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"If I come to you speaking with tongues..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 14:6

APPLYING AN ARGUMENT

Paul went on to candidly and pointedly apply an argument about the use of the gift of tongues.

“But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues,
what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either
by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?”
1 Corinthians 14:6

1. “If I come to you speaking with tongues”

a) The “if” suggests that Paul has presented a hypothetical case.

b) Paul did not go to Corinth speaking with tongues!

2. “What shall I profit you”

a) In what way would the speaking with tongues benefit the Church?

b) The Corinthians would not have been able to understand what Paul was saying!

3. Four possible ways of communication

a) “By revelation”

i) This revelation would be given by God.

ii) This word would have tremendous relevance and importance.

iii) People like the Apostle Paul, would claim that the Lord Himself gave the word of revelation.

b) “By knowledge”

i) This knowledge was different from the word of revelation.

ii) The speaker would not be able to say that his word was a revelation from God.

iii) This knowledge could have been imparted to him.

iv) This is a valid form of communication.

c) “By prophesying”

i) This would often identify the speaker as a prophet.

ii) Agabus would be a good example of a New Testament prophet.

iii) This ministry was far more limited than that of the Apostles though.

iv) Nevertheless, it was a valid and important ministry in the New Testament period.

d) “By teaching”

i) This ministry is often associated with the pastoral ministry (Ephesians 4:11).

ii) This ministry was not by revelation or prophecy.

iii) Their ministry focused on the teaching of the Lord’s word.