1 Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
--Look at the context. Everyone had a psalm, a doctrine, a revelation, an interpretation--and all at the same time. It was total chaos! So Paul says, if your going to speak in tongues:
First, the number is limited to two, or at the most three.
Second, you all can't speak out at once. There must be order in the service. God is not the author of confusion. He is a God of order.
Third, there must always be an interpreter. Verse 26 does not teach that tongues edify. Psalms, doctrines, and revelations edify. But tongues edify only if they have an interpreter. Paul makes that clear elsewhere. "He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself." That was a rebuke, not encouragement to do so. Again, put the statement in the context of prophesying. Tongues without interpretation does not edify.
In verse 28, it says "let him speak to himself, and to God." It does not say, "speak in tongues." The idea here is, if you don't have an interpreter "shut up and keep quiet!" It is better that you sit quietly and meditate on the Word (speak to yourself), and pray (speak to God). The emphasis is not to speak in tongues.
Verse 39 "Forbid not to speak in tongues." (In the first century). Again you must take it in the context of 1 Cor.13:8-13, as well as the entire chapter 1 Corinthians 14. Tongues have ceased. They are not for today. They were for the first century Christians, up until the Word of God was completed. Every verse, whether it be a promise or a command, must be taken in its context. The command to go and slaughter all the Canaanites was not given to me either.
DHK
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.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
--Look at the context. Everyone had a psalm, a doctrine, a revelation, an interpretation--and all at the same time. It was total chaos! So Paul says, if your going to speak in tongues:
First, the number is limited to two, or at the most three.
Second, you all can't speak out at once. There must be order in the service. God is not the author of confusion. He is a God of order.
Third, there must always be an interpreter. Verse 26 does not teach that tongues edify. Psalms, doctrines, and revelations edify. But tongues edify only if they have an interpreter. Paul makes that clear elsewhere. "He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself." That was a rebuke, not encouragement to do so. Again, put the statement in the context of prophesying. Tongues without interpretation does not edify.
In verse 28, it says "let him speak to himself, and to God." It does not say, "speak in tongues." The idea here is, if you don't have an interpreter "shut up and keep quiet!" It is better that you sit quietly and meditate on the Word (speak to yourself), and pray (speak to God). The emphasis is not to speak in tongues.
Verse 39 "Forbid not to speak in tongues." (In the first century). Again you must take it in the context of 1 Cor.13:8-13, as well as the entire chapter 1 Corinthians 14. Tongues have ceased. They are not for today. They were for the first century Christians, up until the Word of God was completed. Every verse, whether it be a promise or a command, must be taken in its context. The command to go and slaughter all the Canaanites was not given to me either.
DHK