SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Part Eleven

The Sign Gifts – Part C

Speaking in Tongues – Part B

By Michael K. Farrar

God’s Breath Publications

 

1 Corinthians 12:28-29

“And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

 

In this segment of this series I will continue discussing the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. The spiritual gift of “speaking in tongues” seems to be a spiritual topic that is very much discussed and emphasized among many Christians, but in contrast to this it is rarely spoken of in scripture when you consider the amount of doctrinal information in the 27 books of the New Testament. Ray Stedman, former pastor of Peninsula Bible Church and Christian author, remarks about this fact by stating the following,

 

“Now if we come to this subject of tongues on this basis, we find that, first of all, there is relatively little said in Scripture about tongues. Compared with the tremendous amount of words that are being poured out today about this subject of tongues, it becomes very obvious that this is very much out of proportion. It is quite obvious from that fact alone that it has been blown up to an unwarranted degree and has been treated far more exhaustively than it deserves. For instance, there is no mention of tongues at all in the four Gospels, except in one disputed passage at the end of Mark. Most of the ancient authorities leave out the closing verses of Mark, so it is questionable whether they were really a part of the original document. Now that is remarkable, isn’t it? In those four Gospels we have the seed plot of every important doctrine of the New Testament, but we have no mention of tongues, except in a strongly disputed passage. Furthermore, in all the Epistles of the New Testament, in only one letter is the subject of tongues even mentioned at all. In all the other letters of Paul, Peter, and John, there is no mention of tongues — not even a passing reference. But in one letter, where they had a problem in the church over this matter, you find the only treatment in the writings of the apostles on this subject — the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Now, I think that is putting this subject in its proper perspective. Tongues is not by any means the important element in the Christian experience that it sometimes is made to appear.”

 

The spiritual gift of speaking in tongues is discussed most in the book of 1 Corinthians by the Apostle Paul because it was being misused by many in the congregation at Corinth. While the Corinthian followers of Christ had all the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7) they were not expressing them as God intended them to be used for the edification of the body. This problem was caused by the Corinthian church allowing their past experiences and involvement in mystery pagan religions to influence their Christian lifestyle and worship. As followers of Christ they continued to be influenced by the pagans living near them and the wicked culture of Corinth. They even allowed pagans to participate in their worship services also allowing the preaching of false doctrine (2 Corinthians 11:4). The main problem with the church in Corinth was that many if not most of the followers of Christ had not discarded their former pagan lifestyle and were continuing to blend pagan thoughts and actions with their Christian commitment to Christ.

 

Doug Goins of Peninsula Bible Church states the following concerning the spiritual and behavior issues of the Corinthian Christians;

 

“Remember some of the besetting sins that this community struggled with: divisiveness, intellectual arrogance, competitiveness. The Corinthians Christians weren’t building one another up through their gifts. Some believers there thought they had every spiritual gift, and they looked down on people whom they thought were less gifted. Some gloried in the gifts of leadership, and they were trying to use those gifts for personal advantage, influence and control of people. Spiritual gifting is not necessarily a mark of Christian character or spiritual maturity. These Corinthian Christians viewed their spiritual gifts as immature children would, selfishly playing with toys, not as mature adults who were selflessly using the spiritual tools that God had given them to serve one another…Gifts are to be exercised in the context of agape love. God’s Word is both consistent and insistent on the way spiritual gifts are to be expressed…In chapter 13 (of 1 Corinthians) Paul is dealing with the problem of lovelessness in the Corinthian church. They struggled with the abuse of spiritual gifts, division in the church, envy of other people’s gifts, selfishness (remember the lawsuits they were bringing against each other as brothers and sisters), impatience with one another at public meetings, and disgraceful behavior that dishonored the Lord Himself when they came to celebrate communion…the only way spiritual gifts can be expressed creatively, effectively, and joyfully is when Christians are motivated by love.”

 

Following is a list of corrupt spiritual behaviors that were present in the Corinthian church and which were influencing their walk with Christ as well as their worship and their expression of spiritual gifts.

