22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that beUeve not : but prophe- sying (serveth) not for them that beheve not, but for them which beUeve.
There are two inaccuracies in this version which obscure the sense. The first is the introduction of the word serveth after prophesying. The clauses are parallel. Tongues are for a sign to one class, and prophesying to another. Nothing need be supplied ; what is implied is, that prophesying is for a sign. The introduction of the word serveth is not only un- necessary, but contrary to the context. The second inaccura- cy is expressing the force of the datives (TrtoTev'ovo-t and dirtcr- roii) by to in the first member of the verse, and hy for in the second member. There is no reason for this change. The relation expressed is the same in both cases. * Tongues are for the one, prophesying are for the other ; ' or, ' Tongues are for a sign to the one, and prophesying to the other.' The connection between this verse and what precedes is indicated by the word wherefore^ or so that. The inference may be drawn either from the immediately preceding clause, viz., " For all that they will not hear me, saith the Lord ; " or from the historical fact referred to in the whole verse. If the for- mer, then the design of the apostle is to show that as teaching the Hebrews by men of other tongues did not render them obedient ; so speaking in other tongues would not profit the Corinthians. If the latter, then the design is to show, that as sending foreigners among the Hebrews was a mark of God's displeasure, so speaking in the Christian assemblies in foreign languages would be a curse and not a blessing. The latter view is demanded by the whole context.
The inference from the preceding verse is that tongues are a sign not to the believing but to the unbelieving, and pro- phesying just the reverse. This difficult verse is variously explained. 1. The word sign is taken in the sense of mark or proof as when it is said, "the signs of an apostle," 2 Cor. 12, 12, that is, the tokens by which an apostle may be known. Comp. Luke 2, 12. 2 Thess. 3, 17. The meaning of the pas- sage would then be, ' Tongues are a proof that those among whom they are used are not believers, but unbelievers ; and prophesying is a proof that they are believers, and not unbe- lievers.' But when the word is used in this sense, the thing of which it is a sign is put in the genitive. It is a sign of