Speaking in tongues Part I

What this article will attempt to explain is what is the phenomenon of speaking in tongues according to the scripture. Who was tongues for; what was it’s purpose? Are there tongues for public and private prayer? Is what we’re hearing today the genuine gift of tongues? Does tongues verify one is filled with the Holy Spirit? This subject will always be one of huge debate amongst several denominations mainly Pentecostals, Charismatics and Apostolics.

The word tongues in the Greek is the word glōssa. The word simply means languages. Speaking in tongues was the supernatural ability to speak a foreign known language the speaker never learned yet understood by the hearers. That is why in Acts 2: 4-11 we read, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language

7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia. 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and strangers in Rome, Jews and Proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The event is Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. Hebrews from all over the known world came to Jerusalem to celebrate this Mosaic feast. All Hebrew men were required to attend this feast which occurred in May-June on our Gregorian calendar. The other places in scriptures were tongues are mentioned are Acts 10, Acts 19, I Corinthians 12-14. Our concentration will take place in the book of I Corinthians 12-14.

All do not speak with Tongues

We read in I Corinthians 12 a list of various spiritual gifts. They are: Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities or different kinds of tongues. Paul then asks his readers, are all Apostles? Are all teachers…do all speak with tongues? The obvious answer to these questions is no (I Corinthians 12:28-30).

The problem I’ve discovered in a lot of churches that I’ve either been a member of or have read about or listened to those who believe that all have the ability to “pray” in tongues but the text clearly tells us not all speak with tongues. So, what is it that we’re hearing people do today in church? Is it the genuine gift of tongues? Let see if we can determine this in scripture.

Speaking in tongues as a private prayer language

Many Charismatics and Pentecostals believe that there are two gifts of tongues or that tongues can be used two different ways; for corporate and private worship. In Corinthians 14 the apostle Paul is providing instructions on how the gift of tongues is to be administered in public worship. This he had to do because the Corinthians were abusing the gifts, especially the gift of tongues.

In I Corinthians 14:2 we read, he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God. For no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. The word unknown isn’t in the original text; the translators of scripture inserted it to help bring clarification. So it would actually read,” he that speaks in a unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God.” Some say that when the word tongue is used instead of tongue(s), it’s referring to some type of Corinthian ecstatic utterance; not the real gift of tongues. A counterfeit. While that may be plausible, the writer (of this article) doesn’t see that being the case. The word tongue is the same Greek word as tongues plural so how can one be legitimate and the other is not if the same Greek word is used? Either they’re both the real gift or they’re not [(tongue/tongue(s)].

What Paul’s argument is in this chapter is if anyone speaks in tongues in public worship, the speaker or someone with the gift of interpretation/translation should interpret what was said so that all will be edified (vs. 3,4,5,12,26,31) This is equal to prophecy which is what we ought to seek (vs.1). If the speaker speaks in a language that no one can understand unless it’s interpreted, no one is edified but the speaker. He would only be speaking to God who understands all languages. That’s not what the gifts of the Spirit are for; self edification. When the scripture says that he that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, that’s not a commendation, but rather a condemnation. For once again, the gifts are for the benefit of the body, not the one using the gift.

There is also a widely held belief that the gift of tongues can be used privately as a prayer language between the person and God to build one’s self up (i.e praying in the Spirit or praying in tongues which is a misinterpretation of I Corinthians 14:15; Jude 20). This is where the ecstatic speech or better yet gibberish comes in. This became popular at the beginning of the twentieth century particularly with the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, CA from 1906 – 1909 with William J. Seymour. If one listens carefully to those using this modern “tongues” speaking phenomenon, you’ll notice the syllables of this gibberish sounds the same all the time. There are three major problems with this practice:

1. The scripture clearly teaches that if anyone speaks in a tongue, either the speaker or someone in the assembly must interpret what was said so that all will be edified or the speaker is to remain silent. If you’re claiming to speak at home, that means no can interpret and no one is edified. This is an abuse and unnatural use of the gift. 

2. Gibberish CAN NOT be interpreted because gibberish isn’t a language, it’s unintelligible speech. Also, I discovered when I attended a charismatic church years ago that often the “translation” of the gibberish spoken is longer than the gibberish itself and this is supposed to be the genuine gift of interpretation; it is not. 

When you’re translating from one language to another, the length of the translation will be virtually the same. You’re using different words, but the length doesn’t change. That’s how you can tell that what is transpiring isn’t authentic.

3. Several false religions use ecstatic speech – “tongues” like Tibetan Monks and some African Tribes. These are cults which obviously do not have the Holy Spirit. The modern charismatic gibberish is a similar practice. So, therefore, modern tongues speaking is not proof that one is filled with the Spirit.

Who was Tongues for

The scriptures clearly tell us that tongues were a sign to unbelievers; not for believers (I Corinthians 14:22). Why was it a sign to the unsaved? The genuine gift of tongues was exhibited in the book Acts on the day of 

Pentecost. Hebrew men and women spoke supernaturally languages they never learned to arrest the attention of the unbelieving Jews who heard them speak in their native tongue. This they obviously could not ignore. This never happened before in human history. When Peter preached to them about Jesus Christ and how they were responsible for his crucifixion, they were condemned and about three thousand souls were saved (Acts 2:41). So we see here that the sign gift of tongues was a sign for unbelievers so that they could repent and be saved. The gift of tongues was also a confirming sign to the authenticity of the gospel message the Apostles taught. It also was the fulfillment of Isaiah 28:12, “With stammering lips and another tongue will I speak to this people (i.e. unbelieving, disobedient Israel); and yet for all of that, they will not hear me, says the Lord.”

Has Tongues ceased

I Corinthians 13:8 we read, Charity or love never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Prophecy and Knowledge will vanish away with the coming of the perfect or complete. I believe this to be the complete revelation of God’s word. The complete/perfect is the force that will eliminate the gifts of Prophecy and Knowledge. The word cease in I Corinthians 13:8 means a willing cessation, to come to an end. Tongues will stop by itself. No outside force will cause it to stop like Prophecy and Knowledge (i.e. direct revelation from God).

The million dollar question then is “When will tongues cease?” Tongues had to have the gifts of both knowledge and prophecy to authenticate its use. Biblical tongues could not work alone. Tongues were never to be used unless it was coupled with an interpretation in the form of Prophecy or Knowledge. It was an inferior gift. According to articles I have read regarding the early church fathers, they do not record any occurrence of the manifestation of tongues after the first century. This would serve as a strong indicator of its cessation. Again, tongues was a sign to unbelievers that God was supernaturally working through his messengers to authenticate their message. Once their message was complete, tongues ceased to operate. It’s function ended. Just remember, God is sovereign and could manifest the gift in anyone if he chooses at any time but I do not see the need for such a manifestation. The writer is convinced that what we hear today is not the biblical gift of tongues but a counterfeit. We hear preachers babble in tongues in the middle of messages because they get too “caught up” and we hear some gospel recording artists do it as well because the Spirit has captured them to the degree they have to babble in tongues. These are unbiblical practices. What it reveals is that some are allowing their experiences to supplant the clear teaching of scripture instead of using the scripture properly to validate their experience. This practice causes confusion and divides the body of Christ.