When Only God Understands: A Berean Look at 1 Corinthians 14:2

Not long ago, I found myself in an online conversation that made me pause and pray before responding. I had shared that I’m a cessationist, and an acquaintance asked, “When a Bible-believing Christian, full of the Holy Spirit, speaks in tongues, what do you think is happening?”

It was an interesting question. At first glance, it seemed sincere. But as I reread it, I realized the phrasing itself carried an assumption: that the modern practice of tongues is the same as what we see in Scripture, and that to say otherwise would somehow mean I’m questioning that person’s faith or the Spirit’s work in their life. My goal in replying wasn’t to win an argument but to answer with truth and grace, allowing Scripture, not feelings or experiences, to lead the way.

This particular question also reminded me of how often certain verses are used to defend the modern practice of tongues, especially within the church today. Two that are frequently mentioned are Romans 8:26, where Paul writes of the Spirit interceding with “groanings too deep for words,” and 1 Corinthians 14:2, which says:

“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” (ESV)

Both passages are beautiful and inspired by God, yet they’re often lifted out of context and applied in ways that differ from what Paul intended. For this post, we’ll focus on 1 Corinthians 14:2 and take a closer look at what Paul was really addressing in his letter to the Corinthian church. Understanding who he was writing to, what issues he was correcting, and how the chapter fits within the broader message of 1 Corinthians brings much-needed clarity to this verse.

Understanding the Context

Before we can understand what Paul meant in verse 2, we need to step back and see what was happening in Corinth. The church there was vibrant and full of spiritual energy but it was also chaotic. The believers were blessed with many gifts of the Spirit, yet those gifts had become a source of pride and disorder rather than edification and love. Their worship gatherings had turned into scenes of confusion, with people speaking out of turn, showing off their spiritual experiences, and losing sight of the purpose behind the gifts themselves.

We don’t have to guess about this. Scripture tells us. Paul opens his letter by acknowledging that the Corinthians were “not lacking in any gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7), but he quickly confronts their immaturity and divisions (1 Corinthians 3:1–3). They were proud of their knowledge (8:1) and eager to display their spiritual abilities in ways that drew attention to themselves rather than to Christ. In chapter 14, Paul explicitly describes their gatherings as disorderly: “Each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation” (v. 26). Everyone was talking at once. He even warns that if unbelievers were to walk in, they would think the church was “out of [its] minds” (v. 23).

In other words, Corinth was spiritually alive but functionally confused.

When studying passages like this, I’ve found it invaluable to look beyond our English translations and return to the original Greek. So often, our modern reading of a word doesn’t capture its precise meaning in the text. In this chapter, for example, the Greek word translated “tongue” is glōssa (γλῶσσα), which literally means language. Recognizing that helps us see that Paul wasn’t describing unintelligible sounds but actual languages… speech that could, in principle, be understood if interpreted. That one detail alone changes how we read the entire passage.

Paul’s letter wasn’t written to encourage more ecstatic displays; it was written to correct misuse. He spends three chapters, 1 Corinthians 12 through 14, addressing this very issue. In chapter 12, he reminds them that all spiritual gifts come from the same Spirit and are given for the good of the whole body. In chapter 13, he pauses to show them the “more excellent way”—love—which is the foundation of every true work of the Spirit. Then, in chapter 14, he applies those truths to the practical issue of tongues and prophecy, urging believers to prioritize what strengthens the church rather than what elevates the individual.

The overarching theme of chapter 14 is edification through clarity. Paul doesn’t forbid tongues outright, but he places them under strict parameters: they must be understandable or interpreted. Without interpretation, they serve no purpose except to draw attention to the speaker. That’s why he begins the chapter by saying, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (v. 1). Prophecy, speaking God’s truth in a way people can understand, edifies. Uninterpreted tongues do not.

