5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;1 for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by arevelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for 1 Corinthians 14:7.
I Corinthians 14:6-11
Please turn with me to I Corinthians 14, verse 6. Virtuous character displays clear intentions to ensure that expectations are always up front and explicit. It is common courtesy to make our directions, instructions, and information easy to understand.
Just as a musical instrument must play every note for the music to be heard and to be clear, Paul said words spoken in the hearer's language are more precise and more helpful. There are many languages in the world, and people who speak different languages often struggle to understand each other, which is obvious, is it not?
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