1 Corinthians 14

V. 13-17, Spirit speaking to God

Paul continues in His teaching on spiritual gift and begins to speak about the gift of speaking in tongues and how that should function in worship. During a service where multiple individuals are present, and a message is presented in tongues by an individual there should be an interpretation of that message because other wise it is no benefit to the Body of Christ. On the other hand, Paul does address the fact that our spirit can cry out to God in our prayer life in an unknown tongue. Paul says that in his personal prayer life that he speaks in tongue in prayer and in song as his spirit cries out to God.

He says this form of speaking in tongues is unprofitable even to his own understanding, so he both prays in tongues and in his own language. There is a difference in how this gift is used in a corporate setting and how it is used in a private setting within the church. The corporate setting is to always be done with an interpretation, so the congregation is edified, and it brings revelation to the church and in one’s personal life it is your spirit crying out to God which is edifying for the spirit but not the mind. Remember that in earlier teachings from 1 Corinthians Paul says that everything must be done in love and we should never choose to cause confusing within the body of Christ.