THE TRUTH ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES

TOPIC:  TONGUES SPEAKING

Tongue speaking was one of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit which were given for the advancement of the gospel and growth of the early church. This post is meant to present the scriptural truths about the subject of tongues or languages in order to correct certain misconceptions on the subject.

THOSE WHO SPOKE IN MIRACULOUS TONGUES

1.  On Pentecost Day. The Holy Spirit came upon the twelve apostles in a baptismal measure on the day of Pentecost. These men had been told to wait in Jerusalem for the promised power after the Lord's ascension; and in Acts 2:4 we read, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

2.  Cornelius and his household. Cornelius was a great and devout man who feared God (Acts 10: 1, 2), but was not saved (Acts 11:14). Peter was sent to guide him and his household unto salvation. There, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they spoke with tongues and magnified God (Acts 10:44-48).

3.  At Ephesus. At Ephesus, Paul met and preached to certain men who had been baptized with John's baptism. Upon hearing Paul's message about Christ "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6).

4.  The Church at Corinth. The miraculous gift of tongues was also given to certain members of the church at Corinth. I Corinthians 12:8-10 contain list of nine spiritual gifts which were given to some Corinthian Christians for edification.  Tongue speaking is mentioned as one of the gifts. Not every Christian had all nine gifts (I Corinthians 12:30).  

PURPOSE OF GIFT OF TONGUES:

1. Miraculous tongues were a sign to unbelievers. Jesus had promised His apostles that signs would go with those who believe (Mk 16:17). The gift of tongues, as well as other miraculous abilities, were therefore ‘signs’ designed to convince unbelievers of the heavenly origin of Christianity. Read Acts 2: 1-11, 37-41.

2. Miraculous tongues were for individual edification when no interpreter was present. Paul wrote, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church” (1 Cor. 14:4). If there was no interpreter when one spoke in tongues, then only the one who spoke was edified. However, if an interpreter was present, then the speaking in tongues could edify the entire congregation through speaking or teaching the word of God.

3. Miraculous tongues were given for evangelism. Not only were the assemblies of the early churches composed of those who spoke many languages, the early evangelists were commissioned to go to every ethnic group of the world (Mt 28:19-20); hence, the gift of tongues helped to promote evangelism. In 1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul said, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” Paul was gifted by the Holy Spirit to speak in many languages.

TONGUES SPEAKING TODAY

1)   There is no Holy Spirit baptism available today. The apostles and household of Cornelius were the only ones given this gift of tongues directly from heaven in baptismal measure. These were special cases and for special reasons, and were never promised or intended for all men in all ages. The apostle Paul says, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Read Matthew 28:18-20.

2)   Apostles are no longer available to lay hands on people and impart this special gift. Apart from the apostles and Cornelius’ household, others received miraculous gifts only through the laying on of the apostles' hands. Philip was a spirit-filled evangelist who could work miracles. In Samaria, because Philip was not an apostle he waited for Peter and John to come and lay hands on the new converts (Acts 8:14-19).

3)   Miraculous gifts were to cease when that which is perfect has come. Paul clearly taught that all the nine spiritual gifts would be done away when "that which is perfect has come" (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

4)   Miraculous Tongues have already served their purpose in God’s plan. Spiritual gifts, including tongues speaking, were helping hands to an infant church. They were the special divine help that God gave to the first century Christians as they learned to walk and grow.

CONCLUSION: It is important to understand why God worked through this gift in order to understand why the gift passed away. When the purposes for all the miraculous gifts were accomplished, there was no more need for their use. And thus, the Holy Spirit ceased to work in the church through these gifts. So, the gift of speaking in tongues is not available to Christians today.

 OKPAN CLEOPAS (MINISTER)