Reference: Tongues, Gift Of
Easton
granted on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mr 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have argued that it was merely an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. But the words of Luke (Ac 2:9) clearly show that the various peoples in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost did really hear themselves addressed in their own special language with which they were naturally acquainted (comp. Joe 2:28-29).
Among the gifts of the Spirit the apostle enumerates in 1Co 12:10-14:30, "divers kinds of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues." This "gift" was a different manifestation of the Spirit from that on Pentecost, although it resembled it in many particulars. Tongues were to be "a sign to them that believe not."
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And the following signs will attend those who believe: By using my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign languages;
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things.
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia,
to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them. But the one and same Spirit accomplishes all these achievements, and apportions power to each of us as He chooses. read more. For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit all of us, Jews or Greeks, slaves or freemen, have been baptized into one body, and were all imbued with one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one part but of many.
Fausets
Mr 16:17; 1/type/williams'>Ac 2:1-13; 10/46/type/williams'>10:46; 19/6/type/williams'>19:6,1 Corinthians 12,14. The Alexandrinus manuscript confirms Mr 16:9-20; The Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts, omit it; "they shall speak with "new" ("not known before", kainais) tongues"; this promise is not restricted to apostles; "these signs shall follow them that believe." a proof to the unbelieving that believers were under a higher power than mere enthusiasm or imagination. The "rushing mighty wind" on Pentecost is paralleled in Eze 1:24; 37:1-14; 43:2; Ge 1:2; 1Ki 19:11; 2Ch 5:14; Ps 104:3-4. The "tongues like as of fire" in the establishing of the New Testament church answer to Ex 19:18, at the giving of the Old Testament law on Sinai, and Eze 1:4 "a fire enfolding itself"; compare Jer 23:29; Lu 24:32.
They were "cloven" (diamerizomenai), rather distributed to them severally. The disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit"; as John the Baptist and our Lord (Lu 1:15; 4:1). "They began to speak with "other" (heterais, different from their ordinary) tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Then "the multitude were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language; and they marveled saying, Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? and how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born, the wonderful works of God?" This proves that as Babel brought as its penalty the confusion of tongues, so the Pentecostal gift of tongues symbolizes the reunion of the scattered nations. Still praise, not teaching, was the invariable use made of the gift. The places where tongues were exercised were just where there was least need of preaching in foreign tongues (1/type/williams'>Ac 2:1-4; 10/46/type/williams'>10:46; 19/6/type/williams'>19:6,1 Corinthians 14).
Tongues were not at their command whenever they pleased to teach those of different languages. The gift came, like prophesying, only in God's way and time (Ac 2:1-18; 10:46; 19:6). No express mention is made of any apostle or evangelist preaching in any tongue save Greek or Hebrew (Aramaic). Probably Paul did so in Lycaonia (Ac 14:11,15; he says (1Co 14:18) "I speak with tongues (the Vaticanus manuscript, but the Sinaiticus and the Alexandrinus manuscripts 'with a tongue') more than ye all." Throughout his long notice of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 he never alludes to their use for making one's self intelligible to foreigners. This would have been the natural use for him to have urged their possessors to put them to, instead of interrupting church worship at home by their unmeaning display.
Papias (in Eusebius, H. E. iii. 30) says Mark accompanied Peter as an "interpreter," i.e. to express in appropriate language Peter's thought, so that the gift of tongues cannot have been in Papias' view a continuous gift with that apostle. Aramaic Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (the three languages over the cross) were the general media of converse throughout the civilised world, owing to Alexander's empire first, then the Roman. The epistles are all in Greek, not only to Corinth, but to Thessalonica, Philippi, Rome. Ephesus, and Colosse. The term used of "tongues" (apofthengesthai, not only lalein) implies a solemn utterance as of prophets or inspired musicians (Septuagint 1Ch 25:1; Eze 13:9). In the first instance (Acts 2) the tongues were used in doxology; but when teaching followed it was in ordinary language, understood by the Jews, that Peter spoke.
Those who spoke with tongues seemed to beholders as if "full of new wide," namely, excited and enthusiastic (Ac 2:13,15-18), in a state raised out of themselves. Hence, Paul contrasts the being "drunk with wine" with being "filled with the Spirit, speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Eph 5:18-19). The ecstatic songs of praise in the Old Testament, poured out by the prophets and their disciples, and the inspired musicians of the sanctuary, correspond (1Sa 10:5-13; 19:20-24; 1Ch 25:3). In 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14 tongues are placed lowest in the scale of gifts (1Co 12:31; 14:5). Their three characteristics were:
(1) all ecstatic state of comparative rapt unconsciousness, the will being acted on by a power from above;
(2) words uttered, often unintelligible;
(3) languages spoken which ordinarily the speaker could not speak.
They, like prophesyings, were under control of their possessors (1Co 14:32), and needed to be kept in due order, else confusion in church meetings would ensue (1Co 14:23,39). The tongues, as evidencing a divine power raising them above themselves, were valued by Paul; but they suited the childhood (1Co 14:20; 13:11), as prophesying or inspired preaching the manhood, of the Christian life. The possessor of the tongue "spoke mysteries," praying, blessing, and giving thanks, but no one understood him; the "spirit" (pneuma) but not "understanding" (nous) was active (1Co 14:14-19). Yet he might edify himself (1Co 14:4) with a tongue which to bystanders seemed a madman's ravings, but to himself was the expression of ecstatic adoration. "Five words" spoken "with the understanding" so as to "teach others" are preferable to "ten thousand in an unknown tongue."
In Isa 28:9-12 God virtually says of Israel, "this people hear Me not though I speak to them in their familiar tongue, I will therefore speak to them in other tongues, namely, that of the foes whom I will send against them, yet even then they will not hearken to Me." Paul thus applies it: ye see it is a penalty to encouuter men of a strange tongue, yet this you impose on the church by abusing instead of using the tongue intelligibly. Speakers in foreign tongues speak like "children weaned from the milk, with stammering lips," ridiculous because unintelligible to the hearers (Isa 28:14), or like babbling drunkards (Ac 2:13), or madmen (1Co 14:20-23).
Thus, Isaiah (Isa 28:9-14) shows that "tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." Tongues either awaken to spiritual attention the unconverted or, if despised, condemn (compare "sign" in a condemnatory sense, Eze 4:3-4; Mt 12:39-42), those who, like Israel, reject the sign and the accompanying message; compare Ac 2:8,13; 1Co 14:22; "yet, for all that will they not hear Me," even such miraculous signs fail to arouse them; therefore since they will not understand they shall not understand. "Tongues of men" and "divers kinds of tongues" (1Co 12:10,28; 13:1) imply diversity, which applies certainly to languages, and includes also the kind of tongues which was a spiritual language unknown to man, uttered in ecstasy (1Co 14:2). It was only by "interpreting" that the "understanding" accompanied the tongues.
He who spoke (praying) in a tongue should pray that he might (be able to) interpret for edification of the church (1Co 14:13,26-27). Hebrew and Aramaic words spoken in the spirit or quoted from the Old Testament often produced a more solemn effect upon Greeks than the corresponding Greek terms; Compare 1Co 16:22, Maranatha, 1Co 12:3; Lord of sabaoth, Jas 5:4; Abba, the adoption cry, Ro 8:15; Ga 4:6; Alleluia, Re 19:1,6; Hosannah, Mt 21:9,15. "Tongues of angels" (1Co 13:1) are such as Daniel and John in Revelation heard; and Paul, when caught up to paradise (2Co 12:4).
An intonation in speaking with tongues is implied in Paul's comparison to the tones of the harp and pipe, which however he insists have distinction of sounds, and therefore so ought possessors of tongues to speak intelligibly by interpreting their sense afterward, or after awakening spiritual attention by the mysterious tongue they ought then to follow with "revelation, knowledge, prophesying or doctrine" (1Co 14:6-11); otherwise the speaker with a tongue will be "a barbarian," i.e. a foreigner in language to the hearer. A musical tone would also be likely in uttering hymns and doxologies, which were the subject matter of the utterance by tongues (Ac 2:11). The "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Ro 8:26) and the "melody in the heart" (Eph 5:19) show us how even inarticulate speech like the tongues may edify, though less edifying than articulate and intelligible prophesying or preaching.
Either the speaker with a tongue or a listener might have the gift of interpreting, so he might bring forth deep truths from the seemingly inc
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But He answered, "Only a wicked and treacherous age is hankering for a spectacular sign, and no sign will be given it but the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the whale's stomach for three days and nights, the Son of Man will be three days and nights in the heart of the earth. read more. The men of Nineveh will rise with the leaders of this age at the judgment and condemn them, for they turned to the message preached by Jonah, and there is more than Jonah here! The queen of the south will rise with the leaders of this age at the judgment and condemn them, for she came from the farthest limits of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and there is more than Solomon here!
