20160729 Friday, July 29 2016
1 Corinthians 14: Translated Out Of The Original Tongues

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification"

The English-language word "tongue" originated from an Anglo-Saxon word, tunge, that referred to the organ of speech, but with the applied meaning of the languages that were spoken by means of the tongue. Speaking "in a tongue" simply means speaking in one actual language or another.

A plain statement from a 1772 King James Version translation of the Holy Bible that was "Translated [into the English tongue] out of The Original Tongues [the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek tongues]":

"The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of The Original Tongues: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches. Oxford: Printed by T. Wright and W. Gill, Printers to the University: And sold by S. Crowder, in Paternoster Row, London; and by W. Jackson, in Oxford. 1772."

"The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the Original Greek: and with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches. Oxford: Printed by T. Wright and W. Gill, Printers to the University: Sold by S. Crowder, in Paternoster Row, London; and by W. Jackson, in Oxford, 1777."

The truth about speaking in tongues was already a controversy in the time of the apostle Paul (see Paul, The Apostle To The World). Even already then, some were simply babbling nonsense that they proclaimed to be speaking in tongues. Paul rebuked them for making a mockery out of the gift of speaking in tongues, other languages, for those who did not have them as their mother tongue.

Speaking in other tongues was a tool to proclaim the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?) to all people (as proven by the famous "birthday of the Church" Pentecost of Acts 2; see Acts 2: The Saviour Of All Repentant People), in all languages (see the Fact Finder question below).

"14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 14:2 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. 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 14:5 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.

14:6 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? 14:7 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? 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 14:9 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. 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 14:11 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. 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 14:15 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. 14:16 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? 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 14:19 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.

14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 14:21 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.

14:22 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. 14:23 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? 14:24 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: 14:25 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.

14:26 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. 14:27 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. 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

14:34 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. 14:35 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.

14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 14:37 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. 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:1-40 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why was the New Testament written mostly in the Greek tongue?
See Why Were They Called Deacons? and The Gospel By The Greek and The Baptism Of The Ethiopian