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NASB | 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. |
Subject: Speaking in tongues? Use by women? |
Bible Note: I don't think that the carnality of the Corinthians is the issue here. The issue is proper use of the gifts and the precedence of true prophecy over true tongues. I'm confident that, as I mentioned earlier, in this case the meaning of verse 22 (not vs. 14 incidentally) is not as it seems at first glance. 1 Cor 14:22 does not signify that unbelievers may respond to the exercise of the gift of tongues; that is almost the direct opposite of what the context conveys. Taken in context, such an interpretation would be contradicted by the very next verse. Verse 25 very clearly states, by example, that tongues do not cause belief; they are not a sign unto belief. ("Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?" 1 Cor 14:23) The response of the unbeliever is scoffing, NOT conviction. In actuality, tongues may convince believers of God's presence among other believers (as they convinced Jewish Christians of the presence of Christ in Gentiles in Acts 10, or as they demonstrated to the presence of the Spirit among Christians to believing Jews who didn't yet know of Christ in Acts 2). However, there is no example of tongues convincing anyone to turn from unbelief to belief. This is what it means that tongues are not a sign for believers but for unbelievers; they can not be a vehicle to draw an unbeliever to belief, and I know of no examples of them being used to do so. Prophecy, in contrast, is for believers -- that is, its can be used directly to move an unbeliever toward belief. The example laid out in the following verses provides the immediate clarification of this. ("But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." 1 Cor 14:24-25) Prophecy can lead an unbeliever to the feet of God, bringing him to conviction, belief, and worship. |