TONGUES
It is not uncommon to have someone ask you, “Have you got it yet?” or “I will pray for you so you can have the gift of the Holy Spirit” or “We have the full gospel.” Such statements are designed to make one feel that he has less than other Christians, and can even be intimidating. And though it is not true of all those in this movement, those that make such statements often have a holier-than-thou attitude. However, what is called speaking in tongues today and what was in the Bible are two different things. (Churches that believe in modern-day speaking in tongues are, for the most part, the Pentecostal church, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Church [that came from the Pentecostal church] and those who would call themselves Charismatics.)
However, they are not speaking in real languages as in the Bible. And even most people who claim to speak in tongues today will admit it is unintelligible sounds, not a real language found here on earth. But in the Bible tongues were real languages. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:4–11). There are 16 people groups listed here, each with their “tongue” (language), and they were wondering how “every man heard them speak in his own language.” These were real languages, not what is going on today.
Those who claim this gift are often fine Christians, but I believe their teaching is in error, and this particular belief has split more churches than anything else I know of.
Every now and then one will claim that he knows of someone who can speak in biblical tongues, a real foreign language that the person has not learned. I have always asked them to give me this person’s address and phone number because I would like to talk to him or her, but none is produced. There are 6,000 missionaries from one religion alone who all claim to speak in tongues, but not one of them in the language of the country he was sent to. But Paul the Apostle, who did have the gift of tongues, could go to any country and begin speaking with people on the streets about Jesus Christ from day one. I have been a missionary here in Romania for over 20 years, and those who come here and claim to speak in tongues all had to learn the Romanian language just as I did.
Some will say, “I know I am saved because I can speak in tongues,” but people in non-Christian religions also make the claim of speaking in tongues and even those in the occult. They will use a verse that says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity…” (1 Corinthians 13:1). They will say the reason they do not have a real language is because they are speaking in a heavenly language, that of angels. And because it has not been proven what the language of heaven is, they will claim it is what they are speaking when they speak in gibberish. The above passage in I Corinthians 13:1 was not teaching that you could or should speak in a heavenly language. Paul had a speech problem (II Corinthians 10:10) and he was teaching that love is the most important, not how a good a speaker one was. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity….” Paul was saying, that even if he was good speaker, as an eloquent speaker or spoke as an angel, but did not have love, he was nothing.
When they are asked why they do this even though they themselves do not know what they are saying, they will say that they are edifying themselves in the Spirit. But no spiritual gift was to be used for ourselves but to edify the church. “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). We are told that charity (love), by which all the gifts of the Spirit were to operate, “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Biblical spirituality will seek to help others by building up the church, not ourselves, and it is the edifying of others that gives us joy.
When the gift of tongues was still being practiced in the first century, those who did this in a church were not to do it without it being translated (1 Corinthians 14:28), and even then the most who were allowed to do this were three and it had to be one at a time, not all at the same time (1 Corinthians 14:23, 27). Women were not to do this in the church (1 Corinthians 14:34), and this gift of tongues, along with the gift of translating the tongues, was the least of all the spiritual gifts, being always given last in a list of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 28–30)
1 Corinthians 14:14–15 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” The Bible says that though someone might try to pray in tongues, he would not understand what he had said: “My understanding is unfruitful.” We are told not to pray without our understanding of what is being said, but are to “pray with the understanding.” And the example of singing is also given, that we should sing with our understanding. Both prayer and singing were to be done in the Spirit of God, but when the Spirit of God helps you sing or pray, you will not hear Him at all. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
1 Corinthians 14:39 says, “And forbid not to speak with tongues.” But this was for that time period when they had real tongues. The Bible teaches that tongues was not a permanent gift. “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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (I Corinthians 13:8-10) Obviously prophecies have ceased as not one word has been added to the Bible in 2,000 years. The Bible tells us when this was to cease, “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” This word “that” is in reference to a thing, not feminine or masculine, so it cannot be in reference to Jesus Christ. When the above passage was written the New Testament was still in writing and had not been completed, but when it was completed then prophecies and tongues would cease. (see MIRACLES, it explains that tongues was a sign gift for the Jews to accept the new revealed revelations of the New Testament.)
Even when tongues were still in use, only a few Christians had this gift. In 1 Corinthians 12:29–30 Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions without giving any response, because the answer to each question was an obvious no. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Even in Paul’s day, only a few Christians had this gift. Tongues original purpose was to be a sign to get the attention of unbelieving Jews, that God was giving new revelation, as in the book of Acts 2:4–21 (see also 1 Corinthians 1:22; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:17–20; Acts 14:3). It was a practical gift of the first century where those who were sent out were able to go to other countries and speak their languages and give out the gospel. But today we have the completed Bible, both Old and New Testament. And the Bible has been translated into all the major languages and more minor languages than any other book in the world. And because of this, the gift of speaking in tongues is no longer needed (see HEALING; see MIRACLES; see HOLY SPIRIT).
Please read the other doctrines and pray for this
website to be used of God and to help Christians!
