Yes, Paul emphasizes understanding because communication with God should be meaningful and edifying to the speaker and the church.
Paul states that praying in an unknown tongue means the spirit prays but the understanding is unfruitful. He prefers to pray and sing with understanding so that both he and others are edified. Les Feldick highlights that without understanding, the practice is lost energy and does not build up the congregation.
1 Corinthians 14:14 — This verse directly states that praying in an unknown tongue makes one's understanding unfruitful, underpinning Paul's emphasis.
1 Corinthians 14:15 — Paul explicitly chooses to pray and sing with understanding, showing his pattern.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:14, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." This indicates that when a person prays in a language they do not know, their mind does not comprehend what is being said. In the next verse, he clarifies, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Thus, Paul intentionally includes understanding in both prayer and singing. Additionally, 1 Corinthians 14:2 notes, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." This shows that tongues are directed to God and contain mysteries beyond human comprehension, which is why understanding is lacking.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's emphasis on understanding is to ensure that communication with God is meaningful and edifying. He points out that praying in an unknown tongue without interpretation is like "beating the air" — it does not benefit the individual or the church. Les stresses that the purpose of spiritual gifts, including tongues, is to edify the whole congregation, not just oneself. He notes that Paul even says he would rather speak five words with understanding than ten thousand in an unknown tongue, though that specific verse is not in the provided clips. Instead, Les highlights from the clips that speaking in tongues without interpretation edifies only the speaker (an "ego trip") and fails to communicate anything useful. He also clarifies that in Romans 8, the Holy Spirit's intercession with groanings is not a tongues experience, showing that understanding is central to proper prayer.
From 1 Corinthians 14:14, Paul says that when praying in an unknown tongue, the understanding is unfruitful. This means the mind does not produce any benefit because it does not comprehend the words. As Les Feldick explains, without interpretation, the speaker is just making sounds that neither he nor others can understand, leading to no edification.
Paul emphasizes that prophecy (speaking forth the word of God) edifies the whole congregation, whereas tongues without interpretation edify only the speaker. Les Feldick points out that when someone speaks in tongues without understanding, it edifies only themselves, which he calls an "ego trip." The purpose of spiritual gifts is to build up the entire church, which requires understandable communication.
No, Les Feldick notes that Paul does not forbid tongues, as the last verse of the chapter says. However, he insists that unless the tongue can be interpreted and understood, it is useless. Paul encourages those who speak in tongues to pray for interpretation so that communication can happen.
Tongues, Prophecy & Order in Worship - 1 Corinthians 14:14-40 Explained
We like it. We've had Keith Decker put it all together for us, and we just think that he does a tremendous job in our newsletter and with getting the little books ready for the printer. And so we've got to give Keith credit for even getting the audios ready.
Tongues Without Interpretation Is Beating the Air
Les explains that speaking in an unknown tongue without interpretation is lost energy, as no one, including the speaker, benefits.
Purpose of Tongues Is Communication
Les emphasizes that the purpose of interpretation is to communicate; otherwise it causes commotion and no edification.
The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began
Not God's power of course, but it's that whole idea of the mysteries of those religions. But Paul is I think including both when he has this hypothetical, see he says, even if I could, it doesn't say that he does. All right, let's go on to the next one. 1 Corinthians 15, oh this is a glorious one. This is the one I was just referring to. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 51.
What the Bible Really Says About Love vs Spiritual Gifts
So chapter 13, now verse 1. "...though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels." Now I'm going to stop right there. That does not say that he spoke in the angelic tongue. It only is a hypothetical statement. If he says hypothetically, I could speak in the tongues of angels, or he said, if I could speak in all the languages of the world. That's what it is.
Holy Spirit Intercession Not Tongues
Les clarifies that Romans 8's groanings are not a tongues experience, showing that understanding is not always absent in prayer.
Tongues Edify Self, Prophecy Edifies Church
Les points out that tongues without interpretation edify only the speaker, making it an ego trip, while prophecy edifies the whole congregation.
Tongues Speak Mysteries to God
Les explains that speaking in an unknown tongue is directed to God and contains mysteries beyond human comprehension, which is why understanding is lacking.
1 Corinthians 14:14: For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
This verse directly addresses the issue of praying without understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:15: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Paul explicitly states his preference for both prayer and singing to include understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:2: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
This shows that tongues involve mysteries that are not understood by men.
No, Paul does not forbid it, as stated in 1 Corinthians 14:39. However, he insists that without interpretation, it does not edify the speaker or the church, and he encourages praying for the ability to interpret.
Because when a person prays in an unknown tongue, their mind does not comprehend what is being said, so they get no mental or spiritual benefit from the words. The spirit may be praying, but the understanding is not engaged.
According to Paul, they should pray that they may interpret (1 Corinthians 14:13) so that communication can occur. Without interpretation, it is just lost energy and does not edify anyone.
Watch the Teaching: Tongues, Prophecy & Order in Worship - 1 Corinthians 14:14-40 Explained