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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Having shown then even from the prophecy, that the sign in question is not of great use, he adds, "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe." Great in this place is the difficulty which one seems to find arising from what is said. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Prophecy, he says, is useful for believers, because it instructs them. But does prophecy also serve for unbelievers? How then does he say (1 Cor. 14:24) that if all prophesy, and someone "unbelieving" enters? Behold, prophecy is also for unbelievers. To this one can answer: the apostle did not say that prophecy is useless for unbelievers, but that it does not serve as a useless sign, like tongues. …
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
What then, my brethren, because you do not these signs, do you not believe? But these things were necessary in the beginning of the Church. For that faith might grow, it needed to be nourished by miracles, because we also, when we plant shrubs, pour water on them only until we see that they have taken root in the ground; and once they have fixed their roots, we cease watering. Hence it is that Paul says: Tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers.
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says: Therefore, tongues are a sign not for believers, but for unbelievers, he argues to his conclusion by using the authority quoted. As if to say: from this it is clearly evident that the gift of tongues was given not for believers to bring them to belief, because they already believe: "It is no longer because of your words that we believe" (Jn. 4:42), but for unbelievers to be converted. In a Gloss two non-literal explanations by Ambrose are presented in this place. …
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