Bible preaching (vs. 25).

14:32 Here Paul is speaking about the Human Spirit… there are no limitations on the holy Spirit, but there are on the Human Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-11).

Since the spirits of the prophets (human spirits) are subject unto the prophets, this nonsense about speaking in tongues uncontrollably is just that… nonsense. You better watch out when something forces you to speak against your will. Try the spirits to see whether they are of God or not (1 Jn. 4:1).

14:33 God is a God of order, unlike the Devil, who is a god of Chaos!

14:34 Here the women are not permitted to speak in tongues in the assembly.

[1]. A woman may testify and sing praises in church - (Psa. 105:6).
[2]. A woman is not to be the pastor of a church (1 Tim. 3:1-7).
[3]. She may not teach nor usurp authority over the man (1 Tim. 2:11-13).
[4]. The woman is subject unto the husband. (Gen. 3)

14:35 In reference to Tongues and Prophecy (vs. 31-33)

14:36 The Corinthians weren’t the only ones that received the word of God.

14:37 What Paul wrote was directly a commandment from God.

14:38 If your ignorant, then be ignorant. This is the Charismatic case, they don’t believe what Paul spoke about order, is the commandments of God (Tit. 3:10-11).

14:39 Here once again we see that tongues is last in a list of things to covert. Paul doesn’t even say to covet tongues, but does say not to forbid the speaking of them.

14:40 Make sure that you do all things decently and in order.

“Decently” - honestly.

“Order” - This is to avoid confusion (14:33).

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