“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue
speaketh not unto men, but unto God:
for no man understandeth him;
howbeit in the spirit
he speaketh mysteries.”~1 Corinthians 14:2
A popular interpretation of this verse, by those sympathetic to the phenomena of speaking in tongues, (i.e. speaking in an ecstatic unintelligent way), is that there is a heavenly language, which no human can understand.
Consider
The idea of a heavenly language is something read into the text. The idea of a heavenly language is a figment of a fertile imagination.
No one in human history has ever heard a heavenly language, or knows how it sounds.
In Scripture, when someone from heaven has spoken, that personage, that individual, angel, or Angel of the Lord of Host, has always spoken a known language that is clearly understood.
Hagar heard the angel of God speak, and understood what was said (Gen. 21:17).
Mary, heard the heavenly messenger speak, and understood what the angel said (Luke 1:26-39).
The apostle John heard an angel speak, and understood what was said (Rev. 19:10).
It is argued from 1 Cor. 14:2 that an understanding of what is being said by the speaker is not important because the individual is speaking in an unknown tongue.
Consider
Notice the word ‘unknown” is italicized which means the word was inserted by the translators. The word “unknown” does not exist in the Greek text and should be omitted.
The text reads: “For he that speaks in a tongue….”
The word translated “tongue” (glossa [gloce-ah]), is the normal Greek term for “language.”
When a person speaks to the Church in a language (not previous acquired), and no interpreter is present, it can be said they are not speaking to people at all, but only to God who gives the gift of language and who is omniscient, and omnipresent.
Consider
When a person speaks to an audience in a language they do not understand, it can be said he speaks only to God because the Lord is the only One who can understand His own language gift. No man can understand the speaker exercising his spiritual gifts of languages, though they might wish they could.
I have been to Kenya to preach. The language that is spoken in Kenya is Swahili. When the pastor spoke in his known language, I wish I could have understood him. If we had been alone and he kept talking, he would have only been talking to God. Neither I, nor the men I was with could understand him if he prayed, preached, or sang. He would be speaking “mysteries” as far as we were concerned.
Paul’s use of the term “mysteries” does not have the meaning of the English word “mysterious.” Rather, the word indicates a divine truth not yet disclosed.
When the gospel is preached by a Christian who is trying to use the spiritual gift of tongues apart from an interpreter, the divine truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone cannot be understood.
It remains a mystery, or a divine truth yet to be revealed, to those present listening to the utterances.
The gifted speaker is Spirit filled to be sure, for all the gifts are of the Spirit, but the speaker is still uttering only an unintelligible mystery (sublime truth) to those listening in amazement, and, no doubt, frustration.
Spiritual gifs are never given to serve self, but to be a source of blessing to others.
The apostle Paul “did not undervalue the power of speaking foreign languages when foreigners were present, or when they went to preach to foreigners; see 1 Cor 14:22. It was only when it was needless, when all present spoke one language, that he speaks of it as of comparatively little value” (Barnes’ Notes).
An Amplified Translation: 1 Corinthians 14:2
“A Christian that speaks to the Church in a known human language not previously acquired, will not be speaking to men (apart from an interpreter). Though gifted and aided by the Spirit, such a person will be speaking only to God, who understands all languages. No one in the Church will be able to understand the sublime message that needs to be communicated. What is spoken will remain a mystery.”
Is there a heavenly language? No. Has anyone ever spoken in a heavenly language? No. Did God once gift individuals with the ability to speak in a language not previously known? Yes. Should people today deceive themselves to the point they believe their nonsensical chatter is a heavenly language? No. Let every Christian pray with understanding in order to be a blessing to others. “What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.” ~ Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ
What About 1 Corinthians 13:1?
If there is an appeal for a heavenly language based on 1 Corinthians 13:1, the following thoughts from http://www.gotquestions.org are helpful.
When Paul speaks of the “tongues of angels,” he isn’t speaking literally of a “heavenly language,” as some want to believe, but is using a hyperbolic expression. Hyperbole is an exaggeration to make a point. Paul is saying that, no matter how gifted one may be, whether in his own language, in foreign languages, or even in the hypothetical speech of angels, it’s all moot without love. In fact, without love, one’s speech is no better than the useless babble of the pagan religions. The pagan culture of Corinth honored their gods in ritualistic ceremonies accompanied by loud musical instruments such as gongs, cymbals, and trumpets. Their worship was a chaotic cacophony.
Speaking in “tongues of angels” is probably best understood as having the ability to speak with “divine eloquence.” As one well-known Bible scholar put it, “Paul is simply saying that, were he to have the ability to speak with the skill and eloquence of the greatest men, even with angelic eloquence, he would only become a noisy gong . . .
The fact is that Paul used hyperbolic language elsewhere, including in the very next verse, with his mention of faith “to remove mountains.” His exaggerations serve to emphasize the necessity of love. Showing love is more important than the grandest, most miraculous action imaginable.
To suggest that Paul implies that “tongues of angels” is a kind of “heavenly language” is to go beyond what Scripture actually teaches. It is taking the expression completely out of context in an attempt to teach something other than what Paul actually said.”
