WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES?
INTRODUCTION This is a subject to which I have given a great deal of thought for almost thirty years. When I was twenty years old, I was drafted and sent to Europe, where I lived for the next two years. I met some people there who told me that if I had not spoken in tongues, I was not born again. Well, it did not take a rocket scientist to see through that from the Scriptures. Others told me that I had not experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit if I had not spoken in tongues. Now that truly troubled me. I knew that I loved God and wanted to serve Him more than anything else in life, so if there was more of God to be had that I did not have, I wanted it. The Bible did talk about being filled with the Spirit, and it did talk about speaking in tongues; so, I embarked on an open-minded search for the truth in this matter. I sincerely begged God (ask my poor wife, if you don’t believe me!) to let me experience all of Him that there was- all the time searching the Scriptures. After several months of seeking God’s face and studying the word of God, I came to several basic conclusions then, and they have grown in strength in my heart in the thirty years since:
1. The gift of speaking in tongues was a supernatural ability to speak languages which one had not previously learned.
2. Being filled with the Spirit was not primarily an experience, but a way of living.
3. The gift of tongues fulfilled three main purposes:
A. A sign to the Jews that the kingdom of God was now extended to the Gentiles B. To facilitate the spread of the gospel into all the world C. To validate the ministries of the Apostles 4. The sign gifts (including tongues) have ceased, according to the Bible and verified by history. This paper, then, will be concerned with examining these conclusions to see if they have any Biblical validity. I would encourage the reader to do as I hope I have done. Take your Bible and carefully examine this doctrine, and may God guide us into all truth.
WHAT IS SPEAKING IN TONGUES?
We shall now examine the question of what is speaking in tongues. What happened in the New Testament when people spoke in tongues? To answer this question, we will go to the occasion of its first appearance inActs 2:1-47. Two Greek words are translated "tongues" in this passage. They are "glossa"( SGreek: 1100. glossa) and "dialektos"(SGreek: 1258. dialektos). Glossa is used in describing the speaking {Acts 2:4} and hearing {Acts 2:11} and dialektos is used to describe the hearing. {Acts 2:6;Acts 2:8} They are used synonymously, and both refer to known human languages (dialektos is even translated "languages" inActs 2:6). Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were preaching the gospel in languages (glossa) they had not previously learned, and men from foreign countries heard them speak in their own native language (dialektos). There are two other instances of the manifestation of this miraculous gift in the book of Acts-Acts 10:46andActs 19:6. In both instances Jews were dealing with Gentiles who were not conversant in Aramaic, so God manifested this gift of tongues for the breaking down of language barriers and to confirm to the Jews that these Gentiles are also included in the new covenant. Only the Greek word "glossa" is employed in these passages. A similar episode is recorded inActs 8:17. In all four passages the Holy Spirit fell upon them, but inActs 8:17this supernatural gift of speaking in tongues was not manifest. Why? Simply because there was no language barrier here; they all basically spoke the same language.
Let us take a closer look at these two words, "glossa" and "dialektos" to show that they mean nothing more or less than either the instrument of speech located on one’s mouth or a known human language. It would be a good exercise for the reader to consider every place in the New Testament in which these words are used. I shall only refer to a few. "Glossa" when not referring to this supernatural gift always is either referring to the instrument of speech located in one’s mouth as in this passage: Mr 7:35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue (glossa) was loosed, and he spake plain, or a foreign language as in this passage:Revelation 5:9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue (glossa), and people, and nation. "Dialektos" only refers in Scripture to a human language as in this passage: And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue (dialektos).
Now, let us expositorily examine the use of "glossa" in the only New Testament passage which deals with this supernatural gift-1 Corinthians 12:1-31;1 Corinthians 13:1-13;1 Corinthians 14:1-40This lengthy discussion is obviously necessitated by the abuse of this gift in the Corinthian church (I shall deal later with the fact that in later writings of Paul concerning spiritual gifts in Ephesians and Romans, there is not even a mention of the gift of tongues, which shows that it either was not a problem in these places, or it had already begun to go out of existence). It seems that men to whom God had given this gift in the early church had the ability to exercise it at will. This must have been a truly exhilarating experience! Imagine being able to declare the works of God in a language you had never learned. It must have filled the soul with wonder and praise! Indeed, he is said in1 Corinthians 14:2to be speaking the mysteries of the kingdom to God, much to the edification and exaltation of his own soul. {1 Corinthians 14:4} However, therein lay the problem. While this was all well and good for him, no one else was being edified by hearing the gospel proclaimed in an unknown language. Yea, it seems that he, himself, did not always know what he was saying (thus the demand for an interpreter), but he was sure having a good time. While Paul wished that they could all personally experience this exhilarating experience, he severely limited its use in the church because of it intrinsically selfish nature. He strictly forbids its use unless interpreted and discourages its use at all with these pointed words in1 Corinthians 14:19, "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand in a tongue." (The word "unknown" used in this entire passage is never found in the Greek and is only and always supplied by the translators to imply that this language is previously unknown to the speaker.) He concludes this by saying in1 Corinthians 14:26, "Let all things be done unto edifying."
