1 Corinthians 14:6-9 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
In these verses, Paul asks a rhetorical question (v. 6), answers it with two more rhetorical questions using illustrations with obvious answers, and ends with a concluding rhetorical question. In the first question, the critical issue is if tongues benefits others. Speaking in tongues has no benefit to others unless it communicates something that is understood. Paul describes this understanding with four word with show some overlap. “Revelations” are making clearly known what was once hidden. Revelations in the Christian sense might be revealing new insights about the gospel and possibly of something to take place in the future. “Knowledge” could include the ability to memorize information and to have the ability to apply it to a situation. Christian knowledge should flow out of knowing the truth of the gospel and how this truth applies to life. “Prophecy” is speaking forth the gospel and calling people to repentance, faith, and holy living. “Teaching” is taking complex ideas and making them clear to people and helping them come to an understanding. Christian teaching should bring change to people’s lives because it helps people experience the power of Jesus Christ.
The next two rhetorical questions focus upon the sounds of two instruments. The flute makes pleasant and soft sounds of music. But if it is not played and sits on the shelf or if someone blows it in and does not know how to make it create sounds, then it cannot produce music. It is useless and not doing what it was designed for. The bugle also must be used in the right way for it to have its purpose of calling an army into action. If it is not blown right, the army will not act. Both of these instruments must be used in the right way to fulfill their purpose of communication.
The application of these illustrations is that the tongue should be used to communicate clearly, otherwise it is useless. Whatever sounds come out of a person’s mouth must be understood by others, otherwise these sounds are meaningless to others. What lies behind Paul’s questions in these verses is that he wants the Corinthians to communicate clearly to one another. Speaking in “tongues” does not communicate anything clearly and thus should be avoided in the church. Everything that is spoken should be understandable to other people.
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