The spiritual gift of interpreting tongues – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The spiritual gift of interpreting tongues is the supernatural ability to understand and explain messages spoken in another language during church gatherings, with the goal of building up the church. First Corinthians 12 and 14 teach that the gift of interpreting tongues involves interpreting another’s spoken tongues to encourage and edify the church. Paul provides guidelines for this gift: that only two or three should speak in tongues during worship and that an interpreter must be present; otherwise, speakers should remain silent. The gift of interpreting tongues serves to maintain order, clarity, and spiritual growth in the church by making messages understandable to all.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament does not specifically mention the spiritual gift of interpreting tongues as described in the New Testament. While it records instances where God enabled people to understand or speak foreign languages—such as when God empowered the Israelites to understand foreign nations (Exodus 15:11)—it does not explicitly identify a spiritual gift for interpreting tongues. The clear teaching on the gift of interpreting tongues appears primarily in the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• First Corinthians 12:10 first mentions "the interpretation of tongues" as one spiritual gift among many. Not every person would have this gift, but some did and were to use it to encourage others. Unlike most spiritual gifts, the interpretation of tongues must involve the work of another person. If someone was gifted with both speaking and interpreting tongues they could better help the church by explaining what was being said.
• First Corinthians 14:5 highlights that the interpretation of tongues is a gift dependent upon someone else first speaking in tongues: "The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."
• Without someone to interpret the language being spoken, the person speaking in tongues should be silent (1 Corinthians 14:6-13, 26-28).
• However, it was possible for some people to both speak in tongues and interpret: "Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:13).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Paul provided specific guidelines for speaking in and interpreting tongues for the church at Corinth: "When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God" (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).

These were guidelines for the use of this gift in the church: 1) The goal was for "building up" the body of Christ, 2) two or three at the most could speak with an interpreter, and 3) when no interpreter existed, no one was permitted to speak in tongues.

Paul specified that, "All things should be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). This involved making sure the audience could understand what was being spoken through those with the gift of interpretation. From this context, it appears that speaking in tongues refers to speaking in other known languages. Those who interpreted served as translators to the audience, offering understanding to those who did not understand the language. Seen from this perspective, it is certainly understandable that no more than two or three people would speak and that an interpreter would be required. As with all spiritual gifts, the gift of interpreting tongues was designed to build up the church, serve others, and glorify God.

UNDERSTAND

• The gift of interpreting tongues enables understanding and explaining messages spoken in another language.
• The gift of interpreting tongues was given to build up the church.
• The gift of interpreting tongues provided order for the gift of tongues.

REFLECT

• How would you encourage and support others if you were given the gift of interpreting tongues?
• For what reasons do you value order and clarity during church worship and gatherings?
• How can you use your own gifts to help build up the church and serve others?

ENGAGE

• Why did Paul emphasize the need for interpretation when someone speaks in tongues during worship?
• How did the gift of interpreting tongues help the church stay united and edified?
• What can we as believers ensure that spiritual gifts are used in an orderly and beneficial way?