Dr. Jack L. Arnold
THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHAT IS THE TONGUES PHENOMENON?
I Corinthians 12:27-31
Lesson 8
What is the gift of
tongues? Who may get it? Is the gift of tongues a real language
or an unintelligible utterance?
These are questions we can only answer from Scripture and not from
experience. The Bible becomes the
criteria by which we judge all experience.
For years I was a
cessationist, believing that all the spectacular gifts like tongues, healing
and prophesy past out of existence sometime after the first century when the
church received a completed canon of Scripture in the inspired, infallible
Bible. However, experience has
caused me to be open and cautious concerning the spectacular gifts. The experience is not my own for I
neither speak in tongues or desire the gift, but I have had family and friends
who have claimed to speak in tongues, prophecy and have strange experiences
with the Holy Spirit. I have two
sons who speak in tongues and one who is open to it if God sovereignly gives
him the gift. I canÕt honestly
tell my sons they are experiencing fraud or that they are deceived by
Satan. I can tell them to take
their experiences and put them to the touchstone of Scripture. If they do, they will get balanced and
then we may graciously agree to disagree over some of the charismatic issues.
All
of First Corinthians 12-14 was written to correct abuses by the Corinthians in
the area of tongues. The
Corinthian Christians were exalting the spectacular gift of tongues to the
exclusion of the ordinary or other spectacular gifts. They were thinking the person, who could speak in tongues,
was more spiritual than others who could not. Apparently, they were trying to get everyone to speak in
tongues. This situation aroused
PaulÕs ire, so he wrote not to encourage the use of tongues but to discourage
the abuse and overuse of the gift.
However, at no time does the Apostle Paul say it is sinful or of the
devil to have and use the gift of tongues. He concludes the teaching of First Corinthians 12-14 by
saying, ÒTherefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid
speaking in tonguesÓ (1 Cor. 14:39).
When the day of Pentecost
came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came
from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of
fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in
Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd
came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own
language. Utterly amazed, they
asked: ÒAre not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears
them in his own native language? Parthians,
Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadoccia, Pontus and
Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts
to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God
in our own tongues!Ó Amazed and
perplexed, they asked one another, ÒWhat does this mean?Ó Some, however, made fun of them and
said, ÒThey have had too much wine.Ó
Many Jews from various parts
of the Roman Empire were gathered at Jerusalem to observe the Feast of
Pentecost. The disciples had been
commanded to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not come upon them because they were in
a Òtarrying meetingÓ all night but because the day of Pentecost had come. In the sovereign wisdom of God, the day
of Pentecost was predetermined.
They spoke in tongues not because they were baptized by the Holy Spirit
but because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. We are told that when the disciples were filled with the
Holy Spirit they Òbegan to speak in other tonguesÓ (languages/dialectos). These tongues seem to be foreign languages that are
reducible to writing. The Greek
word for ÒotherÓ is heterros, which
means Òtongues (languages) of a different kind.Ó We are specifically told that each visiting Jew understood
the words of the disciples Òin his own language.Ó Every language spoken on the day of Pentecost was a known
tongue, perfectly intelligible and reducible to writing. There can be no question of the supernatural
character of this gift. The
miracle was in the speaking of a language previously unknown to the one
speaking.
There are a few scholars who
think the disciples spoke in unintelligible utterances on the day of Pentecost
but the Jews from other countries heard their own languages; that is, the Holy
Spirit supernaturally caused them to hear in their own language. This would then be a miracle of
hearing, not speaking.
Some
think this is unintelligible utterances is that the Jews thought the disciples
were drunk (Acts 2:13). Actually,
this proves nothing because there have been many recorded instances of
Christians who appeared to be drunk but were actually filled with the Holy
Spirit.
Oliver Cromwell came to power in England
as Lord Protectorate of the nation through the battle of Naseby. The night before the battle, Cromwell prayed
most of the night. His men
reported that Cromwell staggered out of his tent, acting as though drunk. He, however, was not speaking in
tongues but in English. This is
what I believe happened at Pentecost.
