Speaking in Tongues | eternal-truth

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost – Speaking in Tongues

When I mentioned spiritual gifts and speaking in tongues, many people will automatically turn me off and want to speak against these things as not being for today. The reality is, people don't like the idea of it, because it sounds strange to them and even scares them. Some people have been turned off to them by believers who seem to misuse them. These gifts are not only in the Bible, they were strange to people even when God first gave them. So, nothing has really changed there. People will come up with their arguments against spiritual gifts, so they can keep from having to accept the truth, and by doing so needing to seek them. They cannot accept they are from God and for today and not seek them, since that would be a direct refusal of His offer to them. Many Christians like things the way they are without spiritual gifts, so would prefer to ignore any possibility of them still being for today. These people really have no idea of the blessings they are giving up. Although spiritual gifts are not salvation itself, they do offer great benefits to the Church and the individual believers according to God's wisdom and power.

Arguments against tongues and spiritual gifts are:

Tongues have ceased according to 1 Corinthians 13:8
They were given only to the first Church.
They were only for preaching the gospel.
Tongues are only to be used when there is an interpretation.
Tongues were not given to all, but only some.

These are a few of the arguments I want to address, although there are more I will touch on as we go through the scriptures. But let’s get right to the point!

Tongues have ceased

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”

The first matter of importance to notice when looking at the scriptures is always concerning context. What the context is all about here is without question, being all about “Love”. So, in the context about love, Paul is bringing out that the one thing that will always exist is love. All of these other things will one day pass away, but love will never pass away. It can never fail, and therefore can never cease to exist. The day will come when tongues and prophecy will no longer be needed, and even knowledge will be done away with. Why and how can this be?

It is by reading verse 10 that we can see what the Apostle means here. For right now we only know and prophesy in part. That means we cannot know everything, but only partial know things to come. He said here, “But when that which is perfect comes, that which is in part will be done away with”. It is debated what Paul meant by “that which is perfect”. Some say the Church, others say the scriptures or the Bible. These two options seem to be assumed and used to dishonestly claim that by the establishment of the Church or the accumulation and compilation of the scriptures we no longer need the spiritual gifts in the Church. They will assume that the Church in its first state was incomplete, and was it was “completed”, then the gifts weren’t needed anymore. This is a crazy belief used to teach against spiritual gifts that has no biblical support at all. We have no scripture in the bible or any prophecy even telling us about the coming bible in which writings would be chosen to be included in it. We do however have scriptures telling us how God will pour out His spirit in the last days, how people will prophesy and so on. Jesus said we will cast out demons. Speak in tongues, and do miracles. Are we beyond the last days? Did those days end in the first century? Of course not! We are still in the last days, and God is still pouring out His spirit.

So, what then is “that which is perfect”? Paul is writing to Christians who apparently know what He is talking about, since he didn’t need to explain it in his letter to them. There is only one thing that the Church and the Jews all knew and agreed on as something yet to come that was perfect – other than Jesus Himself. This was the kingdom of Christ, as He would come to earth to rule and reign. It is the time long awaited by the Jews, and a time that was taught about by all the Apostles that would come when Jesus returns at His second coming. This is the “perfect” time to come on the earth that has been promised by God for many centuries – long before Christ came the first time, that will be a time of no more sin, no more tears, and no more suffering, no more pain, and perfect love, peace, and harmony amongst men. When this time comes, there will no longer be any need of any spiritual gift, since we will be with Jesus, and He with us.

If spiritual gifts have been done away with already, then according to Paul, so has knowledge. Knowledge in the context given refers to all that we learn from the scriptures, how we grow through that knowledge and become fruitful in life. When Jesus returns, we will no longer need that partial knowledge we gain from the bible, because we will have the full knowledge by His presence here with us. The old knowledge (source of it) will pass away, while the new knowledge rules and reigns with us. Although the words spoken in the Bible will never pass away, the partial knowledge given through the Bible that has led to so much disagreement will pass away. It is very evident that this has not happened yet. Not only that, but the idea of “that which is perfect” referring to the church or the scriptures turns out to be the opposite of what people claim. The scriptures are not “that which is perfect”, but rather “that which is in part”. We know this to be a fact because we can’t seem to agree, we come to different conclusions and interpretations of them, and there even while having them there is still so much that we do not know. We are always learning and never come to the place of perfect knowledge. The scriptures definitely cannot be “that which is perfect”!

