According to Paul, speaking in tongues was a sign for unbelievers — specifically the sign-seeking Jews — not a gift primarily for believers.
In 1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul plainly states that tongues are "for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." He connects this to the Jewish demand for miracles, which Scripture shows from Moses onward. Les Feldick follows Paul's teaching that the greater purpose is that people hear the Word — Christ crucified — rather than simply witness a sign.
1 Corinthians 14:21-22 — This is Paul's direct statement that tongues are a sign for those who do not believe, not for believers.
1 Corinthians 1:22 — This verse identifies the Jewish demand for a sign, which explains why tongues were directed as a sign to Israel.
1 Corinthians 14:21-22 says, "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 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." Paul also states in 1 Corinthians 1:22, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." In 1 Corinthians 14:3, he contrasts tongues with prophecy: "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." The plain teaching is that tongues were a sign aimed at unbelievers, while prophecy builds up those who already believe.
Les Feldick stresses that Paul's words about tongues point back to Israel's centuries-long habit of demanding signs. From Moses' rod becoming a serpent to Jesus' miracles, God repeatedly gave Israel supernatural proof. Paul, however, says he did not win Jews with signs nor Greeks with philosophy — his message was Christ crucified. Les also shows that whenever the Holy Spirit manifested through tongues in Acts, it had a divine purpose: to prove that God was now moving through the Holy Spirit, to prove to Jewish believers at Cornelius's house that God was saving Gentiles, and to demonstrate that the program had shifted to the work of the cross. The greater emphasis, Les says, is the proclamation of God's Word — the plan of salvation — which people need to hear.
Scripture records that from Moses' first call onward, Israel repeatedly demanded supernatural proof. God turned Moses' shepherd's rod into a serpent to show he was sending him to Pharaoh, and signs and miracles continued throughout Israel's history. By New Testament times, the Jewish mentality was still "show me a sign." Paul identifies this in 1 Corinthians 1:22.
When the Holy Spirit fell on the house of Cornelius, the Jewish believers who accompanied Peter knew it had happened because they heard these Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God. That proved to them that God was saving Gentiles — something they had not thought possible. Les also notes that the Spirit's manifestation through tongues in Acts had a divine purpose to show Israel that God was now moving through the Holy Spirit.
Paul refused to accommodate either the Jewish demand for signs or the Greek love of intellectual philosophy. Instead, he says, "I'm going to preach Christ crucified." Les explains that this is all it takes — people need to hear the message of salvation, not merely witness miracles.
Les says the purpose of the Bible from cover to cover is that mankind might hear the plan of salvation. At Pentecost, Peter and the other eleven men used languages everyone could understand to promote the gospel that Jesus was the Christ. For Paul, the message to preach was Christ crucified.
Speaking in tongues is meant to serve communication, not to produce sounds that no one can understand. Human beings and creatures communicate, and God gave people the ability to convey meaning to one another. If someone does not know the meaning of another person’s voice, there can be no real understanding between them. They become like strangers to each other, with nothing effectively shared. For that reason, someone speaking in an unknown tongue should pray for the ability to interpret it. Interpretation makes the sound understandable and allows it to communicate something meaningful. Without that understanding, the speaking is compared to wasted effort—lost energy and lost time—because it does not benefit those hearing it. The intended goal is the edifying, promoting, exhorting, and lifting up of the church or congregation as a whole. Spiritual activity should not merely affect one or two individuals; it should build up the entire group. When tongues are not understood, they can create commotion in a local congregation and leave no one edified. The chapter’s purpose is to bring people, in a spirit of love, to a solid understanding that communication and the building up of the congregation are essential.
Speaking in tongues refers to the ability to speak actual languages for communication. Paul’s point is that this gift enabled him to go into areas where people had different tribes, dialects, and languages and still communicate the Gospel. He could speak Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic as needed. In that sense, tongues had a practical purpose in helping Christianity spread when it was just beginning. Tongues were not meant to be meaningless or unknown speech that neither the speaker nor listeners could understand. Communication with God should be done with understanding, so that a person knows what he is asking or saying. The same principle applies when people are gathered together. If someone prays in an unknown, guttural language, those around the table cannot know what is being said or when the prayer has ended. In a church congregation or worship service, Paul preferred a few understandable words that could teach others over many words in an unknown tongue. The emphasis is on speaking in a way that benefits and instructs the listeners. Believers are urged not to remain childish in understanding, but to grow up in their ability to understand and communicate clearly.
Tongues as a Sign to the Jew
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that tongues — the ability to speak in other languages — were a sign to the Jew, citing the Jews' demand for a sign in 1 Corinthians 1:22.
Jewish Demand for Signs
Les shows that from Moses onward, God used signs and miracles as proof for the Jews, and Paul is writing about this same Jewish demand to a Gentile church.
Paul Preaches Christ Crucified
Paul did not use signs to convince Jews or philosophy to convince Greeks; he preached Christ crucified.
Purpose Was to Bring Salvation
Les explains that the tongues at Pentecost had a divine purpose: men were speaking in languages everyone could understand so people could hear the gospel and the plan of salvation.
Jesus' Miracles as Signs to Israel
Les points out that Jesus performed miracles to prove who he was because the Jews, by nature, required a sign.
Three Times in Scripture
Les notes that the Holy Spirit delegated the miracle of speaking in tongues only three times in Scripture, beginning at Pentecost, a Jewish feast day.
Tongues Proved God Was Saving Gentiles
When the Gentiles in Cornelius's house spoke with tongues, the Jewish believers heard them magnify God, proving that God was now saving Gentiles.
Spirit Manifested for a Divine Purpose
Whenever the Holy Spirit manifested in Acts, it was to prove something — that God was now working through the Holy Spirit, that he was saving Gentiles, and that the program had moved to the work of the cross.
1 Corinthians 14:21: In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Paul quotes the Old Testament law to show that speaking in other languages was a sign to a people who would not hear.
1 Corinthians 14:22: 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.
This is Paul's direct conclusion that tongues are for a sign to unbelievers, not believers.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Paul identifies the Jewish demand for signs, which explains why tongues served as a sign to Israel.
1 Corinthians 14:3: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Prophesying is contrasted with tongues because it builds up believers through edification, exhortation, and comfort.
According to Paul, tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not (1 Corinthians 14:22). Les Feldick explains that this sign was directed at the Jews, who had a longstanding demand for signs.
At the house of Cornelius, the Jewish believers heard the Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God. This proved to them that God was saving Gentiles — something they had not thought possible, according to Les Feldick.
Prophesying is better for believers because it speaks to edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). Les Feldick stresses the greater need for the proclamation of God's Word and the plan of salvation.
No. Paul says he did not come showing signs and wonders and miracles, nor did he use philosophy for the Greeks; he preached Christ crucified.
Watch the Teaching: Why Prophecy Is Greater Than Tongues - 1 Corinthians 14 Explained