I think about a sign on a department store dressing room mirror that read: "Objects in mirror may appear bigger than they actually are." As we have studied 1 Corinthians we have learned about a Church that had more than average problems. They were divisive, cliquish, worldly, envious, jealous, arrogant, and disorderly. Their condition is best summed up in 3:1, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." Paul states that their carnality is the root cause of all their problems. We read in 1 Corinthians 3:3, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

Add to all the problems in the Church, as we move into chapter 14 we find that they were making something bigger than it actually was. Much like today, speaking in tongues was a big issue in the Corinthian Church. To the Corinthians, speaking in tongues were THE gift. In the mind of the Corinthians, if you had the gift of tongues, you were really "spiritual." They felt that those who had the gift of tongues were superior to those who did not have the gift. Those who did not have the gift were inferior to those that did. As we shall see, the gift of tongues was such a big issue in the Church, they had actually settled for a fleshly imitation of the real thing. Again, much like today, what they practiced and promoted as the real gift of tongues, was a fleshly and false imitation.

Paul has been talking about spiritual gifts in general but in chapter 14 he specifically deals with the gift of tongues. In the opening verses he tells them that they were making a big deal out of that which was not a big deal. They were making the gift of tongues much bigger than they actually were.

In chapter 14 Paul contrasts the gift of tongues with the gift of prophecy. He makes it clear that the gift of prophecy was the preferred gift. Tongues was the preferred gift to the Corinthians, but Paul wanted them to understand prophecy was the preferred gift. Twice we read the two words "but rather" (Vs.1,5). He says that of all the gifts and of all they are doing, he would much more, to a greater degree, prefer they prophesy.

Let me remind you what Paul meant by prophesying (Cp.12:10). The word simply means "to speak forth, to proclaim." We often think of prophecy in the terms of prediction; the foretelling of future events. Such an ideal is often derived from the fact that the prophets of the Bible often spoke of future events. Prophecy is simply the proclaiming of God's Word. When the prophets were foretelling future events, they in themselves were not just predicting the future, but simply proclaiming what God had revealed unto them. The gift of prophecy was a matter of forth telling rather than foretelling.

In chapter 14 Paul was saying that which is preferred beyond anything else is the proclaiming of God's Word. This was to have preeminence and priority in the Church. If we make anything or take anything and make it bigger than the proclaiming of God's Word we have made that matter bigger than it ought to be. Yet, that is what the Corinthian Church was doing, primarily making tongues the "big gift" in the Church. In chapter 14 Paul deals with this matter by declaring unto them that prophecy was the preferred gift.

Again, twice Paul says that he would rather them prophecy. Let's take these two "but rather's" and allow them to serve as a natural division of the first 12 verses.

1. THE PRACTICE THAT HAD LITTLE VALUE TO THE CHURCH!

Paul says in verse 1, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." Paul gives a threefold instruction. Follow after charity (love), desire spiritual gifts, but first and foremost prophesy. We are to follow after love because of what Paul said in 13:13. The word "follow" means "to pursue, to hunt, to chase after with intensity." Obviously, if love is the greatest thing one could possess, one should pursue it with great intensity.

We are to desire spiritual gifts (Cp. 12:31). The desire of the Corinthians for spiritual gifts was not wrong. We should desire spiritual gifts. We as a Church should desire that God's people discover their spiritual gifts and use their spiritual gifts. But first and foremost we should desire the proclamation of God's Word (prophecy). The words "but rather that ye may prophesy" could be translated "especially that ye." Beginning in verse 2 Paul states why prophecy is preferred.

In verse 2-4, Paul twice says, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue." Each time he uses this phrase he gives a reason why prophecy is preferred over tongues. He gives two reasons why he would rather they prophecy and as he does so he states that tongues has little value to the Church.

Now it is important that I point out something here that is very critical to understanding what Paul was saying and what was going on in the Corinthian Church. If you will notice in verse 2 & 4 the word "unknown" is in italics, meaning that it was added there by the translators (Cp. Vs.2,4,13,14,19,27). The reason the translators added the word "unknown" was to distinguish an important truth found in chapter 14.

If you will notice carefully that each time the word "unknown" is used the word "tongue" is singular. When the word "unknown" is not used the word is plural (Cp. Vs.5,6,18,21,22,23,39). The difference between the two is significant. When the word "unknown" and "tongue" singular is used it is referring to a false and fleshy imitation of the real gift. "Tongues" plural indicate the real gift of tongues.

