Ref

Prophecy/Preaching

Unknown Tongues

14:2

Speaks to people

Attempts to speak to God, and not to people – ends up speaking to nobody.

14:2

Is understood by the speaker

Is unknown by the speaker

14:2

Is understood by the general audience

Is unknown by the general audience

14:3,4

Edifies, Exhorts, and Comforts

Is a complete mystery

14:3,4

Edifies (pleases) Christians by presenting the miraculous truth

Edifies only the speaker, by experiencing a miracle

14:5

The best form of speaking

Only good if you have an interpreter

14:6

People are profited by revelations, knowledge, prophesying, and doctrines

No one profits from what is said in unknown tongues unless there is someone to hear it, and someone to interpret it

14:7,8

Is distinct and clear

Is uncertain, and strange – not of God

14:9

Is easy to understand

Speaks only into the air

14:10,11

Is edification, and communication

Is barbaric, and confusion (back to Babel)

14:12,13

Prophecy speaks to the edification, exhortation and comfort of everyone

Must have an interpreter so that is can be of benefit to others

14:14,15

Is spoken with the understanding

Is only to be spoken with the understanding of what is said - not be left mysterious

14:16,17

Is concerned about the unlearned and the unsaved

Cares only about themselves, and showing off

14:18,19

Is primarily for use in building the church – soul-winning, and training

Is not primarily for use in church, but in witnessing to the lost in their language

14:20-22

Is for the believing Christian

Is for the unbelieving Jew

14:23-25

Gets people to repent and worship God

Can be easily misunderstood by people that we Christians are crazy – gives a bad reputation

14:26-33

The prophets are to speak in order

Tongues are to be spoken in order

14:26-33

Needs no interpreter (2 Pet 1:20)

Somebody must be able to interpret, or no tongues were to be spoken!

14:26-33

The spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets

The spirits of the person speaking in tongues are under the control of the person

14:33

Produces peace, not confusion

When spoken correctly, as a known language, it too produces peace, not confusion