[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Well, as I said in my previous posts to Mike, I believe context of the entire chapter makes it pretty clear, beginning from the very first verse:

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

He is speaking about the "gift of tongues" here; he is not referring to the sign of one initially receiving baptism/indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

To paraphrase it, I think Paul's meaning in verse 5 could be accurately summed up this way:

"I'd be happy if you all had the gift of tongues, but I'd be even happier if you all had the gift of prophecy; because a person who prophesies is greater (that is, of more value to the church) than one who has the gift of tongues, unless he has the gift of interpretation also, for the edification of the body."

So, then when someone speaks in tongues in prayer it is the gift of tongues, EXCEPT if it is the first (initial) time he speaks - in that case it is not the gift of tongues?