Judging by the length of the chapter, either Paul wanted to make things very clear, or the Corinthians were stubborn and reluctant to understand. The conclusion (37) reveals a slightly irritated tone. In those community gatherings, there was not only marginalization and division, but also confusion and disorder, perhaps one causing the other. Apparently, a group of enthusiastic charismatics, possibly a bit overexcited, was frustrating everyone with long episodes of inarticulate, unintelligible sounds, which Paul refers to as “mysterious languages.”
Paul urges for maturity and common sense to guide the meetings. He doesn’t condemn this “gift of tongues” outright but places it in proper perspective. The aim of every charism or gift of the Spirit is the “building up of the Church” (12).