1 Corinthians Chapter 14

vs 11

Because langauges have meaning, if you don't interpret what you say to someone, then you are treating them like a foreigner - excluded and out of place.

vs 12

Because the Corinthians are so keen to build up spiritual gifts, Paul suggests to them that they seek gifts that are for the good of the church (especially since it is having division issues) rather than those which are personally edifying.

vs 13

Here again we find Paul talking about the one who speaks in tongues also asking for the gift of interpretation.

vs 14

This is a really interesting statement, which obviously does not relate to speaking a foriegn language (unless if, when you use the gift of tongues to speak another language, you don't understand what you're saying - which would make it less useful in my opinion). For if your mind is not being used in the speaking of tongues, then it might seem all the more to be just spouted gibberish. But there is a distinction - it does mean something (for it can be interpreted), and it is a gift of God (so it can't be bad or useless). And it is still a prayer to God.

vs 15

So what is the solution? Paul thinks it is to pray in the spirit, but to also use your brain, both to pray and to sing. I'm assuming that means doing more the sort of thing that we do when we publicly pray.

vs 16

Here we get to a problem which can be found in either form of glossa - when you pray in church and other people can't understand you, how can they say "amen" to it and condone it, and mix their prayers up with it? The simple answer is that they can't. I've been in this position before, where someone has been praying in a language other than english. I've also been in a situation where a church has broken out into tongues (at the request of the song leader). I prefered the prayer in another language, but I couldn't really say "Amen!" to it, because I have no idea what was said.

vs 17

And here's the rub - it's not a matter of whether what you said was competent, or good, or truly noteworthy and excellent. If it's not comprehensible, then it is not edifying to anyone else. It all comes down to whether you are prepared to put the needs of someone else first. If you are, then you're going to do what is good for them.

vs 18

Paul spoke the ass off his tongue, apparently. It's interesting how God chooses some people to get every gift imaginable, and they become these real powerhouses. Still happens today. God will raise up another one.

vs 19

But Paul's preference is for instruction and useful words that will exalt his brothers and sisters in Christ. He could speak all day in a tongue, and what could people do except say "Oooh".

vs 20

We should be as experienced in evil as children - innocent and unthinking about it. But in our considerations and our thoughts, we should be more mature than that. Here is a great backup for Nina's words about maturity being measured in your responsibility to other people.

I think there's more to it than that, but responsibility is in there. Sacrifice and selflessness are also there. Basically, Christ-likeness is maturity. That's easy to see when you're a Christian, but probably less likely an answer to be accepted by a non-Christian.