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Let's see the context.
1C 14:
In what sense was speaking in tongues a sign to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 14:22?
In the context of 1C 14, strange tongues were a sign to judge unbelieving Israelites or to purge the church. It was better not to speak in uninterpreted tongues during a church service:
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It's important to remember that 1C 14 doesn't negate the validity of tongues as a spiritual gift in the broader context outside of a regular church service. At Pentecost in Acts 2, tongues were a miraculous sign that authenticated the gospel message. Unbelievers from various nations heard the disciples speaking in their own languages, which led to their conversion.
1C 14:
Speaking in a tongue was beneficial for the speaker.
Paul contrasted tongues with prophesies in this chapter.
Paul focused on the church as a whole: Don't just build yourself up; build up the church.
During a church service:
Paul quoted Isaiah:
God warned the people of Israel that because they refused to listen to His clear message through the prophets, He would speak to them through "foreign lips and strange tongues" (i.e., the Assyrian invaders). The use of "strange tongues" in Isaiah was not a positive sign but rather a demonstration of God's judgment.
Strange tongues were a sign to judge the unbelieving Israelites. It was a bad sign to purge the unbelieving elements.
In contrast, prophecy was a sign for the church believers.
These kinds of tongues did not help to expand the church to the unbelievers.
This kind of prophecy helped to convert the unbeliever.
In what sense was speaking in tongues a sign to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 14:22?
In the context of 1C 14, strange tongues were a sign to judge unbelieving Israelites or to purge the church. It was better not to speak in uninterpreted tongues during a church service:
In contrast to tongues:
A prophecy is better than an uninterpreted tongue during a church service. Strange tongues were used to purge the unbelieving Israelites. That was a bad sign. Don't misuse your gift of speaking in tongues during a regular church service.
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It's important to remember that 1C 14 doesn't negate the validity of tongues as a spiritual gift in the broader context outside of a regular church service. At Pentecost in Acts 2, tongues were a miraculous sign that authenticated the gospel message. Unbelievers from various nations heard the disciples speaking in their own languages, which led to their conversion.