SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Part Twelve

The Sign Gifts – Part D

Interpretation of Tongues

By Michael K. Farrar

God’s Breath Publications

 

The last spiritual gift I wish to cover in this series is the gift of “interpretation of tongues,” a critical gift that is intimately connected to the expression of its companion gift of “speaking in tongues.”

 

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES (Interpreting words spoken by someone speaking in tongues)

 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…to another the interpretation of tongues.”

 

The spiritual gift of “Interpretation of Tongues,” by its name reveals its obvious definition and function. It is the ability to supernaturally interpret a “tongue” or “human language” that is spoken by someone with the gift of “speaking in tongues.” While many people can interpret a human language because of training, this spiritual gift is divinely given by the Holy Spirit enabling a person to interpret a language foreign to them without any interpretative training, translation ability or language skill of the person to which it is granted. David Hocking’s definition of this gift is as follows;

 

“The meaning is ‘to interpret, expound, explain or translate…It is simply defined as the ability to translate for the benefit of others, the message of one who speaks in tongues without any previous knowledge of the language being spoken.”

 

He goes on to make a critically important point;

 

“The word used in regard to the “gift of interpretation of tongues” is most often found when it can only mean an exact translation. It is used of the meaning of a name, for instance, where it cannot refer to anything except an exact translation. Thus, the common use of this word leads us believe that it does not ordinarily allow for any expounding on what was said as is the practice today. From its usage, it appears that the primary meaning would limit the interpreter to the basic meaning of what was said.”

 

What David Hocking is attempting to stress here is that anyone with the gift of “interpretation of tongues” is not guessing, paraphrasing or striving to come up with a meaning of what had been spoken by someone “speaking in tongues.” They are translating exactly and accurately what was spoken by the gift of “speaking in tongues.”

 

In Acts 2 when Pentecost took place, the Jews hearing the disciples “speaking in tongues” did not have the gift of “interpretation of tongues” because they were not believers. They simply understood because they heard the praises to God of the disciples in their own native tongue. This was one of the purposes of “speaking in tongues” to convict the Jews of their rejection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

 

When followers of Christ expressed their gift of “speaking in tongues” in a church service, it was to both convict any unbelieving Jews that might be present of their unbelief, but also to edify Christians present. But this edification could only take place if someone with the gift of “interpretation of tongues” was present and expressed their gift. Thus demonstrating the great importance of this gift to the church, enabling others to understand and be edified by what they heard in tongues they did not know.

 

Thus we see that this gift was distributed to followers of Christ and illustrates two points.

 

First, that it was given so that anyone expressing the spiritual gift of “speaking in tongues” would be able to edify the body through what they spoke. Unless their words were interpreted for the body, what they spoke would fall on deaf ears, the meaning never communicated and the body would have no edification, which is the purpose of all spiritual gifts.

 

1 Corinthians 12:7

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

 

Romans 15:2

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

 

1 Corinthians 14:5

“…greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”

 

1 Corinthians 14:12

“So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”

 

Secondly, that it was not intended that “speaking in tongues” were for personal edification because an interpretation was needed so others could be edified. Unless someone with the gift of “interpretation of tongues” is present anyone with the gift of “speaking in tongues” should remain quiet.

 

1 Corinthians 14:5

“…greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”

 

Paul further instructs both those who have the gifts of “speaking in tongues” and “interpretation of tongues,” that unless they are both linked together in an accurate and purposeful manner, edification of the body would not take place. He uses several analogies, one dealing with musical instruments and the other dealing with the bugle used in battle.

 

1 Corinthians 14:6-12

“But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? Or if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? “So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”

 

We see here his repetition of the crucial point that spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body as a whole. Unless a spiritual gift is used in a communicative ministerial manner there is no profit for others to be edified, which is the function of spiritual gifts. If there is no order and rhythm to music it is a cacophony of noise. If the bugler does not play the proper notes, the army has no idea whether to advance or retreat. Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit is pushing a strong point. If you “speak in tongues” without its companion gift of “interpretation of tongues” you are wasting your breath and speaking to the wind. The value of “speaking in tongues” is assured when the gift of “interpretation of tongues” is expressed appropriately in conjunction with it.

 

1 Corinthians 14:26-28

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church…”

 

Regarding Paul’s instruction in this passage Bible commentator John Phillips states,

 

“Paul now lays down the law as to who can have the pulpit and when. He has a rule to be observed when it comes to tongues and the matter of interpretation. ‘If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church;’…Instead of the discordant din of half a dozen people all striving to be heard at once, Paul introduces a rule of common sense. It is strange how many people think that the Holy Spirit overrules common courtesy and common sense. Not so; God is a God of superlative order and He insists on order throughout His universe and among His people (1 Corinthians 14:40). One of the gifts He has given to the church is “governments (1 Corinthians 12:28), and that comes ahead of tongues. God wants there to be rule and law and order among His people. The “tongues” people were put under the restraint. Anyone with the gift had to first make sure someone was present who could interpret it before he even so much as exercised it. If there was no interpreter he was to remain quiet…Even when interpreters were present, only three, at most, could participate audibly in any one service.”

