The Gift of Tongues


"If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me." Jesus declared this to reveal to the human race the cost of salvation for them and that all the preparation is now made ready for their total redemption through the cross. They were not to look to their animal sacrifices for their prosperity or their joy and rejoicing for now it was in Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Life, and the Life was the light of mankind. Could man, steeped in sin, deceit, and the pride of selfish attainments, understand the condescension of the Creator's Love? Christ's great commission is to preach the everlasting gospel to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people." Rev 14:6. This He did through a language that spoke to their hearts. He healed them of every malady. He brought comfort and joy in the midst of misgivings and perplexities. He spoke to the harden and rebellious, to the destitute, to the lost and wavering in a language that grasped their attention and softened and subdued their heart's inclinations. He revealed to them through His words and actions redeeming love. Those who received this revelation in the heart and understood it in the mind, He gave this command, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Matt 28:19,20.

This Christ's followers did, but during the Jewish annual feast day there was a barrier. There at Jerusalem came many Jews from other countries who had been living in colonies. The different tribes had mixed with their neighboring countrymen, though loyal to their ancestrial tradition of worship, brought with them the language of the area in which they had adapted themselves to. The many languages brought together at one time caused problems of communication during these festivals, but Jesus had seen this as He worshiped with them during His life. Provisions were promised for the necessity of spreading the gospel through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

At Pentcost, Christ fulfilled His promise to the believers. They received power to communicate to the various Jewish tribespeople who never heard of Christ of whom the sacrifices pointed to and as they expounded they fulfilled the commandment of Christ to go and teach.

We find that during this time "there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." Acts 2:5. The Apostles were gathered together "in one place," when "there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." Acts 2:2. "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as fire," "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:3,4. The noise of the mighty wind was heard and "the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:6 These devout Jews, who traveled many miles from various parts of the Roman Province to take part in the festival, did not speak the local language or tongue of Jerusalem "were all amazed and marvelled, "saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?" Acts 2:7

These devout Jews who came to worship exclaimed, "How hear we every man in our own tongue (language), wherein we were born?" Acts 2:8 "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:11 Verses 9-11 reveals that they traveled quite a distance , even from Rome.

Peter, understanding what was happening, explained to the people of Jerusalem the reason why the other disciples were speaking in different languages. Each of the eleven was given a language of a particular group in which he was to minister and busied himself with presenting the gospel message. "The same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls." Acts 2:41. The major part of the 3,000 souls was from foreign Jews who came to worship at that time.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out to fulfill a need of bringing together all those who will accept the gift of Christ and be part of the royal family as sons and daughters of God.

  1. Christ was to be lifted up in the minds and hearts of the people.
  2. The gift of tongues was given to overcome a language barrier.
  3. Tongues are known and permanent language of the people.
  4. It was a permanent gift to be used as a tool to communicate.
  5. Those that receive this gift are witnesses for Christ in soul saving. Acts 1:8.

There are three places that the Holy Spirit was poured out in like manner to enable the believers to work for God by communicating the gospel to the Gentiles. The coastal cities of Caesarea, Ephesus, and Corinth, by divine choice, became leaders for evangelizing the world. The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples and believers in those areas as the opportunity availed itself.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished....because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." "For they heard them speak with tongues(languages) and magnify God." Acts 10:44- 46. Peter in Acts 11:15,17 testified of what gift was poured out unto the Gentiles. He reasoned with the brethren so their eyes may be opened to know how God is working and agree with him. "The Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us." Peter's testimony that it was the same gift of languages to break down the barrier among the Gentiles and present the gospel to others made his brethren realize that repentance was also given to the Gentiles. Because of Caesarea's strategic location of several trade routes and lying astride the main road from Rome to the Orient it was in divine order to a beginning of world evangelism.

It is recorded in Acts 19:1 at Ephesus that Paul had encountered similar circumstances on his missionary journeys. "Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples" questioned them if they had received the Holy Ghost. They related that they "have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." Acts 19:2. "And when Paul had laid His hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." Acts 19:6.

The gift and the function of tongues fit every need in the book of Acts perfectly. Ephesus was no different. It was one of the cities which Rome used to govern other parts of its province such as Cilicia, Galatia, Bythynia, Lycia, and Pisidia. These diverse populations needed to hear the gospel in their own languages and dialects. The languages(tongues) used by John's disciples were a permanent and useful gift to communicate the gospel. There is no warrant for thinking the gift was gibberish, unintelligible, or unable to be understood by the speaker or hearer.

Corinth, another city, being an important center for both land and sea traffic, received the gift (1 Cor 1:7) to reach out to all that traveled and traded there. The selection of the cities reveals a divine strategy and languages fit into the plan of God.

Many modern advocates of tongues speaking seemingly separate Acts 2 from 1Cor 14, stating the latter supports their views and receiving it is a sign of power from the Holy Spirit. Many do not realize that the book of Corinthians, like others, was a book of correction, appeals, and instructions in righteousness. Paul was dealing with controversies and abuse in the Corinthian church and make no case for two brands of the gift of tongues. He appealed for the unity of doctrine in the gift of languages being spoken as of its proper order of use in the church, among believers and nonbelievers. Paul places the gift of tongues second to prophesying, "for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. The speaker is held accountable for what he or she has said. "For by thy words you will be justified, and by thy words you will be condemned." Matt. 12:37. "And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev 14:5. Speaking in tongues are justified when there is a language barrier or when there are "two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church: and let him speak to himself, and to God." 1Cor 14:27,28. A rule to follow is there needs to be two or three others that speak the same language or tongue to establish the truth to the hearers. Paul found no benefit in speaking in tongues unless he spoke "by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, and by doctrine." Acts 14:6. He emphasized the gift of tongues which the church was using was out of order. They were not edifying the church members or unbelievers among them, but were using it to prove to others that they had the spirit and was equal unto Paul the prophet. Paul needed to put them in line with gospel order, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." 1 Cor 14:33.

The phrase "unknown tongue" is not found throughout the new testament. The word unknown is italicized, which means it is supplied and is not found in the original Greek text. The word tongue is glossa in the Greek which translates into "language" or "other language." For example in Acts 14:2 "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men , but unto God; for no man understandeth him; Howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." Here is an individual that is among others who do not speak his language, therefore no one would understand him but God because God knows and understands all languages. This believer is a "steward of the mysteries of God," which is unto salvation in Christ Jesus and God's Spirit has moved upon his mind to utter words in the language he knows. 1 Cor 4:1. But if everyone spoke the same language would it be necessary to utter another language? It would be foolish to speak another language if everyone understood English because "he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me" "and you will speaking into the air." 1 Cor 14:11,9.

"Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Cor 14:40. "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not" so that the gospel may be communicated to them and Christ be lifted up. 1 Cor 14:22.

Foreign languages were obviously necessary to reach unbelievers scattered throughout the Roman empire. Without the use of this gift the work of the gospel would have been hindered, so Paul does not rule out the exercise of the gift. At the same time he lays down rules for its proper use. The same rules governing the gift of tongues in the early Christian church applies today. Comparing the modern tongue movement of today to the working definition of the Biblical tongues as seen in the books of Acts and 1 Corinthians 14 does not fit the same category.

Below is a list of comparisons:(*= Biblical gift of tongues; ~ = Modern tongues experiences)

"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to THEM THAT OBEY Him." Acts 5:32.

Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15.


May the Lord of Glory be exalted!

"I want to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified!"

AMEN!


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