Speaking In a Language One Has Not Learned

Luke wrote of a gift of tongues on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-6), when everybody understood what was being said. Elsewhere we read of the Spirit's enabling people to speak in words that neither they nor anyone else understood unless they had another gift, that of interpretation (1 Cor. 12:10, 28). The possessor of the gift of tongues used it to speak about God, but edified nobody but himself, Paul said (1 Cor. 14:2-4). His mind was not active (1 Cor. 14:14). Paul did not forbid the use of the gift, however; he spoke in tongues himself (1 Cor. 14:18). But he regulated its use (1 Cor. 14:27-28) and saw edification as a more important consideration (1 Cor. 14:4-5).