Why does 1 Corinthians 14:2 emphasize speaking to God rather than men? Text of 1 Corinthians 14:2 “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” Immediate Literary Context Paul has just elevated love above all gifts (1 Colossians 13) and now regulates corporate worship (1 Colossians 14). His comparison of prophecy and tongues is pastoral: prophecy edifies the gathered body; uninterpreted tongues do not. Hence verse 2 clarifies the essential orientation of tongues—Godward—when interpretation is absent. The Nature and Purpose of the Gift of Tongues Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19 reveal tongues accompanying Spirit-empowerment. When interpreted (1 Colossians 14:5, 13, 27), tongues edify the church; when uninterpreted they remain vertical prayer (14:14). God designed the gift both as a sign (14:22) and as intimate communion (14:28). Old Testament Precedent for God-Directed Speech • Hannah’s wordless prayer (1 Samuel 1:13) reached God though unintelligible to Eli. • Isaiah 28:11 predicts “strange lips” as divine communication. • Psalmists frequently pour out “unsearchable” utterances (Psalm 77:2; 142:2). Paul alludes to this trajectory: Spirit-generated speech may bypass human comprehension yet remain perfectly intelligible to God. Theological Rationale: Communion with God Prayer—whether articulate or in “groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26)—is fundamentally relational. Tongues provide the believer a Spirit-enabled vocabulary transcending cognitive limitation (1 Colossians 14:14-15). The verse preserves God as the primary addressee, safeguarding the gift from performative misuse. Edification vs. Revelation: Paul’s Pastoral Concern Uninterpreted tongues edify only the speaker (14:4), so Paul urges interpretation or silence in corporate worship (14:28). Emphasizing “not to men” curbs Corinthian excesses, realigns motives, and channels congregational energies toward intelligible revelation that builds up the body. Distinction Between Private Devotion and Corporate Worship Private use: tongues functioning exclusively as prayer and praise (Jude 20). Corporate use: permissible only with interpretation to secure mutual benefit (14:5, 27). Verse 2 draws the doctrinal boundary between these spheres. Implications for Worship Order and Love Love “does not seek its own” (13:5). Prioritizing intelligibility demonstrates love for fellow worshipers. Highlighting the Godward orientation of uninterpreted tongues humbles the speaker and protects the congregation from confusion (14:33). Historical Witnesses to Glossolalia • Montanist prophetesses (2nd cent.) described their utterances as conversation with God. • Augustine (City of God 18.9) notes tongues occurred “to signify the Spirit’s presence.” • Modern documented xenoglossic events, e.g., 1906 Azusa Street where illiterate believers prayed fluently in languages recognized by immigrants, reinforce the experience Paul outlines. Practical Application for Believers Today • Exercise tongues privately for personal strengthening (14:18-19). • Seek interpretation in public settings (14:13). • Let love and edification govern all use (14:26). • Recognize tongues as evidence of God’s present power, encouraging faith in His resurrecting authority. Evangelistic Significance: Sign for Unbelievers While 14:2 stresses Godward speech, 14:22 clarifies that interpreted tongues serve as eschatological signposts to unbelievers, drawing them to the risen Christ whose Spirit enables such speech, thus validating the gospel’s supernatural claims (cf. Acts 2:33). Summary 1 Corinthians 14:2 emphasizes speaking to God rather than men to establish tongues as a Spirit-empowered prayer language, preserve worship order, promote love-driven edification, and maintain the vertical orientation of all genuine spiritual gifts. |
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