Bible Verses About Language: Sometimes abused

For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit.

But someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them.

A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation.

I wish you would all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you would all prophesy. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless someone gives an interpretation, so that the congregation can be edified.

Brothers, suppose I come to you now speaking in tongues. How can I be of benefit to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Even with lifeless musical instruments, such as a flute or a harp, how will anyone recognize the melody if one note can’t be distinguished from another?

And if the bugle gives an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?

It’s the same with you: how will anyone know what you are saying unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech? You will be talking to the air!

There are undoubtedly all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is altogether meaningless;

but if I don’t know what a person’s sounds mean, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation.