THEOS prōtos

1 Corinthians 12-14

Key points to take away:

1. “I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” The very first thing The Holy Spirit does, through Paul, talking about this in the context of spiritual gifts, is point out the fact that THE SPIRIT ONLY glorifies CHRIST and ALWAYS POINTS to and magnifies CHRIST… not you or your friends or family.  Spiritual gifts of ETERNAL in focus, not worldly.  In fact, the gifts DEFY worldly norms. (v3)
   
2. “there are varieties of gifts” which means they are different and do different things BUT ALL OF “the same Spirit.” Which is The Holy Spirit.  SO, key point #1 still applies. (v4)  “there are varieties of ministries” which means different sorts of gifts for different purposes BUT ALL DIRECTED BY “the same Lord.” Who is Jesus Christ.  So, either way, the “varieties” of gifts and purposes, all point back to Christ.(v5)  “the same God who works all things in all persons.”  Even though someone may “use” their gifts, ONLY GOD DOES THE WORK “IN ALL PERSONS” (v6).  That person, is not special except that they are just a vessel being used by The Holy Spirit to make Christ Jesus known and glorified.
   
3. “…each on is given the manifestation of the Spirit FOR THE COMMON GOOD”  The Holy Spirit makes it clear that “manifestation of the Spirit” is NOT for private use.  If used privately, it is either done in disobedience or not even a true manifestation of God’s works but of self-works.  Therefore, use of the “varieties of gifts” on the self or in private is being disobedient to God.
   
4. Eloquent speeches, being a powerful public speaker, or having a “voice of an angel” does not prove anything unless that person LOVES like Christ. The love of Christ is SELFLESS and self sacrificial. Does not bring praise, glory, or honor to the self but only Glorifies God, magnifies Christ, and loves your neighbor.
   
5. Speaking in Tongues is genuine when it “bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching” (1 Cor 14:6) Therefore, if it does not, it is unfruitful, not beneficial, and not of the Holy Spirit.
   
6. Speaking in Tongues is intelligible known human languages and The Holy Spirit makes this absolutely clear in 1 Cor. 14:9-11 when it is declared: “So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, ¹¹ but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.“
   
7. Genuine manifestations of the Gift of Tongues will be followed by an actual interpretation of that intelligible human language never before studied but spoken. 1 Cor 14:16 states: “¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider^[b] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? ” It is unfruitful, vain, and useless to babble some random sounds (unintelligible language) and no one understands (the mind). Why, well because “the other person is not being built up (1 Cor 14:17b)” because they have no idea what in the world is even being said.
   
8. Genuine manifestations of the Gift of Tongues are a sign for UNBELIEVERS. The Holy Spirit through Paul states: “Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22a). To illustrate the point, Paul continues and states: “²³ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” And that IS NOT a good reaction. In other words, those “outsiders or unbelievers” do not comprehend or understand in their mind THE GOPSEL that is supposed to be being proclaimed to them.
   
9. Genuine manifestations of the Gift of Tongues will be spoken by “only two or at most three” (1 Cor. 14:27). Anything outside of this is either falsehoods or disobedience to The Holy Spirit. An entire church all yelling and “speaking in tongues” at the same time, babbling, is NOT in line with The Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture.
   
10. Genuine manifestations of the Gift of Tongues will be interpreted by one who KNOWS (naturally or miraculously) the language being spoken (1 Cor. 14:27). IF THERE IS NO INTERPRETOR, the speakers are to “KEEP SILENT IN CHURCH” (1 Cor. 14:28). Someone “speaking in tongues” without an interpreter is also NOT in line with The Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture and is either speaking falsehoods or being disobedient.

To Sum up what the Holy Spirit reveals to us about Genuine manifestations of the Gift of Tongues:

1. It will glorify God, magnify Christ, and proclaim the Gospel.
2. It is for the common good of unbelievers, not believers.
3. It is an intelligible human language, not babbling noises.
4. It must be understood in the minds of the unbelievers through an interpreter that speaks their language (knowingly or miraculously)
5. It must be interpreted, or the speaker must remain silent.
6. It must be no more than three, or its not of the Holy Spirit.
7. It must be done in turn, one at a time, or its not the Holy Spirit.
8. It will result in the benefit of an unbeliever coming to an true understanding of the glory of Christ Jesus

If it is anything less than the revealed truth in Holy Scripture by the Holy Spirit through Paul’s writing in 1 Cor 12-14 than it can only be 1 of two things: (1) the speaker is faking it or confusing uncontrolled emotionalism in the from of observed behaviors and babbling sounds; or (2) they are acting in disobedience to the prescriptions mandated by God in scripture.