The disciples were so filled with the Holy Spirit that appeared drunk,
but they spoke not in babblings but in various languages.
Acts 2 is the only place in
the Bible that tells us what tongues are.
At least in this context we can say they were most likely not gibberish,
heavenly languages or divine utterances but foreign languages.
In First Corinthians 12-14,
scholars disagree as to whether a tongue is a foreign language or divine
utterances.
1.
ÒTonguesÓ should be translated languages.
2.
Acts 2 is definitely speaking about foreign languages and the reader
would not think tongues should be anything else in First Corinthians.
3.
There is a mention of the Òlanguage of men and angelsÓ in 1 Corinthians
13:1, but there is no reason not to believe that the tongues of angels is a
cognitive language and not unintelligible utterances.
4.
Tongues according to First Corinthians 14:22 are Òa sign . . . for unbelieversÓ
(not believers) of the supernatural workings of God to confirm the gospel to
them.
5.
Corinth was a city that drew military, merchants and tourists from all
over the Roman world. When these
people visited the Christian churches out of curiosity, they may have known
little or nothing of the common Greek language, so in the assembly someone
stood up and supernaturally spoke in their language or dialect most likely
giving the gospel. There would be
an interpretation of the words spoken by the speaker so everyone would know
what was said.
6.
Tongues are used in the public meetings of the church in the Bible and
not for private use. If this were
a correct understanding, then tongues today would be limited to certain
situations where the gospel needs dissemination.
Tongues Are Divine
Utterances
1.
In First Corinthians, the tongues need an
interpretation whereas in Acts 2 no interpretation was needed. The interpretation was needed because
it was a divine utterance which no one understood and therefore needed
supernatural interpretation. ÒFor
anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed no one understands him; he
utters mysteries with his spirit (1 Cor. 14:2).Ó
2.
Tongues is a prayer language where one Òdoes not
speak to man but to God.Ó The
person may be praying but it is prayer in the spirit, not necessarily with the
mind. ÒFor if I pray in a tongue, my
spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful (1 Cor. 14:14).Ó It is a prayer language of praise where one can give divine
utterances and sometimes do it through singing. ÒI will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my
mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind (1 Cor.
14:15).Ó
3.
The gift of divine utterance may be used in public but if it is there
is always to be an interpretation.
ÒIf there is no interpretation, the speaker should keep quiet in the
church and speak to himself and God (1 Cor. 14:28).Ó
4.
The speaker in tongues does not have to speak and can speak quietly in
his mind without any verbalization . . .. Òand
speak to himself and GodÓ (1 Cor. 14:28).
5.
While divine utterances can be used publicly on
occasion, it is best used in private as a prayer language. ÒI thank God that I speak in
tongues more than all of you. But
in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others
than ten thousand words in a tongueÓ (1 Cor. 14:18).
How do we solve this problem
of whether a tongue is a foreign language or a prayer language? There are no easy solutions. For myself, I believe tongues may be a
literal foreign language at times or a divine utterance of praise. Just in the same way there is a primary
and secondary meaning to prophecy (no inspired, infallible prophets but
fallible prophecies), so there may be different levels of tongues given to
GodÕs people. In I Corinthians 12:10,
tongues (glasson) are in the plural
which could open the door to different levels of tongues. Most modern tongues (divine utterances)
are something less than foreign languages but a prayer language to bless some
Christians who in turn are made stronger in faith to bless the whole body.
While I have come to believe
that God does give some Christians divine utterances for their own edification,
I do so with great reservation. I am open but cautious. Whenever we get into tongues and
prophecy, there is a great deal of subjectivity and the only way to curb abuses
is to adhere very closely to the Scriptures. Whatever position we take on tongues, we must remember that
modern day tongues as claimed by charismatics are not in any way languages of
men or angels; that is, they are not cognitive.
