INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

"If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret." (1 Corinthians 14: 27)

Was Paul instructing the Corinthians how to operate a companion gift to tongues? Remember he had been warning the Corinthians NOT to use tongues in worship, which he reaffirms with the following statement “…tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers.” (1 Corinthians 14:23) Since the church at Corinth consisted of believers, tongues were unnecessary. But then why was Paul setting up conditions for their operation?

There had to have been the genuine gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues operating in Corinth when Paul wrote his epistles. Paul identifies interpretation of tongues as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1Corinthians Chapter 12. Keep in mind that the Corinthian church was young and its members were mostly new converts with pagan backgrounds. Since everybody’s uncle speaks tongues, interpretation of tongues was probably effective to bring an end to the proliferation of pagan tongues. Pagan tongues would have been an additional headache for Paul, since the Corinthian church was already in disorder with its misuse of genuine tongues. It is interesting to note, however, that interpretation of tongues is not mentioned in Acts again. So it is quite conceivable that it was a temporary gift for Corinth.

Modern day interpretation of tongues is as "fruitful" to worship as modern day tongues. Ask yourself why it is that Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers use real translators when they evangelize aboard? If they have people with tongues and interpretation of tongues, why do they need translators?

If you are still not convinced, just memorize the “Glory be” in a foreign language and recite it at a prayer meeting. The “interpretation”, if there is one, will not be the “Glory be”.