Why is the gift of tongues a sign for unbelievers and prophecy a sign for believers?
1 Cor. 14:22: "Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers." I don't understand why tongues would be a sign for unbelievers when they can't understand what's being said, and might even think people speaking in tongues are just out of their minds. It seems to me that an unbeliever would be MORE persuaded to believe in God if someone had a prophetic word for him/her that came to pass, or "read their mail," so to speak.
1 Corinthians 14:22
NLT - 22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.
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Shirley H
Supporter
Jesus said in Mark 16:17: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues..." Acts 2:4: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues like the Spirit gave them utterance." The Holy Spirit is revealed as a divine Person. The believer becomes a new spirit, and "walks" a different life, and relates to others when the Holy Spirit is within him. The blindness of the heart has been lifted. They now are a visible prophecy of the Power of God, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." The believer becomes a prophecy or testimony. Romans 12:6: "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us then use them: if prophecy, let us prophecy etc..." 2 Peter 1:21: "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but by holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
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