1 Corinthians 14:13

1 Cor 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.Just a question: why is there a lack of interpretation of tongues being spoken today. I hear of so many people who speak in tongues, yet I have never heard of any of them being interpreted. Thanks

Just a question: why is there a lack of interpretation of tongues being spoken today. I hear of so many people who speak in tongues, yet I have never heard of any of them being interpreted.A New Christian once told me he was in a Charasmatic meeting where people would speak in tounges and another would rise up and give an interpretation.He said. A person spoke in tounges, and the person sitting beside him began to give an interpretation. But before he was recognized another stood and began interpreting it. He said. "But they gave different interpretations"This always stuck with me. It always seemed to me to be a waste of spiritual energy to have one speak gibberish and another "interprete". Why doesn't the Lord just give it in English if He is for direct inspiration?I have always found it instructive thet the only book in the NT which addresses speaking in tounges is the book of 1 cor which is a rebuke of those imature believers who gloried in gifts but were way laking in Life and spiritual maturity. Paul does not undermine the reality of thier gifts but seeks to lead them on to that which is on the Lord's heart. Not gifts but Christ Himself and the enjoyment of Christ and the living out of Christ and the building up of the Body of Christ. Fot this reason he elevated prophecy (speaking Christ) over tounges because to prophecy is to build up the body.IN the New Testament, to prophecy is not to foretell the future as many have perverted it to be. But rather to speak forth Christ by the Spirit in a living way to impart Christ to others and to speak the Light recieved from the Word.This was Paul's burden. Gifts and manifestations are for the beginner to encourage them. But Life and maturity and the building up of the body are the goal of God's economy and the purpose of all the epistles.Graftedbranch

It always seemed to me to be a waste of spiritual energy to have one speak gibberish and another "interprete". Why doesn't the Lord just give it in English if He is for direct inspiration?1Cr 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 1Cr 14:23 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 ye are mad?

{Quote} GraftedbranchIt always seemed to me to be a waste of spiritual energy to have one speak gibberish and another "interprete"..................................................Graftedbranch, the gift of speaking in tounges is not gibberish. You obviously don't know any better than to speak this way though.In Christ,GaryE

1Cr 14:23 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 ye are mad? Notice that this passage says 'all' and not a 'few', 'some', or even 'most.' If everyone were speaking with tongues I may 'think' that the folks were mad also if I were unlearned or an unbeliever. If it were the Day of Pentecost all over again, I may even say they were full of new wine, etc. No telling what I may think. However I think the clear emphasis in this passage is that there needs to be order to these things.

Quote:"Just a question: why is there a lack of interpretation of tongues being spoken today. I hear of so many people who speak in tongues, yet I have never heard of any of them being interpreted"I fear that there may indeed be a lack of both tounges and interpretation. Lord fogive me if I am in error, but the more difficult it is to authenticate a thing, the more abundant are the counterfits of it.

