Tongues and Interpretation

Tongues and Interpretation

1 Corinthians 12:10KJV

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

The gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues are both real and true and unmistakably the most argued about gifts in the bible.

Tongues are mistaken by many in their use. Some would say that they were just for a missionary purpose this is not true since all the known world was mostly what was contained in the Roman Empire which consisted of many former countries which were given a national language, Greek. People spoke mostly in their own dialect however they were forced by law to learn and speak Greek. The early church needed little more help than today’s church to immediately learn new languages. I am sure that there were and is a time when the Holy Spirit steps in and helps a missionary at times but that is not the main purpose of the gift.

Tongues are for these needs.

1. A sign that one has been filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit. As spoken of : At Pentecost – Acts 2:4, At Caesarea Acts 10:44-46, At Ephesus Acts 19:5-6,
2. Used in a special type of prayer (Private use) 1 Cor. 14:15
3. A gift of the Holy Spirit (Public use) 1 Cor. 12:10

It must be said that tongues are tongues and the difference between gift and sign are function and purpose not quality or importance.

The uses are as follows:

1. A sign to the unbeliever. 1 Cor 14:22 this is the chief ministry of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:22KJV

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

The scripture in 1 Cor 14:6 has the other uses for tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:6KJV

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

1. Revelation or unveiling what isn’t known
2. Knowledge
3. Prophesying
4. Doctrine or teaching.

Regulations about Public use

1 Corinthians 14:26-28KJV

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1. Interpretation is by many people limited but not by the Spirit it isn’t just for the interpretation of the gift of tongues all through the bible yes even the O.T. such as in Daniel 5:25-28 when Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzer.
2. Joseph is spoken of as giving to Pharaoh the interpretation (pithron) of his dream (Genesis 41:14-36).
3. Gideon was reassured of victory over the Midianites in the interpretation (sheuer-breaking, fracture, crushing, etc.) of a dream (Judges 7:15).
4. Daniel was used of God to interpret the dreams of the king of Babylon (Daniel 2:25,45; 4:18, 19; 512).

Also and more often it is shown even today as interpreting Tongues.