Edification and the Gift of Tongues in 1 Corinthians
The Apostle Paul addresses the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians, particularly in relation to its purpose of edification within the Christian assembly. Paul states that "He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly" [1]. This distinction highlights a key difference in the communal value of these gifts. While speaking in tongues may build up the individual, prophecy serves to build up the church [3].
The nature of the gift of tongues itself has been a subject of discussion. Some interpretations suggest it was primarily an outward sign of the Holy Spirit's presence, signifying salvation for all nations [2]. However, biblical accounts, such as those from Pentecost, indicate that the gift involved speaking in actual human languages previously unknown to the speaker, allowing diverse peoples to hear the gospel in their native tongues [2, 4]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, noted that apostles received this gift because they were to travel widely, enabling them to speak in various languages like Persian, Roman, and Indian, with the Spirit sounding within them [6]. Thomas Aquinas similarly argued that Christ's disciples, chosen to preach throughout the world, needed to be able to speak to and understand all nations without needing to be taught by others [8].
Paul's emphasis in 1 Corinthians 14 is on the proper use of spiritual gifts for the benefit of the community. He encourages believers to "earnestly desire the most helpful gifts, those that have the greatest potential to build up the church" [7]. In this context, prophecy is presented as superior to speaking in tongues for public worship because it directly edifies the congregation [1, 3, 7]. The Methodist commentator Adam Clarke explains that God's gifts are for edification, and confusion hinders this purpose, thus advocating for orderly speech, "one by one" [5]. The Anglican Articles of Religion also affirm the principle that public prayer and the administration of sacraments should be in a language understandable to the people [9].
Paul's argument suggests that while God distributes gifts as He chooses, believers should prioritize those that contribute most effectively to the collective spiritual growth of the church [7]. The gift of tongues, while a legitimate spiritual endowment, is presented as having less potential to build up the church compared to prophecy, especially if it is not interpreted [7].
Sources
- 1 Corinthians “He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. -- 1 Corinthians 14:4”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tongues, Gift of — Granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have argued that it was merely an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. But the words of Luke (Acts 2:9) clearly show that the various peoples in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost did really hear themselves addressed in their own special la”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:4 (LITV) — The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a church.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Tongues, Gift Of — I. glotta, or glossa, the word employed throughout the New Testament for the gift now under consideration, is used-- (1) for the bodily organ of speech; (2) for a foreign word imported and half-naturalized in Greek; (3) in Hellenistic Greek, for "speech" or "language." The received traditional view, which starts from the third meaning, and sees in the gift of tongues a distinctly linguistic power, is the more correct one. II. The chief passages from which we have to draw our conclusion as to the nature and purpose of the gift in question are-- + (Ma”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:31: For ye may all prophesy one by one - The gifts which God grants are given for the purpose of edification; but there can be no edification where there is confusion; therefore let them speak one by one.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: and with so great display; it was not however therefore to be esteemed above all the others. Wherefore then did the Apostles receive it before the rest? Because they were to go abroad every where. And as in the time of building the tower the one tongue was divided into many; so then the many tongues frequently met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian, and the Roman, and the Indian, and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him: and the gift was called the gift of tongues because he could all at once speak”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:31: 12:31 Believers are to earnestly desire the most helpful gifts, those that have the greatest potential to build up the church (see 14:12), while realizing that God is the one who distributes gifts as he chooses (12:11, 18, 28). Paul encourages the Corinthians to move beyond their desire for the gift of tongues (cp. 14:1-25, 27; see 12:10) because it has the least potential, of all the gifts, to build up the church. • But now let me show you: This statement transitions to Paul’s description of love in 13:1-13. Love is a way of life that is best of all.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Grace of Tongues, Art. 1: Article: Whether those who received the gift of tongues spoke in every language? I answer that, Christ's first disciples were chosen by Him in order that they might disperse throughout the whole world, and preach His faith everywhere, according to Mt. 28:19, "Going . . . teach ye all nations." Now it was not fitting that they who were being sent to teach others should need to be taught by others, either as to how they should speak to other people, or as to how they were to understand ”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth: XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth”