⁵Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but evenmore 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.

If chapter 13 can be called the “love chapter,” then chapter 14 could be called the “spiritual gifts in practice chapter.” It is clear that the present-day controversy over spiritual gifts finds this a primary seed bed of debate, so we don’t pretend to give full scope to the discussion. Suffice it to say we might find a few things for blessing and encouragement.

We have stated earlier that tongues in Scripture were known human languages, previously unknown to the speaker. Such an understanding gives full scope to the supernatural basis of this spiritual gift and guards against an easily mimicked “glossolalia,” as theologians like to call the phenomenon without inference as to its genuineness. The inescapable fact remains, though, that Paul does write, “I wish that you all spoke in tongues”! Why would he say that if he had censured them for their misuse of tongues (if our interpretation of 1 Cor. 14:4 is correct)?

Paul’s letters to the Corinthians are intense and personal, and deal with error on many levels. We make an interpretive error to study his writings with the same theological precision as his letter to the Romans. There he is not dealing primarily with personal or practical issues (until after chapter 11, of course). But in Romans 1–11, he lays out the doctrinal thesis of justification, and uses precise argumentations with carefully laid out logic. In his letter to the Corinthians, he speaks more colloquially, with a certain tone that is often hard to detect. A modern-day equivalent is the often misunderstood statements made in emails and text messages, or when someone types with all capitalized letters, which to modern minds conveys a “shouting” tone. Paul uses passionate language (not precise wording) which does not at all impinge on the accuracy or inspiration of his letter, but must be taken into account when interpreting it.

In this chapter, Paul builds a case that clearly diminishes the use of tongues. But at times, when taken out of context, certain verses could be interpreted to exalt tongues. So Paul could write, “I wish that you all spoke in tongues” while not affirming that he was meant to be taken literally. He also has a “greater” desire that they would all prophesy. Yet earlier he wrote, “All are not prophets, are they? … All do not speak with tongues, do they?” (1 Cor. 12:29–30). When comparing the two gifts, one clearly has greater benefit for the church. He has more to say about this in the coming verses.

Lord, help me to rightly interpret Your Word, so as not to misuse spiritual gifts.