What Paul Was and Wasn’t Saying

When Paul writes that “the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God” (v. 2), he isn’t praising the act; he’s pointing out the problem. Without interpretation, no one else can understand—only God knows what’s being said. In other words, it’s unintelligible to the listeners, which defeats the purpose of gathered worship.

As mentioned above, the word translated “tongue” (glōssa) simply means “language.” In Acts 2, we see the same word used for real, human languages miraculously spoken by the apostles so that people from many nations could hear the gospel in their own tongues. But by the time Paul wrote to the Corinthians, this miraculous sign was being misunderstood and misapplied. Believers were speaking in languages that no one present could interpret, mistaking spiritual noise for spiritual depth.

That’s why Paul spends the next several verses emphasizing the need for understanding:

• “If I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker.” (v. 11)
• “Let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” (v. 13)
• “I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also.” (v. 15)
• “In church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (V. 19)

Paul’s message is consistent: spiritual gifts were never meant to showcase an individual’s spirituality but to serve the body through clarity and love.

“Utters Mysteries in the Spirit” — What Does That Mean?

The phrase “utters mysteries in the Spirit” can sound mystical, and it’s often cited to support the idea of a private prayer language. But in context, “mysteries” simply refers to things that are not understood by the hearers. Paul isn’t describing secret heavenly communication; he’s describing speech that lacks interpretation and therefore remains a mystery to everyone else.

Later in the same chapter, Paul makes this clear when he writes, “If there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God” (v. 28). That isn’t a call to keep praying in tongues privately. It’s an instruction toward order. Worship should build up the church, not confuse it. Paul closes the chapter with the reminder that “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (v. 33).

A Word About God’s Power Today

Because the topic of tongues so often leads to discussions about cessationism, I want to pause here and offer a bit of clarity. When people hear the word cessationist, a whole host of assumptions can surface. Many of them inaccurate. Some imagine it means believing that God no longer performs miracles or that the Holy Spirit is somehow less active today or God is being put into a box. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Being a cessationist simply means believing that certain sign gifts described in the New Testament, such as tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing through specific individuals, served a unique and foundational role in the early church. These gifts confirmed the gospel message and authenticated the apostles’ authority before the New Testament was complete. Once the canon of Scripture was closed, God’s revelation was finalized, and the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20) was complete.

It’s also important to note that even if the gift of tongues were still being practiced today, it would appear exactly as Scripture describes it: real, intelligible languages used to proclaim the gospel, not the kind of nonsensical or ecstatic speech often heard in modern church settings. In Acts 2, the miracle of tongues allowed people from every nation to hear the mighty works of God in their own language. That’s what made it miraculous: it was purposeful, understandable, and always pointed to Christ. Anything outside of that pattern doesn’t match the biblical description.

Cessationism doesn’t deny God’s power. It affirms His sovereignty. God still heals, provides, and intervenes. He still does amazing, miraculous things according to His will. The difference lies in how He chooses to work today. Rather than working through specific individuals who possess ongoing miraculous gifts, He works through His Word, His Spirit, and His providence.

God’s power has not ceased. His sovereignty has not diminished. But His means of revelation have shifted. We now have the completed Word. The sufficient, Spirit-inspired truth through which He continues to build His church and display His glory.

For readers who want to explore this more deeply, I unpack this further in my Understanding Cessationism series starting here.

Holding Truth and Grace Together

I know that many believers who practice tongues today are sincere. They love Jesus and genuinely want to honor Him. My intent here isn’t to judge anyone’s faith or question their salvation but to encourage discernment. If we truly desire to walk in the Spirit, we must listen carefully to what the Spirit has already spoken through Scripture.

Paul’s correction to the Corinthians wasn’t meant to stifle zeal but to anchor it in truth. The greatest evidence of the Spirit’s presence isn’t found in ecstatic speech or visible displays of power. It’s found in lives transformed by the gospel, rooted in love, humility, and obedience to Christ.

So let’s be Bereans: people who test every teaching and every experience against Scripture, holding fast to what is true. Because even when only God understands, His Word is always clear.

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