Hi all,We are currently going through the gifts of 1 Cor 12 in church at the moment. I heard a message on the gift of tongues. I am battling to see how it all fits together.Here goes:1 Corinthians 14:22 [i][b]Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers;[/b] prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.[/i]Seems pretty cleat cut but I sense that in between this verse and the verses 23-25 :[i] So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or [b]some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?[/b]But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"[/i]There is shift in Pauls focus of what he is talking about. I realise the context here is a corporate gathering of believers, this is in a meeting context. But I am rather confused is tongues a sign for unbelievers as verse 22 says? For in verses 23-25 if they hear tongues they will think that we are out of our minds.There is mention in the previous part of Chapter ffourteen of the trumpet making a clear call. So maybe he is talking about there being a working together of the gift of tongues and interpretation. That when the unbeliever hears the tongue and the interpretation, that in the hearing of tongues he will acknowledge that God is among us.Does anyone have any thoughts about what he is actually meaning.
_________________Zeke Oosthuis
This topic will take some explaination and that will take some time.At presentI have little or no time but in 3 weeks after I return from my travels I'll post some basics for you and I'm sure that will be of help. I leave tonight for Mich and then N.Dakota and points in between and finish in Fort Wayne Ind. and points in between. So as soon as I get back,March14-or 15 I'll take this topic on ,ok? God Bless,and if someone else tackles it , praise God.
_________________D.Miller
Let all things be done for edification---vs 26Basically you're right in your understanding , the members should know each other so well as to be able to know whether or not to speak in an unknown tongue because they see in the assembly one who can interpet or they can pray to interpet themselves.Paul here wants believers and un -believers alike to have thier minds or thier understanding engaged at every level.And the whole flow if his thoughts is that for edification in the sense of understanding what is being said. In ch12 he starts off with gifts in 13 he talks about love and fruit and in 14 he he lays down principles in which to apply the wisdom of God to.It's interesting to note that the High Priest's robes had 12 bells with 12 pomagranits in between each bell.Like wise here we have love and the fruit of the spirit(ch 12) between ch 12 and 14.He closes with vs 39 and 40 which are note worthy.But You are on the mark with your understanding.
Thanks Dohzman for replying, I was surprised that knowone had any comments, but I suppose it is a rather obscure piece of scripture.Anyway thanks again,
