biblestudies



	The Truth About Tongues part2 1^st Corinthians Chapter 14 *1^st Corinthians 14* Many, many people have unfortunately misinterpreted this great chapter. Some have wrongly stated that this is the "tongues chapter" of the bible. *Nothing could* *be further from the truth.* This chapter is *not* about tongues. Others have stated that the main theme of this chapter is preaching or prophesy. This too is incorrect. *The main theme of this chapter is edification.* In fact, unless you interpret 1^st Corinthians 12 and 13 correctly, by the time you get here, you would have made some major errors in interpretation and application. Paul, at the end of chapter 12, told this church, that they needed to seek, not after gifts, but divine love. In the 13th chapter, Paul teaches that any and all gifts, no matter how eloquent, no matter how sacrificial, no matter how knowledgeable, are of no value without divine love. The problem with the Corinthian church was *not* a lack of gifts, but a lack of divine love needed to operate them. As I said, the main theme of this chapter is edification. That truth began in *chapter 12:7* when Paul stated the purpose of the gifts, *to profit withal, to the highest good and growth of the church body—to edify, if you please. 1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.* Notice the first three words that Paul uses in this verse. This is to be the chief pursuit of the church. We are to pursue love, *not gifts. Pursuing gifts is a non-issue since you already have whatever gift or gifts you are going to get at the moment of your salvation! The greatest goal and aim as a church body, is to pursue divine love. In chapter 12, Paul ends the chapter by stating that the Corinthians needed to seek to operate the gifts that were most beneficial to the body as a whole. They were not. In chapter 13, Paul gives the motivation and the foundation on which the gifts are to be operated, divine love. In chapter 14, he picks up right where he left off in chapters 12 and 13. The point of the last three chapters is this: The church needs to cultivate an environment where spiritual gifts would benefit the church body as a whole, not to emphasize the gift of tongues as some type of personal enhancement. Knowing of the carnality, selfishness and sinfulness of the church of Corinth, it is very hard for me to believe (and I don't)* that Paul is commending their misuse of the gift of tongues, and he isn't. Paul is not commending their misuse of tongues, rather, he is *condemning, their misuse as a selfish practice, which selfishness was manifest in everything that this church did. It astonishes* me how so many people, use these passages to support their use of tongues in their assembly and in their personal lives, while at the same time, seem to miss the obvious truths of the passage itself. It has always been my contention that poor bible study and interpretation, plus a leaning to an emotional base religion as a substitute for proper biblical exposition, and this clamoring after feelings and experience, has perpetuated a *"New Corinthianism"* all over again in today's church. *Just look at some of the behavior patterns that was in the Corinthian church:* · Man worship · Gathering around favorite bible teachers while despising others · Cliques · Preaching styles over preaching substance · Wrong teachings about the Holy Spirit · Carnality · Biblical ignorance, cloaked over with uncontrolled emotionalism · Suit happy professing believers, going before the ungodly · Selfishness · Idolatry · Sexual immorality, including incest · Women usurping authority. · Misuse of Spiritual Gifts and lack of divine love. · Etc, etc, etc Now, do you want to argue that this church was spiritually fit to use spiritual gifts properly? I don't think you have a leg to stand on. Now, there can be no misunderstanding of what Paul is saying here. Paul is saying that they needed to operate, in that church body, gifts, that would most benefit the church body as a whole. What was the gift? Prophecy. Prophecy, as we have already seen, is the speaking forth of the mind and council of God. Obviously, at the time of this epistle, there was both foretelling and forthtelling going on. Today we only have the proclamation of *existing* truth, the written revelation, the scriptures. The point that I am making is that gift of prophecy is the speaking forth of the word of God and that gift in particular, benefits the church body as a whole. 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. Friends, this is not a commendation, but a *condemnation* of a useless use of tongues. I did not say tongues were useless, I’m saying that they are useless if they are used incorrectly. That would be true of *any* gift, but let's stay with the context. Assuming that this is indeed a true spiritual gift of tongues, Paul is not encouraging the use of it in this way. The entire point of this chapter is the edification of the body, as a whole. Tongues are no exception. The tongues were a mystery to everyone, including the one speaking the language, because no one understood what was being said. *That was a useless use of tongues. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.* Do you see what Paul said in this verse? The purpose of the gifts and the use of them are absolutely meaningless unless they are being used to the edification of the church body. Notice an important point that needs to be stressed. Gifts are to edify men, *NOT God, as some foolishly* teach. No gift edifies God, since He needs no building up. Look at the threefold benefit in preaching the truth: 1.) *Edification:* To build a house. To promote spiritual growth. 2.) *Exhortation:* To urge one to pursue a spiritual course of conduct. 