While I am here, let me say a word about two other prohibitions made concerning the use of the gifts of the Spirit in this passage. First he says to never speak more than one at a time, whether it be in an unknown tongue or the language which is commonly spoken. I have seen episodes where everyone spoke or "prayed" at the same time. Paul calls this confusion in verses1 Corinthians 14:27and1 Corinthians 14:31, and so it is. There should never be a time in the public worship of God where more than one person is speaking at a time! Second, he instructs them that women should never exercise these gifts (specifically speaking in tongues or prophecy- preaching) in the public worship of God. He concludes the whole section with these words: "Let all things be done decently and in order."
I shall have more to say later about this passage, but what I have written here is to show plainly that "glossa" always is used to speak of languages. Some have argued that1 Corinthians 13:1shows that there are angelic languages. In every place in the entire Bible where angels have spoken, it is in the language of the hearer, or else someone was present who could translate. Let the word of God just say what it plainly says!
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Let us now consider what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Does the Bible teach that speaking in tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Spirit? Does the Bible indicate that this miraculous manifestation always or even usually attends being filled with the Spirit? Well, when we consider that the phrase "filled with the Spirit" or "filled with the Holy Ghost" appears ten times in the New Testament, and in only one of these ten times is speaking in tongues mentioned, the answer to these questions must be a resounding, no! The one and only place where being filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues is mentioned in the same context isActs 2:4. In this passage the church is receiving the fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ that there was coming a day in which they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. On this glorious day, the church of God received its promised power to carry out its great work of taking the gospel into all the world. {Acts 1:8} The true church of Christ is still operating under this blessed power. There is absolutely no indication that any other assembly should seek this baptism, much less that individuals should seek it. It was given to the church once and for all time. However, we are commanded in the Bible to be filled with the Spirit inEphesians 5:18, in which passage (or the entire epistle, which deals at some length with spiritual gifts in chapter four) there is no mention of speaking in tongues. So, how does one obey the command to be filled with the Spirit?Ephesians 5:1-33tells us plainly: be a loving husband, be a submissive wife, be an obedient child, be a faithful parent, do not get drunk, be a good employee/employer, esteem the church of God, and all the other things mentioned in this epistle. One is filled with the Spirit by obeying God’s word! It is not an emotional experience to be sought after, but a holy way of life. The reason the church was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is simply this: they were obeying Christ’s command to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. One is filled with the Spirit and the power of that Holy Spirit only as he walks in obedience to God’s word, and absolutely nowhere in the Bible is one commanded to speak in tongues. We fear that the modern tongues movement is a device used by Satan to counterfeit God’s true command to be filled with the Spirit. It is a shortcut to holiness. I have arrived because I speak in tongues. I am filled with the Spirit because I speak in tongues. Dear reader, nothing could be farther from the truth! One is filled with the Spirit when he is obeying God’s word. THE PURPOSE FOR TONGUES
We now turn our attention to why the gift of tongues was given. We have already asserted that it as well as all the sign gifts were given for three reasons: as a sign to the Jews that the kingdom of God was now extended to the Gentiles, to facilitate the spread of the gospel into all the world, and to validate the ministries of the Apostles. The Bible is especially clear on this first point, for in1 Corinthians 14:21-22we read, "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe." Now, this passage tells us plainly that tongues are given for a sign, but to whom? It is a sign to the Jewish nation according to the prophecy that is quoted. God will speak to the Jews (them that believe not), but they will not listen. This is also why tongues appeared on the day of Pentecost, at Cornelius’ house, and at Ephesus. It confirmed to the Jews that the Gentiles are also included in this new covenant. Notice Peter’s defense of his actions at Cornelius’ house inActs 11:15-18, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." When Peter declared that these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit in the same manner in which they had in the beginning (Pentecost), he knew that this was from God. Even these Jewish Christians had to have powerful and convincing proof of this incredible truth, and the unbelieving Jews refused to accept it regardless of the miraculous proofs, even as they did in the personal ministry of Jesus himself. While we will address this more particularly later, let me say here that this is one reason that the Bible teaches that tongues will cease. When the Jewish nation ceased to exist with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, so also did this sign for their benefit cease.