And the crowds that went in front of Him and followed Him shouted: "Welcome the Son of David! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord; Welcome Him from on high!"
But because the high priests and scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple, "Welcome the Son of David," they were indignant
Now after He had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary of Magdala, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went out and told it to His disciples, while they were mourning and weeping. read more. But although they had heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this He showed Himself in a different form to two of them as they were walking along, on their way into the country. Then they went back and told the rest, but they would not believe them either. Later on He appeared to the Eleven themselves while they were at table, and reproved them for their lack of faith and their stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had been raised from the dead. Then He said to them, "You must go all over the world and preach the good news to all the creation. He who believes it and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe it will be condemned. And the following signs will attend those who believe: By using my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign languages;
And the following signs will attend those who believe: By using my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign languages; they will take snakes in their hands; even if they drink anything poisonous, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well." read more. So the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was caught up into heaven and took His seat at God's right hand. Then they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept on working with them and confirming their message by the signs that attended it.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must drink no wine nor strong drink, and so he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth.
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and for forty days He was led about in the desert under the Spirit's guidance,
Then they said to each other, "Did not our hearts keep burning in our bosoms as He was talking to us on the road, as He went on explaining the Scriptures to us?"
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind,
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind,
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting,
when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting,
when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them,
And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them,
And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things.
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things.
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things. Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem.
Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem. And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue?
So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue?
So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia,
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia, of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes,
of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God."
Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God."
Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God." And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?"
And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?" But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine." Then Peter stood with the Eleven around him, and raising his voice he addressed them, "Men of Judea and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you, and give close attention to my words. read more. These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'It will occur in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will have visions. Your old men will have dreams.
'It will occur in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will have visions. Your old men will have dreams. Even on my slaves, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will become prophets.
Even on my slaves, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will become prophets.
for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked,
for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked,
for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked,
So the crowds, because they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods in human form have come down to us!"
and shouted, "Men, why are you doing this? We are merely men with natures like your own, who are telling you the good news, so that you may turn from these foolish things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that they contain.
It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul, by passing through the inland districts, came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there
It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul, by passing through the inland districts, came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there
and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in foreign tongues and to prophesy.
and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in foreign tongues and to prophesy.
and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in foreign tongues and to prophesy.
For you do not have a sense of servitude to fill you with dread again, but the consciousness of adopted sons by which we cry, "Abba," that is, "Father."
In the same way the Spirit, too, is helping us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself pleads for us with unspeakable yearnings,
So I want to inform you that no one speaking under the power of the Spirit of God can say, "Jesus is accursed!" and no one except one under the power of the Holy Spirit can really say, "Jesus is Lord!"
So I want to inform you that no one speaking under the power of the Spirit of God can say, "Jesus is accursed!" and no one except one under the power of the Holy Spirit can really say, "Jesus is Lord!"
to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers.
But you must earnestly continue to cultivate your higher spiritual gifts. And yet I will show you a way that is better by far:
If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal.
If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal.
Love never fails; if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if now exist ecstatic speakings, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will soon be set aside;
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I laid aside my childish ways.
For whoever speaks in ecstasy is speaking not to men but to God, for no one understands him, and yet by the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.
Whoever speaks in ecstasy builds up himself alone, but whoever prophesies builds up the congregation too. I would like for all of you to speak in ecstasy, but I would rather that you prophesy. The man who speaks with real prophetic insight renders greater service than the man who speaks in ecstasy, unless the latter explains it, so the congregation may receive an uplift. read more. But as it now is, brothers, if I do come back to you speaking in ecstasy, what good shall I do you, unless my speech contains a revelation or new knowledge or a prophetic message or some teaching? Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may give out sounds, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can the tune that is played on the flute or the harp be told?
Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may give out sounds, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can the tune that is played on the flute or the harp be told? Again, indeed, if the bugle does not sound a call distinct and clear, who will prepare for battle? read more. So it is with you; unless in your ecstatic speaking you speak a message that is clearly intelligible, how can the message spoken by you be understood? You might just as well be talking to the air! There are, supposedly, ever so many languages in the world, and not one is without its own meaning. So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I should be a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he would be a foreigner to me.
