Tongues to Astonish; Prophecy to Convert (1 Corinthians 14:20-25)

 

Tongues are not very useful ‘in the church’ (v.19). In verses 20-25 Paul will say that they are not very useful for evangelising outsiders.

  1. Be child-like and mature.
    • 14:20; like Matt.10:16. In evil, we are to be like children – unaware of it, as innocent as we can be in a fallen world. But in our understanding or our thinking we are to be mature.
    • the mania for entertainment has taken over modern society. Note Eph.4:14-15.
  2. Tongues are a sign to unbelievers.
    • 14:21-22. See Deut.28:49-50; then Isa.28:7-10, 11-12.
    • tongues are a sign ‘to’ (NKJV) or ‘for’ (NIV, ESV) unbelievers. Chrysostom said that the aim was to astonish. God spoke to His wayward people in (Assyrian) tongues which they did not understand.
    • 14:23; contrast to Acts 2:8-15 where the message is understood. The cults of Dionysius and of Cybele had meetings where people raved. You can only believe if first you understand what God is saying.
  3. Prophecy can convert.
    • 14:24-25. The outsider could come to know three things – the secrets of his own heart, the reality of God, and an awareness of God’s presence with His people. John 16:8; see 2 Sam.12:7 and John 4:29. Plato: ‘No one in possession of his rational mind has reached divine and true exaltation.’ Paul says the opposite. See Acts 8:30-35.