By Pastor Dave Farmer
In 1 Corinthians chapter 14, Paul states that when it comes to spiritual gifts, the church should seek after prophesy, not the gift of tongues [verse 1]. According to Paul, prophesy would be the best choice if we could choose our spiritual gift. He will say later that prophesy is the greater gift.
His first argument is found in verses 2-11, where he points out the limitations of the gift of tongues. We have covered the limitation of the audience [verse 2] and the limitation of content [ verse 3]. 1 Now, we turn to a third limitation: tongues do not edify the church.
1 Corinthians 14:4
The one communicating in a foreign language, he edifies himself, but the one who is prophesying, he edifies a church.
Paul has already demonstrated the false view of the Corinthians Charismatics that all who speak in tongues are spiritually mature. The misconception here is not new but reflects the arrogance that says, "Speaking in tongues draws us closer to the Lord."
It is the claim of some charismatic's that tongues can be used privately. They believe the gift of tongues used in prayer in one's private devotions meets the Biblical standard for using this gift. They suggest that the criteria established by Paul in verse 3 permit its use in private worship. They say it encourages them, builds them up, strengthens them, and gives them the courage to speak out for Christ.
Exercising our spiritual gifts brings personal satisfaction and reward, yet no Gift of the Spirit was ever given for that purpose. The purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit is to benefit the body of Christ to build others up. Yet the private exercise of tongues based upon 1 Corinthians 14:4, "He that speaks in a tongue [in a foreign language] edifies himself,” is an incorrect interpretation for the following reasons:
1. The context contrasts two spiritual gifts, prophesy and tongues, as they were used in public worship. Prophesy was preferred because the whole church was being edified.
2. The Charismatics who derive from this verse a confirmation for the use of speaking in tongues in private explain that Paul was condoning such a use. This is troubling and very bad exegesis. When Paul says, "he edifies himself," this is not a positive statement. Instead, negative criticism is being launched toward those practicing tongues speaking in Corinth.
3. The Holy Spirit gave the gift of tongues to individual members of the Body of Christ to reach the Jews with the Gospel. It was an evangelistic gift to be used outside the church. It was not a gift for the private or public worship of God. Paul clearly communicates this:
1 Corinthians 14:22
So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
4. I want to assert again that "edifies himself" means that this gift was used for personal gain and reward. This is self-promoting arrogance and brings great shame upon the name and reputation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Any spiritual gift utilized for personal gain and reward has no spiritual value or eternal reward.
This is no different than the heartbreak that came upon Pastor Jim Bakker, who used his spiritual gift of pastor-teacher for personal gain and reward, amassed a fortune from the giving of believers, and his arrogance degenerated into criminality.
Following a 16-month Federal grand jury probe, Bakker was indicted in 1988 on eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. In 1989, after a five-week trial which began on August 28 in Charlotte, the jury found him guilty on all 24 counts, and Judge Robert Daniel Potter sentenced him to 45 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine. [ from Jim Bakker, Wikipedia.com.]
It is a sad day when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ promoting themselves rather than the one who laid down His life for them and who sought only to promote them from eternal death to everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 14:5 Expanded Translation
In fact, I wish all of you (during the pre-canon period) to communicate in a foreign language were it possible; but especially [states the preference] that you may all prophesy; moreover, the one who is prophesying is greater than the one communicating in a foreign language, with the possible exception if he interprets so that the church may receive edification.
One of the things I have maintained throughout these articles is the narrow purpose of the gift of tongues. It was an evangelistic gift directed toward unsaved Jews. Paul wishes all believers had the gift of tongues, which would mean more Jewish evangelism. His desire to see Jews saved was profound and heartfelt:
Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
Then, in another remarkable passage regarding the salvation of Jews, Paul says:
Romans 9:1–3
1] I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2] that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
3] For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Paul's greatest desire was always that the Jews might come to Christ even in the face of their constant rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Into every synagogue, Paul ventured. Only after their stubborn refusal to believe in Christ did he go to the Gentiles.
Remember, this gift's purpose was to be a sign to the Jews of the coming destruction of the nation. He knew the time of the 5th cycle 2 was drawing near. It was 15 years away when he wrote 1 Corinthians. The nation would be destroyed in 70 A.D., and the Jews would be scattered throughout the Roman Empire. This weighed heavily on the heart of the Apostle. He wished with all his heart that everyone had the gift because it was an extraordinary and powerful sign to them and met their greatest need, which was the gospel.
Paul's wish was not possible. He was not in charge of dispensing spiritual gifts; that was up to the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11), but were it possible, he would give every believer the gift of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:5
but especially [states the preference] that you may all prophesy; moreover, the one who is prophesying is greater than the one communicating in a foreign language, with the possible exception if he interprets so that the church may receive edification.
The person is not superior, but the spiritual gift of prophecy has a greater audience. The entire church is blessed. There is an exception. If someone in the congregation can interpret the message into the congregation's language, then there could be potential edification. We have another conditional sentence, which is a third-class condition this time. This means there is some doubt in Paul's mind about the benefit tongues could bring the congregation. It is possible if there was someone there to interpret. However, the abuse of this gift and its natural limitations make it uncertain that it will edify and bless anyone in the congregation. Paul restates the preference. Prophesy is the greater gift.
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ENDNOTES
1 See Topic #11.
2 See the study on The Five Cycles of Judgement in Reference Section