So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I should be a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he would be a foreigner to me.
Therefore, the man who speaks in ecstasy must pray for power to explain what he says.
Therefore, the man who speaks in ecstasy must pray for power to explain what he says. For if I pray in ecstasy, my spirit is praying, but my mind produces no results for anyone. read more. What is my conclusion then? I will certainly pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind in action too. I will certainly sing with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind in action too. For if you give thanks with your spirit only, how is the man who occupies the place of the illiterate to say "Amen" to your thanksgiving? For he does not know what you are saying. You are, indeed, doing right to give thanks, but your neighbor is not built up. Thank God, I speak in ecstasy more than any of you.
Thank God, I speak in ecstasy more than any of you. But in the public congregation I would rather speak five words with my mind in action, in order to instruct the people too, than ten thousand words in ecstasy. read more. Brothers, stop being children in intelligence, but as to evil keep on being babies; and yet as to intelligence be men of maturity.
Brothers, stop being children in intelligence, but as to evil keep on being babies; and yet as to intelligence be men of maturity. In the law it is written, "By men of foreign languages and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." read more. So speaking in ecstasy is meant as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers but for believers. Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?
Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?
Then what is our conclusion, brothers? When you meet together, everybody has a song, something to teach, a revelation, an ecstatic utterance, or an explanation of one. It must all be for the upbuilding of all. If anybody speaks in ecstasy, there must be only two, or three at most, and let one speak at a time, and someone explain what he says.
If anybody speaks in ecstasy, there must be only two, or three at most, and let one speak at a time, and someone explain what he says.
for the spirits of prophets yield to prophets;
So, my brothers, cultivate the gift of prophetic speaking, but stop preventing others from speaking in ecstasy.
A curse upon anyone who does not love the Lord! Our Lord is coming.
was actually caught up into paradise, and heard things that must not be told, which no man has a right even to mention.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba," that is, "Father."
Stop getting drunk on wine, for that means profligacy, but ever be filled with the Spirit, and always be speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Keep on praying and praising the Lord with all your heart;
and always be speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Keep on praying and praising the Lord with all your heart;
See, the wages that you have kept back from the laborers who reaped your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
After this I heard something like the loud shout of a great multitude in heaven, saying: "Praise the Lord! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
Then I heard something like the shout of a great multitude and the roar of many waters and the peal of mighty thunders, saying: "Praise the Lord! For the Lord, our Almighty God, has now begun to reign!
Hastings
TONGUES, GIFT OF
1. In NT we read of 'speaking with tongues' or 'in a tongue' as a remarkable sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; but the exact meaning of the phenomenon described has been much disputed. We may take the passages in the chronological order of writing.
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A few minutes afterward the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "You are surely one of them, too, for your accent gives you away."
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things.
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia,
Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God."
But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
Then they laid their hands upon them, and one by one they received the Holy Spirit.
for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked,
When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as He did upon us at the beginning,
So the crowds, because they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods in human form have come down to us!"
But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, when they heard it, tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd,
This girl kept following Paul and the rest of us, shrieking, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, and they are proclaiming to you a way of salvation."
He went to the synagogue there and for three months courageously spoke, keeping up his discussions and continuing to persuade them about the kingdom of God.
For you do not have a sense of servitude to fill you with dread again, but the consciousness of adopted sons by which we cry, "Abba," that is, "Father."
In the same way the Spirit, too, is helping us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself pleads for us with unspeakable yearnings,
to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them.
Not all are people with power to cure the sick, are they? Not all are ecstatic speakers, are they? Not all can explain ecstatic speaking, can they?
Love never fails; if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if now exist ecstatic speakings, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will soon be set aside;
For if I pray in ecstasy, my spirit is praying, but my mind produces no results for anyone.
Thank God, I speak in ecstasy more than any of you.
Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?
Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?
Everything must always be done in a proper and orderly way.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba," that is, "Father."
and always be speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Keep on praying and praising the Lord with all your heart;
Morish
This gift was in the early church, and was a sign 'to them that believed not,' in fulfilment of Isa 28:11-12: cf. 1Co 14:21. The gift was exhibited in a special way on the day of Pentecost, when people of many lands heard the wonderful things of God each in his own language. In the assembly these gifts were not to be exercised unless there was present an interpreter, that the saints might be edified. Paul thanked God that he spake with tongues more than all at Corinth; but in the assembly he would rather speak five words through his understanding, that he might teach others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1Co 12:10,8/type/williams'>28,30; 13:1,8; 14:2-39.