So, in light of the context and the promise of the coming kingdom that has not arrived yet, it is evident that this scripture does not teach that spiritual gifts have ever ceased at any time in the past. This being the case, we have no reason to believe by this scripture that they have ceased to be available in the past or present. And the only time in the future they will cease is when Jesus’ perfect kingdom is finally here. Until then, we will always have spiritual gifts available to us as believers. This is God’s promise to us and our children, those far off and as many as God calls to salvation (Acts 2:39).

They were given only to the first Church.

This idea of only being for the first Church goes against several scriptures, and it is drawn from the same idea of the gifts no longer being given after “that which is perfect” comes. Many Christians try very hard to use the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 to teach these beliefs, giving themselves a “biblical” reason to avoid them.

Before Jesus death He had promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples and followers, but they were not the only ones who would need this gift. The promise was given for all Christians everywhere, for all times. How could we expect a gift from God that was given for spiritual strengthening and encouragement, and a stronger relationship with God, to be given at the beginning and to stop shortly after? Has the Church not always needed such a help and blessing? Do we not need the same today? When Jesus said He would send another helper (the Holy Spirit), was He only sending Him for the first Church? As silly as this can sound, this is exactly what people teach by trying to make spiritual gifts only for a time and people in the first century.

In Acts 2:38 & 39 the people who heard Peter preach had asked what they must do to be saved. Peter answered and said, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

It is very evident in the previous verses that those present in the upper room as they were praying had just received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues. Now Peter stood before the crowd of people and proclaimed for all to hear that this same promise was given for them as well. Not for them only, but for their children also. He didn’t stop there. He added to the list, “and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call”.

So, I have to ask every Christian these simple questions: Are you a child? Are you afar off? And are you called by God? If the answer is yes, then this promise is also for you! At no time in the Bible or in history has there ever been any hint that this promise cannot be received any longer. God is not a liar. His promises are true and He is always faithful to do what He said He will do.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:13

Tongues were only for preaching the gospel.

It is commonly said that tongues in the book of Acts were given to the first Church so they could grow as they preached the gospel to people of other languages. But there are a few things that are missed with such an assumption. First, there are no examples of such a claim in the scriptures. When the people in Acts 2 heard those of the 120 in the upper room speaking in tongues, the bible says that they heard them speaking in their own tongues “the wonderful works of God”. To speak of God’s wonderful works as they were praying in tongues is praise of God's works. Although the gospel could be including as "wonderful works of God", this is not how God chose to get the gospel to the world. He chose men to spread the gospel message. These "wonderful works" speak of His works as God from the beginning to the present, and into the future. There was nothing mentioned about any message in tongues that was given, such as revealing to the crowd that Jesus was the Christ. Peter told them that in his message to them. It was Peter whom they had asked what they must do to be saved in his own language. And it was Peter who preached to them in that one and same language to let them know what they needed to do. There was no preaching in tongues at all. Such an idea can’t be found anywhere in the scriptures. Yet this is what people against spiritual gifts want us to believe.

If Peter preached to all of these people in tongues, how many languages should we suppose he preached in on that day? This was during a large festival when people from all over different nations were there to celebrate, people of many different languages. Peter not only did not know all of the different languages, but it would be silly to assume that he had to take the time to interpret himself so many times. By the time he started preaching he was doing so in a single known language to all those present, and those speaking in tongues were not a part of this preaching. So, all of those people present understood the language Peter was speaking in and did not need an interpretation or preaching in their own tongue. Tongues served as a sign to them, but other than that, the gift was not for them. It was for those being baptized with the Spirit. It was solely for the believers!

