In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says that tongues serves as a sign to the unbeliever. What exactly does he mean?
I recently heard someone attempt to explain this. They said that if they were to travel to Japan and began to speak to someone in Japanese about the truths of God, the person to whom they were speaking would know it was supernatural because he does not know Japanese.
Now, this is a terrible take if you ask me. Allow me to explain why.
If the person who gave this example were to travel to Japan and speak to someone there in Japanese, the hearer certainly would not think it was supernatural simply because he spoke the language. They would likely think he knows how to speak Japanese. In Acts 21 when Paul spoke Greek, it got the chief captain’s attention, but he didn’t think there was anything supernatural about it.
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? ~ Acts 21:37
As an American, when I see an English speaking Asian, Indian, Hispanic, or any other nationality, I never think it’s a supernatural occurrence, because it isn’t. They simply know English. If I were in Japan and suddenly had the ability to speak Japanese (a language I can not speak), the only people who would know that it is a supernatural occurrence would be me and anyone traveling with me. However, if I spoke to them in their language words which revealed secrets in their heart, they would know that God had spoken to them.
Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever by the message it conveys. When Paul says that tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, he doesn’t say it in the context of speaking to foreigners in their native language. He says it within the context of an unbeliever coming into a church service.
Now, let’s unpack this a little more. First, consider Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:5, I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
In verses 2-4, Paul has said that the one who speaks with tongues edifies himself, and the one who prophesies edifies others (the church). It is in this context that he now says greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues. Paul wanted the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy so that they would edify others within the church. This emphasis on prophecy early in chapter 14 comes immediately after Paul’s emphasis on love in chapter 13, which he refers to as the more excellent way.
The true gift of prophecy is an expression of love because it seeks to edify others, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies oneself, and in a public assembly this is inconsiderate of others. This is why Paul says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.
Paul doesn’t stop there. He then adds, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Paul is equating tongues and the interpretation, with prophesy. When interpreted, tongues serves the same purpose as the gift of prophecy which is the edification of others.
When reading 1 Corinthians 14 it is important to keep in mind that prophecy and tongues with the interpretation are one in the same, serving the same purpose. Let that sink in, because that is exactly what Paul is saying when he says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Prophecy edifies others (the church), and so does tongues with the interpretation. Now, with this in mind consider Paul’s words later in this chapter.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26
Now these verses can be somewhat confusing if we do not keep in mind that Paul has established that tongues with interpretation are equal with prophecy. Paul says that tongues are a sign to them that believe not, then shortly thereafter he says, If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
If tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, why does Paul say that the unbeliever would say you are mad if they walk into a service where everyone is speaking in tongues?
It is because Paul is referring to tongues with no interpretation, in contrast to prophesy, and if we will keep in mind that tongues with interpretation is equal to prophesy, this section of scripture will make sense. Now let’s look at this section of scripture again with the mindset that Paul is referring to both prophecy and tongues with interpretation when he uses the word prophecy because they accomplish the same thing.
Wherefore tongues (tongues with the interpretation) are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues (without interpreting), and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy (prophesy or tongues with the interpretation), and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26
Now, notice what Paul says next.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ v 27-28
Paul’s reason for instructing the Corinthians that there must be the interpretation if any speaks with tongues in a church assembly was for the benefit of those who were unlearned or unbelievers.
Now, using the example from the beginning of this article, if I were to fly to Japan and suddenly be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak to someone in Japanese, the thing that would prove to them that God is speaking through me would not be my ability to speak Japanese. It would be the message spoken to them as it revealed the secrets of their heart.
This is how they would know God had spoken through me to them.
In closing, Paul says, But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Notice the contrast. If no interpreter is present, keep silent in the church, but you may speak (in private) to yourself and God! This clearly underscores the truth that the gift of tongues can be used in prayer in our private devotion to God.
Rooted and Grounded In Christ 
PLEASE DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS COPY OF THIS COMMENT, AND USE THIS ONE. THIS ONE IS AN EDITED COPY WITH CORRECTIONS OF THE GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN THE FIRST COPY.
An excerpt from your article says: “I recently heard someone attempt to explain this. They said that if they were to travel to Japan and began to speak to someone in Japanese about the truths of God, the person to whom they were speaking would know it was supernatural because he does not know Japanese. Now, this is a terrible take if you ask me. Allow me to explain why. If the person who gave this example were to travel to Japan and speak to someone there in Japanese, the hearer certainly would not think it was supernatural simply because he spoke the language. They would likely think he knows how to speak Japanese. In Acts 21 when Paul spoke Greek, it got the chief captain’s attention, but he didn’t think there was anything supernatural about it. . . As an American, when I see an English speaking Asian, Indian, Hispanic, or any other nationality, I never think it’s a supernatural occurrence, because it isn’t. They simply know English. Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever by the message it conveys. When Paul says that tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, he doesn’t say it in the context of speaking to foreigners in their native language. He says it within the context of an unbeliever coming into a church service.”
I respectfully disagree. I actually agree with the person who said that if they were to travel to Japan and began to speak to someone in Japanese about the truths of God, the person to whom they were speaking would know it was supernatural because he does not know Japanese. This was exactly how tongues functioned as a sign to unbelievers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). In Acts 2, as the disciples began to speak in tongues (foreign human languages), the native speakers of these various foreign languages could hear their native languages being spoken by the disciples (who were uneducated Galileans) who had never traveled to the various nations whose languages they were speaking supernaturally. The native speakers of these languages were Jews in the diaspora who had gathered together in Jerusalem; these diaspora Jews were born and raised in foreign nations and were native speakers of the various foreign tongues spoken by the disciples on the day of Pentecost These native speakers were amazed to hear uneducated Galileans speaking foreign languages that they had never previously learned. This was a sign to the crowd that a something strange was happening. Acts 2: 7-8 says: “Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?” (NKJV).
So, we can clearly see from Acts 2 that tongues served as a miraculous sign to unbelievers, not by the message it conveyed, but by the fact that people who had never previously learned foreign languages were suddenly speaking those foreign languages.
You say: “If the person who gave this example were to travel to Japan and speak to someone there in Japanese, the hearer certainly would not think it was supernatural simply because he spoke the language. They would likely think he knows how to speak Japanese.” I think your illustration is too simplistic. If a Japanese speaker who knew that you had never previously learned Japanese and have never spoken Japanese suddenly hears you speaking Japanese so fluently, he/she would know that a miracle has taken place. In Acts 2, the diaspora Jews from various nations were very much aware that the Galilean disciples had never previously learned the various foreign tongues that were being spoken on the Day of Pentecost. So, it was clear to crowd of diaspora Jews that something unusual and supernatural was happening.
The other thing you need to keep in mind is that we are now in the 21st century, and the situation in the first century was very different from what it is today. Compared to the 21st century, people in the first century didn’t travel much as the means of traveling was relatively limited at the time, there weren’t as many foreign language schools as we have today, and there weren’t many people in the first century who could speak foreign languages of very distant nations unless they were born and raised in those foreign countries. So, if an English man traveled to Japan in the first century and began to speak Japanese to the locals in Japan, it’s very likely they (the local people) would have been amazed. I don’t think there was any foreign language school teaching Japanese language in England in the first century. How then could an English man have learned Japanese in the first century. From the 21st century lens, it is not a big deal for an English man to speak Japanese, but it wasn’t so in the first century.