The expression 'unknown tongue' is unhappy, because it has led some to think that the gift of tongues consisted of a sort of unintelligible gibberish. The word 'unknown' has been added in the A.V., where it should read simply 'tongue.' At Pentecost it was shown that the gift of 'tongues' was in a person speaking a language which he had never learnt, but which was at once understood by those who knew it.
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to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers.
Not all are people with power to cure the sick, are they? Not all are ecstatic speakers, are they? Not all can explain ecstatic speaking, can they?
If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal.
Love never fails; if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if now exist ecstatic speakings, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will soon be set aside;
For whoever speaks in ecstasy is speaking not to men but to God, for no one understands him, and yet by the Spirit he is speaking secret truths. But whoever prophesies is speaking to men for their upbuilding. encouragement, and comfort. read more. Whoever speaks in ecstasy builds up himself alone, but whoever prophesies builds up the congregation too. I would like for all of you to speak in ecstasy, but I would rather that you prophesy. The man who speaks with real prophetic insight renders greater service than the man who speaks in ecstasy, unless the latter explains it, so the congregation may receive an uplift. But as it now is, brothers, if I do come back to you speaking in ecstasy, what good shall I do you, unless my speech contains a revelation or new knowledge or a prophetic message or some teaching? Even inanimate things, like the flute or the harp, may give out sounds, but if there is no difference in the notes, how can the tune that is played on the flute or the harp be told? Again, indeed, if the bugle does not sound a call distinct and clear, who will prepare for battle? So it is with you; unless in your ecstatic speaking you speak a message that is clearly intelligible, how can the message spoken by you be understood? You might just as well be talking to the air! There are, supposedly, ever so many languages in the world, and not one is without its own meaning. So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I should be a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he would be a foreigner to me. So, as you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, you must keep trying to excel for the upbuilding of the church. Therefore, the man who speaks in ecstasy must pray for power to explain what he says. For if I pray in ecstasy, my spirit is praying, but my mind produces no results for anyone. What is my conclusion then? I will certainly pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind in action too. I will certainly sing with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind in action too. For if you give thanks with your spirit only, how is the man who occupies the place of the illiterate to say "Amen" to your thanksgiving? For he does not know what you are saying. You are, indeed, doing right to give thanks, but your neighbor is not built up. Thank God, I speak in ecstasy more than any of you. But in the public congregation I would rather speak five words with my mind in action, in order to instruct the people too, than ten thousand words in ecstasy. Brothers, stop being children in intelligence, but as to evil keep on being babies; and yet as to intelligence be men of maturity. In the law it is written, "By men of foreign languages and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
In the law it is written, "By men of foreign languages and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." So speaking in ecstasy is meant as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers but for believers. read more. Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy? But if everybody prophesies, and some unbeliever or illiterate man comes in, he is convinced of his sins by all, he is closely questioned by all, the secrets of his heart are laid bare, he falls upon his face and worships God, declaring, "God is really among you." Then what is our conclusion, brothers? When you meet together, everybody has a song, something to teach, a revelation, an ecstatic utterance, or an explanation of one. It must all be for the upbuilding of all. If anybody speaks in ecstasy, there must be only two, or three at most, and let one speak at a time, and someone explain what he says. But if there is no one to explain it, let him keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God alone. Let two or three prophets speak, and the rest consider carefully what is said; and if anything is revealed to another who is seated, let the speaker stop. For in this way you can all, one after another, speak your prophetic message, so that all may learn and be encouraged, for the spirits of prophets yield to prophets; for God is not a God of disorder but of order, as it is in all the churches of God's people. Women must keep quiet in the churches, for no permission is given them to speak. On the contrary, they must take a subordinate place, just as the law says. If they want to find out about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. Did the message of God begin with you Corinthians? Or, are you the only people it has reached? If anyone claims to have the prophetic spirit, or any other spiritual gift, let him recognize that what I now am writing is the Lord's command. If anyone ignores it, let him ignore it. So, my brothers, cultivate the gift of prophetic speaking, but stop preventing others from speaking in ecstasy.
