I once attended a men's conference at an Assemblies of God church in my hometown. Being saved into a somewhat traditional Southern Baptist church, it was certainly a different experience. A long time family friend had invited to one night of the conference just on a whim. This became my first true experience with "glossolalia", what is held by many, especially Pentecostals to be the gift of speaking in the tongues.
On the way home my friend (and he was actually a major influence in areas of my faith) asked me if I had wanted to speak in tongues and began to share about the "second blessing". We talked a little, he prayed for me, and we parted ways. Though my friend and I (along with many other Pentecostal friend I have had) may be differ one some issues in the faith, I have a deep respect for the work of Gospel done by AoG churches and my friend (who as I write this is a missionary to South Korea). I love them as brothers, sisters and laborers together in the Gospel! I pray for them as often as I remember them and made sure to pray for there churches as I finished writing this.
"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thess. 1:2-3
What was the Gift of Tongues?
The gift of tongues has taken a few different forms over the history of the church. One view, held by Assemblies of God churches (the largest Pentecostal denomination) is stated this way,
"The word glossolalia is made up of two Greek words: glosso meaning “tongues,” and lalia meaning “speech.” Consequently, we use the term, “speaking in tongues.” On the Day of Pentecost what the disciples were saying was understood by about 15 different peoples in their own dialect or language. This was not an ecstatic “out of the body” experience. They were aware of their surroundings. Though an unknown language to the speaker, glossolalia can be a recognized or unrecognized language to the hearers. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels. …” He also says of speaking in tongues, “Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (1 Corinthians 14:2). Consequently on the Day of Pentecost, the visitors to Jerusalem heard the newly Spirit-baptized disciples “declaring the wonders of God” (Acts 2:11). Jesus had said in John 16:13-14, “When he, the Spirit of Truth comes, … He will bring glory to me. …” Glossolalia is not used for evangelizing, since later that same day, Peter preached his famous sermon — perhaps inspired speech taking the form of a word of prophecy — in the
language that all of them understood (Acts 2:14)." [1]
To put it simply, there are those who believe that New Testament tongues was purely a human language (the view I hold to). And those who believe that it is purely a Heavenly prayer language. Much of the common day view is a mixture (like Mark Driscoll and John Piper who hold to both of these views at once) [2] [3]
The gift expressed in Acts 2 was likely the same gift expressed in the church at Corinth. The evidence bears this out. Like wrote Acts in 62 AD about 7 years after Pauls writing 1 Corinthians, and since they were traveling together for much of this time, why would Luke call something "tongues" or not specify that these were not what Corinth practice. Therefore, it can be concluded, along with every account of tongues in the New Testament is shown, that the gifts of Acts 2 was the same gift being distorted in Corinth.
As we look into Acts 2 a few things pop out to us about tongues. We can see, first what tongues was. It was understandable language to the hearers. Acts 2:8 said the listeners heard the message in "native tongue". Humbly, this is a far cry from the tongues practiced by Pentecostals today. The purpose of tongues in Acts 2, and as we will see later, was for evangelism during this time in redemptive history. In short, the nations which were scattered in Genesis 11 began to be gathered together and as we saw will be gathered together in the Kingdom in Revelation 7:9. While Pentecost serves this purpose, tongues also serves a few other purposes.
What was the Gifts Purpose?
One purpose is shown in 1 Cor 14:4, "The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church." The gift of tongues was not a gift meant to edify the church as a whole. Why is that? Because no one in the church would be able to understand it. This should make sense to us in our own modern context as much as it did to Paul's. How many of us are in churches where more then one language is spoken? Even if you have some members who are bi-lingual (let's say fluent in Spanish) how much good will it do for your whole church if a pastor spoke in Spanish on Sunday morning? It would only benefit those who could understand.
Pauls argument in 1 Cor. 14 centers around this thought. In verse 7-12 he writes,
"If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."
Pauls argument in 1 Cor. 14 centers around this thought. In verse 7-12 he writes,
"If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."
In other words, if the people spoke English, but the speaker was speaking in Spanish, no one in the congregation would benefit. Paul takes this further in the next part of the passage.
1 Cor. 14:13-19-
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say“Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Let's take this into the 21st century again. If I were praying to the Lord and suddenly began, in my private time, to pray in another language (let's say for example, Spanish) though I may passionate pray (with my spirit) but I will not know what I prayed or instructed by that prayer because I cannot interpret. That is what exactly Paul says. So, at least in Paul's context, someone would need to be able to both speak in tongues and interpret there own tongue to be benefited. Both gifts would be present. This is why Paul goes onto to tell us that it is better to prophecy (which we will look at in more detail later) then to speak in tongues. Prophecy- speaking the Word of God in your own language, benefits both the hearer and the listener.
