Biblical Reasons for Praying in Tongues
Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 14 addresses the practice of praying in tongues within the context of corporate worship and spiritual gifts. one tradition writes, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful" [3]. This statement acknowledges that such prayer engages the human spirit through the Holy Spirit's activity, even when the speaker's rational faculties do not comprehend the content [10]. The apostle's concern centers on intelligibility: prayer that edifies only the speaker fails to build up the congregation.
The Interpretive Command
Paul directs, "Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret" [1, 2]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown explains this as an exhortation for the tongue-speaker to "strive that he may obtain the gift of interpreting, which will make them 'edifying' to 'the church'" [4]. Chrysostom notes that this instruction "shows that it is in their power to obtain the gift" [9], suggesting that interpretation is not automatic but requires intentional prayer and effort.
The Principle of Edification
The broader argument in 1 Corinthians 14 subordinates all spiritual gifts to the principle of mutual edification. Calvin applies this logic to liturgical language, arguing that prayers "ought to be used for the edification of the whole Church, which cannot be in the least degree benefited by a sound not understood" [5]. This Reformed emphasis on intelligibility shaped confessional statements like the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles, which mandate that "Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue" [12]. Adam Clarke interprets Paul's statement to mean that while the heart may be engaged in prayer, "my understanding is unfruitful to all others, because they do not understand my prayers" [7].
Private Versus Corporate Contexts
The distinction between private devotion and public worship proves crucial. Aquinas notes that "common prayer is that which is offered to God by the ministers of the Church representing the body of the faithful," requiring vocal and comprehensible expression [11]. Paul's instruction assumes a congregational setting where unintelligible speech requires interpretation to serve the community. The Talmudic principle that "prayer is a request for divine mercy" and may be offered "in any way that one desires" [6] reflects a different emphasis on the heart's posture over linguistic form, though Jewish tradition also debated appropriate liturgical languages [8].
Sources
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 14:13 (NASB) — Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:13 (BSB) — Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 14:14 (NASB) — For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:13: Explain, "Let him who speaketh with a tongue [unknown] in his prayer (or, when praying) strive that he may interpret" [ALFORD]. This explanation of "pray" is needed by its logical connection with "prayer in an unknown tongue" (Co1 14:14). Though his words be unintelligible to his hearers, let him in them pray that he may obtain the gift of interpreting, which will make them "edifying" to "the church" (Co1 14:12).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: been every where practised), but in the vulgar tongue, so that all present may understand them, since they ought to be used for the edification of the whole Church, which cannot be in the least degree benefited by a sound not understood. Those who are not moved by any reason of humanity or charity, ought at least to be somewhat moved by the authority of Paul, whose words are by no means ambiguous: “When thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say, Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99b.65:5: § It is stated in the mishna that the Amida prayer may be recited in any language. The reason for this is that since prayer is a request for divine mercy, one may pray in any way that one desires.”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:14: For if I pray in an unknown tongue - If my prayers are composed of sentences and sayings taken out of the prophets, etc., and in their own language - my spirit prayeth, my heart is engaged in the work, and my prayers answer all the purpose of prayers to myself; but my understanding is unfruitful to all others, because they do not understand my prayers, and I either do not or cannot interpret them. See the note on Co1 14:19.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Ecclesiastes 5:1: And the second thing, is that his poems are mixed with Talmudic language. And it is known that there are many languages in the Talmud, not all of which are the Holy Tongue. And thus they said, the language of Scripture is itself and the language of Talmud is itself (Avodah Zarah 58b:4). And who brought upon us this stress, to pray in foreign languages? Didn't Nehemiah rebuke those speaking Ashdodian (Nehemiah 13:24)? All the more so praying in it! And why not learn from the set prayers, which are entirely written in pure words of the Holy Tongue? And why w”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: abound in them, only so that ye handle them with a view to the common advantage. And how is this to be done? This he adds, saying, Ver. 13 . “Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” Ver. 14 . “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Ver. 15 . “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” Here he shows that it is in their power to obtain the gift. For, “”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 14:14: 14:14 Speaking in tongues engages the spirit of the speaker (because the Holy Spirit is speaking through the person) but not his mind (because the message is not rationally intelligible).”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Prayer, Art. 12: Article: Whether prayer should be vocal? I answer that, Prayer is twofold, common and individual. Common prayer is that which is offered to God by the ministers of the Church representing the body of the faithful: wherefore such like prayer should come to the knowledge of the whole people for whom it is offered: and this would not be possible unless it were vocal prayer. Therefore it is reasonably ordained that the ministers of the Church should say these prayers even in a loud voice, so that they”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 9.That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue.: 9.That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue.”