Smith
Tongues, Gift of.
I. glotta, or glossa, the word employed throughout the New Testament for the gift now under consideration, is used-- (1) for the bodily organ of speech; (2) for a foreign word imported and half-naturalized in Greek; (3) in Hellenistic Greek, for "speech" or "language." The received traditional view, which starts from the third meaning, and sees in the gift of tongues a distinctly linguistic power, is the more correct one. II. The chief passages from which we have to draw our conclusion as to the nature and purpose of the gift in question are-- 1.
2
3
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... III. The promise of a new power coming from the divine Spirit, giving not only comfort and insight into truth, but fresh powers of utterance of some kind, appears once and again in our Lord's teaching. The disciples are to take no thought what they shall speak, for the spirit of their Father shall speak in them.
The lips of Galilean peasants are to speak freely and boldly before kings. The promise of our Lord to his disciples, "They shall speak with new tongues,"
was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when cloven tongues like fire sat upon the disciples, and "every man heard them speak in his own language."
IV. The wonder of the day of Pentecost is, in its broad features, familiar enough to us. What views have men actually taken of a phenomenon so marvellous and exceptional? The prevalent belief of the Church has been that in the Pentecostal gift the disciples received a supernatural knowledge of all such languages as they needed for their work as evangelists. The knowledge was permanent. Widely diffused as this belief has been it must be remembered that it goes beyond the data with which the New Testament supplies us. Such instance of the gift recorded in the Acts connects it not with the work of teaching, but with that of praise and adoration; not with the normal order of men's lives but with exceptional epochs in them. The speech of St. Peter which follows, like meet other speeches addressed to a Jerusalem audience, was spoken apparently in Aramaic. When St. Paul, who "spake with tongues more than all," was at Lystra, there is no mention made of his using the language of Lycaonia. It is almost implied that he did not understand it.
Not one word in the discussion of spiritual gifts in 1Cor 12-14 implies that the gift was of this nature, or given for this purpose. Nor, it may be added, within the limits assigned the providence of God to the working of the apostolic Church,was such a gift necessary. Aramaic, Greek, Latin, the three languages of the inscription on the cross were media, of intercourse throughout the empire. Some interpreters have seen their way to another solution of the difficulty by changing the character of the miracle. It lay not in any new character bestowed on the speakers, but in the impression produced on the hearers. Words which the Galilean disciples uttered in their own tongue were heard as in their native speech by those who listened. There are, it is believed, weighty reasons against both the earlier and later forms of this hypothesis.
1. It is at variance with the distinct statement of
They began to speak with other tongues.
2. It at once multiplies the miracle and degrades its character. Not the 120 disciples, but the whole multitude of many thousands, are in this case the subjects of it.
3. It involves an element of falsehood. The miracle, on this view, was wrought to make men believe what was not actually the fact.
4. It is altogether inapplicable to the phenomena of
... Critics of a negative school have, as might be expected, adopted the easier course of rejecting the narrative either altogether or in part. What then, are, the facts actually brought before us? What inferences may be legitimately drawn from them? (a) The utterance of words by the disciples, in other languages than their own Galilean Aramaic, is distinctly asserted. (b) The words spoken appear to have been determined, not by the will of the speakers, but by the Spirit which "gave them utterance." (c) The word used, apoftheggesthai, has in the LXX. a special association with the oracular speech of true or false prophets, and appears to imply a peculiar, perhaps physical, solemn intonation. Comp.
(d) The "tongues" were used as an instrument not of teaching, but of praise. (e) Those who spoke them seemed to others to be under the influence of some strong excitement, "full of new wine." (f) Questions as to the mode of operation of a power above the common laws of bodily or mental life lead us to a region where our words should be "wary and few." It must be remembered then, that in all likelihood such words as they then uttered had been heard by the disciples before. The difference was that before the Galilean peasants had stood in that crowd neither heeding nor understanding nor remembering what they heard, still less able to reproduce it; now they had the power of speaking it clearly and freely. The divine work would in this case take the form of a supernatural exaltation of the memory, not of imparting a miraculous knowledge of words never heard before. (g) The gift of tongues, the ecstatic burst of praise, is definitely asserted to be a fulfillment of the prediction of
We are led, therefore, to look for that which answers to the gift of tongues in the other element of prophecy which is included in the Old Testament use of the word; and this is found in the ecstatic praise, the burst of sang.
