I saw this topic maybe a week ago, and I was supposed to write about it, but I hadn’t typed it yet. it’s an irony that the tongue is the powerful organ yet so small, since life and death are in the power of the tongue.
We are going into unknown tongues, tongues of men, and tongues of angels. The tongue of prophecy and knowledge vanishes away (1 Corinthians 13:8). Why? Because we know in part — our knowledge isn’t perfect, and we prophesy in part. When we come into the kingdom of God, it is said that we come as a child, to understand as a child.
I refer to this as a child’s sincerity, as it should be with God. Paul said, “When I was a child, I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). This means his understanding matured, but his sincerity remained. He put away childish things, yet remained a child in heart before God.
First Corinthians 13 tells us that we see through a glass darkly, but even now, I know that Jesus is known to me. When we see Him face to face, the veil is removed (1 Corinthians 13:12). This gives us a clearer perspective.
When 1 Corinthians 14 begins, it speaks specifically about unknown tongues — a tongue that is not known. There is a difference between an unknown tongue and the tongues of men. Acts of the Apostles calls it an unknown tongue. Later, when groups are praying together, they speak in tongues of men.
So, essentially, the unknown tongue is different from the tongues of men. 1 Corinthians 14 introduces the unknown tongue, and then 1 Corinthians 13 speaks about tongues of men and tongues of angels. Paul likens this to a child: when you become fully matured as a Christian, you put away childish things, but you still come to God with childlike sincerity.
Tongues of men and tongues of angels are gifts used in conjunction with a person’s spiritual gift. The unknown tongue is used specifically in the church to prophesy effectively. First Corinthians 14 emphasizes this: when speaking in unknown tongues, we speak to God, not to men (1 Corinthians 14:2). The utterance edifies oneself, while prophecy edifies others (1 Corinthians 14:3–5).
The church benefits from the unknown tongues, as Paul repeatedly mentions — in 1 Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, and 35. That’s eight times the church is referenced in connection with unknown tongues. The unknown tongue is a gift for personal edification, used in the church to strengthen God’s people.
Paul clarifies in 1 Corinthians 14:27:
“If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.”
Notice he specifically states unknown tongue, not tongues of men or tongues of angels. There is a distinction:
- Unknown tongue — spoken for personal edification, mysteries uttered, requires interpretation in the church.
- Tongues of men or tongues of angels — may involve actual human or spiritual languages, often understandable by others or the Spirit.
In my understanding, the unknown tongue is spoken by the human spirit in communion with God, while tongues of men or angels may be spiritual languages from God or other peoples. This is why interpretation is necessary in the church. The church was referenced about 9 times in 1 Corinthians 14: 4, 5,12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 35. Even in Acts 2: 11 – 13 people were mocking them saying they were full of new wine (drunk), why they spoke with tongues of men (Acts 2: 4 – 5). So with tongues of men, you speak in a language known of men (Acts 2: 6) but unknown tongue used in church it’s like 1 Corinthian 14:11 without interpretation it liken to barbaric speaking’s (no one understands).
So, when you speak in an unknown tongue, it’s not a language of another tribe, but a spiritual utterance. When speaking in tongues of men or angels, it may be a language understood by others. These are two distinct types of tongues.
This is the major summary I wanted to share today. Unknown tongues edify oneself and can strengthen the church when interpreted. Tongues of men and tongues of angels serve as gifts used by the Spirit.
Jesus is risen. Pray for me, will you please (use grace the writer of this page). Thank you