Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV)
For wone who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
w ver. 18–23, 27, 28
Paul uses this passage to compare the spiritual gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues. According to The Teacher's Commentary, while speaking in tongues was a common occurrence in the church, even the person who was doing the speaking did not understand what he or she was saying. Consequently, the understanding of what was said required interpretation. Paul, therefore, used this section of his Epistle to the Corinthians to put the practice of speaking in tongues into perspective. Speaking in tongues was actually a practice that carried over from pagan worship, and it implied that the speaker was close to the Gods. People with epilepsy were often thought to be possessed with a "divine disease," and oracles (one who divines the future) were often given drugs to enhance their pronouncements. Therefore, Paul was concerned that people would be led away from true spirituality by focus on more spectacular manifestations of the spirit. Paul was concerned with building up the church as a body, not personal edification, and he was concerned that people in the church were giving more importance to the speaking of tongues than they were giving to the other spiritual gifts.
Today's Comments: Unfortunately, people often take this single passage out of context. Gloria Copeland, wife of prosperity gospeller Kenneth Copeland, wrote in her daily feed for December 12, 2009:
"By praying in the Spirit. Praying in other tongues is the fastest, most effective method I know of to tune in to God--because instead of praying your own thoughts and plans, you're praying His!
The Bible says that when you pray in tongues, you're speaking mysteries to God. In the Spirit, you're calling forth parts of God's plan you don't even understand with your natural mind. By the unction of the Holy Spirit, you're praying the perfect will of God."
It is so easy to take a single passage in the Bible and quote it out of context. Paul was not extolling the spiritual gift of tongues, he was asking members of the church to put it into perspective.
For wone who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
w ver. 18–23, 27, 28
Paul uses this passage to compare the spiritual gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues. According to The Teacher's Commentary, while speaking in tongues was a common occurrence in the church, even the person who was doing the speaking did not understand what he or she was saying. Consequently, the understanding of what was said required interpretation. Paul, therefore, used this section of his Epistle to the Corinthians to put the practice of speaking in tongues into perspective. Speaking in tongues was actually a practice that carried over from pagan worship, and it implied that the speaker was close to the Gods. People with epilepsy were often thought to be possessed with a "divine disease," and oracles (one who divines the future) were often given drugs to enhance their pronouncements. Therefore, Paul was concerned that people would be led away from true spirituality by focus on more spectacular manifestations of the spirit. Paul was concerned with building up the church as a body, not personal edification, and he was concerned that people in the church were giving more importance to the speaking of tongues than they were giving to the other spiritual gifts.
Today's Comments: Unfortunately, people often take this single passage out of context. Gloria Copeland, wife of prosperity gospeller Kenneth Copeland, wrote in her daily feed for December 12, 2009:
"By praying in the Spirit. Praying in other tongues is the fastest, most effective method I know of to tune in to God--because instead of praying your own thoughts and plans, you're praying His!
The Bible says that when you pray in tongues, you're speaking mysteries to God. In the Spirit, you're calling forth parts of God's plan you don't even understand with your natural mind. By the unction of the Holy Spirit, you're praying the perfect will of God."
It is so easy to take a single passage in the Bible and quote it out of context. Paul was not extolling the spiritual gift of tongues, he was asking members of the church to put it into perspective.
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