 

Because the Corinthian Christians were running rampant with improper use of their spiritual gifts, especially “speaking in tongues,” Paul had to instruct them in what was appropriate in a local fellowship worship service. He was trying to bring the Corinthian believers back to a normal state of Christian life, as well as how God would be glorified and Christians edified in a local church service. In the above passage Paul gives an explanation and sets guidelines for not only for the use of the gift of “speaking in tongues,” but also the gift of “interpretation of tongues.”

 

Bible Commentator Leon Morris also makes an important comment on this passage,

 

“He (Paul) limits the number of speakers to two – or at the most three. Enthusiasts tend to go on and on, but there is a limit to what a congregation can take! They are to speak one at a time, which seems to show that the Corinthians had had experience of a number of people exercising this gift simultaneously, which must have been very confusing. Paul forbids it. ‘Someone must interpret’ carries on the position Paul has consistently take up. Edification is the supreme consideration, so ‘tongues must not be used unless there is an interpreter. This shows that we are not to think of ‘tongues’ as the result of an irresistible impulse of the Spirit, driving the man willy-nilly into ecstatic speech. He could keep quiet, and that, Paul says, is what he must do unless there is an interpreter. This also implies that he knows beforehand that he intends to speak – otherwise he would not be checking whether there was an interpreter present.”

 

We can see that these two gifts, “speaking in tongues” and “interpretations of tongues,” are strongly related to one another. We have seen that they are so intimately related that one cannot, or should not be expressed, without the other. Pastor John Macarthur addresses this point in the following quote,

 

“Everything spoken in a tongue must be interpreted, and apparently by only one interpreter. In the Greek construction, one is in the emphatic position, indicating that a single person is involved. The interpreters in Corinth were as self-serving as those who spoke in tongues, and each tried to outdo the other. Verse 26 (of 1 Corinthians 14) implies that everyone, whatever they were doing, tried to shout everyone else down…Although speaking in languages and translating those languages were distinct gifts, they were not to be used apart from one another. An interpreter could not exercise his gift unless there were speaking, and a speaker should not exercise his gift unless there were interpretation.”

 

So the gift of “interpretation of tongues” was a critical gift in the early church. Without someone possessing this gift, the person with the gift of “speaking in tongues” was not able to express his gift in a credible manner.

 

It should be clear here that if the Holy Spirit was truly motivating either of these gifts to be expressed and the person or persons possessing these gifts were keeping in step with the Spirit they would work in tandem. When people are in a right relationship with the Lord, are seeking to edify and minster to others appropriately as well as desiring to glorify God, any spiritual gift expressed will be done appropriately and for the edification of others. When any of these requirements are deficient or lacking, it calls into question the purity with which such spiritual gifts are expressed or manifested. Pastor Ray Stedman states regarding this; “Now the last point that we get from this section is that when the gift of tongues is employed in the church without interpretation it utterly defeats its intended purpose. Believers themselves are not edified, and unbelievers misunderstand.”

Pastor Ray Stedman

 

As I stated in previous segments of this series, I believe that the true spiritual gift of “speaking in tongues” has ceased to be used by the Holy Spirit in the church today and therefore, so has the true spiritual gift of “interpretation of tongues.” But, would the Holy Spirit, in an appropriate situation, under scriptural guidelines, grant such gifts to an individual or individuals to accomplish an evangelistic ministry to a Jewish person, for the edification of followers of Christ who might be present? I would say yes, because we can never limit God as to what He can or cannot do. His ways and thoughts are beyond ours and we know that He will never violate His Holy Scripture. Our understanding of His Word is limited due to our simple minds, which demonstrates our constant need to rely upon the Holy Spirit for illumination and application in our lives. I believe that much, if not all, of what is called, “speaking in tongues” as a personal prayer language is simply a self-edifying practice, which should not be called the true gift of “speaking in tongues.” I can’t argue that followers of Christ who practice a personal prayer language do not emotionally benefit from such a practice, which may also beneficially influence their spiritual life as well. But I would still not call it a Biblical spiritual gift. I would also say that much if not all of what is called “interpretation of tongues” is also a personal interpretation or impression that is not specifically originating from the Holy Spirit. Does this mean that all expressions today of what people claim to be an “interpretation of tongues” is unscriptural, unhelpful or heretical, No. Many such interpretations come from a person’s spiritual understanding of scripture, how the Spirit has worked in their life and ways that God has grown them spiritually. Therefore, even though such “interpretations” shared as a gift of “interpretation of tongues” should not be classified as such; it does not mean these “so-called interpretations” might not be helpful to others hearing such spoken words. The caution would be always to test the spirits (1 John 4:1) and the content (Galatians 1:8-9) of what is said to validate whether it is godly wise instruction and advice.

 

In the final segment of this series I will summarize what I have covered concerning the spiritual gifts God has ordained for us to receive from Jesus Christ through the agency of the Holy Spirit.