1Sa 10:5-13; 19:20-24; 1Ch 25:3
(h) The other instances in the Acts offer essentially the same phenomena. By implication in ch.
by express statement in ch.
it belongs to special critical epochs. V. The First Epistle to the Corinthians supplies fuller data. The spiritual gifts are classified and compared arranged, apparently, according to their worth. The facts which may be gathered are briefly these:
1. The phenomena of the gift of tongues were not confined to one church or section of a church.
2. The comparison of gifts, in both the lists given by St. Paul --
places that of tongues and the interpretation of tongues lowest in the scale.
3. The main characteristic of the "tongue" is that it is unintelligible. The man "speaks mysteries," prays, blesses, gives thanks, in the tongue,
but no one understands him.
4. The peculiar nature of the gift leads the apostle into what at first appears a contradiction. "Tongues are for a sign," not to believers, but to those who do not believe; yet the effect on unbelievers is not that of attracting, but of repelling. They involve of necessity a disturbance of the equilibrium between the understanding and the feeling. Therefore it is that, for those who believe already, prophecy is the greater gift.
5. The "tongues," however, must be regarded as real languages. The "divers kinds of tongues."
the "tongues of men,"
point to differences of some kind and it is easier to conceive of these as differences of language than as belonging to utterances all equally mild and inarticulate.
6. Connected with the "tongues" there was the corresponding power of interpretation. VI.
1. Traces of the gift are found in the Epistles to the Romans, the Galatians, the Ephesians. From the Pastoral Epistles, from those of St. Peter and St. John, they are altogether absent, and this is in itself significant.
2. It is probable, however, that the disappearance of the "tongues" was gradual. There must have been a time when "tongues" were still heard, though less frequently and with less striking results. For the most part, however, the pierce which they had filled in the worship of the Church was supplied by the "hymns and spiritual songs" of the succeeding age, after this, within the Church we lose nearly all traces of them. The gift of the day of Pentecost belonged to a critical epoch, not to the continuous life of the Church. It implied a disturbance of the equilibrium of man's normal state but it was not the instrument for building up t
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But when they turn you over to the courts, you must not worry at all about how or what you ought to speak, for it will be given you at that hour what you ought to speak. For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father that is speaking through you.
Now when they take you to court for trial, do not be worrying beforehand about what you should say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you that will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
And the following signs will attend those who believe: By using my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign languages;
And the following signs will attend those who believe: By using my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign languages;
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind,
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting,
when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them,
And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things.
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things. Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem.
Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem. And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue?
So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia,
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia, of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes,
of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God."
Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God." And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?"
And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?" But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine."
for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked, "No one can refuse the use of water, can he, for these to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did ourselves?"
When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as He did upon us at the beginning,
So if God had given them the same gift that He gave us when we believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to try -- and how could I if I tried -- to thwart God?"
he shouted aloud to him, "Get on your feet and stand erect!" Then up he leaped and began to walk. So the crowds, because they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods in human form have come down to us!"
So the crowds, because they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods in human form have come down to us!" They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul, because he was the principal speaker, Hermes. read more. The priest of the temple of Zeus, which stood at the entrance to the town, came with crowds of people to the gates, bringing bulls and garlands; he meant to offer sacrifices to them. But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, when they heard it, tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, and shouted, "Men, why are you doing this? We are merely men with natures like your own, who are telling you the good news, so that you may turn from these foolish things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that they contain. In ages past He let all the heathen go on in their own ways;
and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in foreign tongues and to prophesy.
To one, wise speech is given by the Spirit; to another, by the same Spirit, intelligent speech is given; to another, through union with the same Spirit, faith; to another, by one and the same Spirit, power to cure the sick; read more. to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all are wonder-workers, are they? read more. Not all are people with power to cure the sick, are they? Not all are ecstatic speakers, are they? Not all can explain ecstatic speaking, can they?
If I could speak the languages of men, of angels too, and have no love, I am only a rattling pan or a clashing cymbal.
Keep on pursuing love, but still keep cultivating your spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophesying.
What is my conclusion then? I will certainly pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind in action too. I will certainly sing with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind in action too. For if you give thanks with your spirit only, how is the man who occupies the place of the illiterate to say "Amen" to your thanksgiving? For he does not know what you are saying.