repentcanada wrote:Just a question: why is there a lack of interpretation of tongues being spoken today. I hear of so many people who speak in tongues, yet I have never heard of any of them being interpreted.I think one thing will help when you read tongues in the book of Acts and in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is their context. When tongues were manifested in the book of Acts (chapter 2, 10 and 19) it was the direct result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (i.e., baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of the Spirit, Promise of the Father). You will notice in these Acts passages how all the participants spoke in tongues simultaneously. In the Acts 2 passages, there was a special sign given that we see nowhere else, namely, that the hearers from all over the world could understand the tongues. How they understood them, I do not know whether it was because these Spirit-filled Galileans spoke in the dialects themselves or the Holy Spirit granted an interpretation to the listeners. The how is not so important to Luke as that is did happen.When you get into Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians, the context is a church meeting. The Corinthians, as is well known, were disorderly because of pride and lack of love, so Paul brought some guidelines for which these gifts to flow. Therefore, Paul is giving guidelines for tongues as a gift to the body of believers, which needs to have an interpretation for it to edify that assembly. The Corinthians thought it was very spiritual to have multiple speakers just keep getting up, give a message in tongues, have no interpretation, and think they had a very spiritual meeting. Paul says not so. Therefore, you see his orderly correction in 14:27 to have two or at most three speak in a tongue, with an accompanying interpretation.The gift of tongues in Acts that came with the outpouring of the Spirit was a special gift to praise the Lord, magnify God, bless, give thanks, etc. 'He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God...' (14:1). We know this is what prayer is. So God in the 'usual' sense of tongues is the intended recipient, not any individual. However, the Holy Spirit may of His own will during a believer's meeting use one, two or three believers to give a special tongue which is intended for that group of believers to hear its interpretation and receive a blessing. This special scenario is what Paul is speaking toward here. Some people have taken 12:30 'Do all speak with tongues?' out of context. The rhetorical answer is, of course, no. In context here, not every believer is going to give an utterance in tongues with an interpretation to build up the body of Christ. However, you cannot apply these guidelines to Acts. God wasn't restricting tongues to 'two or at most three' on the Day of Pentecost because He was the One receiving the blessing. As mentioned, He did so in a way that unbelievers could hear and understand. The house of Cornelius in Acts 10 was a good number of folks too. We don't know how many but Acts 10:24 says Cornelius invited 'his relatives and close friends' so that means more than 3 :) They all spoke with tongues. There was no interpretation required because these people were praying to God, who doesn't need it.One comment about 1 Corinthains 14:23 about the whole church coming together and all speaking in tongues. It is an easy inference to think that means that every individual in the place is speaking in tongues all at once, like these accounts in Acts. However, read the next verse: 'But if all prophecy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.' Did Paul mean here by 'all prophecy' that every single person in the church was prophesying all at once. The obvious answer is no. He was speaking to tongues and prophecy in the assembly in the orderly manner of two or three. While it is true that the disciples were accused of being drunk with new wine on the Day of Pentecost for everybody speaking in tongues all at once, but that is not the context here.When it says tongues are for a sign; they are, but are not limited to that. For as mentioned in 14:1 tongues are to pray to God; they are for Him. That is the most common expression of tongues as given in Scripture. So tongues have many purposes we can see--an individual's communion with his heavenly Father, a sign to unbelievers, a gift to the body of Christ. I know this is a controversial topic, but we should stick what the Bible says about it. Just because the devil has his counterfeits doesn't mean we should abandon the real thing. The real thing is what brings glory to God.

I think it is fair that I explain speaking in tongues in 3 parts: scriptural definition, purpose, and application in modern worship. My study and examination of this topic centered around 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, and Acts 2. First, there are two distinct phrases Paul uses to describe this: “tongue” and “tongues”. Grammatically, one is plural the other not. By the way, I am studying out of the NKJV. In 1 Cor 14: 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.” And 1 Cor 14: 4 “he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” Here Paul is basically saying that the person that speaks in a “tongue” is arrogant, (edifies himself). I don’t think you want to fall into that category. We are told to be humble and meek. That is what the Lord is after, people that don’t want the attention. People that lock themselves in a closet and pray. The next definition of “tongues” is referring to a known language. 1 Cor 14: 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?” I hope you see the difference, if you continue to read after verse 6 in Chapter 14, Paul describes an instruments that doesn’t make a “distinct sound” how can they be known. He goes on, a trumpet that doesn’t sound like a trumpet is useless. I paraphrase, but you get the picture. If our language is slurred together in a jibberish context, it is like a useless trumpet in war. Second, Paul says “tongues” (notice I didn’t say “tongue”) is inferior to prophecy, and it is for unbelievers. “tongues” could be used in todays worship if there were people visiting from Brazil, or Russia that didn’t know English, and if the Lord willed it, I believe the Spirit would enable those people to hear the Gospel and trust in Christ. Finally, as mentioned earlier “tongues” is for a distinct language barrier. I do not see any where in scripture mentioning a prayer language. On the day of Pentecost, believers starting speaking in known languages (Acts 2:4) “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Again notice the plural use of the word “tongues”I think the “gift of Tongues” is a true gift of the Spirit. There is no denying that. I think it is misapplied monumentally in today’s worship. This is where so many people are misled teaching false doctrines. People want to look at 1 Cor 14:2, and say that is their prayer language to God. That is incorrect. Paul never describes any unorthodox, spur of the moment tongue speaking. It was always methodical and systematic. This is a topic that has been rehashed several times over and over again. I really think most Christians are sincere in wanting more of God. The bible says we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13).” I interpret this as one time event. We don’t receive a second “dose” of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us once we repent and accept Christ. Again, I want to emphasize this is something I believe from interpretation of scripture. If you genuinely believe something….search the scripture…God’s word has the answer.Peace and GraceJoel

