From: kmm@cs.purdue.edu (Kevin Megill)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Suggestions about 1Cor.14:22-25?
Date: 13 Oct 92 05:28:08 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Purdue University

In article <Oct.9.05.19.47.1992.15137@geneva.rutgers.edu> winter@censis.utas.edu.au (Derek Nicholas Winter) writes:

>        I recently had reason to read through a few chapters in 1Cor., and
>I would greatly appreciate any commets explaining the verses 1Cor14:22-25.
>These verses are apparently rather contradictory of each other, and I would
>be interested in the opinions of the other members of this 'group.

Here are the verses (in NASB):

	NASB: 

	So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe,
	but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers,
	but to those who believe.

	If therefore the whole church should assemble together and
	all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter,
	will they not say that you are mad?

	But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man
	enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by
	all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will
	fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly
	among you.

I think there is a fairly easy way to look at these verses.
Verse 22 is saying that the proper CONTEXT of tongues is when
you are speaking directly to unbelievers, trying to evangelize.
(It is NOT saying that unbelievers can only be reached by tongues.)
Verses 23-25 say that the better gift to use when believers are
assembled, speaking TO EACH OTHER, for edification, is prophecy.

Although prophecy is for speaking to believers, the PROPER USE
of EVERY GIFT is a testimony to unbelievers of God's presence in
the church.  But unbelievers only see this when we use the gifts
the way they were designed.

Thus if an unbeliever comes into a meeting FOR BELIEVERS, and
sees the way God works through the gift of prophecy to edify
the believers, he will be convicted that God is present.

I would paraphrase the passage this way:

	So then, tongues are given to the church so that we can use
	them as a sign for unbelievers, [in evangelistic contexts];
	but prophecy is given to the church so that we can use
	it as a sign for believers, [in contexts where we are building the
	church up].

	If therefore all the believers get together and all speak in 
	tongues, and a stranger wanders in, what will that look like to
	him?  He'll think you're all crazy!  Why in the world would you
	all be speaking in tongues to each other in your worship service?
	There is no point to that!

	But if you prophesy to each other when you meet together, 
	then God is clearly present in your midst, and your meetings
	will really be a testimony to any stranger who wanders in.
	He will see that God is truly present and speaking.  Everything any
	one says will convict him with its truth.  He will be
	brought face to face with the presence of the Lord, and
	will fall down in worship.  [The primary thing that touches
	him will not be the things the prophecies say, but the fact
	that he is in God's presence.] 

Thus v. 22 and vv. 23-25 both say the same thing: that tongues
are effective when they are used in the context of reaching unbelievers;
prophecy is effective when used in the context of the church meeting.

Kevin Megill
kmm@ector.cs.purdue.edu OR KEVIN_MEGILL@dsu1.dsu.nodak.edu

P.S. Hurrah!  We're actually discussing a Scriptural passage 
and not just the doctrined derived from it!  Sometimes I miss
that on this newsgroup!   :-)