I have often heard it said that there are 3 types of tongues, those being:
1. Tongues as initial evidence.
2. Tongues as a gift of the Spirit.
3. Tongues as a prayer language.
I maintain that tongues as a prayer language is not a biblically distinct type of tongues. I am not saying that praying in tongues is extra-biblical, only that it is not a biblically verifiable type of tongues. Clearly tongues were never spoken of as a prayer language in Acts. That leaves
1st Corinthians 12-14 which I shall address in the remainder of this post.
1 Corinthians 12 is clearly a chapter about the spiritual gifts. The references to tongues in this chapter are clearly in relation to the gift of tongues.
1 Corinthians 13 has only one mention of tongues. The verse is
1 Corinthians 13:1 and is mentioned right after this. From context, there are two interprations of what tongues could be in this verse.
1) They are referring to a spiritual gift because the topic had been spiritual gifts immediately before.
2) They are referring to the natural act of speaking in another language because verse 13:3 refers to the natural act of giving your goods to feed the poor.
Neither of these views lends support to a prayer language. It seems the gift of tongues is the more probable explanation. Since the gifts of the Spirit were just being spoken about at the end of chapter 12, and most all of the gifts are referenced in 13:1-2. Tongues, prophecy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith are all mentioned.
In chapter 14 there are 14 verses referencing tongues. (Verses 2, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 39)
Verses 1-6 are clearly comparing and contrasting tongues with prophesy. Verse 1 even speaks about desiring spiritual gifts. Clearly the context of these verses dictates that they are about the gift of tongues.
Verses 7-12 give an analogy of why the gift of tongues is not useful without interpretation, because it doesn't edify the church.
Verses 13-17 are the most interesting verses on this topic and they determine the context of verses 18 and on. There are three possibilities here.
1) It is continuing speaking about the gift of tongues. No real evidence is needed for this one, it is the most obvious way to take the context. In this case it would be speaking of making a prayer through the gift of tongues.
2) In verse 13 it mentions praying that you may interpret your unknown tongue. It could be that these verses are about supernatural interpretation of your natural foreign tongue that those around you haven't learned.
3) It is very unlikely that these verses are references to people praying in tongues as pentecostals today do. Contrary to most pentecostal interpretations, verse 15 has to mean praying with the spirit and with the understanding simultaneously. Verse 14 says "...my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful" Verse 15 paraphrased asks What should be done about this praying with the spirit but without the understanding? It recommends praying with the spirit and with the understanding also. Further verse 16 gives the reason why both is needed. Verse 16 explains that we need both because those hearing our prayer can't agree with it if they don't understand them. Verse 16 also makes it clear that you are already blessing with the spirit but makes the point that the understanding is need in addition to this.
Of all these possibilities I'm beginning to think option 2 is the best contextual reading of verses 13-17. What do you all think?
To be continued (after some responses of course
) ...
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