3.) *Comfort:* Encouragement. It alleviates grief. I have heard people say that tongues encourage them, makes them closer to God produces a more effective prayer life, builds greater faith, produces spiritual growth, etc. None of these claims is mentioned or even implied in scripture, even though many teach contrary to the word of God. *4 He that speaketh in an unknown* tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. Paul is not commending or encouraging self-edification! People who believe that he is are not reading the text properly at all. They need to read the context of chapters 12-14. Paul wants the church body edified, not individual members. Self-edification is never encouraged and is never to be the main use of any spiritual gift. Tongues that are interpreted benefit the church body, Uninterpreted tongues benefits no one, including the speaker*. Notice also that the edification is to the CHURCH. Where people get the idea that they can operate the gift of tongues in their homes, closets or cars is beyond me. I don't see any command to that effect. I don't see that this is the proper use of any gift seeing that gifts are given to edify the church and not individuals. 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. Paul is saying clearly that prophecy is greater, that the person proclaiming the truth is more useful and more important, than one speaking in tongues, UNLESS HE INTERPRETS THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED!!* That is the though of Paul again and again concerning gifts. *Edification of the church body is the theme!!* 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? What good is it if Paul came speaking in tongues except he spoke a message that they could understand and be edified by? It would be of no value or of any good. Revelation, knowledge, prophesying, teaching are all gifts that teach and build up the body. 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? Paul uses the obvious to make an obvious point! If a musical instrument was blown incorrectly or senselessly or incoherently, how will anyone know what was supposed to have been communicated? If a bugle was blown incorrectly or incoherently, or the wrong call was played when the war call should have been blown, then who will be ready for the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. Just as with the musical instruments, unless tongues were understood, there was no way that anyone could understand what was said, intended to be said or implied to say. No one understand, including the speaker of the tongues. All you are doing is speaking to the wind. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. The gift of tongues and tongues period, are known languages. Every language has a meaning and a expression to them that hears it. *11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be* a barbarian unto me.** If the voice has no meaning to the one hearing it, it the tongue is not translated, the result would be devastating. The hearer would be listening to unintelligible gibberish. The Greeks divided the world into two classes. Greeks and barbarians. If a person did not speak Greek and attempted to speak their language to a cultured Greek person, they would yell out: "bar, bar, bar." because they did not understand what was being said to them. *12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.* They were to desire to do everything with the gifts that they had to the express purpose of edifying the body. They were to abound towards that end. That was a *commandment, by the way, not a suggestion. Excel means to abound, to make one's aim or goal. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown* tongue pray that he may interpret. Interpretation was absolutely necessary so that the body would be edified. If there was no interpreter then there should be any tongues either. The one with the gift should pray that the Lord would give him the ability to give a correct interpretation. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. Those who claim to have gained great spiritual understanding and help because they are speaking in tongues do not have the support of the scriptures to justify those claims. In fact, the scriptures teach the opposite. If I am praying in a tongue in the church and no one interprets, my mind is unproductive and fruitless. It helps no one, including the speaker. Paul's constant aim or goal was to burn into the minds of the Corinthian church the need for edification of the entire church body. The church was neither strong nor growing. They were using spiritual gifts, which God gave them to build up the church body, and using them incorrectly to attempt to build up themselves individually. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to profit the entire body and never as a means of personal enhancement. The greater purpose, of course, is to glorify God, who gave the gifts in the first place. This simple truth escaped Corinth and it seems to have escaped us today. Corinth was ignorant of the purpose of spiritual gifts. This is clearly seen in chapter 12 as Paul states, that he didn't want them to be ignorant. Ignorant means without understanding. Paul is not stating a desire, but a statement of fact. What he said was this, you are ignorant, and I don't want you to stay that way any longer. Multitudes of people are more concerned about their experiences and feelings and emotions rather than truth. Every experience is to be tested by the crucible of scripture. If scripture cannot support it, it needs to be rejected, no matter what the so-called results may be. All false claims that are attributes to tongues, and all refusals by those who will not subject their experiences to biblical scrutiny, and the misuse of any spiritual gift, should be outright rejected since it does not pass the test of scripture. This is not an opinion of Harley Howard, but of the truth itself. Paul concludes this chapter with a stern warning in verses 36-38 (read) Those who reject the word of God, spoken by Paul, are themselves to be rejected. The emphasis of the 14th chapter is not tongues, nor prophecy, but the edification of the church body. Read verses 13-15. