SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:22
Así que, las lenguas son por seal, no a los fieles, sino a los incrdulos; mas la profecía, no se da a los incrdulos, sino a los fieles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:22
Verse 22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign] The miraculous gift of tongues was never designed for the benefit of those who have already believed, but for the instruction of unbelievers, that they might see from such a miracle that this is the work of God; and so embrace the Gospel. But as, in the times of the prophet, the strange Babylonish tongues came in the way of punishment, and not in the way of mercy; take heed that it be not the case now: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a curse.
For if, because ye have the gift of tongues, ye will choose for your own aggrandizement to use them in the public congregation where none understands them, God may curse your blessings.
Prophesying] Teaching the things of God in a known language is of infinitely more consequence than speaking in all the foreign tongues in the universe.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign , etc.] Of wrath and punishment inflicted on a rebellious and unbelieving people, and not of grace and kindness, as prophesying, or speaking to them by the prophets, was; and so this is an inference from what is said in the preceding verse, and shows, that there was no reason why believers should be so very desirous of them.
But if these words refer to all that is said before on this subject, the word sign may be taken for a miracle; and so a new argument is formed against an over fondness for divers tongues, and the use of them in public worship, showing the preferableness of prophecy to them; for speaking with divers tongues was used in a miraculous way, not to them that believe ; who have no need of miracles to raise their attention to what is said, and that it may gain credit with them, or to confirm their faith in it: but to them that believe not ; to prepare them to listen to what might be suggested to them, when they see the persons speaking were endued with miraculous powers, and to engage their assent to it, and belief of it; and so with such persons, and for such purposes, was the gift of speaking with divers tongues used by the apostles, ( Acts 2:4-11) but inasmuch as the Corinthian church consisted of believers, there was no need of such a sign or miracle among them; wherefore, if they desired such gifts, and to make use of them, they should choose to do it, not in the church, but among unbelievers: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not ; that is, not for them only; for prophesying or explaining the prophetic writings, or preaching the word, may be, and often is, the means of converting unbelievers; yet this is not the only use, nor does it serve for, or administer comfort to unbelievers as such; but is profitable to, and serves for them which believe : it is for their edification, exhortation, and comfort, ( 1 Corinthians 14:4) it is the means of building them up on their most holy faith; of quickening and stirring them up to the exercise of grace, and performance of duty; of comforting them under various distresses, inward and outward; and of establishing, strengthening, and settling them, and therefore much more eligible to be used in a church of Christ, than speaking with tongues.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-25 - There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A trul Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men' souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is provin himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did wh delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray of preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the grea truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person migh become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderfu power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
Greek Textus Receptus
ωστε 5620 CONJ αι 3588 T-NPF γλωσσαι 1100 N-NPF εις 1519 PREP σημειον 4592 N-ASN εισιν 1526 5748 V-PXI-3P ου 3756 PRT-N τοις 3588 T-DPM πιστευουσιν 4100 5723 V-PAP-DPM αλλα 235 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM απιστοις 571 A-DPM η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ προφητεια 4394 N-NSF ου 3756 PRT-N τοις 3588 T-DPM απιστοις 571 A-DPM αλλα 235 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM πιστευουσιν 4100 5723 V-PAP-DPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:22 {For a sign} (eis semeion). Like the Hebrew and occasional _Koin_ idiom also.