 

Divisions (1:10-11), Human wisdom (1:18-25), Human personality cliques (1:12-17), Carnality (3:1-9), Sexual perversion, fornication and incest (5:1-8; 6:12-20), Worldliness (5:9-13), Lawsuits (6:1-8), Rebellion against apostolic authority (4:1-21), Marital conflict (7:1-40), Unmarried conflicts (7:1-40), Abuse of liberty (8:1-13; 10:23-33), Idolatry (8:4-13; 10:1-22), Pride (8:1-3; 10:12), Selfishness (11:17-22), Demon worship (10:19-22), Insubordination of women (11:2-16), Abuses of God’s intended roles for men and women (11:2-16), Abuses of the Lord’s Supper and love feast (11:17-34), Abuses and perversions of spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40).

 

This extensive list of dysfunctional Christian behavior demonstrates that we must be careful how we read, interpret and apply what we learn in the Corinthian letters. These were NOT mature, Spirit-filled, fruit-of-the Spirit bearing Believers. While they had all the spiritual gifts, they were not manifesting the fruit of the Spirit and therefore were not, as a congregation, walking according to the teachings of Christ, nor keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.

 

Some followers of Christ use scripture verses from the letters Paul wrote to the Corinthians to establish their doctrine concerning spiritual gifts without using discerning hermeneutics (proper interpretation of scripture) and precise exegesis (critical explanation of Bible text). Such actions can taint or influence the accurate expression of spiritual gifts and distort the true purpose for which spiritual gifts are given, which is the edification of the body, not oneself.

 

In the Church at Corinth, Christians thought that the spiritual gift of “speaking in tongues” was an indication of a mark of higher spirituality. Spiritual pride was rampant among many in the Corinthian church and early in Paul’s first letter he addresses this issue. The following scripture passage confronts the Corinthian believers with their religious pride. Here he attempts to state that their spiritual boasting goes against the humility and humbleness to which all Christians are called.

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

 

So we should be careful we do not look upon the Corinthian church as an accurate and godly model to pattern our spiritual lifestyle after, nor as our example for how we express the spiritual gifts that God has given us. While the Corinthian congregation had all the spiritual gifts, they were carnal in their spiritual lifestyle and practice (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

In chapter 12 we see Paul attempt to explain the balance that needs to be present in a Christian church regarding spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 he speaks of their former way of life in pagan religions and indicates that there are some people in the church at Corinth who are going so far as to say such words as “Jesus is accursed.” In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 he covers the fact that there are numerous spiritual gifts given by our triune God, Father, Son and Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:12- 26 he compares the local church at Corinth to a human body. His analogy is very descriptive. Any one body part; eye, hand, foot, etc. cannot function without the whole body being interactive with it. All the parts of the human body, like all the people making up the local church body are interdependent on each other. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Paul continues by stating that various gifts are given by God to serve the body, but not everyone will have the same gift or gifts. The Corinthians were placing the more showy or dramatic gifts such as “speaking in tongues” as a sign of super-spirituality. Because of selfish peer pressure some of the followers of Christ in Corinth were seeking spiritual gifts for self edification, such as speaking in tongues, which was never condoned or intended by God.

 

Chapter 13 covers the foundation upon which the spiritual gifts should be manifested and that they should always be expressed in love for the edification of others and not for self-edification or for selfish purposes. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:1;

 

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

 

Sometimes Christians use this first verse of 1 Corinthians 13 to state that their personal prayer language is a heavenly language or the language of angels. Paul is trying to demonstrate here how important love is in the expression of any spiritual gift. Because the Corinthians were elevating “speaking in tongues” as the ultimate gift, he was attempting to bring them back into balance by saying love is the most important element of expressing any spiritual gift within the Body of Christ. Below are several quotes from Christian authors and pastors regarding this portion of scripture.