To my knowledge, there is
universal agreement among linguists who have taped and analyzed thousands of
examples of modern tongues speaking that the contemporary phenomenon is not any
human language. The patterns and
structures that all known human language requires are simply not there. Occasionally a recognizable word slips
out; but this is statistically likely, given the sheer quantity of
verbalization (D.A. Carson, Showing the
Spirit).
TONGUES IS THE LEAST OF THE GIFTS 12:27-28
ÒNow you are the body of
Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.Ó Spiritual gifts are given to the universal church and are to
be used primarily through the local church.
ÒAnd in the church God has
appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers
of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others,
those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of
tongues.Ó It seems that the Apostle is ranking
the gifts to the church in order of importance. While all spiritual gifts are indispensable for the proper
functioning of the church, there is some which are honored, respected and
valued because of their function within the church.
We see something of PaulÕs sarcastic sense of humor here as he gives an order of rank of spiritual gifts, putting the gift of tongues last. Perhaps in PaulÕs mind the gift of tongues was the least of all the gifts and had the least affect for the common good of the church. It was a valid gift but way out of perspective at Corinth and in the modern church today. When was the last time you heard of charismatic Christians gathering together for an all night prayer meeting or having special classes or conducting a laying on of hands service to get the gift of helps? Probably never! Yet, the apostle Paul implies helps are more important than tongues.
ÒAre all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing?Ó In the Greek, each of these questions
has the negative particle mai so that
the question expects a negative answer.
ÒAll are not apostles, are they?
No! All are not prophets,
are they? No!Ó Paul dogmatically states that no one
person has all the gifts. It would
be preposterous for all the members to have all the spiritual gifts or to seek
all the spiritual gifts. God has
sovereignly given different spiritual gifts in kind and degree to
Christians. Paul would say, ÒAll
do not have the same spiritual gifts, do they? No!Ó
ÒDo all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?Ó Again the negative mai in the Greek is used and should be translated, ÒAll
do not speak in tongues, do they?
No!Ó The Apostle
Paul does not deny there is a spiritual gift of tongues, but he flatly denies
that everyone has the gift. In fact,
PaulÕs point is that in the sovereign purpose of God only a few speak in
tongues. In PaulÕs mind, tongues
were no big deal. It was just
another gift to be exercised biblically for the common good of the church.
ÒBut eagerly desire the
greater gifts.Ó Paul clearly tells
Christians to seek after the greater gifts. What are the greater gifts? They would be gifts like prophecy, teaching, faith and
evangelism which would most build up and edify the church. PaulÕs point seems to be that tongues
is the least of all the gifts and all other gifts should be sought before
seeking tongues. Any gift is
greater than tongues.
ÒAnd now I will show you a
more excellent way.Ó This sentence belongs to
First Corinthians 12:31. This is
the lead-in sentence to the love chapter of First Corinthians 13 that deals
with the fruit of the spirit. ÒBut
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . .Ó (Gal. 5:22). There is a greater way than gifts. There is a higher level of maturity than
just the exercise of spiritual gifts.
All do not have the same spiritual gifts but all can exercise love that
is the more excellent way. There
is a big difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the
Spirit. Gifts are important but love
is more important!
We must give an explanation
for the tongues phenomena we see in the church today. Is it true or false?
There is no question that charismatics are having experiences and in
some cases, these experiences are having a life-changing effect on them. So how do we explain modern day
tongues?
Fraud. There
have been many people who have been told that tongues are a mark of
spirituality or even a mark of salvation, and these people do not want to be
ostracized from the group so they fake tongues. It becomes a learned experience. Sometimes people listen to tapes on tongues or they are
coached by a team on how to speak in tongues. This approach to tongues is suspect because it is
man-induced, not Holy Spirit given.
One of my own observations is that people who speak in tongues often
have a very good ear for music.
They can pick up sounds very easily.