{Quote} JoelIf our language is slurred together in a jibberish context, it is like a useless trumpet in war.The gift of the Holy Spirit of speaking in tounges is not jibberish. You obviously have not learned that yet.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………{Quote} Joel}The bible says we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13).” I interpret this as one time event. We don’t receive a second “dose” of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us once we repent and accept Christ.Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.So Joel, you must think that these people who were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus hadn’t accepted Christ yet. Do you believe that the disciples had accepted Christ before Pentecost? If so, wasn’t that a separate experience?Consider that there is a difference between the words sealed, baptized, indwelling, and filling.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.Joel, aren’t you called?……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.They were all filled.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.The Holy Ghost fell on all that heard the word.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?This gift that fell on them as at the beginning was the gift of speaking in an unlearned tounge.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Just a question: why is there a lack of interpretation of tongues being spoken today? I hear of so many people who speak in tongues, yet I have never heard of any of them being interpreted.The gift of tongues is a much-abused gift. Many speak in tongues of there own will and not as "the Spirit gives them utterance." I don't speak or pray in tongues because I haven't yet received the gift. I have a friend who, I believe, truly has the gift. He told me that he was praying in tongues to God once and then God lifted the gift. He then tried to keep praying in "tongues and God spoke to his spirit saying, "Stop It!". He then stoped and will never try in his own effort again. He once told me how the experience of speaking or praying in tongues is like. It is like as when you pray, you gradually become filled with the Holy Spirit. Moreover, when you are full of the Holy Spirit and when the gift of tongues comes upon you, it is like a cup full of water filled to the rim about to spill over. When you then put an ice cube in that same cup full of water, what happens? It cannot help but over flow. It is the same with tongues.The Gift of tongues should be in the form of a prayer when interpreted since it is a prayer to God in the first place. Prayers can be in many forms like praise or in v.16 blessing and giveing thanks, or in any way anyone can pray.1Corinth. 14:14 For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding.:16 Since otherwise, if thou blessest with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple Christian say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest? My own church in the error with the gift of tongues also. Every time some one speaks in tongues there is always an interpretation in the form of a prophesy and my friends and I who are learned, can tell when it is contrived and from the fleash. It is also never a real language, it is always a contrived made up language. Some "pray in tongues" useing the same made up word over and over again like "honday, honday, honday." There is no natural language on Earth that makes any sense using the same word over and over, so the Spirit would be the same if not more so. I ask my self, if it really is from God, why they always need "tongues" when a prophesy is needed and not just prophecy alone. My guess is that people who are not learned in the gifts or taught correctly, when they are at Church singing and praising God, they feel a great rush of emotion. When that happens, they feel that they want to express it spiritually so they "speak forth in tongues". Then the church is so expecting an interpretation that some one speaks out in the form of prophesy, even thought it is doctrinally sound what they speak out, it is still not the true gifts.Don’t get a wrong idea, God really does move at times. There are times when God moves and would give someone an Utterance of Tongues and there is a true interpretation with it, and it is usually in the form a prayer and some time in song. In addition, there are times when, at bible studies, and during prayer time, someone has spoken in a tongue then an interpretation is given and it was a Word of wisdom or of Knowledge or even prophesy, but the gift is usually a real language.But for the most part, the Gift of Tongues if a form of prayer.Joel wrote:And 1 Cor 14: 4 “he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” Here Paul is basically saying that the person that speaks in a “tongue” is arrogant, (edifies himself)I think you have the wrong spirit of what Paul is saying. It is not wrong to edify your self.Aren't you edifying yourself when you read the Bible? When you pray with understanding? When you pray with understanding you edify yourself and the one being prayed for and the listeners.My friend sais he is edified when God lets hom pray in tongues.Joel also wrote:People want to look at 1 Cor 14:2, and say that is their prayer language to God. That is incorrectreread 1Corinth. 14:14-16. it is a prayer language.You are correct in that it isn't their prayer language but it is Gods with which He give to us.Also:(Eph 1:13).”I interpret this as one time event. We don’t receive a second “dose” of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us once we repent and accept Christ.True, but don't forget Ephes. 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but continue being filled with the Spirit;" This is not a one time event. We need to continue being filled because we are being poured out of all day.

