~ The Spiritual Gift of Tongues ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Category ~ A sign gift related to speaking or interpreting unknown languages.
Definition ~ A supernatural ability regarding an unlearned language. The New Testament word translated “tongues” is equivalent in our society as a “language.” The key factor to keep in mind is that it refers to an “unknown” or “unlearned” language.
The New Testament clearly shows two varieties of the gift of tongues: speaking in tongues and interpretation of what was spoken in tongues.
Purpose ~ There is significant division within Christianity regarding tongues and specifically the role of tongues in the Church today.
The purpose of tongues is an extremely important in discussing the subject of Biblical tongues. A careful examination of the New Testament passages dealing with tongues clearly reveals that tongues were a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. In fact there is one undeniable statement to this effect: “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” (1 Corinthians 14:22).
Scripture ~ There are several references to tongues in the New Testament, the most complete being 1 Corinthians 12-14 (note the summary statement above in the previous paragraph). There are other references including (Mark 16:17 and in the Book of Acts specifically Acts 2:3-4, 11, 10:46, 19:6).
Additional Note ~ In all three accounts of tongues in the New Testament it was during the institution of the dispensation of grace.
(1) On the Day of Pentecost -- the Gospel to the nation of Israel.
(2) At the home of Cornelius – the Gospel to the Gentiles.
(3) At Ephesus – the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Closing Comments ~ “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
