How does 1 Corinthians 14:13 connect with the gift of tongues in Acts 2? Setting the Context Paul devotes 1 Corinthians 12–14 to spiritual gifts, urging believers to pursue love while desiring gifts that build up the body. Tongues are celebrated, yet Paul insists they serve the church only when listeners clearly understand the message. Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:13 “Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.” • “Therefore” ties this verse to Paul’s ongoing concern for edification (vv. 4, 12). • “Pray” underscores dependence on God for understanding, not just the act of speaking. • “Interpret” (Greek: diermēneuō) means to render intelligible in the hearer’s language, echoing the miracle God performed earlier at Pentecost. Rewinding to Pentecost: Acts 2 and the Gift of Tongues • “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4) • “Each one heard them speaking his own language.” (Acts 2:6) • “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11) At Pentecost, the Spirit produced both the speaking and the built-in interpretation; listeners instantly understood the message in their native languages. Key Parallels Between 1 Corinthians 14 and Acts 2 • Same Source: The Holy Spirit empowers the utterance (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:11). • Same Objective: God’s “wonders” are proclaimed (Acts 2:11) and the church is “built up” (1 Corinthians 14:12). • Interpretation Present: In Acts 2 the interpretation is embedded in the miracle; in 1 Corinthians 14 Paul commands speakers to supply it through prayer. • Witness to Outsiders: Tongues become a sign to unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22) just as international pilgrims in Jerusalem heard the gospel firsthand (Acts 2:5–11). • Orderly Communication: Both passages showcase God bringing clarity out of diversity, reversing Babel’s confusion (cf. Genesis 11:7–9). Why Interpretation Matters • Protects Edification: “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening” (1 Corinthians 14:3). Interpretation makes tongues function like prophecy. • Guards Against Confusion: “If I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner” (1 Corinthians 14:11). • Ensures Witness: Clear, intelligible praise arrests the attention of unbelievers, just as at Pentecost. • Upholds Order: “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at most three—should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.” (1 Corinthians 14:27) Other Scriptures That Reinforce the Connection • Mark 16:17 – “These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.” • Acts 10:46 – Cornelius’s household “heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.” Understanding accompanied the gift, confirming salvation. • Acts 19:6 – Disciples in Ephesus “spoke in tongues and prophesied,” showing tandem gifts of utterance and interpretation. • 1 Corinthians 12:10 – Paul lists both “various kinds of tongues” and “interpretation of tongues,” signaling they belong together. Practical Takeaways for Today • Treasure the supernatural gift, yet seek its full purpose: clear proclamation of God’s greatness. • Pray for interpretation whenever tongues occur in corporate worship, following Paul’s direct instruction. • Measure every use of tongues by the Pentecost pattern—does it point hearers to Christ in an understandable way? • Pursue the Spirit’s order, not mere spectacle; genuine manifestations will always exalt Jesus and edify His people. Summary 1 Corinthians 14:13 links straight back to Acts 2 by insisting the gift of tongues remain tethered to Spirit-given understanding. At Pentecost, tongues and interpretation arrived in one miracle; in Corinth, they often needed two believers (or one speaker also given the interpretation). In both cases God’s goal is identical: understandable, Christ-exalting witness that builds up the church and draws unbelievers to saving faith. |
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