False tongues have been
practiced for thousands of years, even before the time of Christ. In his discourses, Plato discusses how
tongues were used as early as 1100 B.C. in the mystery religious cults of
Greece. Today false religions such
as Hinduism, Shinto and Islam are claiming to speak in tongues. Cultists, such as the Jehovah Witnesses
and Mormons, are claiming to have this gift. It seems to be an experience
that anyone can have if he or she wants it bad enough. It is no wonder then that many
evangelicals could speak in ecstatic utterances and mistakenly call it biblical
tongues.
Emotionalism.
A person may work himself into such an emotional state that he may place
himself in a mystical trance. There are very few experiences one cannot have if he or she seeks them long
enough. A few emotions which
could produce something like tongues are: (1) Hysteria–emotions
control the tongue; (2) Drunkenness–a personÕs mind becomes
detached from the tongue and babbling results; (3) Praise–a person
may be in spiritual ecstasy and praise the Lord without knowing all that he
says.
Almost invariably, those who
have experienced the so-called ÒbaptismÓ have been suffering from a very deep
personal or family problem. They
are looking for a way out . . . Others are emotionally troubled about their own
spiritual life and are seeking a deeper, more consistent walk with God . . .
Quite a few who are drawn to the movement are emotionally high-keyed
people. Some are mystics and
visionaries. Some seek only experiences
to save them from the hard work of studying the Word of God.
(R.T. Hitt, ÒThe New Pentecostalism,Ó Eternity Magazine).
Christians who get what they
think is the gift of tongues in hyped up emotional meetings should put their
experience under suspicion. It may
be a gift anyone could get (saved or unsaved) under similar controlled emotional
circumstances.
Self-Hypnosis.
A person could put himself in a hypnotic state so as to free his tongue
from his mind.
Instead, the seeking worshiper
is noisily coached by a team of specialists who gather around him, or in the
majority of cases, around her, stamping their feet, dancing, clapping their
hands, chanting, shouting advice in their ears and giving them a treatment any
psychologist would recognize as designed to lead the victim into releasing
cerebral control of his body to the autonomic nervous system. This is a form of self-hypnosis (Carrol
Stegall, Jr., ÒThe Modern Tongues and Healing MovementÓ).
Satanic Deception. Satan is the great counterfeiter and can produce false
tongues in a person through demons.
He can get people away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus. It is possible to seek tongues and find
them an unsatisfying experience and want nothing to do with Christianity,
thinking that Christ has been known through this false experience.
Many people simply burn out
on tongues. We must remember that
Christ is completely satisfying and we have not found Him unless we have found
Him in the Bible. Satan causes
Christians to burn out on ecstatic experiences. People who claim to speak in tongues today need to be warned
about the excessive use of this phenomenon. There are cases on record of people who have been victims of
brain damage because of excessive abuse of tongues. The human mind and spirit are not intended to go on
hysterical emotional jags continually.
Real Thing.
Tongues may be real, given by the Holy Spirit, for building up the
Christian who in turn builds up the body of Christ. For reasons known only to God, He gives some Christians the
gift of tongues. These tongues may
be foreign languages or divine utterances used as a prayer language for praise
and worship. If Christians claim
to have this gift of tongues and want to use it in their personal devotional
lives, it is perfectly all right to do so as long as the experience glorifies
Christ and causes one to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. If the experience does not make a
person more Chris-like, it may not be the real thing. The gift of tongues is never to be abused and must meet all
the biblical criteria.
The biblical criteria are: 1)
tongues are not connected with the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurring sometime
after conversion to Christ; 2) not everyone can or will speak in tongues; 3)
tongues is just one of the spiritual gifts and may be the least of all the
gifts; 4) God gives the gift of tongues to whom He pleases; 5) tongues may be
sought but they are not high on the list of important gifts; 6) tongues does
not make a person more mature or more spiritual than those who do not have the
gift; 7) the primary place to use the gift of tongues is in private; and 8) if
used publicly there must always be an interpretation and no more than two or
three can speak.