Tongues are for a Sign 1 Corinthians 14:22

Paul the apostle quoted from “the law” as he told the church members in Corinth, “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-two of First Corinthians, Paul declared, “tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not”, where we read:

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

The verse begins, “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:”. Paul began with the word, “Wherefore” or “so that, insomuch, so then and therefore” “tongues” which means “languages or dialects used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations” “are for” or “have the purpose of being” “a sign” which means “a mark or token”, “not to them that believe” which means “think to be true, are persuaded of, credited with and place confidence in”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “to them” or “to the people” “that believe not” which means “who do not think to be true, are not persuaded of, not credited with and do not place confidence in”. Paul declared the purpose of the “spiritual gift” of “tongues” was “for a mark or token” to people who did not “believe”.

The verse continues, “but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “prophesying” or “speaking forth by divine inspirations and predicts with the idea of foretelling future events pertaining especially to the kingdom of God, utters forth and declares a thing which can only be known by divine revelation and breaks forth under sudden impulse in loft discourse or praise of divine counsels to teach, refute, reprove, admonish and comfort others” “serves not” which means “does not add anything” “for them” which refers to “for the people” “that believe not” or “who do not think to be true, are not persuaded of, not credited with and do not place confidence in”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “moreover and” “for them” which refers to “for the people” “which believe” which means “who think to be true, are persuaded of, credited with and place confidence in”. Paul declared “prophesying” to be for “believers” not “unbelievers”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he declared “tongues” or “speaking in tongues” to be a “sign” to those who are “unbelievers” rather than “believers”, and “prophesying” “served” “believers” and not “unbelievers”. Jesus Christ gave the “vocal spiritual gifts” to His church through the Holy Spirit, and they are meant to “serve” both “believers” and “unbelievers”. Jesus Christ desires the church to be “edified” by the “gifts”, and if people are “unbelievers”, He desires to reach them exactly where they are.

Next time Paul tells the church members if, “all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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