Why would Paul rather speak five understandable words in church than ten thousand words in tongues?
Paul valued intelligibility in the worship service for the sake of teaching. He said he would rather speak five words with his understanding so that by his voice he might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Unknown speech without understanding did not instruct the congregation.
Les teaches that Paul had a special gift of languages, enabling him to communicate the Gospel in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic dialects as Christianity was just getting off the ground. Paul says he spoke with those languages more than they all. Yet in the church, congregation, or worship service, he would rather speak five words with his understanding so that by his voice he might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Les explains that the point is understanding and edification. Paul then urges believers not to be children in understanding, but in malice to be children, and in understanding to grow up and be men. He also quotes the law, saying with men of other languages and other lips I will speak unto this people, and yet for all that they will not hear me, saith the Lord.
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.