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A Biblical Evaluation of Speaking in Tongues
I. The Nature of Tongues.
- The tongues of Acts 2:4, 11 are clearly identified as languages in
Acts 2:6, 8. In Corinth, it was also foreign languages (1 Cor. 14:11; 14:21).
- When glossa occurs in the plural form (glossai) it is an abbreviation
of "different languages." Gibberish, however, could never appear in plural
form because there is only one form of gibberish.
- The Lord warned us not to babble like the Gentiles do (Mt. 6:7).
- Paul states that tongues need to be interpreted (hermeneia). This word
has the primary sense of "translation" and suggests that there is to be a
translation of a foreign language.
- Paul's quotation of Is. 28:11-12 in 1 Cor 14:21 uses the word heteroglossois,
which is translated "strange tongues." When one looks in the context of Isaiah,
the "strange tongues" refer to the actual language of the Assyrians.
- 1 Cor. 12:10 mentions different "kinds" (genos) of languages. Genos
means a family or a group or a race or a nation. Linguists are familiar with
the term "language families."
- With the above evidence, it seems best to see tongues as a genuine
human language that needs to be translated into another human language in
order for it to be understood.
II. The Purpose of Tongues.
- Tongues are a sign for unbelievers (1 Cor 14:21-22). More specifically,
it was a judicial sign upon Israel for their unbelief (cf., Is 28:11-12)
and a sign of salvation to the Gentiles.
- Miracles were given so that we might believe in Christ and have life
in His name (Jn. 20:20-21).
III. The Proper Use of Tongues.
- All gifts, including tongues, need to be exercised with love (1 Cor
13:1).
- Let all things be done for edification (1 Cor 14:26).
- Tongues should be limited to two or three (1 Cor 14:27).
- Tongues should be done one at a time (1 Cor 14:27).
- Tongues must be interpreted. If there is no interpretation, then one
must remain silent (1 Cor 14:28).
- Do not forbid the "proper use" of speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:39).
- All things should be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40).
IV. The Cessation of Tongues.
- Tongues were used to serve as a sign to authenticate God's activity
and message among unbelievers. Every time there was a cluster of sign manifestations,
there were two things involved: new revelation, and a man of God whose credentials
as the bearer of that revelation needed to be verified, (Jn. 20:30, 2 Cor.
12:12). This was true in the three major outbreaks of miracles: Moses and
Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Christ and the apostles. As we have God's
message in His Word, there is no longer any need for the gift of tongues.
When the authors of revelation died, the marks of their authentication were
no longer needed.
- Tongues was a sign gift, and the age of signs and wonders ended with
the apostles. The last recorded healing in the New Testament occurred around
A.D. 58 with the healing of Publius' father (Acts 28:7-10). From A.D. 58
to 96, when God finished the Book of Revelation, no miracle is recorded.
When you get to Romans and Ephesians, both of which discuss gifts of the
Spirit at length, no mention is made of the sign gifts.
-
Tongues are mentioned only in the earliest books
of the New Testament. 1 Cor. is the only epistle where tongues are even mentioned.
Paul wrote at least twelve other epistles and never mentioned tongues again.
Tongues appeared as the church was being established, but once this occurred,
tongues stopped.
- History records that tongues ceased. During the first four or five
hundred years of the church, the only people reported to have spoken in "tongues"
were followers of Montanus who was branded a heretic and his disciple Tertullian.
- The tongues in 1 Cor 13:8 is in the middle voice. This demonstrates
that tongues will cease by themselves.
V. The Relationship of Speaking in Tongues and the Gospel Message.
-
All who are baptized by the Holy Spirit do not speak
in tongues (1 Cor 12:13; 12:30). Therefore, tongues do not necessarily follow
being baptized by the Holy Spirit.
-
The gospel's content is the substitutionary death
of Christ, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-3). Man's responsibility
is to place their faith in Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1) for
salvation. Jesus claimed that He alone could save and that apart from Him,
there was no hope to escape the impending judgment (John 14:6; Hebrews 9:27;
1 Tim. 2:4-5). One can know he is believer through faith in Christ (Acts
16:31; 1 John 5:11-13). Therefore, the argument that one needs to speak in
tongues to authenticate one's salvation is unwarranted.
VI. Applications.
- The public use of speaking in tongues as gibberish is not part of God's
design.
- Speaking in tongues is understood as the ability to speak a foreign
language that has not previously been studied. This language is understood
by those who speak that language.
- Those who speak in tongues today (languages) must follow the principles
under the "Proper use of Tongues."
- It is not necessary, nor is it biblical to depend on the exercising
of the gift of speaking in tongues to authenticate one's salvation.
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