These have been some good dialogs. I have found it very easy to read more into Scripture without realizing it. When listening to another's view on Scriptures to which I've held a particular understanding, it has helped me to be open to listen, and then search the Scriptures prayerfully like a good Berean to see if it is so. If this is more closely aligned to the Word of God, more in line with the life and teaching of Christ Jesus and the life and teaching of His apostles, then I must jettison my thinking and get in line with it. I have been saved for 17 years, and having this kind of attitude of remaining teachable has been a blessing to learn from others whom I normally wouldn't think I could learn from. I come from a 'Pentecostal' background and have grown up in a tongues environment, but I don't go by it simply because somebody said it. I check everything with the Word of God. I have learned a great deal from brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ who have never spoken in tongues, and have been tremendously humbled by the life of Jesus expressed through them. I say these things by way of personal practice that have enriched my life greatly. I believe the Holy Spirit will grant us to see the glory of God in any verse in Scripture if we will ask and wait upon Him to show us (2 Cor. 3:18). Just a couple comments which I hope may be helpful to consider alongside of what has been already said: GaryE wrote:{Quote} JoelIf our language is slurred together in a jibberish context, it is like a useless trumpet in war.The gift of the Holy Spirit of speaking in tounges is not jibberish. You obviously have not learned that yet.In 1 Corinthians 14, the context of the discussion on tongues is tongues given in an assembly without there being an interpretation. What Paul is saying is that tongues alone (minus an interpretation) is like a trumpet with an uncertain sound, and therefore useless. It is useless in the context of edifying the assembly of believers because they do not understand the content of the utterance. It is still edifying to the individual speaking in tongues, and God is able to understand it, but Paul wants the church to receive some edification. Paul loved these Corinthian believers, so he took the time to diffuse a wrong thought process that just standing up and speaking tongues for everybody will be a blessing. Not so; it must have a Spirit-led gift of interpretation in order for that to be beneficial. Otherwise it is like sounding brass, a clanging cymbal or a trumpet making an uncertain sound.Another thought that enters into people's minds is that Paul is somehow saying that tongues and interpretation is "inferior" to prophecying. If you read 1 Corinthians 14 very closely, nowhere does Paul say that these two gifts are inferior. What he does say is that "...he who prophecies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets..." (verse 5). So if someone prophecies and another speaks in a tongue without an interpretation, the prophecy truly is greater because it has accomplished the heart of the Spirit who gave it--to edify the church. But there is the word "unless" we must consider. If one speaks in a tongue and the Spirit-given interpretation is granted, then it too has accomplished the Spirit's intent--to edify the church. So there is no indication of which of these nine gifts of the Spirit is "superior"; they are given to meet the need, whatever that might be. Jesus functioned in various gifts of the Spirit as the need arose and would bring glory to the Father. As it is with Him, so it is to be with us.Obviously tongues are God's gift to His children, just as salvation is a gift and the indwelling Holy Spirit is a gift and countless other benefits that He daily loads us with. Everything God does is done in the perfection of wisdom, crowned with His love, filled with the highest good in mind, and brings glory and honor to Himself. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:19). There have been many verses of Scripture presented in these dialogs. If you are confused still, I would encourage you to seek your Father in heaven, for with Him there is no confusion. He will answer the cry of the humble. We cry out to God for things that really grip us and have value to us. People who lose a nickle don't spend much time seeking for it; but if it is your wedding ring, your wallet or your car keys, you'll diligently seek high and low until you find it. Too many people treat God's gift of tongues as a nickle and not something so valuable that Jesus' death had to procure it. If it is truly God's promise to have it (which I believe it is and has been addressed), then only two things hinder us from obtaining: 1) our ignorance (we are not confident what God has said about it) or indifference (we understand but either don't care or don't trust God to do it for me). I've been blessed for many years now to be able to praise my Father in tongues, to pray to Him, to bless Him, to intercede, and so on. I write these things to encourage sincere God-fearing believers to be bold and ask God to do it for them. It is a tremendous intimacy and God-glorifying gift that comes when we are filled with the blessed Spirit from on high!

1Cr 14:2 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. 1Cr 14:4 He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1Cr 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret. 1Cr 14:14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1Cr 14:19 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. 1Cr 14:27 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. I always wondered why anyone would want to speak in an unknown tongue. If we have the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit is in us as our teacher, it would seem that both the Mind of Christ and The Holy Spirit would only teach us truth with understanding, lest how can we renew our minds. If I pray with no understanding why am I even praying, for nothing I pray will be fruitful and no one would benefit from the prayer. Sounds like to me it is just a way of getting recognition from man as to how spiritual I am, then I, again I am wanting the glory instead of God getting all the Glory for He is the only One that deserves it by what He has done, as a Father as Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit being One God and Father of us all. For we are all baptized into One Spirit. Gen 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father's; and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he gotten all this glory. Are the people who speak in an unknown tongue trying to to the same thing by taking all the Glory away from the Holy Spirit who distributes all the Gifts as He wills, not as we will. 1 Corinthians 12:6-12 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.It sounds to me like the Holy Spirit is in charge of all the Gifts of the true Gifted one that is born again in us, which is Christ for it is His Body and if He were not the Gifted One the Body could not function. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.1 Corinthians 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 :Genos: Divers kinds: 1085. genosSearch for G1085 in KJVSLgenoV genos ghen'-osfrom 1096; "kin" (abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or collective):--born, country(-man), diversity, generation, kind(-red), nation, offspring, stock.Glossa: of tongues: 1100. glossaSearch for G1100 in KJVSLglwssa glossa gloce-sah'of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.This would have to be like, Spanish or Greek or Hebrew or another language that it would take to build up the body of Christ by an interpreter that understood the speakers language or tongue and the one being spoken to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in us the Hope of Glory. I did not acquire Greek naturally because Greek was not spoke in my family. So if I was to bring the Gospel of Christ to a Greek I would either have to learn the language or The Holy Spirit would have to give me supernatural abilities to speak to the Greek person and present the Gospel to him.hermeneia: interpretation: 2058. hermeneiaSearch for G2058 in KJVSLermhnia hermeneia her-may-ni'-ahfrom the same as 2059; translation:--interpretation.Why is this so hard to separate language interpretation of spreading the Gospel and building up the Body of Christ by the severally as He wills, that is the Holy Spirit being the one in the believer that is doing the speaking In different tongues to build up the Body of Christ?Am I missing something here? Are there two different kinds of tongues that are being spoken about here, that is one of the Spirit and one of man. I guess I will just have to trust God and that He knows what the Holy Spirit is doing when it comes to the Gifts of Christ in us. Without Christ in us there are no Gifts, and I believe that the Holy Spirit knows what the Gifts are and by Whom they come, and He distributes them just as He wants for one reason, to glorify God the Father in building up the Body of Christ in His Son.In Christ: Phillip

