Note 11 at 1 Cor. 14:27: Although the early New Testament church had great freedom to participate in the church service, according to the gifts that God had distributed, it was also to be conducted in an orderly manner (v. 40). The church meeting was not to be dominated by any one particular gift, although special emphasis was to be placed upon prophecy, i.e. those speaking messages on behalf of God. Paul seems to be stating that although many may be gifted with the gift of tongues for the church, no more than one at a time should speak, and only three in all should be conducted at any one church meeting.

Note 12 at 1 Cor. 14:27: Interpretation of tongues is the ability that is given by the Holy Spirit to understand the meaning of words that were previously spoken in an unknown tongue. It is not a translation (see note 29 at 1 Cor. 12:10, p. 931).

The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology states it this way, "In the case of the interpretation of tongues, it would seem that Paul is not thinking of interpretation in the sense of translating one language into another, which would presume that 'tongues' had a coherent scheme of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Rather, interpretation here seems to be more akin to discerning what the Spirit is saying through the one who is speaking in tongues" (TDNT, p. 1080, Editor: Colin Brown).

Notice that Paul said "if there be no interpreter" not "if there be no interpretation." It would be impossible to know if a tongue were going to be interpreted by someone else. But it is possible to know if an individual with the gift of interpretation of tongues is present. People with this gift should be known in the church and should be expected to interpret when a message in tongues comes forth.