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NASB | 1 Corinthians 14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 14:22 Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
Subject: Tongues, madness or sign for unbeliever |
Bible Note: Greetings JRM, Acts 2 gives us the best example in scripture of how speaking in tongues could excite or impress a person who does not believe in the Gospel. If perhaps a believer would speak to a traveling person who does not already believe in his or her own language, then it would be most impressive indeed to the traveler - to meet a person who could speak in their language. That fact alone would catch a person's attention, and hopefully pave the way for the person to be receptive enough to receive the Gospel message through the believer. And if the traveler then believed, then the Gospel would spread through the traveler (Acts 8:39). On the other hand, an interpreter of the tongues is needed in the church, if the members do indeed speak in tongues during worship. When tongues is spoken in the church, it is used for the edification of the church as a whole, not just for any one person. Therefore, whenever there is someone in the church who speaks in a tongue, then there also must be an interpreter (1 Cor. 14:26-28), since the spoken message must be a message that edifies the whole body, rather than just the one. If only one is edified and there is no clarification through interpretation, then only confusion results, since tongues are spoken by one person at a time. But in church, all things are (or should be) done for the edification of the whole, rather than just the one. And if unbelievers were to join believers when even the believers are confused, then it would be discrediting to the believers and to the message that we are attempting to give to the unbelievers. With unbelievers, we must present the Gospel message as clearly as possible. Blessings to you, Makarios |