Commanded to Speak in Tongues?

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

1 Cor 14
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Right off the bat, the "tongues" Paul is referring to here is not natural language as EVIDENCED by his statement "...in the spirit, he speaketh mysteries (and NO MAN UNDERSTANDS IT)

3 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Tongues (without interpretation as stated later in the chapter) serve for PERSONAL EDIFICATION (In lame man's terms: It's like recharging a battery...lol)

5 I 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.

The Apostle DESIRED that ALL his CONVERTS spoke with tongues (PERSONAL EDIFICATION) but most importantly to PROPHESY (OTHER'S EDIFICATION). When we realize the root of the gospel, we understand why prophecy is greater than tongues because it focuses on others and NOT SELF.

The root of the gospel is a selfless love and that is exemplified in prophesying


14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (Again, not a natural language)

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit (supernatural), and I will pray with the understanding also (natural): I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.(Amen!)

As for the use of tongues while saints are gathered togthered:

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

"Let him keep silence" and "let him speak to himself and God" are not contradictory when we realize that the subject at hand is about order in the church. The "tongue speaker (who cannot interprete) should speak to God in a non-disorderly way...

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order

Very good points. Praying in the spirit is prasying in tongues. So Jude 1 and Eph. 6 are lets say "instructing" all believers to pray in tongues. It is a tool, a weapon of our warfare.