1 Corinthians 14:2
What is written? (ESV)
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.
What does it say?
Anyone that speaks in a tongue [without an interpreter] is only speaking to God, since nobody can understand the utterances he is making in the Spirit.
What is its immediate context?
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about orderly worship (really beginning all the way back in chapter 10). Beginning in chapter 12 and through this chapter 14, he is addressing speaking in tongues and mostly comparing/contrasting this gift of the Spirit and its appropriate use with the gift of prophesying. In particular, they were using miraculous gifts of tongues improperly (with no interpreter – vs 27). Since there was no interpreter, it was not useful for the “building up” of the church (vs 5), therefore it wasn’t to be done (without an interpreter).
How 1 Corinthians 14:2 is applied across Bible answers
What is the gift of tongues?
Paul is NOT introducing the idea that speaking in tongues was some sort of "Spirit language" or "mystery language". His point is that without an interpreter, it's a pointless "mystery" since only God understands it. Importantly, it's even a mystery to the one uttering it! He also reiterates the fact that this is only done through/by the Holy Spirit.1
