The very first passage Robert Morris brings to our attention in his message on praying in tongues is 1 Corinthians 14:2: “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
I already dealt with this verse in the previous parts, but let me add a few more thoughts showing that Paul is in no way encouraging the act of praying in tongues.
First, notice how Paul switches the use of the plural form of tongues (cf. vv. 6, 18, 22, 23, 39) to the singular (cf. vv. 13, 14, 19, 27). Paul uses the singular form - “tongue” to denote the counterfeit. He says, “Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world” (v. 10). So it is natural and right to use the plural to refer to the legitimate gift of tongues. But when it comes to “gibberish” there are not many kinds of gibberish. Unintelligible vocal vibrations (i.e. gibberish) is all of the same kind, so Paul uses the singular - “tongue.” This is how the word “tongue” is used here in verse 2.
The only exception is found in verse 27, where the singular is used to refer to a one man speaking a single genuine language.
Second, the “mysteries” Paul is referring to in verse 2 are of the type associated with the demonic found in pagan religions, from which many of the Corinthians were saved out of (see 1 Cor. 12:2). The mysteries of the gospel on the one hand refers to revelations of things that were previously hidden in the Old Testament but revealed in the New Testament (Matt. 13:11; Eph. 3:9). But the pagan mysteries in which some of these Corinthians were going back to remained mysterious and only the enlightened and initiated elite were privilege to know. This is why so many gravitated to praying in tongues. They desired to become part of the elite group of spiritually initiated. It made them feel special about themselves.
Third, unfortunately, the “spirit” Paul refers to here is not the Holy Spirit as some bibles translate it. It may be man’s spirit as implied in the Greek tense (the locative case where the emphasis is on “location” and not identity).
The NIV says, “they utter mysteries by the Spirit” (referring to the Holy Spirit).
The ESV says, “he utters mysteries in the Spirit” (referring to the Holy Spirit).
The NASB says, “in his spirit, he utters mysteries” (referring to man’s spirit).
The NKJV says, “in the spirit (lowercase “s”) he speaks mysteries” (referring to man’s spirit.
So my point is this: Here you have four commonly used Bible translations and two of them says it refers to the Holy Spirit and two says it refers to man’s spirit. I wouldn’t build a movement or practice on a foundation that isn’t certain.
Also if you read 1 Cor. 14:14-16, Paul is consistent with the interpretation of “spirit” being man’s spirit: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
Notice Paul is saying if he prays in a tongue it is “my spirit that prays” not the Holy Spirit as so often referred to by charismatics in Romans 8:26.
Fourth, I mentioned in Part 3 that the phrase, “does not speak to people but to God,” is more likely understood as to “a god.”
You see, there are so many reasons for not seeing Paul using verse 2 as his way of encouraging people to pray in tongues, but actually discouraging it altogether.
End of Part 5
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