In the book of Acts we see several instances where people were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues. At the house of Cornelius, it is said that the Holy Ghost fell on all in the house just as He did on the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Yet in this case it was all of Cornelius’ family, who all spoke the same language and did not need any preaching in another language at all.

Acts 10 44-46 “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, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”

So, did they hear them preaching the gospel? No, they heard them magnifying God as they spoke in tongues. The purpose was not to preach at all, but to bless the one receiving the gift as they glorified God in an unknown tongue. We see more of this as we go through Acts and into Corinthians.

As Paul explains the purpose of God’s gift of tongues, he explains it from the understanding of a gift that blesses the individual. As we go through 1 Corinthians 14, Paul explains how this gift is not what so many people attempt to make it at all, but it is a blessing for each individual Christian, which he instructs them all to seek these gifts.

14:1-2 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”

So Paul tells the Corinthians to pursue these gifts. And that to speak in tongues is not speaking unto men at all. Yet this is what so many are being taught. That it is was the preaching of the gospel in other languages. But not according to what we see in the book of Acts, and not according to Paul. So if tongues are not for the purpose of preaching, and “no one understands him” -as Paul says here; then what is the purpose, and who are they being spoken to? Paul goes on to answer these questions.

14:4-5 “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would that you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;”

So Paul makes it clear here that the only one to get any edification out of tongues is the one speaking in tongues. Then He says that he would like them to all speak with tongues. But he puts prophesy above tongues because it is a gift that would edify the entire body. So “In the Church” prophesy is better than tongues, since everyone receives from it.

14:14-17 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

It is important to understand that everything Paul is addressing in this chapter is deal with the gift of tongues in the Church setting, as others are present. There is also an alone time when a person can pray in tongues. But this is not the topic of discussion in this chapter. So with that in mind, we can see that Paul is talking about how the individual is always blessed by tongues even though they do not know what they are saying themselves. But it is best for them to also pray in the known language so that others can hear and agree with what they hear, being blessed by it. So in the Church setting we need to concern ourselves with how others will receive blessing or not. But if we are the ones with the gift, we will always be blessed. And when we are alone in prayer and speak in tongues. We do not understand ourselves, yet we are blessed by the gift. And at that time there is no concern about others needing to hear anything in the known language.

In Romans 8:26 & 27, Paul said, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

So even though we do not know what we are saying, the Holy Spirit does; as He prays for us in ways we do not know how to pray. Paul said tongues were “praying in the Spirit”. The Holy Spirit searches our hearts and prays for us and worships God in ways we are not able on our own. What a blessing that is! And those who have this gift understand the blessing of His loving presence as we pray in tongues. How could God give a gift that blesses an individual in such a way only to some? This is not as the other gifts that were given to edify the entire body of believers. Yet as we look in Acts and Corinthians, we see two separate operations of the gift of tongues. So as we continue in 1 Corinthians 14, we will continue to answer the other arguments against tongues.

14:18-19 “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

Paul is not saying that speaking in tongues is not good, but that “in the Church” it is better to speak a language others understand – whether by using the same language to pray, or by interpreting the tongue. People try to use this to say tongues must always be interpreted, and that this is or was the only way it was ever to be used. But this is not the case at all. The context is all about the edification of the entire body. Yet as shown, the individual who speaks in tongues is always edified.

14:22 “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.”

As a sign to the unbeliever only, tongues was a blessing to the Church. It was used IN the Church, not outside of the Church. It is only when unbelievers would come into the Church that they would actually hear tongues. And in many cases they might hear their own language being spoken. Although this is not something you hear about all the time today, it does still happen.

14:26-27 "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.”

I cannot count how many times I have heard people say that if a person ever speaks in tongues, then the bible says there has to be an interpreter. But they pull this scripture out of context to try to make their point. This is true in the Church setting when a person “Speaks out” in tongues. But when a person is praying in tongues during their own time of prayer and worship as Paul said he did, then there is no need of interpretation.

