5 Questions About Speaking In TonguesSample

QUESTION 2: Is tongues inferior to prophecy?

Spiritual fruit is the result of comprehensible teaching and encouragement. Now, as we’ve just seen, the person who prays in tongues can be edified by the exercise. But no one else can, unless of course what is said in tongues is interpreted.

So we should not take Paul’s words here as an indictment against tongues. Saying the one who prophesies is greater is not a criticism or a rejection of tongues. It is simply Paul’s way of saying that when you compare intelligible prophecy with unintelligible tongues, only prophecy is of benefit to others in the gathered assembly of God’s people. That is why it is “greater.”

But if tongues are interpreted, as Paul says in the middle of verse 5, it becomes the functional equivalent of prophecy. That doesn’t mean interpreted tongues equals prophecy. They are and always remain two different gifts of the Spirit. It simply means prophecy is no longer “greater” than tongues because the tongue is interpreted and consequently just as intelligible and just as capable of edifying others as is prophecy. Interpreted tongues function equally as well as prophecy to build up the body.