What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:22? Tongues, then, are a sign • Paul has just quoted Isaiah 28:11-12, where God speaks “with stammering tongues” to stubborn Israel. In that Old Testament setting, foreign languages were a sign of judgment—Assyrian invaders spoke words Israel could not understand. • Carrying the same idea into the New Testament, the supernatural languages given at Pentecost (Acts 2:4-12) functioned as a clear, public marker that God was doing something extraordinary. • Signs point beyond themselves. Here, the sign announces that the risen Christ has poured out the Spirit, fulfilling Joel 2:28-32. The phenomenon is therefore real, purposeful, and God-initiated. not for believers • Believers do not need a sign to prove that God is present; they already know Him (John 14:17). • In the gathered church, uninterpreted tongues add nothing to believers’ understanding (1 Corinthians 14:6, 9). • Because faith comes by hearing and understanding (Romans 10:17), a sign that bypasses comprehension is naturally directed elsewhere. but for unbelievers • Unbelievers are jolted when they encounter a miraculous language they recognize, as in Acts 2:7-11: “How is it that each of us hears them in our own native tongue?”. • The sign confronts them with the reality of God’s power (Mark 16:17-18) and their need to respond. • Yet, if tongues dominate the service without interpretation, outsiders will simply conclude that “you are out of your minds” (1 Corinthians 14:23). The sign backfires when not handled orderly. Prophecy, however, is for believers • Prophecy—Spirit-prompted words spoken in the language of the hearers—edifies, exhorts, and comforts the church (1 Corinthians 14:3). • Because it is intelligible, prophecy strengthens faith, much like preached Scripture (Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). • Even when unbelievers are present, clear prophetic words expose hearts and draw them to worship (1 Corinthians 14:24-25), demonstrating its primary value inside the church family. not for unbelievers • Prophecy does not function first as a miraculous sign but as direct instruction; without prior faith, its authority may be dismissed (1 Corinthians 2:14). • Still, when unbelievers overhear authentic prophetic speech, God can pierce their consciences—yet that is a by-product, not the main design. • The gathered assembly must prioritize what builds up believers (Ephesians 4:11-12), trusting God to use that very process to reach outsiders in His timing. summary Paul contrasts two Spirit-given gifts by their primary audience and purpose. Tongues operate as an external sign to startle unbelievers with God’s reality, while prophecy serves as an internal channel to strengthen believers through clear, understood speech. When exercised in love and order, both gifts honor Christ and accomplish exactly what Scripture declares. |
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