But, putting that aside Paul gives us a deeper purpose for the gift of tongues. Paul goes on in 1 Cor. 14 to say,
"Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you." - 1 Cor. 14:20-25
Paul says that tongues are a sign. But what are they a sign of? That is why I opened this chapter with those verses from Isaiah 28. In 1 Cor. 14:21 Paul quotes this in referring to the Corinthians in the 1st century, so one must look at Isaiah 28 for a hint of the purpose of tongues.
The context of Isaiah 28 is an oracle of judgement against the rulers (and by extension the people they ruled) of Israel. Isaiah 28:3 says, "The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden underfoot;" Isaiah says that ultimately judgement was coming upon the Israelite in the near judgement from the Assyrian people (see also Jer. 5:15), but this passage is applied to the larger context of tongues by Paul.
So when Paul reference this in 1 Corinthians 14 what he is saying is that the people of Israel (unbelievers etc...) are going to face the judgement of the Lord. In Isaiah 28:16, the people are pointed to the "precious cornerstone" which we know to be Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:20) The irony is that this sign will actually lead to the rejection of salvation. I think that is often over looked. Verse 23 tells us this will lead many to say, "they are out of there minds!" God's messengers are often both are often instruments of hardening as well as salvation. (Take Moses for example!) But, as Paul made clear before, prophecy is the gift with which God brings about salvation of His people, laying hearts bare and and bring people to repentance. (v. 24-25).
Is the Gift Available Today?
So, now that we've defined what the gift is, and what the purpose of the gift was (by looking at 1 Corinthians 14), I now venture to show whether or not this gift is available to the Church of Jesus Christ today. Let us remember, that God by His power CAN do anything He wants. Psalm 115:3 says, "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.", I also approach this issue seeking to be Biblically accurate, God-exalting and humble.
I believe based on the evidence (or should I say the lack thereof) in the New Testament, the purpose of the gift itself, and the testimony of Church history are strong evidence that the gift of tongues has ceased for the Church today.
I believe based on the evidence (or should I say the lack thereof) in the New Testament, the purpose of the gift itself, and the testimony of Church history are strong evidence that the gift of tongues has ceased for the Church today.
Before we start talking about what the Bible says on the issue, let me be honest, there is only one place in the whole Bible where the gift of tongues is said to at some point cease. That one text is 1 Cor. 13:8-10. So, I think it's right to look at this text first.
1 Cor. 13:8-10, "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away."
1 Cor. 13:8-10, "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away."
Let me be honest once again, most who believe the gift of tongues has ceased do a terrible job of explaining this text. Many would like to say the "perfect" is the Word of God, or the mature church. But, the continuationists are correct in there interpretation of this passage. 1 Corinthians 13:12, says we will see "the perfect" "face to face" and that we, as believers will then be "fully known". The perfect is certainly referring to the second coming of Jesus. Before anyone says, "Ah ha! Then you must believe that tongues have not ceased!" Let's look at that text again.
Verse 8 tells us, ""Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. " Now, what we can't see in this text is what the original language brings out. [4] See, in the case of prophecy and knowledge in this passage, they will "pass away" (the Greek word "katargeō") they will pass away at the second coming of Christ. (The Greek is a future indicative) Verse 9-10 support this idea. But, the Greek tells us something interesting about tongues. Tongues will "pauō". Now, what is significant about this? The word "pauō" in this passage is in middle voice setting itself apart from the other gifts. Verse 9-10 also support this idea. It says that prophecy and knowledge fade when the perfect comes, not tongues. Also, based on the Greek, there is not way to use 1 Cor. 13:8-10 to support the idea that the gift of tongues is still available today.
Now, I will also admit that it does not necessarily support the idea that tongues have ceased, but it certain forces us to look at the rest of Scripture regarding the issue. There is only one problem. Outside of the book of 1 Corinthians and book of Acts, not much is said regarding tongues. 1 Corinthians, written in about 54 AD, was one of the first epistles Paul wrote. As we look to Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter, all written after 1 Corinthians, we hear no mention of the gift of tongues among the gifts mentioned there. Even in 2 Corinthians, written about a year or so later, had no mention of the gift at all.
This can bring some, including myself to say this is implicit that the gift of tongues ceased not too long after Corinthians.
Secondly, as we have seen under "What is the Purpose of the Gift?" we see that the purpose of tongues was not necessarily one that has a timeless application. We also saw in the discussion of Hebrews 2:3-4 and Acts 2 that they gift had much significant in redemptive history and that it gave validity to the message of the apostles. While prophecy and knowledge prove edifying to the Church until Christ returns (ex. 1 Cor 14:24-25) the purpose of tongues has ceased. The message has spread and has been confirmed (Heb. 2:3-4). Tongues cannot edify the Church. Paul himself would prefer prophecy over tongues. (1 Cor. 14:1-5 18-19)
This can bring some, including myself to say this is implicit that the gift of tongues ceased not too long after Corinthians.
