Thematic Bible: Interpretation

Well, it is the same with yourselves. Unless your tongue utters language that is readily understood, how can people make out what you say? You will be pouring words into the empty air! There are ever so many kinds of language in the world, everyone of them meaning something. Well, unless I understand the meaning of what is said to me, I shall appear to the speaker to be talking gibberish, and to my mind he will be talking gibberish himself. read more.
So with yourselves; since your heart is set on possessing 'spirits,' make the edification of the church your aim in this desire to excel. Thus a man who speaks in a 'tongue' must pray for the gift of interpreting it. For if I pray with a 'tongue,' my spirit prays, no doubt, but my mind is no use to anyone. Very well then, I will pray in the Spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing praise in the Spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind. Otherwise, suppose you are blessing God in the Spirit, how is the outsider to say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving? The man does not understand what you are saying! Your thanksgiving may be all right, but then ??the other man is not edified! Thank God, I speak in 'tongues' more than any of you; but in church I would rather say five words with my own mind for the instruction of other people than ten thousand words in a 'tongue.'