~ 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.
* * *
* *
·
Be an insider! Sign up for his Author Newsletter and
receive occasional news and special offers.
His books have won national and international literary awards. Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift. Your email will never be sold, given, or used
in any other way. You can easily
unsubscribe at any time. https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr
Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/ “Abundant Life Now”
·
The INDEX of topics is accessed by
scrolling down the left column.
·
The current TOP 10 reader favorites are
listed at the bottom of the page.
·
Personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in
the right-hand column of the blog.
Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell
