What does 'various kinds of tongues' mean in 1 Corinthians 12?
In 1 Corinthians 12, 'various kinds of tongues' means languages. The context places it among spiritual gifts and defines it as different languages, immediately adding 'the interpretation of those languages.' This indicates the gift involves actual languages that require interpretation for the church to understand.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 12, after listing faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, and discerning, the Spirit gives to another 'various kinds of tongues.' He notes on the board that this means languages, and the next gift is 'the interpretation of those languages.' So the gift consists of different languages that require interpretation. Les then turns to Ephesians, a prison epistle written years later, where the revelation is complete, the enigma removed, and the mirror wiped clean. He compares Ephesians to graduating from third- and fourth-grade arithmetic to high mathematics or a Ph.D. in mathematics or physics. Ephesians 4 emphasizes one Body, one Spirit, and one hope of calling, showing the believer's position in the Body of Christ.
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: