“Paul is referring to all languages…which were such a great help in proclaiming the Gospel among all the nations…. On the other hand…, present-day critics are condemning the languages from which the pure truth of Scripture is to be drawn….
“Do not, however, imagine that Paul is here allowing anybody to waste the time of the Church by muttering foreign words. For how ridiculous it would be to proclaim the same thing in many languages, when there is no need to do so!”
Hodge on ‘tongues’ in I Corinthians 14:2-5
Hodge comments: “If a man comes to me speaking a language which I cannot understand, no matter how polished or significant that language may be — he is a barbarian to me, and I to him [I Cor. 14:] vs. 10-11…. He who had the gift of tongues, should pray for the gift of interpretation — as without the latter gift, however devotional he might be, his prayers could not profit others [I Cor. 14:] vs. 13-14…. The gift of tongues…was the gift…of speaking in foreign languages…. The speaker with tongues was in a state of calm self-control. He could speak, or be silent [I Cor. 14:]14,28…. What he said was intelligible to himself, and could be interpreted to others….
