Prophecy a Superior Gift
1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
I have never had the spiritual gift of tongues or interpretation. Paul who had the gift tells us prophecy is a better gift for the church because the body will understand and know what is to come.
Whereas tongues, you are speaking directly to God. Is it your spirit or the Holy Spirit within you speaking to God?
David Guzik Commentary on the Bible
iii. Does in the spirit refer to the speaker's spirit or to the Holy Spirit? It could be either one, because both are true. The translators of the New King James Version believe it to be the speaker's spirit, because they used a lower-case "s" in spirit.
a. He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God: With the gift of tongues, the speaker addresses God, not men. Disregard of this principle leads to one of the most significant misunderstandings regarding the gift of tongues - believing tongues is a supernatural communication "man to man" instead of "man to God."
iv. If we misunderstand this, we can misuse the gift of tongues, using it in a way that draws unnecessary attention to ourselves. God does not give anyone the gift of tongues for the direct sake of others (though indirectly others are edified), but for that believer and God alone.
Read more about the gift of tongues here:
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/guzik/commentaries/4614.htm
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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