It is not uncommon to have someone ask you, “Have you got it yet?” or “I will pray for you so you can have the gift of the Holy Spirit” or “We have the full gospel.” Such statements are designed to make one feel that he has less than other Christians, and can even be intimidating. And though it is not true of all those in this movement, those that make such statements often have a holier-than-thou attitude. However, what is called speaking in tongues today and what was in the Bible are two different things. (Churches that believe in modern-day speaking in tongues are, for the most part, the Pentecostal church, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Church [that came from the Pentecostal church] and those who would call themselves Charismatics.)
However, they are not speaking in real languages as in the Bible. And even most people who claim to speak in tongues today will admit it is unintelligible sounds, not a real language found here on earth. But in the Bible tongues were real languages. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:4–11). There are 16 people groups listed here, each with their “tongue” (language), and they were wondering how “every man heard them speak in his own language.” These were real languages, not what is going on today.
Those who claim this gift are often fine Christians, but I believe their teaching is in error, and this particular belief has split more churches than anything else I know of.
Every now and then one will claim that he knows of someone who can speak in biblical tongues, a real foreign language that the person has not learned. I have always asked them to give me this person’s address and phone number because I would like to talk to him or her, but none is produced. There are 6,000 missionaries from one religion alone who all claim to speak in tongues, but not one of them in the language of the country he was sent to. But Paul the Apostle, who did have the gift of tongues, could go to any country and begin speaking with people on the streets about Jesus Christ from day one. I have been a missionary here in Romania for over 20 years, and those who come here and claim to speak in tongues all had to learn the Romanian language just as I did.
Some will say, “I know I am saved because I can speak in tongues,” but people in non-Christian religions also make the claim of speaking in tongues and even those in the occult. They will use a verse that says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity…” (1 Corinthians 13:1). They will say the reason they do not have a real language is because they are speaking in a heavenly language, that of angels. And because it has not been proven what the language of heaven is, they will claim it is what they are speaking when they speak in gibberish. The above passage in I Corinthians 13:1 was not teaching that you could or should speak in a heavenly language. Paul had a speech problem (II Corinthians 10:10) and he was teaching that love is the most important, not how a good a speaker one was. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity….” Paul was saying, that even if he was good speaker, as an eloquent speaker or spoke as an angel, but did not have love, he was nothing.
When they are asked why they do this even though they themselves do not know what they are saying, they will say that they are edifying themselves in the Spirit. But no spiritual gift was to be used for ourselves but to edify the church. “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). We are told that charity (love), by which all the gifts of the Spirit were to operate, “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Biblical spirituality will seek to help others by building up the church, not ourselves, and it is the edifying of others that gives us joy.
When the gift of tongues was still being practiced in the first century, those who did this in a church were not to do it without it being translated (1 Corinthians 14:28), and even then the most who were allowed to do this were three and it had to be one at a time, not all at the same time (1 Corinthians 14:23, 27). Women were not to do this in the church (1 Corinthians 14:34), and this gift of tongues, along with the gift of translating the tongues, was the least of all the spiritual gifts, being always given last in a list of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 28–30)
1 Corinthians 14:14–15 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” The Bible says that though someone might try to pray in tongues, he would not understand what he had said: “My understanding is unfruitful.” We are told not to pray without our understanding of what is being said, but are to “pray with the understanding.” And the example of singing is also given, that we should sing with our understanding. Both prayer and singing were to be done in the Spirit of God, but when the Spirit of God helps you sing or pray, you will not hear Him at all. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
1 Corinthians 14:39 says, “And forbid not to speak with tongues.” But this was for that time period when they had real tongues. The Bible teaches that tongues was not a permanent gift. “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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (I Corinthians 13:8-10) Obviously prophecies have ceased as not one word has been added to the Bible in 2,000 years. The Bible tells us when this was to cease, “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” This word “that” is in reference to a thing, not feminine or masculine, so it cannot be in reference to Jesus Christ. When the above passage was written the New Testament was still in writing and had not been completed, but when it was completed then prophecies and tongues would cease. (see MIRACLES, it explains that tongues was a sign gift for the Jews to accept the new revealed revelations of the New Testament.)
Even when tongues were still in use, only a few Christians had this gift. In 1 Corinthians 12:29–30 Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions without giving any response, because the answer to each question was an obvious no. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Even in Paul’s day, only a few Christians had this gift. Tongues original purpose was to be a sign to get the attention of unbelieving Jews, that God was giving new revelation, as in the book of Acts 2:4–21 (see also 1 Corinthians 1:22; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:17–20; Acts 14:3). It was a practical gift of the first century where those who were sent out were able to go to other countries and speak their languages and give out the gospel. But today we have the completed Bible, both Old and New Testament. And the Bible has been translated into all the major languages and more minor languages than any other book in the world. And because of this, the gift of speaking in tongues is no longer needed (see HEALING; see MIRACLES; see HOLY SPIRIT).
Please read the other doctrines and pray for this
website to be used of God and to help Christians!
