Originally posted by Naomi:
Scripture states: For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
If one simply over-generalizes and states that 1Cor.14 is a chapter talking about how God would have us behave orderly in the church, then they are not taking God's Word seriously. Paul, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, laid down a number of stipulations in this chapter under which the gift of tongues could be used. Any honest study of this chapter would show that it would be highly improbable, if not impossible to keep the conditions that Paul set forth for the Corinthian believers. The reason for that is simply that the gifts have ceased. But to list some of them quickly:
1. They were real actual languages (that is what the word means).
2. They were meant always for the church, and always for understanding. (14:6-11)
3. They always had to have an interpreter. (14:28)
4. There could never be more than three speaking, and never speaking at the same time. (14:27)
5. Women were not allowed to speak at all; they were to keep silent. (14:34,35)
6 Tongues were a sign to the unbelieving Jew; if there were no unbelieving Jews present it was a fruitless gift to have. It was a sign specifically for the Jews. Do the churches have unbelieving Jews present today. (14:21,22)
Culture does not change the Word of God. God has still stipulated that these restrictions be put in place. God does not change. It is man who wants something that ceased according to God's plan. Tongues were a sign for the unbelieving Jew. They rejected Christ, His message, His messengers (the Apostles), and the signs that accompanied them (tongues). (See Acts 14:21). Thus God brought judgement upon the nation of Israel as He said He would. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in 70 A.D. It was around then or shortly thereafter that tongues ceased, coinciding with the other purpose of the revelatory gifts--the completion of God's Word which happened at the end of the first century when John completed the Book of Revelation. That is when the gifts ceased.
Let's take a look at the verse you quoted, and what it really means:
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
--First note that in verse 13 Paul dictates that he that speaks in an unknown tongue ought to pray that he may interpret. Later on Paul will say that if he has no interpreter, he must keep quiet.
--Second, in verse 14, when Paul says that he prays in an unknown tongue, he also says his spirit prays. Then he says his understanding is unfruitful. That is the point he is making. What is the use of speaking in an unknown tongue if there is no meaning. On the mission field there were many times when I bowed my head in prayer while others prayed in a tongue (another language) that I did not understand. My spirit could pray with them. But my understanding (of them or their language) was unfruitful. I could not understand the language. I did not have an interpreter. Paul describes a similar situation in this verse. The entire chapter contrasts understanding to that which has no understanding; edification to that which does not edify; prophecy to tongues.
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.
---These verses are very clear about interpretation. Why? There must be understanding in the church. The church must be edified. Tongues was never meant as a prayer language, a private gift, a gift to be used selfishly. It was given to the local church, for the church to be built up and edified.
DHK