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Paul ask the question, what should I do? If my understanding is fruitless in the use of tongues, then what am I to do? If the hearers understanding is fruitless then what should I do? I will pray with the Spirit (Holy) and I will pray with the understanding also. Not only with I pray or offer a prayer to God in the Spirit, but I will do it with the full faculties of my mind and reason and intellect. In simpler terms, if simpler terms are needed, I will pray, knowing what I am saying. The same applies to singing as well. There were some at the church who were praying and singing in a language that no one understood. The practice listed here is exclusive to this church alone, which makes me wonder if the practice was right at all. Paul seems to me to say that what was needed was not an interpretation, but just to sing and to pray normally and not in tongues. There is no edification that bypasses the mind. Anyone who believes that they can bypass the mind and grow in Christ has no biblical support whatsoever. The Holy Spirit does not bypass the mind of the believer to work. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our soul MIND and strength. That is a commandment. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Offering up praise to God in tongues is unfruitful to those who are unlearned concerning the language that you are speaking in. Many people would come into the Corinthian church, which evidently was a gifted church, in an unusual way, they would see others speaking in tongues without an understanding of what was going on. Instead of edification being the result, confusion would result. Those listening to the person praising God in tongues would have no idea what to do, not knowing what was being said. 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. You may well have offered up to God thanksgiving, but no one else is edified in the church. Again, this stresses the need for edification and not self-exaltation or attempting to use gifts for some personal enhancement! 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:** 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Paul *didn't* decry the use of tongues, but its *misuse. I believe that many who attempt to use Paul's writings as an evidence to stop the use of tongues may need to read the text again. Paul said that he spoke in tongues.* Although there were no recorded instances, it would seem to me that the use outside of the church would be consistent with its usage in other portions of scripture. What was that? · Sharing the wonderful works of God. · Demonstration of supernatural power to bring the listeners to hear the gospel. · Conformation that non-Jews were also part of the body of believers. Regardless of the fact that Paul spoke in tongues, he places far *more* emphasis on speaking with the intent to teach others. We have no recorded incidents of Paul speaking in tongues, but we have a wealth of recorded incidents of the emphasis that Paul placed on teaching the word of God. Let's be mindful of that truth. Paul again uses the obvious to make an obvious point. The gathering of the saints was for the purpose of learning, thus, edification was the goal. This could only be done, if some form of teaching was going on and the hearers devoted to learning. Emotion and ignorance could not, cannot and has not help to bring anyone to a place of spiritual maturity or edification. This is the purpose of coming into the church body. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Paul is *NOT* warning them that this could happen to them if they were not careful. He's saying that they were babies and needed to grow up! They needed to stop this arrested thinking. They were babies in their ability to understand and reason. This is no compliment, but a strong rebuke to them for their willful ignorance and refusal to grow up. Don't be so quick to think that every time you see the word, baby, in the text, as it relates to the church, that it refers to new converts who need to grow. That is not the case at all, and even if it was, the exhortation would be the same, *GROW UP!!!* They were totally ignorant in the ability to understand truth, reason and intellect as it related to their walk with God. They were totally ignorant in their ability to understand the truth. They were *full grown* in mistreating each other. They were *adults* in malice, ill-will, a desire to hurt and injure one another, wickedness, and shameful behavior towards one another. This was *not* a Holy Spirit filled church. In malice, they were to be innocent, ignorant, but when it come to understanding, reason, intellect as it relates to the scripture, they were to be full grown!! 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 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. Now I want you to notice this truth *carefully* because so many have missed it. Paul has just challenged them to think as adults, which they were not doing. They would demonstrate their ability to understand, and reason by going to the *scriptures* to find out the *reason* for tongues in the first place. Paul quoted the Old Testament. God told Israel that He would judge them through another nation, a foreign nation of whose language they did not understand. When that happened, they would know that it was the work of God in judgment. They would know that it was a supernatural work of God. Remember that Peter quoted the Old Testament as well. Meaning what? Meaning that both of these men saw the tongues as a supernatural work of God towards *UNBELIEVERS* and unbelieving *Israel* in particular! If Israel would not hear the Lord through the prophets, they would not listen to the Lord, though a supernatural sign would be given to them. That was the purpose of the prophecy in Isaiah 28, and was the result in Acts 2 as well. Millions were in Jerusalem at that time. 3000 converts was *miniscule* compared to the multitudes that came to Jerusalem to worship. Though tongues were a supernatural sign, if they used them contrary to the teaching of scripture, and they were, they were useless for its divine purpose. The purpose of tongues had no meaning to the believer, without interpretation, because edification was not taking place. Now, notice again, the clear teaching of the scriptures concerning the gathering of the saints. Edification. Preaching the truth. The gathering of the saints is for the purpose of being taught the truth. The emphasis is not to be on tongues, but on teaching the truth. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Notice that the church is described as coming together, in one place. The gathering of the saints in a certain location was the common practice of the church. If the unbeliever came into the Corinthian assembly and saw everyone speaking with tongues, they would conclude that Christians were stark raving mad! Unbelievers, who would walk into the church, and those unlearned of the gift of tongues or interpretation conclude that the church is demented and out of their minds. The fault lies not with the unlearned or the unbeliever that comes into the assembly, but in the wild, undisciplined practices of the church. *24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one* unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. Proclaiming the truth, although specifically for the saints, would have the effect of bringing a lost person to salvation as well as a saved person to edification. Remember when Peter and the other disciples spoke in tongues. Not one** sole was saved at all until they heard the gospel message. When the word of God is faithfully preached, the unbeliever, who comes in the assembly (not invited) senses his conviction of his sins as the word brings out the hidden, secret things within his heart. The most powerful witness that a church can ever have within is a powerful, biblical pulpit. It can do the miraculous, such as saving a soul as well as bringing a saint to spiritual maturity. Again, Paul makes it clear that proclaiming truth is far superior to tongues. The word of God has the ability to bring an unsaved person to the place of conviction and conversion. All of the untranslated tongues in the world cannot do it. 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. How is it brothers, that when you come together that confusion reigns? There was no order being described here, but bedlam. Psalms, teachings, revelations, interpretations, were all going on at the same time, it was madness! The order is to do all things for the purpose of edification, no matter what was done. 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. Again, Paul is speaking of the use of tongues in the church assembly. *There are no instructions given about the use of tongues as a private home prayer language.* That is sheer conjecture, and it is not based on fact. Again, the entire chapter must be considered as far as proper application is concerned and nowhere is Paul endorsing any private use of gifts for one's personal enhancement. The instruction is very clear in this verse. No more than three were allowed to speak in any gathering of the believers and that in turn and with interpretation. There was not to be any uncontrolled frenzy, violating the scriptures, as it is today. Many people, when presented with this undeniable evidence, opt to attack the person bringing the truth, instead of being honest and obeying the scriptures. Others outright reject the scriptures for their own supposed interpretation and revelation from the Lord, which interpretation and revelation does not exist, apart from revealed truth. In this verse the interpreter was someone other than the speaker and for obvious reasons. The Greek word, interpret, means to expound, to explain the meaning of something. In this case, to interpret the known language of the one speaking in tongues. It means to take that which in unexplainable and to interpret it. Someone other than the speaker was to be doing the interpretation. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. This command is not difficult to understand for believers who are obedient to God. Corinth was out of their collective minds and many in the church are today as well. The issue isn't whether Harley Howard believe in tongues or not. *The issue is what the text says.* The issue is whether a person will operate their spiritual gift(s) according to scripture or not, that's the issue and the only issue. I'm not the issue, obedience to the scriptures is the issue. If there is no one who is interpreting the *known language* then there is to be no tongues spoken at all in the church. A person compelled to speak had no spiritual authority to do so and was to subject himself to God's word. The words, keep silent, means the following: Be silent, keep still, say nothing, stop speaking, hold one's peace, silence. Or as I like to bring it up to date, *shut up.* Look carefully at the verse again. Does the latter portion of this verse justify a prayer language to God? Is Paul insisting on, as some say, that people are to exercise their tongues at home? Is Paul saying that if a person cannot speak with tongues because there is no interpreter that he is to speak in tongues to God in a private corner in the church? Let's look carefully at the language. It could either mean: *1) Babble in the corner. This is the classical Greek usage of the word. Then it would appear that Paul is chiding their use of tongues. Let me repeat what I said before. I am assuming that Paul is speaking of those who are operating the true gift of tongues instead of pagan babble. Or: 2) Speak that which is understandable to you and towards God. I believe that is the correct interpretation and I'll tell you why. It is consistent with the context itself, (look at verses 13-15) and it is consistent with the usage of the verb itself. The emphasis is not on the speaking, but on what is said. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.* Here is a very important statement on the part of Paul, which again shows the importance of edification. *Even prophecy was not to be accorded uncritical acceptance.* It too was to be discerned. Preaching or prophecy was to be scrutinized by others who were capable to examine what was said. This tells me that preaching without truth edifies no one either. It would be as useless as uninterpreted tongues. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Notice that tongues was limited to only three people while prophecy has unlimited usage. This shows again the absolute superiority of teaching truth over tongues and yet many seem to willfully reject this obvious truth. Learning and comfort. This is the result of proclaiming the truth. Learning and comfort, all part of an edified church body. Learning and comfort, all of what a church needs to grow as well as believers individually. When people refuse to grow as the Corinthian church refused to grow, then truth is replaced by an emotional religion, laced with mass confusion, edifying no one, with no accountability to anyone. Everyone was given over to a subjected experience, which cannot be verified nor compared to objective truth. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. In simpler terms, no one with a gift is out of control. Lack of control means that a person is not walking in the Spirit. Corinth was not walking in the Holy Spirit, but in confusion. Today, many churches are walking in confusion, thinking they are walking in the Holy Spirit. When a church is walking in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will produce a church that is filled with believers that will edify one another. This is the clear plan of God. Any other plan is obviously *not* from God. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Paul can't be any clearer about the activities at the church Corinth. He is describing exactly what was going on in the church. The word confusion needs to be examined. I have been saying all along that this church was not walking in the Holy Spirit. I believe the text itself is evident of that. Now lets examine some *conclusive* and *definitive* proof that they were not. By proving they were not walking in the Holy Spirit, then the activities that were going on in the misuse of spiritual gifts were not Holy Spirit led either. *James 3:13-18 (read). See how these verses are consistent with the truth spoken of by Paul? God's peace reigns in His church when His Holy Spirit and His wisdom are active. All other agendas, disruptions, unrest, and rebellion is from demons, not from God. It is from the flesh, not the Spirit, it is of this world, not from Heaven. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.* Notice carefully what Paul is saying here. The very fact that he had to address this subject at all means that the practice of women usurping authority in the church was going on. Paul states a *UNIVERSAL and a SCRIPTURAL* principle, which doesn't address cultural situations. The word for silence is the same word that means to keep silent in verse 28 (read). They are to be commanded according to God's word to be in silence. This refers to women usurping authority and more specifically, over their husbands. This same practice goes on today in many churches where the bible is not central in teaching. This activity goes on where biblical ignorance is tolerated and encouraged and where emotionalism rules. The context is prophecy, preaching, leadership. They cannot usurp authority over men. The principle or should I say, the commandment, is found in the scriptures themselves. Adam was first formed, then Eve. They were rather to subject themselves to their husbands and stop involving themselves in disrupting the gathering with foolish questions, attempting to give the impression that they were enlightened on the same level as the men. They were to be quiet and learn from their husbands. That was, and is, a command. Its principle is universal. Look at the verse again (read). The word shame means a disgrace. It is disgraceful for women to usurp the authority over their own husbands. It is disgraceful for a woman to usurp authority over men, period. It is disgraceful for women to disrupt the worship gatherings. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? What? Do you think you are the source where truth came from? Are you the only ones with truth? The pride and arrogance of this church, as with many churches today that operate in this confused state, takes a position that others who don't act like they do are missing the truth. Paul said, you arrogance is meaningless because you are not walking in truth. 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. Paul said, if you really want to know the truth, the word of God came through me to *YOU* and not the reverse. Paul flexes his apostolic authority to this church. Paul says that if anyone in that church thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual or endowed with spiritual abilities, then he better acknowledge that the things that he wrote were the very word of God itself. This letter, said Paul, is the word of God. Obey it. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. If anyone was to disregard the truth of what Paul wrote, that individual(s) were to be disregarded. *This is a command, not a suggestion.* If a person will not submit to this bible, they are to be disregarded, regardless of their so-called abilities and talents. They are not to operate in open rebellion against God's word. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. What is Paul's conclusion? What he was saying all along. Proclaiming truth is superior to tongues, but tongues were not to be rejected. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order. That speaks for itself. Edification is the key and the theme of chapters 12-14. .