Secondly, this sign gift existed for the purpose of facilitating the spread of the gospel in the Apostolic age. At Pentecost, men from fifteen different nations heard the gospel in their native languages from as far away as Rome. The Bible and church history tell us that from this one episode, there sprang up churches in all of these places. Indeed, inRomans 10:18we read these words: "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." We are told of the amazing spread of the gospel, even before the end of the Apostolic age. This was made possible in part by this extraordinary gift of tongues. Now, please think with me on this verse in Mr 16:15-18: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Here, our Lord Jesus is commanding his Apostles specifically {Mr 16:14} to carry the gospel to every creature. These signs were given to them (notice tongues here) to facilitate this commission. In the phrase, "These signs shall follow them that believe," the word "believe" is in the aorist tense in the Greek. Notice this definition of the aorist tense: The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. The events described by the aorist tense are classified into a number of categories by grammarians. The most common of these include a view of the action as having begun from a certain point ("inceptive aorist"), or having ended at a certain point, ("cumulative aorist"), or merely existing at a certain point, ("punctiliar aorist"). The categorization of other cases can be found in Greek reference grammars.
Forgive me for being somewhat technical here, but the point is this: these "sign gifts" (including tongues) were given specifically to the Apostles or to those who have believed (and so it is more properly rendered in the New American Standard Bible) and not to those who will believe. In other words, the signs are not perpetual. They are not promised to those who will believe, but to those who have believed that is, the Apostles to whom this is specifically addressed. Notice the highly respected Greek authority, Spiros Zodhiates’ comment on this verb: "It should be noted that these signs were not for believers of generations to come, but for previous believers since the participle pistersasi (believe) is in the aorist tense indicating those who at some time in the past had believed." These gifts were given to validate the ministries of the Apostles and facilitate the spread of the gospel. Why, might you ask, are they no longer needed? We shall speak to that in the last section of this paper, but let me briefly say here, that we now have something that even the Apostles did not have, by which men may judge whether or not we speak the word of God. Dear friend, we have the complete Bible!
Lastly, consider this passage of Scripture with regard to the purpose of tongues inHebrews 2:3-4: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" This passage tells us two very important things: the purpose for sign gifts (including tongues) and to whom these gifts were given. The "them" in this verse is clearly the Apostles, as we notice also the "was confirmed" is in the past tense. The sign gifts validated their ministries, and ended with them. Notice that the writer does not say that they should stand in fear of God’s judgment based on what we say or do, but on what they (the Apostles) said and did. In2 Corinthians 12:12the sign gifts are specifically called, "Signs of an Apostle." That is, signs that identified one as an Apostle. Some may claim to be Apostles in our day. If he can meet the qualifications given inActs 1:1-26, I will follow him as an Apostle myself! However, none of the men who lived immediately after the Apostles and received the gospel directly from them claimed to be an Apostle or have that special authority, and it is heaven-daring presumption for any man to claim it today!
TONGUES SHALL CEASE
Finally, let us think together concerning what the Bible says about tongues ceasing. The Bible plainly says that tongues shall cease as we see in1 Corinthians 13:8: "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." Now, we are clearly told that tongues shall cease, but when, and why? This same passage gives us the answer to both of these important questions. Notice the two other gifts which are specifically mentioned in this context, prophecy and knowledge. They are said to be at that time operating "in part," but when "that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away." Now, what is the Apostle saying? He is saying that prophecy (the telling forth of God’s will) and knowledge (the telling forth of God’s word or revelation) was only being done "in part" or an incomplete manner in his lifetime. When that which is perfect (fully mature and full grown) shall come, that which is in part shall be done away. What? Is the great Apostle saying that the power, the glory of the Apostolic era was not full grown or fully mature? Indeed, that is precisely what he is saying. In fact, he likens it in verse eleven to a childhood as compared to adulthood. What is the "perfect" of which he speaks? Consider what the Apostle Paul did not have that came at a later time. He did not have the complete (perfect) word (knowledge) of God in the Bible. Much of the New Testament had not even been written when Paul wrote this letter, and some of it was not written until after his death. So, if you were in an early first century church, and a man came in to you and said that he had a word of knowledge from God, and based on this knowledge, here is God’s will (here is the prophecy and knowledge spoken of in this passage), how could one know that this man was truly from God? He could work miracles, speak languages he had never learned, and work other "signs of an Apostle." One can easily see how this might be abused by someone who pretends to "speak in tongues" or engage in other emotional activities. So, what is the "perfect" which shall come? It is simply the full revelation of God in the Bible![i] How can one today tell if a man is preaching the truth of God? He must search the Scriptures! Error can only creep in when men are ignorant of all the counsel of God in the Holy Bible. One might ask, "Is there not prophecy and knowledge in our day?" Not in the manner in which it existed in the times of the Apostles. They received revelation directly from God and preached based upon that to the people and proved their calling from God by working signs and miracles. Today, however, there is no direct revelation of new knowledge from God, because "that which is perfect" is come- the word of God in the Bible. How does one prove his calling from God today? He preaches the Bible. Dear reader, it is vitally important for you also to know the word of God, so that you may test what you hear by this heavenly standard- is it what the Bible says? The Scriptures warn us of the latter days in which men will claim heavenly revelations and will deceive many. Do not be one of them! Men will claim to have visions or speak to angels or to even Christ, Himself. Do not be deceived. The Bible is a "perfect" and thorough furnisher unto every good work. {2 Timothy 3:15-16}
Even though Jesus did many miracles and showed many signs and wonders, that was not the focus of His ministry. InMatthew 12:39Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..." In1 Corinthians 1:22the apostle Paul decries the fact that the Jews require a sign. He goes on to emphasize the importance of preaching the gospel. It is a sure evidence of a false "gospel" that today must have signs to accompany it or validate it, for we now have "that which is perfect."
Some who read1 Corinthians 13:1-13seem to think that Paul is saying that when we all get to heaven we will not need prophesying, tongues, and knowledge. They say the "that which is perfect" (remember, this word simply means mature or fully grown) is heaven. However, such a simplistic interpretation ignores the context. Paul is not talking about heaven here, for1 Corinthians 13:1-13is a part of the larger discussion of spiritual gifts including1 Corinthians 12:1-31;1 Corinthians 13:1-13;1 Corinthians 14:1-40Surely in heaven we will have the fullness of the revelation of God, but that is not under consideration in this passage.
So, when did tongues cease? When the revelation of God in the Bible was complete. Also consider what we have previously noticed in1 Corinthians 14:21-22, where we are told that tongues were for a sign to the Jews that the kingdom of God is also for Gentiles. When the Jewish nation ceased to exist in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem, the purpose for the sign also ceased to exist. Actually, the sign gifts seem already to be fading toward the end of the apostolic era. First Corinthians was one of the first letters written by Paul; but in his letters which came nearer to the end of his life (Ephesians and Romans), there is once again an extensive discussion about spiritual gifts, but neither mention (nor are they mentioned anywhere else by any other writer) the sign gifts, which, of course, includes speaking in tongues. Also, none of the men who came directly after the apostles make any mention of speaking in tongues, and the fourth century writer, Chrysostom, said that they had gone out of existence. The honest and objective student, then, must assert that the gift of tongues ceased with the apostolic age.
Some counter this indisputable fact by saying that, yes, they did cease, but have reappeared at the end of the age. I would ask, upon what Scripture would one assert such a thing. Dear reader, many people make the claim that they have uncovered either new revelation (such as Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons) or old truth which has been lost to the ages (such as the Charismatic movement or the Campbellites). Always beware of such claims! The faith was once and for all delivered to the saints in the days of the Apostles, {Jude 1:3} and the true church of Jesus Christ has kept and defended this truth in every age according to the prophecy of Jesus when He said inMatthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Apostle Paul also calls the church the "pillar and ground of the truth." No, beloved, God has always kept His true witness in the earth in His church.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I will end this discussion with some thoughts fromLuke 10:1-42andLuke 11:1-54. InLuke 10:1-42, Jesus sent out the seventy disciples to preach the kingdom of God throughout the land. They came back and joyfully reported that even the devils were subject unto them. Jesus said they would receive even greater manifestations of the power of God, but then he tells them something even more important. He said that they should not rejoice that spirits are subject to them, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven. He is in essence saying, do not set your focus on the miraculous or supernatural, but rather the blessing of being a child of God. InLuke 11:27, a woman cried out that the mother of Jesus was such a blessed woman. Jesus said that there are those who are more blessed than she- they who hear the word of God and keep it. Jesus is telling us in these two instances that the most important thing in the kingdom of God is not the amazing or glamorizing, but the simple and that into which every little child of God can freely enter. The modern emphasis on speaking in tongues and miracles by some should be rejected by the student of Scripture who understands that he should rejoice that he is a child of God and has been bought with the blood of the Lamb and seek with all his heart to hear and do God’s word. Let us all strive for that which is clearly before us instead of straining for some subjective standard of holiness. Amen.
[i] I see that our conclusions about "that which is perfect" differ somewhat. I see the completion of the canon as a part of a larger whole; the "perfect" refers to the completion of the transition from the old covenant age to the new covenant age of the Spirit. The coming of the "perfect" coincides with the end of the Mosaic age as determined by the destruction of the temple {Matthew 24:1} ff. Obviously, the completion of the written Word played a vital role in this. Only here do we find the full revelation of the mystery of God hidden from the ages-that believing Jews and Gentiles should be partakers of one body. 545