The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
Do I need the interpretation of tongues if I am speaking in tongues at home, alone?
Welcome to my blog. My name is Leroy Daley. Happy to have you. If you are visiting for the first time and to my returning viewers, glad that you are back.
On this blog, I teach Bible studies that are motivated by scriptures. I do not teach my opinions.
I utilize the Bible, here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept, to expound the word of God.
Today, I shall utilize the Bible to demonstrate that Apostle Paul dealt with corporate speaking and interpretation of tongues.
If you stick with me to the end, I shall have a bonus for you. Okay!
Watch the video of this Bible Study here.
What Does the Bible Say About the Interpretation of Tongues?
Let’s dive right into the content.
What does the Bible say about the interpretation of tongues? Now, in order to address this problem, we are going to look at what Apostle Paul taught the Corinthian Church.
Therefore, let’s recall that Apostle Paul was addressing through his Epistle (1 Corinthians), the problems in the Corinthian Church.
I always utilize the King James Version of the Bible and I’m going to read from this version, reading from First Corinthians fourteen verse five.
“I would that ye all speak with tongues but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is He that prophesieth than He that speaketh with tongues, except He interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:5).
Note, he says that the church may receive edifying. He wasn’t speaking about private speaking in tongues or private interpretation of tongues.
He was addressing the problem in the Corinthian Church.
Many people just quote scriptures, taking them out of context and then cause confusion.
Pray For The Interpretation of Tongues?
And this is a case in point, where people think that speaking in tongues is forbidden, interpretation of tongues is forbidden, but they are not realizing that Apostle Paul wrote these letters, First Corinthians, and Second Corinthians.
These are his Epistles. He wrote these letters to this church to address problems the church was experiencing at that time.
Now, if we are going to borrow something spiritually from this scripture, fine.
But to take it totally out of context and assign it to whomever and whenever and wherever is causing confusion. Let us look at the scripture in context to its original situation.
So, let’s look at another scripture. At church, when a believer is speaking in tongues, such a one needs an interpreter.
And I shall read from First Corinthians fourteen verse thirteen,
“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that He may interpret” (1 Corinthians 14:13).
What To Do When There is No Interpreter in the Church?
But this is when this person is at church, not when he’s at home, when he’s at church, because church, the purpose of church is for the edification of each individual person and the general body of Christ on the whole.
Another scripture, but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church. Note where he said, in the church, if there is no interpreter, when a person speaks in tongues at church, let that person who is speaking, be silent. Don’t say anything.
If there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church and let him speak to himself unto God.
If there is no interpreter when you are at church and there is an urge to speak in tongues if there is no interpreter be silent.
But then that begs the question, how do you know that there is an interpreter there at church before you speak in tongues?
What is the Purpose of Interpretation of Tongues in the Church?
Most of us know from experience, having attended an assembly, you know that this person is an interpreter in the church, or you can interpret yourself. We’ll get to that; I am getting ahead of myself.
The speaking and the interpretation of tongues in the church are for the edification of the Body of Christ.
So, Paul says, “How is it then brethren? When ye come together“, this phrase when ye come together, where are they coming together? At church!
So, he is speaking here again about the assembly when they gather together in church.
He says, “How is it then brethren?” And note, who he is talking to? Brethren, brothers and sisters in Christ.
Brethren, not everybody, not the people at home, not your friends at home, but brethren in the church.
“How is it then brethren? [W]hen ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
You can see from the tone of this letter that Paul was putting things in place.
How to Interpret Tongues?
He is saying, whatever you are doing at church, when you come together, do it decently and do it in order, so that the church be edified.
However, your personal speaking in tongues is a different matter. Apostle Paul didn’t address that scenario.
But an astute Bible student knows the answer to that. You can speak in tongues privately or at home as much as you like, without an interpreter.
The Bonus
Now, at the start of this short Bible study, I promised a bonus to those who stick with me to the end. Here is the bonus.
Be on the lookout for people who desire to teach you how to interpret tongues.
The interpretation of tongues is not a skill, it is a gift from God, it’s a gift of the Holy Ghost.
If you possess this gift, you will learn about it only by using it. You will learn from experience and from listening to the Holy Ghost.
No pastor, no apostle, no deacon, no brethren can teach you how to operate in the interpretation of tongues.
Nobody can teach you how to operate in the interpretation of tongues. The Holy Spirit is your teacher, listen to Him.
Conclusion
Is it a Sin to Speak in Tongues Without an Interpreter?
So, let me conclude. Apostle Paul dealt with the corporate act of interpretation of tongues in the church.
Paul lays down a protocol explaining how the leaders in the church should approach the interpretation of tongues.
He emphasized that it should be by course and not all speaking together at once.
He explained that in the church if there is no interpreter, there should be no speaking in tongues.
Paul did not address speaking in tongues, or interpretation of tongues in private, say, at home.
Since personal speaking in tongues edifies the speaker, there is no need for interpretation.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4).
Nobody prophesies at home. We don’t prophesy at home to the wall and the ceiling.
A prophet prophesies to people at church or wherever they are.
Can a Person Interpret His or Her Own Tongues?
But speaking in tongues can be done either at home or at church. Anywhere speaking in tongues occurs, then the interpretation of tongues can take place.
However, a believer could speak in tongues in private and interpret his or her own tongues, I have done this many times.
You can speak in tongues in prayer at home, wherever you are by yourself, you can speak in tongues, or you can interpret your own tongues, if you have that gift.
In closing, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever interpreted the utterance of anyone who spoke in tongues?
Explain to us in the discussion tab on this channel.
Thank you for stopping by, hope I was able to answer your question and hope this Bible study was useful and helpful to you.
God bless you.
