Having shown the place of the gift of tongues, he finally uses terrible speech and reproaches them for philosophizing like children. For truly, it is characteristic of children to marvel at small things, because they can amaze as well as tongues, and despise great things, because they do not reveal anything new, such as prophecies. And so, here it convinces us not to be arrogant, even simply not to know what malice is, just as children do not know, but to be perfect in mind, that is, to reason which gifts are higher and more useful. And in other words: an infant is evil who does no harm to anyone, but is not malicious, like a child, and he is perfect in mind who, doing no harm to anyone, is still beneficial, and not only avoids evil, but also achieves virtue, and preserves himself unharmed from temporal things. This instruction is similar to the following: "Be ye wise as serpents, and simple as doves" (Matt. 10:16).

In the law it is written: "With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

Again he compares prophecy with tongues, and shows its superiority, and in what it is, is evident from what is said next. The entire Old Testament is usually called the Law. Wherefore even now he speaks of the words written at the end of the book of Isaiah (28:11,12) as being written in the law. With words, but even then they will not listen to Me, He shows that the miracle could amaze them, but if they are not convinced, then it is their fault. For God always does His own and manifests His providence, although He knows that men will not submit, that they may be unanswerable.

Thus, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers.

A sign amazes, but does not teach and does not benefit, and often harms, like a tongue without interpretation, which is why further (v. 23) it says, "Will it not be said that you are possessed?" Moreover, signs are given for unbelievers, for believers have no need of them, because they already believe.

Prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.

Prophecy, he says, is beneficial to believers because it instructs them. But does prophecy not serve even for the faithful? How then (v. 24) does he say, if all prophesy, and any unbeliever will come in? This is a prophecy for unbelievers as well. To this it may be answered: The apostle did not say that prophecy is useless to unbelievers, but that it is not a useless sign, like tongues. In short: the tongue is a sign for unbelievers, that is, only for their amazement, and prophecy is useful to believers and unbelievers, rebuking them, although it is not called a sign for them.

If the whole church comes together, and all speak with unknown tongues, and those who do not know or do not believe come in to you, will they not say that you are possessed?

He secretly explains that the gift of tongues without the gift of interpretation can also lead to harm. He says this in order to humble their pride. They thought that the gift of tongues made them an object of wonder; Paul, on the contrary, proves that he turns them into disgrace, giving reason to consider them fools. And lest you think that it depends on the gift itself that he who has it is covered with dishonor, he says: "Foolish people will say that you are possessed." Those who do not know, he says, or unbelievers, as were those who said of the apostles that they were drunk with sweet wine (Acts 2:13). And the prudent also benefit from the gift of tongues, as, for example, those who were with the apostles were amazed that they spoke of the great works of God (Acts 2:19).

But when everyone prophesies, and someone who does not believe or does not know comes in, then he is rebuked by all, he is judged by everyone. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall on his face, worship God, and say, Truly God is with you.

Do you see how more useful prophecy is, how it makes the unbeliever, revealing the secrets of the heart, acknowledge God, prostrate himself, and worship, and confess: Truly God is with you? God did the same with Nebuchadnezzar. For when Daniel revealed to him the meaning of the dream, he said: "Truly your God is the God who reveals mysteries" (Dan. 2:47). Know from this also the meaning of what is said above: by revelation (v. 6). For behold, revelation is one of the kinds of prophecy. Notice also that the Spirit is God. For He says, Truly God is with you. In the prophets, however, the Spirit is undoubtedly at work. For he said above (12:10,11) that prophecy is given by the Spirit.

And so, brethren? When you come together, and each one of you has a psalm, a precept, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, let all this be for edification.

In ancient times, psalms were composed according to their gifts, and we gave gifts for teaching. Revelation is called prophecy, giving the species the name of the species. He also mentions the gift of tongues, so that this gift would not be considered completely contemptible and not even included in the number of gifts. All this, he says, let it be for edification. For the distinguishing characteristic of a Christian is to edify, to be useful. How then can he edify and benefit who has only the gift of tongues? Thus, if he comes together with one who has the gift of interpretation, and they manifest their gifts in union.

If anyone speaks in an unknown language, speak two, or many three, and then separately, and one explain.