 

“That the apostle is speaking in general and hypothetical terms is clear from the expression tongues.., of angels. There is no biblical teaching of a unique or special angelic language or dialect. In the countless records of their speaking to men in Scripture, they always speak in the language of the person being addressed. There is no indication that they have a heavenly language of their own that men could learn. Paul simply is saying that, were he to have the ability to speak with the skill and eloquence of the greatest men, even with angelic eloquence, he would only become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal if he did not have love. The greatest truths spoken in the greatest way fall short if they are not spoken in love. Apart from love, even one who speaks the truth with supernatural eloquence becomes so much noise. The gift of language is especially meaningless without love. Paul chooses this as his illustration of lovelessness because it was a sought-after experience that made the people proud. One of the results of the Corinthians’ trying to use that gift in their own power and for their own selfish and proud ends was that it could not be ministered in love. Because they did not walk in the Spirit, they did not have the fruit of the Spirit and could not properly minister the gifts of the Spirit. Because the most important fruit was missing from what they thought was the most important gift, their exercising the gift became nothing more than babble.”

Pastor John MacArthur, “Commentary on 1 Corinthians”

 

“Whenever God or angels are said to speak to men in Scripture, they do so in human languages so that they can be understood. If this is God’s method, why should it be otherwise with the children of God? His methods and practices should be ours as well. If God did not employ an unknown, heavenly, angelic language to speak to us, why should we find it either necessary or desirable to do so when speaking to Him or to our fellow men? His message must be understood if it is to be heeded, and so must ours. Since interpretation seems to be a prerequisite to speaking in an ‘unknown’ tongue, it must be that the meaning of what is said is the important thing, rather than the speaking itself. Why should God speak to us in a language we cannot understand? Since understanding is His purpose? His message is always direct and understandable, and ours should be also.”

Spiros Zodhiates, “Tongues?”

 

Paul’s words, “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” in verse 1 was in reference to the practice in many pagan mystery religions where followers of these pagan religions would hit a gong or cymbal before walking into the temple of their idol or deity. This was to gain the attention of their false god. Paul was using this illustration to convict the Corinthian Christians of the fact that some of their practices in expressing their Christian spiritual gifts involved association with their former way of life in their pagan religions. Many of the followers of Christ at Corinth were expressing their spiritual gifts not only for selfish motives but in inappropriate ways. They were not demonstrating love in how they ministered in their spiritual gifts, nor were they showing love in how they treated one another in practical ways. David Hocking states the following in regards to the Corinthian religious practices;

 

“History tells us something of the situation in Corinth and it confirms that it was common among pagan religions to have ecstatic utterances. Therefore in the church, too, they were obsessed with ecstatic utterances. Pagan practices included a gibberish along with dancing and people who went into trances. The people in the Corinthian Church were familiar with such practices and incorporated them into their worship even when there was no need for foreign languages…”

 

I should mention here another scripture that many Christians use to support the belief in a personal prayer language of speaking in tongues. It is Romans 8:26-27.

 

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

 

Those who use this scripture passage to support their use of a private prayer language state that this is saying the Holy Spirit helps us speak in tongues through groanings that are expressed in deep emotional moments. The problem is this passage has nothing to do with the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. It is describing the intimate relationship the Holy Spirit has with the follower of Christ. There are times when we are so overwhelmed by a trauma or hardship that we don’t even know what to pray. In these moments the Spirit intercedes for us, comforts us and communes with the Father and Son on our behalf. This is a very poignant verse. It describes the deep passionate love the Spirit has for us as He speaks to our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ about our situation, our hurt, our pain and our need for relief and strength.

 

What an amazing show of love and grace; that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in moments of a horrible storm of life. This verse has nothing to do with speaking in tongues and everything to do with our relationship with our Triune God; Father, Son and Spirit.

 

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 13:2;

 

“If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

 

Paul is telling them that while they are puffing themselves up with pride as they brag about their spiritual gifts and in how they use their gifts, they are not expressing love as Jesus Christ would. They are actually proving they are worthless and nothing. Paul uses another example in 1 Corinthians 13:3 and continues to increase his emphasis on their inappropriate behavior of how they are expressing spiritual gifts;

 

“And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

 

Paul here states that if they are giving their possessions to the poor with wrong motives and even offering themselves to be a burnt offering for God, if this is done without love for God and others, it means nothing at all. Paul feels he must define God’s love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 because the Corinthians had lost all manner of reason and understanding of what it truly was.

 

Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 that the spiritual gifts of prophecy and knowledge will be done away with when the perfect comes. This “perfect” thing most theologians and pastors feel is the second coming of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ returns to claim His Kingdom, we will know, as we have been known (1 Corinthians 13:12) because we as Christians will be taken up into Heaven to receive our glorified bodies and have our fleshly nature purged from us. Paul also shares that “tongues, they will cease.” Theologians and Bible commentators interpret this to mean that while prophecy and knowledge will be done away by the coming of the perfect (Jesus second coming), the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues were intended by God to gradually fade away or cease on their own. In other words, as the purpose for the true gift of speaking in tongues no longer remained (judgment of the Jewish people, validation of the living Apostles, etc.) then the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues would cease to be needed. History illustrates that during the years after the death of the apostles that the gift of speaking in tongues did fade away.

 

In 1 Corinthians 13:11 Paul is instructing the follower of Christ in Corinth to grow up spiritually and put away their childish practices of abusing the spiritual gifts God has given them. They should be loving and edifying other Believers, rather than striving to use spiritual gifts for their own personal edification. That is not true love. John in his epistle of 1 John speaks of the love we should have for other believers.

 

1 John 4:7-14

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

 

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul stresses that while faith hope and love abide, the greatest of these is love. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 14, encouraging the Corinthians Believers to pursue love, but also to continue to desire as a church body spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy (preaching/teaching) which can edify every follower of Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 14:4 is a verse that is very often quoted by those who feel that the gift of speaking in tongues is for personal edification through the expression of a personal prayer language.

 

1 Corinthians 14:4

“One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.”

 

This passage in 1 Corinthians often causes confusion, misunderstanding and sometimes even strong debate among Christians because it seems to indicate that the gift of tongues is a spiritual gift that is to be used for personal spiritual edification. While this may seem to be a good deduction to make, I hope to explain how a closer look at this passage and other scriptures demonstrates that this is an inaccurate interpretation.

 

First we know that there are many scriptures that support the fact that spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, not for personal edification, but for edification of followers of Christ in the church body. Below are scripture passages which establish this purpose for spiritual gifts among Christ’s church.

 

1 Corinthians 12:7

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

 

Romans 15:2-3

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

 

1 Corinthians 14:5

“Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”

 

1 Corinthians 14:12

“So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”

 

1 Peter 4:8-11

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

 

Hebrews 3:13-14

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

 

Hebrews 10:23-25

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

 

These scripture passages communicate a strong message that God wants people to minister to others in His family to demonstrate their love for each other, help them grow spiritually, encourage others in their faith and glory God in the process. We see that the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to us to be used for the good of others in the church. So if this is true, why does it appear at first that His Word is telling us here in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that speaking in tongues is for self-edification?

 

We need to consider three points when attempting to understand 1 Corinthians 14:4.

 

First, the reference in this verse to the gift of tongues has nothing to do with the purpose of the gift of speaking in tongues.

 

Secondly, verse 4 is addressing the “by-product,” not the purpose, of exercising the gift. There is always a “by-product” to the person exercising a spiritual gift and this is edification of oneself. When we express the gift of mercy to another, we are edified because we are helping someone in need. It will give us pleasure to serve someone with our spiritual gift. This “by-product” is not the purpose of the gift. The purpose is to show compassion and sympathy for someone dealing with suffering or a trial. The purpose ANY spiritual gift is to edify others. In this process of edifying them, which is the main purpose, we are edified as a simple “by-product” of us being obedient to God and ministering to another. The same would hold true for the gift of teaching, giving or any other spiritual gift. We receive a blessing when we express our spiritual gift and minister to others, but this blessing or by-product is not the purpose for the spiritual gift.

 

Thirdly, self-edification is not a valid goal for the follower of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 states;

 

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

 

Spiritual gifts are given by God to edify and benefit other followers of Christ, not ourselves. We are called to serve one another in the fellowship of believers, not seek selfishly to serve our own needs and desires. Joseph Dillow speaks to this mistaken opinion that speaking in tongues is for self-edification.

 

“When Paul says that ‘he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself’ he isn’t commending the Corinthians for their spirituality! He is actually rebuking them for their misuse of the gift. I think some of the problem may lie in the terseness of Paul’s language. To help clear this up, look at 1 Corinthians 11:21. In soundly condemning the Corinthians for their misconduct at the Lord’s Supper, Paul puts his criticism this way: ‘As you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.’ He simply stated what occurred. This is exactly what he is doing in 1 Corinthians 14:4. In both cases he uses a description of their behavior as a rebuke. So we see that Paul is not pleased with speaking in tongues for purely personal edification…Furthermore, this procedure is common in Paul’s teaching method. He starts with where they are (tongues are personally edifying) and then gradually takes them to where they should be (tongues are for a sign against the Jewish nation, 1 Corinthians 14:21, 22). Joseph Dillow, “Speaking in Tongues, Seven Crucial Questions”

 

David Hocking also has a comment regarding 1 Corinthians 14:4;

 

“However you might like to interpret this verse, it must be seen in the light of the other verses which address the matter of self-edification. When you look for such support, you find that there are none. Scripture does not teach self-edification.”

 

Another appropriate quotation from Pastor Ron Richie addresses this same issue;

 

“I don’t believe, based on the teachings in 1 Corinthians 12-14, that there is any Biblical basis for claiming to have a private prayer language. What Paul has sought to show the Corinthians is the following:

 

The Spirit gives spiritual gifts for the common good, not the good of the one having the gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:7).

 

The gift of foreign languages is designed for a particular purpose, like all the other gifts. It is to be expressed in public to offer praise and thanksgiving to God.

 

The foreign language must be interpreted in order to edify the body of Christ.

 

And if there is no interpretation, the person doesn’t know what he is saying and ends up with only a good feeling in which he is personally edified, when what he was supposed to do was edify the body. These points do not support the use of the gift of tongues as a private prayer language.”

Pastor Ron Richie, Peninsula Bible Church

 

Pastor Ray Stedman also illustrates that one of the marks of the true gift of speaking in tongues was not for a private prayer language for self-edification, but as a sign gift to unbelievers;

 

“The third mark of the true gift is that it must be publicly exercised as a sign to unbelievers, for again Paul specifically says that tongues are not a sign for believers but for unbelievers. On the day of Pentecost this is exactly the purpose they fulfilled. Though they were addressed to God, they arrested the attention of the unbelievers who were present in the public place, and became a sign to them. I believe it took place in the temple courts. The crowd regarded it as highly unusual, and a proof that God was at work.”

Ray Stedman, former pastor of Peninsula Bible Church

 

Pastor Ron Richie has some additional comments about this scripture passage in 1 Corinthians 14:4;

 

“You may well ask the question at this point: Is the repetitive chanting some of our brothers and sisters are using in the private devotions and public worship services the authentic spiritual gift of a foreign language? I would have to say no, based on the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14…all the gifts were given to the members of the body of Christ for the common good, not our private good (1 Corinthians 12:7)…the original meaning of the word translated tongues is a foreign language (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:10,11). What is the source of this repetitive chanting? Those scholars who have had an opportunity to study this psychological phenomenon which occurs in some Christian circles have found the same repetitive chanting in pagan religions, especially during times of great religious excitement. Scholars of ancient religions tell of the same phenomena occurring during the ceremonies of the many mystery religions during the Greek and Roman period. Is the source of this psychological phenomenon within the Christian community evil? I find no evidence to support that conclusion. But I do believe we need to go back to our original translation of the meanings of tongues: a known language used somewhere in this world.”

 

Pastor John MacArthur of, Grace Baptist Church states regarding 1 Corinthians 14:4 the following;

 

“I believe Paul’s point here is sarcastic. (His sarcasm can also be seen in 4:8-10, and reaches its height in 14:16, “was it from you the word of God first went forth?”) Because even true tongues must be interpreted in order to be understood, they cannot possibly edify anyone, including the person speaking, without such interpretation. They cannot, therefore, be intended by God for private devotional use, as many Pentecostals and charismatics claim. Paul here is referring to the supposed value the Corinthians placed on their self-styled tongues-speaking. The satisfaction many of the believers experienced in their abuse of tongues was self-satisfaction, which came from pride-included emotion, not from spiritual edification. It is an illegitimate self-building, often building up nothing more than spiritual pride.”

 

Other comments from other theologians and pastors on 1 Corinthians 14:4 are as follows;

 

“The sensational nature of speaking in tongues readily ministered to pride and empty conceit. It was so in the early church, as the immature, divisive, carnal conduct of the gifted and tongues-speaking Corinthians believers attests (1 Corinthians 1:1-14; 40). Merrill F. Unger, “New Testament Teaching on Tongues.”

 

“His (Paul’s) guidelines are that tongues, like all the gifts, were given for the common good. In the church, tongues were for public use, not private. They were to be used in an orderly manner to avoid confusion, and an interpreter was always to be present so the whole body might be edified.” Pastor Charles Swindoll, Stonebriar Community Church

 

“Four truths stand out in this chapter. 1. Biblical tongues was the supernatural ability to speak in known languages which were not understood by the speaker. It was not babbling or ecstatic speech. 2. Tongues was a special sign for the confirmation of the Word before rebellious and unbelieving Israel until the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the nation which began the Times of the Gentiles. 3. Biblical tongues are no longer spoken. The purpose has been fulfilled and the phenomena has ceased. 4. The Corinthians became fascinated by tongues because their use brought attention to the user. This preoccupation resulted in misuse of the gift as they edified themselves, disregarding the total spiritual life, and failed as witnesses to their city. The Corinthian catastrophe!” George E. Gardiner, “The Corinthian Catastrophe”

 

“Paul did not forbid tongues, but he showed the Corinthians that prophecy was far superior to tongues on the edificational priority list. Prophecy is greater than tongues unless tongues are interpreted. If tongues are interpreted, then they are of the same edificational value as prophesy. In other words, tongues are edifying to the Church if they are interpreted. Tongues, therefore must have edificational content! But the doctrinal riches of tongues are unlocked only by interpretation, and only then can the Church be edified.” George W. Zeller, “God’s Gift of Tongues”

 

“Paul continues to try to bring order out of chaos. If someone having the spiritual gift of languages wants to speak in a worship service, they must do so in accordance with the purpose of that gift so as not to cause confusion and chaos. (1) The foreign tongue must be used to give a verbal offering of praise and thanksgiving to God, not to direct a message to men and women in the service. (2) The foreign language that is heard must then be translated for the listeners by one with the spiritual gift of interpretation; otherwise, the speaker of the foreign tongue will be speaking mysteries to himself that even he does not understand, and will end up edifying only himself instead of the body.”

Pastor Ron Richie, Peninsula Bible Church

 

“The second aspect of the true gift was that even if it were a known language, it must consist of praise and thanksgiving to God. It is addressed to God and not to man, for Paul specifically says, “He that speaks in a tongue speaks not to man but to God,” (1 Corinthians 14:2). There are never any tongues in Scripture except this. Tongues are never used for preaching, or exhortation, or prediction in the Scriptures. It is invariably praise and thanksgiving to God.”

Ray Stedman

 

As we continue Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14:5,

 

“Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”

 

Here again Paul is being sarcastic. He is not saying he truly wishes everyone should or could speak in tongues because He knows that everyone can’t be given the same spiritual gift. He covered this in 1 Corinthians 12 when he made it clear in verse 30 that not everyone speaks in tongues just as not everyone has the gift of healing or interpretation of tongues.

 

In 1 Corinthians 14:9-15 we find Paul emphasizing the necessity of having any expression of “speaking in tongues” being interpreted so that others can be edified. He again is stressing the necessity of spiritual gifts edifying the whole church and believers should not seek to use them for self edification.

 

“So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.”

 

One of the problems in the Corinthian fellowship was that many of the Christians were not expressing the true gift of speaking in tongues but a pagan copy of it. They were praying what many call, “ecstatic speech” that imitated speaking in tongues and only appeared to be the true gift. The audible sounds and syllables they spoke were often repetitious and always without true meaning. Jesus spoke to such useless pagan prayers when He stated the following in Matthew 6:7;

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.”

 

Paul next in 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 makes an amazing statement of his own spiritual gifting as well as a comment regarding the priority of being able to communicate so others can understand what is spoken.

 

“I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

 

Paul is confronting the Corinthians with the fact that while he is greatly blessed with the gift of speaking in tongues, implying he is even better than they are, that he would rather communicate with 5 simple words others could understand rather than ten thousand words in a “tongue.” He is attempting here to show the value of accurate spiritual ministry with understanding what is spoken, rather than what is spoken through a miraculous gift such as tongues.

 

Next in 1 Corinthians 14:22-24 Paul gives instruction as to the purpose of the gift of speaking in tongues. Notice his important point. It is NOT for self edification, it is for a sign to those who do not believe, specifically, he is referring to unbelieving Jews. He also goes on to say that if in a church service numerous people are speaking in tongues all at the same time, not to edify others but to edify themselves, it would be a horribly confusing situation and cause unbelievers who walk into such a service to think that the Christians were crazy or mentally disturbed. Any spiritual gift used improperly will frustrate the ministry God intended to accomplish and defraud the reputation of followers of Christ.

 

“So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?”

 

Next Paul lays down some guidelines and boundaries for proper use of spiritual gifts within a church service in 1 Corinthians 14:26-29;

 

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.”

 

Here we see Paul is attempting to help the Corinthians gain some control over their worship services. Apparently they were way out of control. Unbelievers visiting or attending very likely never came back because it appeared they were mentally and emotionally disturbed. It is also apparent that because the Corinthians were attempting to edify themselves that there was no real significant ministry towards one another. Can you imagine a church where everyone came, not to sing together in unison or to show love and care for others, but so that they could sing their own solo and get what they could for themselves and show off how “spiritual” they thought they were. What a mess it must have been in the Corinthian church. Paul ends this chapter with more advice for the whole church in 1 Corinthians 14:39-40;

 

“Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

 

Paul here is stating that God is not a god of confusion and disorder. He wants His Word communicated in a clear and orderly manner. He does not condone selfish indulgent use of spiritual gifts for self edification. He gives spiritual gifts to His children so they can edify and minister to one another.

“The benefit of the spiritual gifts within the mystical body of Jesus Christ is that each member can participate in expressing the love and power of our risen Lord Jesus toward the others for their spiritual edification, in contrast to fleshly competition, which results in jealousy, anger, and pride.

Pastor Ron Richie, Peninsula Bible Church

 

I would say in closing regarding the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues that there remains today much disagreement as to the use and expression of this spiritual gift among Christians. Even though I may not agree with many of my Christian brothers and sisters, I do believe we can agree to disagree and continue to fellowship together, minister together and evangelize those who are lost and blind to the truth of the gospel. We need to follow the teaching of Jesus and His mandate given to His Apostles of loving one another above all else.

 

1 John 4:7

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

 

In the next segment of this series we will cover the spiritual gift of “interpretation of tongues” and I will have some closing comments to summarize this series.