As Paul noted in 1 Cor. 14:22, tongues are a sign to unbelievers whereas prophesying is for believers. My understanding of this verse is that, even though tongues can be used in the church, tongues are not primarily meant for believers. It is the gift of prophecy that is primarily meant for the edification of believers during a church assembly. Tongues are primarily meant for unbelievers outside the church. The church is not the usual place where we would expect to find unbelievers; this means tongues-speaking should primarily be done outside the church where unbelievers are found in large numgers. Although unbelievers may occasionally visit the church, the church is not where unbelievers are normally found. Unbelievers are found in places outside the church during evangelistic outreaches. In 1 Cor. 14: 18-19, Paul said he spoke in tongues more than the Corinthian believers but that his tongue-speaking within the church was limited. Where then did Paul do most of his tongue-speaking? I believe he did most of his tongue-speaking during his extensive evangelistic travels to various nations to preach the gospel to unbelievers. The manifestation of the gift of tongues was a powerful miraculous sign to attract the unbelievers’ attention and to get them to listen to the gospel. We see a perfect example of tongues serving as a sign for unbelievers in Acts 2, resulting in the salvation of about 3,000 souls on the Day of Pentecost.
Many blessings,
‘Carl’.
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Thanks for the comment. I want to respond to one portion directly then give a more thorough response. You made the following statement:
“If a Japanese speaker who knew that you had never previously learned Japanese and have never spoken Japanese suddenly hears you speaking Japanese so fluently, he/she would know that a miracle has taken place.
How would the Japanese person (the Japanese speaker in your example) know that the one (a complete stranger) they were speaking to had never spoken in Japanese?
This is where I think you miss my point. In what modern nation do people assume that a foreigner who speaks their language is doing so via a miracle?
I could fly to Japan being from the State of Georgia, and if I knew Japanese I could walk into a restaurant and order a meal in their language and no one would think it was supernatural. They might be pleasantly surprised to find I could speak to them in their language, but no one would think it was a divine miracle.
I think you and I are talking about two different things and I think you missed my point. Obviously, If I were with a Japanese speaking person who somehow knew I didn’t know Japanese, and I suddenly could speak their language, then yes, that would be a supernatural act and they would know it is. That however was not at all what I was saying in my article.
As you pointed out, the Jews who were gathered in Jerusalem knew that the 120 did not speak their language, and yet it wasn’t simply speaking another language that got the attention of the crowd. They heard them speaking not in one of those languages, but all of them. If they had been speaking in just one language that might have turned some heads, but it would not have had the same impact as them speaking in the many different languages represented. Also, not everyone in the audience was impressed. Some within the crowd mocked and accused the 120 of being drunk with new wine. So there were mixed reactions.
The 120 speaking in the languages of the the nations where their kinsmen were born did arrest their attention because they did hear them
speaking the wonderful works of God in those languages (2:6-11). They did not hear the gospel of Christ until Peter stood up and preached it to them. When Peter explained to the crowd the meaning of their speaking, he explained to them that this was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as promised by the prophet Joel. God’s promises to Israel had been fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah and the Spirit had been poured out on all flesh not just those living within the boundaries of Israel. It was for all people and extended to the far regions of where the children of Israel had been scattered. The promise was to them and to their children and to as many as were afar off.
This theme continued when Peter was sent to the home of Cornelius who was a Gentile. Cornelius along with his entire household gathered together to hear the words of salvation from Peter, who was accompanied by some of his fellow Jewish brethren who were believers in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.
As Peter shared the gospel with them, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and those of his household and they began to speak with tongues and magnify God ~ Acts 10:44-46.
What’s remarkable about this is the Gentiles were the ones receiving the gospel, not the ones evangelizing or preaching the gospel, and tongues were a sign to Peter and the other Jews who had accompanied him that the Gentiles had received the gift of eternal life, because they had been given the same Spirit the Jews had received in Acts 2.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? ~ Acts 11:15-17
Again, thanks for the comment and for taking time to read the article above.
Blessings…
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Hey Carl, I am planning to respond to your last comment. I am actually in the process of writing an article to address some of the points you made, but I have not been at a place to finish it just yet. I am a flooring and home improvement contractor by trade and sometime my work takes a lot out of me. Once I get the article ready, I will comment here and provide the link. I know there are others who have some of the same concerns as you have so I think it could benefit others as well. I hope to do it a a productive and edifying manner. Thanks for your interaction, and may our Lord Jesus bless and keep you always in the center of his goodness.
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