If someone claims a tongues experience, who are they edifying according to the Bible?
Scripture teaches that the one speaking in an unknown tongue edifies himself, not the congregation. Paul contrasts this with the one who prophesies, who speaks unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort, building up the whole church. So a claimed tongues experience, according to the book, centers on self rather than the body.
Les explains that Paul is contrasting two things. The one speaking in an unknown tongue, singular, edifieth himself. But the one who prophesies, or speaks forth the word of God as a gifted individual, speaks unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort. Les says edification means to lift them up, support them, and enlarge them. Those who had the gift of speaking the word of God were enhancing the congregation and helping all who heard them. So when someone claims to have had a tongues experience, according to the book, they are edifying themselves. Les calls it an ego trip. Paul later says he would that they all spake with tongues, plural languages, such as dialects in northern Greece, Macedonia, North Africa, or Latin in Rome.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.