In Acts 2:3-4 we find the first occurrence and example of tongues in the Bible. The word "cloven" was a word that meant to cut in pieces as a butcher does meat. The ideal is that the tongues parted themselves and distributed themselves to those present. Notice carefully that they were not fire but "like as fire." They had the appearance of fire. As these tongues descended they had the appearance of fire and descended as a single body and then suddenly parted themselves in this direction and that, coming upon each man.

The phrase "and began to speak in with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" is in the imperfect tense indicating that they did not all speak at once, but one after another (Make a mental note of that for later studies). But what I want you to notice carefully is the word "tongues" is plural, the same as in 1 Corinthians 14. The word simply means "language." It specifically speaks of a language not naturally acquired. It is a language other than one's natural tongue. It is important to understand that the gift of tongues was the Spirit given ability to speak a "language" that the speaker had not acquired. Tongues were nothing more and nothing less than a language, not known by the speaker, but a language known by others.

Now notice the "unknown tongue" as found in 1 Corinthians 14. When Paul used the word "tongues" he was speaking of the real gift, but when he used the word "tongue," distinguished by the word "unknown" he was referring to what was going on in the Church of Corinth, which was an imitation of the real gift. In the Church of Corinth, just as today, there was a practice that was nothing more than ecstatic utterances, a form of speaking which consisted of the assembling of various sounds into a staccato-like concoction of syllables which had no relation to each other and no syntax or semantic structure. It would be best described as a babbling.

If you had visited one of the services of the Church of Corinth you would have heard more than one man preaching; people all over the building speaking in tones and syllables that you could not understand, and all worked up into an emotional frenzy. It would have been like going into a mad house. Much like today, the Corinthians no doubt called this a Holy Ghost service. In actuality, what they were practicing was a false and fleshly imitation of the real thing. The real gift was a language but the false was nothing more than babbling. What they called "tongues" was not a language at all.

Again, the way the real is distinguished from the false is the use of the singular and plural and the word "unknown." I say all that to point out that in verses 2-4, Paul is talking about a fleshly imitation of the real thing. Also, I once again point out that twice he uses the phrase, "For he that speaketh in an (unknown) tongue." Each time he used the phrase he points out that such a practice has little value to the Church. Notice:

A. THE FALSE PRACTICE HAD THE WRONG AIM

Paul described the false practice as having a false aim: "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." (14:2). The aim of the false is that one "speaketh not unto men, but unto God." To the Corinthians, speaking in tongues was like an act of worship. One might describe it as God blessing the heart of the believer and that believer responding to God in an act of worship that involved speaking to him in tongues.

Notice verse 14, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." Paul's reference to praying in tongues is a suggestion of one of the ways the Corinthian believers looked at the gift of tongues. To them it was part of their worship experience. Yet when you look at Acts 2 you find this totally contrary to the real gift of tongues. In Acts 2 the gift of tongues was to speak to men, not to God! The real gift of tongues was given to preach the grace of God to men, not to have a discourse with God.

In the practice of the false gift, the Corinthians not only were not speaking to men, but also, men could not understand them: "for no man understandeth him." This again is opposite of the true gift in Acts 2 for we read in Acts 2:8, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue?" When the true gift was practiced men understood what was being said. It was spoken to man and understood by man.

Paul described the practice of the false gift as: "in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." The word "spirit" is not capitalized indicating he is not talking about the Holy Spirit but the spirit of man. Simply said, what they were saying remained a mystery. No one understood what they were saying and it could not be understood, for there was nothing to be understood.

Notice verse 3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." Paul contrast's prophecy with the false gift they were practicing. Whereas in their practice of the false gift no one understood, but by prophecy God's Word was proclaimed unto man and understood by man. When God's Word is proclaimed and understood, man is edified. The word "edification" simply speaks of building, like the building of a house. Our word "edifice" speaks of a building. Men are built up by the proclaiming of God's Word.

When God's Word is proclaimed and understood man is exhorted and comforted. The word "exhortation" speaks of comfort as well as the word "comfort." The proclaiming of God's Word encourages comfort and brings comfort. The Corinthian practice of tongues brought neither edification nor comfort. It had little value. It brought no profit to those who heard.

B. THE FALSE PRACTICE HAD THE WRONG ACHIEVEMENT

We read in verse 4, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." The second time Paul used the phrase, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue" indicated that this false practice achieved the wrong results for spiritual gifts. It failed to edify the church.

The Corinthian believers treated tongues as a self-satisfying matter that is implied by the words "edifieth himself." The Corinthian practice of tongues made one feel good and feel better. At its best it was a fleshly experience that made one feel better emotionally. Since they did not understand what they were saying it could have little spiritual value to the person personally. As Paul has already explained, it is the proclamation of God's Word that builds a person up spiritually. Since they were doing nothing but speaking in an ecstatic utterance, there was no revelation of truth involved. Since there was no spiritual truth being communicated to the believer or by the believer, this self-edification could be no more than an emotional experience, not a spiritual experience.

The point Paul is making is that the Church was not edified as a result of their practice. This missed the whole purpose of spiritual gifts (Cp. 12:7). Therefore their practice failed to achieve the divine purpose of spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit gave the gifts to men to edify the Church. That is the difference in prophesying. Paul says, "but he that prophesieth edifieth the Church." Prophecy achieved the divine purpose of spiritual gifts, even the true gift of tongues. The Corinthian practice had little value to the church for it failed in its aim and achievement.

2. THE PROPHECY THAT HAD LARGE VALUE TO THE CHURCH

In verse 5 we see Paul's second "but rather." Paul says, "I would that ye all spake with tongues." Take special note that Paul now speaks of the real gift of tongues. He is not talking about the fleshly and false imitation the Corinthian's were practicing but the real genuine article. Now keeping that in mind notice how he described that which had large value to the church.

A. THE BEST GIFT FOR THE CHURCH

The one gift that everyone in the Church of Corinth wanted was the gift of tongues and Paul says he wishes they all had the gift. But, he would rather they prophesied. The reason; "for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues." Paul says that even if everyone in the Church had the real gift of tongues it was greater to prophesy. In other words, the best gift for the church is the gift of prophecy, the gift whereby God's Word is proclaimed. Paul makes clear in verse 5 that even when a person had the real gift of tongues there would be an interpretation that would bring edification to the Church.

Notice verse 6, "Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?" Paul asks a rhetorical question. He says, "If I came to you speaking in tongues how would it profit you unless revelation, or knowledge, or prophesying, or doctrine was given in the process."

Revelation would be the revealing of truth; knowledge the understanding of that truth and being able to communicate it; prophecy is the proclamation of that truth, and doctrine is the teaching of that truth. If he just spoke in tongues and what was said was not interpreted, which would result in revelation, knowledge, prophesy, and doctrine, then what he said could not and would not be understood and therefore no one would be edified.

Then in verses 7-8 Paul gives a couple of illustrations to drive home his point: "And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? [8] For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"  In verse 7 Paul mentions two kinds of instruments that the Corinthians would have been very familiar with. The "pipe" is descriptive of a type of flute and the harp is a word from which we get our word "guitar." It was descriptive a stringed instrument. In either case, a wind instrument or a string instrument, unless there is a distinction in sound, a melody will not emerge. If no melody, then no one will recognize the tune or song.

In verse 8 Paul uses the use of a trumpet in warfare. If an unclear sound is given by the signalman then no one will know what to do or how to act. The point is obvious: "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air (14:9). If what a person says cannot be understood he is only speaking in the wind. What he says is useless and profitless.

Notice verse 10, "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification." The word "voices" simply means "languages." There are many languages spoken in the world and all of them have a purpose. They are not "without signification." The words "without signification" literally mean "unintelligible." All languages have the purpose of being able to communicate. If they were unintelligible how would one be able to express himself to another or understand one another?

 We read in verse 11, "Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." Paul sums it all up by simply saying that if we don't understand what is being said it has no value to anyone. In fact, if we are just babbling we are as the barbarians. In the society of first century, anyone who did not speak the Greek language was considered a barbarian. The very word "barbarian" is onomatopoeic in that it refers to one whose language seems to make no sense.

The point is that the Corinthian practice of tongues edified no one, and even the true gift, if not interpreted helped no one. In that sense, the gift of prophecy was the greater gift because it lent to revelation, knowledge, and doctrine.

B. THE BETTER GOAL FOR THE CHURCH

Notice verse 12, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church." Paul was aware of how zealous the Corinthians were about spiritual gifts, but admonished them to "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church." The word "excel" simply means "to be the better." Paul was saying, "Whereas you have been self-centered, the better goal is to edify others." The goal of all we do as a Church ought to be the edification of others. The goal of every believer ought to be the edification of others. There is not a higher or loftier goal.

In essence Paul says, "Abandon that which has little value and seek that which has large value." He was saying instead of speaking in an unknown tongue that doesn't help anyone, speak in your known tongue so others will be helped. Let me put this way so everyone can understand. Instead of getting up and babbling away talk in plain old English. That way we will know what is being said and be helped in the process.