1 Corinthians 14:22

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Thus from Isaiah it appears that "tongues" (uninterpreted) are not a sign for believers (though at the conversion of Cornelius and the Gentiles with him, tongues were vouchsafed to confirm their faith), but mainly to condemn those who, like Israel, reject the sign and the accompanying message. So the tongues condemned those who rejected the proffered Gospel on Pentecost (, contrasted with ). Compare "yet ... will they not hear me" (); even primitive signs fail to arouse them. 'Sign' is often used for a condemnatory sign ...

22._Therefore tongues are for a sign _This passage may be explained in two ways, by considering the word _therefore _as referring merely to the preceding sentence, or as having a bearing generally on the whole of the foregoing discussion. If it is a particular inference, the meaning will be — _“ _You see, brethren, that what you so eagerly desire is not a blessing bestowed by God upon believers, but a punishment, by which he inflicts vengeance upon unbelievers.” In this way, Paul would not be viewed as taking in the use of tongues under all circumstances, but simply as touching upon what had in _one _instance occurred. Should any one, however, prefer to extend it to the whole discussion, I have no objection, though I do not dislike the former interpretation. Taking it in a general way, the meaning will be _“Tongues, _in so far as they are given _for a sign _— that is, for a miracle — are...

15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? B...

Verse 22. _WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN_] The miraculous gift of tongues was never designed for the benefit of those who have already _believed_, but for the instruction of _unbelievers_, that they might see from such a miracle that this is the _work of_ _God_; and so embrace the Gospel. But as, in the times of the prophet, the strange Babylonish tongues came in the way of _punishment_, and not in the way of _mercy_; take heed that it be not the case _now_: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a curse. For if, because ye have the gift of tongues, ye will choose for your own aggrandizement to use them in the public congregation where none understands them, God may curse your blessings. _PROPHESYING_] Teaching the things of God in a known language is of infinitely more consequence than speaking in all...

WHEREFORE - Thus, (Ὥστε Hōste), or wherefore. The apostle does not mean to say that what he was about to state was a direct conclusion from the passage of Scripture which he had quoted, but that it followed from all that he had said, and from the whole view of the subject. “The true statement or doctrine is, that tongues are for a sign,” etc. TONGUES - The power of speaking foreign languages. ARE FOR A SIGN - An “indication,” an evidence, or a proof that God has imparted this power, and that he attends the preaching of the gospel with his approbation. It is a “sign,” or a “miracle,” which, like all other miracles, may be designed to convince the unbelieving world that the religion is from God. NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE - Not to Christians. They are already conv

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 _The_ _gift of preaching superior to the gift_ _tongues_. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY; literally, _chase; pursue. _The word is one of which St. Paul is fond (Romans 9:30, Romans 9:31; Romans 13:13; Romans 14:19;...

WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN,.... Of wrath and punishment inflicted on a rebellious and unbelieving people, and not of grace and kindness, as prophesying, or speaking to them by the prophets, was; and so this is an inference from what is said in the preceding verse, and shows, that there was no reason why believers should be so very desirous of them. But if these words refer to all that is said before on this subject, the word "sign" may be taken for a miracle; and so a new argument is formed against an over fondness for divers tongues, and the use of them in public worship, showing the preferableness of prophecy to them; for speaking with divers tongues was used in a miraculous way, NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE; who have no need of miracles to raise their attention to what is said, and that it may gain credit with them, or to confirm their faith in it: BUT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT; to...

4. PROPHECY AND SPEAKING WITH A TONGUE. CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Prophecy the better gift. (1 Corinthians 14:1 .)_ 2. Intelligibility demanded. (1 Corinthians 14:14 .) 3. Practical instructions for the public use of these gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:26 .) It is evident from the contents of this chapter that the Corinthians had unduly magnified the gift of speaking in a strange tongue. It had a spectacular aspect which they enjoyed. He therefore shows them that the gift of prophecy is more to be coveted than speaking in an unknown tongue. The speaking in an unknown tongue is intelligible to God, but he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, e

Such over-valuing of tongues reveals an infantile intelligence (a sharp thrust for a church so rich in intellectuals); only in malice is it proper to be babes. Scripture announces that the Lord will speak by men of strange tongues to this people and yet they will not hear. Tongues then are a sign to unbelievers, not to believers; prophecy is for believers, not unbelievers. So if the church is assembled and all speak with tongues, and non-members or unbelievers come in, they will think the whole assembly has gone mad. But if a man belonging to one of these classes comes in and all prophesy, he is convicted and judged by all, the things he supposes to be known only to himself are dragged into the light, and thus he is brought to worship God and recognise His presence. The point of 1 Corinthians 14:22_ a_ is not that tongues are a sign conducing to the salvation of unbelievers, and

THE FALSE AND THE TRUE WORSHIP (1 Corinthians 14:1-19)...