~ The Spiritual Gift of Speaking in 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 ~ The sign gift of speaking in an unlearned language.
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 diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues [unlearned languages], to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
This passage clearly denotes that those who were given the grace gift of speaking in an unknown language were not spiritually superior to those with other gifts.
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:28-31).
This chapter ends with the “more excellent way” explained: “and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Additional Notes ~ (1) Are these “unknown languages” or new languages which did not exist? No! They were existing languages which the person speaking in tongues had not learned but was inspired to speak in for the benefit of the hearers. A somewhat analogous situation in our day is the translation of Scripture into languages which do not have the Word of God in their own language.
(2) During this period, as now, there were carnal Christians, living on a very low spiritual level who are fascinated by anything out of the ordinary. So it was not surprising that the tongues movement became a topic of extreme interest. This is what is being discussed. In Corinthians Paul was correcting many of the wrong things in the Corinthian church. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul is emphasizing to them that there are many different spiritual gifts and it is the Holy Spirit who distributes to believers. Paul was trying to decrease their preoccupation with the gift of tongues!
(3) It is interesting to note: (a) Jesus never spoke in tongues. (b) There is no record of the apostles speaking in tongues after Pentecost. (c) We do not have a historical record of Paul speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). (d) We have no Biblical record of any sermon delivered in a tongue.
"Tongues seem to have ceased first of all the gifts." —Dr. A.T. Robertson
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.
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