“tongues” could be used in todays worship if there were people visiting from Brazil, or Russia that didn’t know English, and if the Lord willed it, I believe the Spirit would enable those people to hear the Gospel and trust in Christ.Brothers, I would just to comment a bit on this that has been mentioned in this thread. I think some of the thoughts that come to the conclusion that tongues are for preaching the gospel come out of Acts 2. We know that on the Day of Pentecost many men from various language groups were able to understand the tongues. In a sense, we can say the "gospel" was preached to them. The Word of God only says about the content of these tongues was that they had to do with "the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11). We don't read that anybody got converted to Christ as a result of hearing the tongues. We do know, however, that after Peter preached his powerful sermon in a language everybody understood that the response from the crowd was, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And of course, we know that 3,000 souls responded to that gospel presentation.Again, the reason Paul is writing 1 Corinthians 12 - 14 is to correct some abuses in the believer's meeting. The gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 12:7-10 are in connection with their use in the believers' meeting (i.e., in "church"). Certainly these gifts can function towards the lost outside of the believers' gathering; Jesus demonstrated this in His ministry time and time again. But Paul's concern is setting God's house in order. So when Paul is addressing the gift of tongues and its accompanying gift of interpretation, he is speaking to its usage their among believers. The goal of these gifts is to edify believers. The attitude the church is to operate in these gifts is love. So, yes, tongues are a "sign to unbelievers" (14:22) (just as they were a sign to unbelievers on the day of Pentecost) when conducted in an orderly fashion, initiated by the Spirit of God, through yielded believers, it's purpose is for edifying the saints. See the times Paul uses those kind of terms throughout chapter 14--"edifies the church" (verse 4), "that the church may receive edification" (verse 5), "let it be for the edification of the church" (verse 12), "Let all things be done for edification" (verse 26).Although certainly it is possible that God could grant tongues to someone to preach the gospel (and I have heard testimonies like that), I do not see that as what the Scriptures are teaching. If someone has some other illumination on these verses that indicate to the contrary, I'd sure like to hear; maybe I'm missing something. Anyway, that's enough for now!

1 Corinthians 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 :YOu can't get around the fact that "interpretation of tongues" is listed as a spiritual gift and not a natural ability to understand a particular language.However, when we come to 1 Corinthians, and get the undrlying thrust of Paul's words, He is steering them away from this gift, not undermining it's validity, but rather showing it's relitive importance in the overall scheme of things.Paul's burden is that the corinthian believers would not be taken up with the exercise of this or that gift for it's own sake, for boasting, or even for personal edification, but rather to seek the gifts which build up the body of Christ and to prophecy is the primary gift.And in the New Testamen, to prophecy is not to predict the future, but rather to speak Christ and to speak forth Christ. That is to speak what they have gained of Christ, what they have seen of Christ in His Word, what the Spirit has impressed them with in order to benifit all so that all may recieve from their portion of Christ. To the end that the body of Christ might be built up not just by the "joints of the rich supply" but also by the measure of each one part. In this way the body builds itself up in love.To exercise a gift just to be amomg the "gifted ones" is a poor thing. It is a degraded use and misuse of gifts. The purpose of gifts is for the building up of the body of Christ by ministering Christ to one another. Graftedbranch