My thoughts are given in bold italics after the relevant verses:
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I would not have you ignorant.
Ignorance on these issues is not recommended.
1Co 12:2 You know that being led away, you nations were led to dumb idols.
1Co 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus a curse, and that no one can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:4 But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all.
Recognise differences in gifts, ministry and workings.
1Co 12:7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit.
The end result is our profit.
1Co 12:8 For through the Spirit is given to one a (1) word of wisdom; and to another a (2) word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 and to another (3) faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of (4) healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 and to another (5) workings of powers, to another (6) prophecy; and to another (7) discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of (8) tongues; and to another the (9) interpretation of tongues.
1Co 12:11 But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He desires.
It is the Holy Spirit who decides who should get what gift.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
Whatever be the gift we have received, we are all baptised. Tongues is not singled out as the one and only visible evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:27 And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.
1Co 12:28 And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of power?
1Co 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak languages? Do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.
We have been exhorted to zealously strive after the better gifts. How shall be recognise the better gifts from the context?
Rank 1, 2 and 3 are given to Apostles, Prophets, Teachers
Tongues comes last in the rank list.
1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
Some argue from this verse that there are two kinds of tongues, but that doesn’t seem to be the purpose of Paul’s statement.
1Co 13:8 Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will be abolished.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.
Some usually teach that the PERFECT refers to is the Word of God – the completion of the Canon (The Bible). They claim that the word ‘perfect’ in the original language is feminine and therefore cannot refer to Christ. But Charles Ryrie who is generally held in high esteem among those who teach that tongues have ceased, says the ‘perfect’ is a reference to the event of Christ’s second coming.
1Co 13:11 When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant.
Speaking in tongues is equated with infancy and not with maturity. Today, however, in the tongues speaking communities, those who have the gift of tongues are considered higher than those who don’t.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.
This happens when Jesus Christ comes back: 1John 3:2 ‘Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.’
Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.
This too is something that happens at the 2nd coming and not when the completed Scripture was available to the Church.
1Co 13:13 And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity.
Those who claim that tongues have already ceased will say: When Christ is come we do not need faith or hope any longer. But the English Bible says, faith and hope is for the NOW. It is not a reference to what happens THEN.
1Co 14:1 Follow after charity and desire spiritual things, but rather that you may prophesy.
1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
The one who speaks in tongues speaks to God and not to man.
1Co 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4 The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a church.
Tongues results in personal edification
1Co 14:5 I wish all of you to speak in languages, but rather that you may prophesy; for greater is he prophesying than he speaking in tongues, unless he interpret so that the church may receive building up.
The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless the tongues in interpreted
1Co 14:6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
1Co 14:7 Yet lifeless things giving a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sound, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
1Co 14:8 For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?
1Co 14:9 So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language, how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
The whole value of speaking in tongues in public is being questioned and not elevated.
1Co 14:10 So it may be many kinds of sounds are in the world, and not one is without a distinct sound.
1Co 14:11 Therefore if I do not know the power of the sound, I will be a foreigner to him speaking, and he speaking will be a foreigner to me.
1Co 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealots of spiritual things, seek to build up the church, in order that you may abound
1Co 14:13 So then he speaking in a language, let him pray that he may interpret.
1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.
I may speak to God in tongues but to men with a language that man would understand.
1Co 14:16 Else, if you bless in the spirit, he occupying the place of the unlearned, how will he say the amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say?
We cannot say ‘Amen’ to a prayer made publicly in tongues.
1Co 14:17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up.
1Co 14:18 I thank my God that I speak more languages than all of you;
1Co 14:19 yet in a church I desire to speak five words with my mind, so that I might also teach others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Paul spoke in tongues more than anyone else, but he says, IN THE CHURCH, he would rather speak just 5 words with his mind than 10,000 words in tongues.
1Co 14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your minds, but in malice be like infants, and in your minds be mature.
Paul exhorts us to come out of our infancy and to be mature in our minds.
1Co 14:21 In the Law it is written, "By other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people, and even so they will not hear Me, says the Lord."
1Co 14:22 So that tongues are not a sign to those who believe, but to those who do not believe. But prophesying is not to those who do not believe, but to those who believe.
The whole purpose of tongues was evangelism. This is exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Many heard the gospel in their own language spoken by those who did not know that language. So I find it difficult to agree that the tongues spoken in Acts of the Apostles is different from the tongues in Corinth.
1Co 14:23 Therefore if the whole church has come together, and all speak in languages, and if uninstructed ones or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you rave?
When all speak in tongues it is nothing but madness for the uninformed (believers who cannot understand that these tongues speaking is unto the LORD) or unbelievers.
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or one not instructed comes, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all.
1Co 14:25 And so the secrets of his heart become revealed. And so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Prophesy that reveals hearts is a powerful proof to the unbeliever.
1Co 14:26 Then how is it, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up.
Rules for the Public Use of Tongues:
1Co 14:27 If one speaks in a language, let it be by two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret.
(1) Two or at the most three may speak
(2) Each in turn – not all together
(3) There should be interpretation
1Co 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in a church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
(4) If there is no interpretation, let the one who speaks in tongues remain audibly silent in the church and let the tongues speaking be between him and God
In all my over 30 years of having been a believer, I have never personally witnessed tongues being spoken in public following these rules and I fail to understand how one who is filled with the Holy Spirit will act against the clearly defined parameters inspired by the same Holy Spirit.
There are rules for Prophecy also:
1Co 14:29 And if there are two or three prophets, let them speak, and let the others judge.
1Co 14:30 If a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent.
1Co 14:31 For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
There is no ground for confusion to prevail.
1Co 14:34 Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says.
Whatever be the interpretation of the silence here, my observation has been that in charismatic or Pentecostal gatherings, it is the women who speak in tongues more than men.
1Co 14:35 And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church.
1Co 14:36 Or did the Word of God go out from you? Or did it reach only to you?
1Co 14:37 If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or a spiritual one, let him recognize the things I write to you, that they are a commandment of the Lord.
Paul asks us to consider these recommendations as the commandment of the Lord. Doing so, according to him, is a mark of spirituality.
1Co 14:38 But if any is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
In spite of all this teaching, some will still persist to be ignorant. You can’t help it.
1Co 14:39 So then, brothers, seek to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in languages.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
I will not forbid the speaking of tongues in public provided it abides by the rules set by the Holy Spirit for the public use of tongues.
These rules do not apply for the non-public use of tongues for personal edification.