Secondly, as we have seen under "What is the Purpose of the Gift?" we see that the purpose of tongues was not necessarily one that has a timeless application. We also saw in the discussion of Hebrews 2:3-4 and Acts 2 that they gift had much significant in redemptive history and that it gave validity to the message of the apostles. While prophecy and knowledge prove edifying to the Church until Christ returns (ex. 1 Cor 14:24-25) the purpose of tongues has ceased. The message has spread and has been confirmed (Heb. 2:3-4). Tongues cannot edify the Church. Paul himself would prefer prophecy over tongues. (1 Cor. 14:1-5 18-19)
Lastly, to see how the gift of tongues has ceased, we need look not further then Church history. Very little is said by orthodox Christians until the 17th century. Sure there were groups like the Shakers, Jansenists, (and even the Mormon churches! [6])who if you looked much into there beliefs, would be far from Bible believing Christians. B.B. Warfield said,
"But the real grounds of the presumption against ecclesiastical miracles are never adverted to— namely that Scripture represents miracles to be attached to the Apostles, the vehicles of revelation, as their signs, and thus raises an antecedent presumption against any miracles having occurred after their age; that on the testimony of history miracles accordingly ceased with the Apostolic age, and only after an interval are heard of again; that, when heard of again, they are the apparent progeny of the apocryphal miracles of the Gnostic and Ebionitic romances of the second and third centuries and not of the miracles of the New Testament; that they accordingly differ not only Moccdo from the miracles of the Scripture in kind, but are often wrought in support of superstitions not only foreign to the religion of the Bible, but in contradiction to it"
Basically, Warfield is saying that outside of the gifts given to the apostles, all the other places they seemingly appear they are among heretical groups (the Gnostics etc...).
Conclusion.
"But the real grounds of the presumption against ecclesiastical miracles are never adverted to— namely that Scripture represents miracles to be attached to the Apostles, the vehicles of revelation, as their signs, and thus raises an antecedent presumption against any miracles having occurred after their age; that on the testimony of history miracles accordingly ceased with the Apostolic age, and only after an interval are heard of again; that, when heard of again, they are the apparent progeny of the apocryphal miracles of the Gnostic and Ebionitic romances of the second and third centuries and not of the miracles of the New Testament; that they accordingly differ not only Moccdo from the miracles of the Scripture in kind, but are often wrought in support of superstitions not only foreign to the religion of the Bible, but in contradiction to it"
Basically, Warfield is saying that outside of the gifts given to the apostles, all the other places they seemingly appear they are among heretical groups (the Gnostics etc...).
Conclusion.
Based on the implication of Scripture, the purpose of the gift of tongues and the testimony of church history, one could reason that the gift of tongues ceased with the apostles. The gift of tongues was a "sign and wonder" given to the apostles (2 Cor. 12:12) to testify to the Gospel of salvation and to show there apostolic authority. Based on this, the gift of tongues is not for today.
[1] The Assemblies of God Constitution and Bylaws, Article V, Statement of Fundamental Truth, paragraph 8, "Glossolalia" A. Reuben Hartwick, no date, online
http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/IValue/Resources/Holy%20Spirit/Articles/SpeakinginTongues.pdf
[2] "What Is Speaking in Tongues?" John Piper interview by David Mathis, posted on DesiringGod.org on Janurary 17, 2013,
[3] "Empowered by the Spirit to Follow Jesus" Mark Driscoll, sermon on Acts 2:1-13, given June 9 2013, at Mars Hill Church
[4] The Gift of Tongue by John MacArthur "A Grace Church Distinctive" http://www.gty.org/resources/distinctives/dd06/the-gift-of-tongues
*I myself am not an expert in Greek. I actually have very little experience with Greek. The influence of John MacArthur and his study on this passage has been helpful to me.
[5] Counterfeit Miracles, (1918) New York : C. Scribner's — "The Thomas Smyth lectures for 1917-1918, delivered at the Columbia Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, October 4–10, 1917.", modern edition: Edinburgh: Banner of Truth http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/IValue/Resources/Holy%20Spirit/Articles/SpeakinginTongues.pdf
[2] "What Is Speaking in Tongues?" John Piper interview by David Mathis, posted on DesiringGod.org on Janurary 17, 2013,
[3] "Empowered by the Spirit to Follow Jesus" Mark Driscoll, sermon on Acts 2:1-13, given June 9 2013, at Mars Hill Church
[4] The Gift of Tongue by John MacArthur "A Grace Church Distinctive" http://www.gty.org/resources/distinctives/dd06/the-gift-of-tongues
*I myself am not an expert in Greek. I actually have very little experience with Greek. The influence of John MacArthur and his study on this passage has been helpful to me.
[6] http://ldsblogs.com/9576/mormon-q-and-a-do-mormons-speak-in-tongues
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