14:39 "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues."

So Paul ends his teaching on tongues by telling this Church to forbid not to speak with tongues. We have this same instruction today. Yet so many Christians have forbidden it in their Churches.

Every single Christian in the book of Acts received the gift of tongues. No person was every left out from receiving this promise. There is no reason to believe that thing would have changed later, as Paul instructs the Church in the use of spiritual gifts in the Church setting. He shares how it is such a blessed experience for all who speak in tongues. So why would any Christian not want this same experience? The promise is unto you!

History of Tongues with the Early Church.

A.D. 100 – Eusebius (Church Historian):

Writing to the preaching evangelists who were yet living, Eusebius says: “Of those that flourished in these times, Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts. There were many others, also, noted in these times who held rank in the apostolic succession… the Holy Spirit also wrought many wonders as yet through them, so that as the Gospel was heard, men in crowds voluntarily and eagerly embraced the true faith with their whole minds.”

A.D. 115-202 – Irenaeus:

Irenaeus was a pupil of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John. He wrote in his book:

“Against Heresies”, Book V, vi.:

“In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light, for the general benefit, the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, who also the apostles term spiritual.”

A.D. 150-240: Tertullian “For seeing that we too acknowledge the spiritual charismata, or gifts, we too have merited the attainment of the prophetic gift ... and heaven knows how many distinguished men, to say nothing of the common people, have been cured either of devils or of their sicknesses.”

A.D. 163 – Justin Martyr

“For the prophetical gifts remain with us even to the present time. Now it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God.”

A.D. 210-280 - Novation: “This is he [the Holy Spirit] who places prophets in the church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works ... and arranges whatever gifts there are of the charismata; and thus making the Lord’s church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed."
A.D. 185-284 - Origen: “Some give evidence of their having received through this faith a marvelous power by the cures which they perform, invoking no other name over those who need their help than that of the God of all things, along with Jesus and a mention of his history.”

A.D. 300 – The Early Martyrs:

The early martyrs enjoyed these gifts. Dean Ferrar, in his book “Darkness to Dawn” states: “Even for the minutest allusions and particulars I have contemporary authority.” He refers to the persecuted Christians in Rome singing and speaking in unknown tongues.

A.D. 390 – Chrysostom of Constantinople:

Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, writes: “Whoever was baptised in apostolic days, he straightway spoke with tongues, for since on their coming over from idols, without any clear knowledge or training in the Scriptures, they at once received the Spirit, not that they saw the Spirit, for He is invisible, but God’s grace bestowed some sensible proof of His energy, and one straightway spoke in the Persian language, another in the Roman, another in the Indian, another in some other tongues, and this made manifest to them that were without that it was the Spirit in the very person speaking. Wherefore the apostle calls it the manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal.”

A.D. 400 – Augustine of Hippo:

“We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Spirit on them in the laying-on of hands. It is expected that converts should speak with new tongues.”

It is apparent that even though tongues and other gifts can be found in every century by at least some men, the widespread teaching and acceptance of them had diminished. This was not because they had ceased to exist, but because men had fallen from grace, turned to fables, pagan and Gnostic teachings, and lost their way. But God has always had a remnant of people and always has a plan to bring restoration. He did this in 1904, starting in a little Church in Los Angeles, CA on Azusa St. The Holy Ghost was poured out on a group of young people, and the word of this movement spread amongst hungry people that really wanted a move of God. So Go began to pour our His spirit on men once again, as He promised in Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”

We do live in the last days! And God is pouring out His Spirit! Why wait any longer? Seek and you shall find. Ask and you shall receive. God said He will not give a serpent and anyone who asks for the Holy Spirit!

Luke 11:10-13 “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.What father among you, if his son asks fora fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Augustine (354-430): In his work The City of God, Augustine tells of healings and miracles that he has observed firsthand and then says, “I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record all the miracles I know.”