Paul addressed tongues only in the Corinthian church because tongues had become one of the problems in that carnal congregation, and Paul was answering the Corinthians' own written questions.
Les teaches that 1 Corinthians is Paul's response to a letter from the Corinthians, with a whole series of questions that were resting on problems. He describes Corinth as the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul started. The instruction about tongues in chapters 12–14 is therefore part of Paul's correction of that disorder, not a general teaching Paul sent to every church.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 — Shows why Paul treated the Corinthians as carnal babes in Christ, which explains why he had to correct problems like tongues in this church.
1 Corinthians 7:1 — Reveals that Paul was answering a letter from the Corinthians, so his instructions target their specific questions and problems.
First Corinthians opens several chapters of instruction after Paul has already addressed divisions, immorality, and lawsuits. In the middle of the letter Paul writes, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman" (1 Corinthians 7:1). This shows that Paul was answering written questions from the congregation. Later, in chapter 3, Paul tells them, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). He adds, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions" (1 Corinthians 3:3). The instruction about tongues appears in the same letter, in chapters 12 and 14, as part of Paul's answer to a church he describes as carnal. The Bible itself does not say tongues occurred only in Corinth; it shows Paul dealing with real problems in this congregation.
Les Feldick explains that the key to 1 Corinthians is the letter the Corinthians wrote to Paul. In Clip2 he points out that Paul was across the Aegean Sea at Ephesus when he wrote back, and that he answered the Corinthians' questions one by one. Les says the Corinthians had recently come out of a pagan background and could not suddenly become spiritual giants. He repeatedly describes the Corinthian church as "the most carnal" and "the least spiritual" of all the churches Paul had anything to do with. He contrasts them with the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Paul's instruction on tongues in chapters 12–14, Les says, must be read in that setting. The church was carnal, their questions rested on problems, and Paul was answering those problems one by one. In Clip1, Les also notes that the word tongues in 1 Corinthians refers to real languages, and that Corinth's seaports and pagan temple brought multiple languages into the city; the modern "tongues movement" is instead an unknown language. So the tongues passage is a correction for a real disorder in this particular church, not a general pattern Paul introduced for all churches.
Les teaches that the Corinthian church was not spiritual like the churches at Ephesus or Philippi. He calls it the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul started. He contrasts the Corinthians with Ephesus, Philippians, and Colossians to show how different their situation was. Because their questions rested on problems, Paul had to answer those problems one by one.
Les explains that the Corinthians sent Paul a letter while he was across the Aegean Sea at Ephesus. He says Paul answered their questions one by one. Everything covered in 1 Corinthians, Les says, was in response to those questions, and all of the questions were resting on problems. That is why the passage about spiritual gifts and tongues appears in a corrective letter rather than as a general teaching to all the churches.
Les points out that the word tongues in 1 Corinthians refers to languages. Corinth was a commercial city with two seaports and a pagan temple, and Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, and other languages were used there. Les says the modern tongues movement is different: it uses an unknown language nobody can decipher or reduce to print.
What the Bible Really Says About Speaking in Tongues
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Languages and Tongues
Les teaches that 'tongues' in the Corinthians letter refers to real languages, and Corinth's seaports and commerce meant several languages were spoken in the city.
The Corinthians' Letter
Les explains that the Corinthians wrote to Paul across the Aegean Sea with questions, and Paul answered them one by one, which is why the letter addresses local problems.
Most Carnal Church
Les teaches the Corinthian church was the most carnal and least spiritual of Paul's churches, and he contrasts it with Ephesus, Philippians, and Colossians.
Problem-Filled Church
Les repeats that no church Paul started was as carnal and filled with problems as Corinth, and the congregation's questions prompted parts of the letter.
Divisions Among Believers
Les points to the divisions in the church—some following Paul, others Apollos, still others Peter, and some even Christ—as evidence the Corinthians were still carnal.
Answering a Letter
Les reminds viewers that Paul is answering a letter from the Corinthians, and that the same problems that existed in Corinth then still exist in churches today.
Spiritual or Carnal?
Les emphasizes from 1 Corinthians 3 that Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual but as carnal; they were babies in Christ and not ready for deep teaching.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
This verse shows Paul was responding to a written letter from the Corinthians, making the whole epistle an answer to their particular issues.
1 Corinthians 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Paul directly tells the Corinthians he could not speak to them as spiritual, establishing their carnality as the reason they needed correction.
1 Corinthians 3:2: I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Paul says he had to feed them milk, not meat, because they were not able to bear stronger teaching.
1 Corinthians 3:3: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Paul names envy, strife, and divisions as evidence of their carnality, showing that their problems were practical and real.
Yes. Les says chapter 7 verse 1 indicates the Corinthians wrote Paul a letter with a whole series of questions. Paul was at Ephesus and answered them one by one.
Paul told them he could not speak to them as spiritual but as carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1). Les says they had recently come out of a pagan background and could not suddenly become spiritual giants, and their divisions show they were still carnal.
Les says when Paul uses tongues in 1 Corinthians, he is talking about languages. Corinth had several languages in daily use because of its seaports and commerce. The modern tongues movement, Les says, is an unknown language nobody can decipher.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Speaking in Tongues