SURVEY OF TONGUES IN FIRST CORINTHIANS
By John Henry
To listen to the Pentecostals and Charismatics talk one might thing that the Bible is full of references to speaking in ecstatic unknown tongues and prayer languages. But the fact of the matter is that there is no reference to an unknown prayer language or ecstatic self edifying tongues at all, except possibly I Corinthians 13:1 where such tongues are referred to in a bad light. Biblical tongues are actual known languages. Tongues are referred to in only three New Testament books: Mark, Acts, and I Corinthians. Mark makes only one reference the speaking in tongues (16:17), Acts makes three (2:4-11, 10:46, 19:6), and I Corinthians makes the most using the word �tongue� or �tongues� twenty-two times (12:10 [twice], 28, 30, 13:1, 8, 14:2, 4, 5 [twice], 6, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 39). There are no other references to the Biblical gift of tongues in the New Testament except in these seven chapters (Mark 16, Acts 2, 10, 19, I Corinthians 12, 13, 14).
Why should First Corinthians contain more teaching on tongues than any other book of the Bible? The answer is simple: The Church of Corinth was a very confused church. This Church 1) had divisions among themselves based on personalities (I Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:1-11), 2) they were mixed up on, of all things, the resurrection (I Corinthians 15), 3) they were taking each other to court (I Corinthians 6:1-8), 4) they tolerated immorality (I Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:15-20), 5) they were confused about marriage and divorce (I Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:15-20), 6) they were mixed up about Christian liberty (I Corinthians 8), 7) they did not understand their responsibilities concerning the Great Commission (I Corinthians 9:1-14), 8) they had idolatry (I Corinthians 10:7, 14-22), 9) they had insubordinate man and women (I Corinthians 11:3-15, 14:34-35), 10) they were sinning at the Lord�s Supper (I Corinthians 11:20-34), and 11) they were confused concerning spiritual gifts in general (I Corinthians 12), and tongues in particular (I Corinthians 14). The Church of Corinth was really messed up, and almost all of Paul�s first letter to them was rebuking them for their various errors. They were in so much error on spiritual gifts that Paul wrote three whole chapters to try to straighten them out especially on tongues (I Corinthians 12-14). Let us carefully examine every reference to tongues in First Corinthians to find the true meanings of each reference.
I Corinthians 12:4-11:
�Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And thare are differences of administration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the word of wisdom;�to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: So also is Christ.�
The main thrust of this passage is that there are various �gifts� (Greek: charisma; meaning: a result of grace), �administrations� (Greek: diakonia; meaning: ministries or offices), and �operations� (Greek: energema; meaning: effects or results), but just one Spirit (the Holy Ghost), Lord (Jesus Christ), and God (the Heavenly Father) who work all these things in all His people as He wills for the profit of both the individual, and the whole body of believers. The individual profits when he uses the gift that God has given him in the service of the local church. He will be rewarded for his labor of love. (I Corinthians 3:8-17, 14:3-5) The Body of Christ profits by being built up, edified, and strengthened. Souls are added to the Church and members are edified when people exercise their spiritual gifts. (Ephesians 4:7, 8, 11, 12, 16)
Tongues is one of nine gifts in this list (I Corinthians 12:8-10), and one of a total of at lease sixteen listed in the Bible (See Appendix). In our passage we can see that tongues are real intelligible languages, because they can be interpreted (I Corithians 12:10), and because Acts 2:4-11 has already clearly defined the gift of tongues as the Spirit given ability to speak languages without having studied them for the purpose of clearly presenting God�s Word so people might understand it and be saved. Nothing in any passage of the Bible ever says anything about a prayer language that on one can understand.
I Corintians 12:28-30:
�And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?�
Here we have a list of spiritual gifts and offices is given in their order of importance. The first and most important in the list is the office of an apostle. The last and least important in the list is the gift of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:28)
Then Paul asks a series of questions: �Are all apostles?...Are all teachers?...Do all speak with tongues?...� etc. Of course the answer to every questions in the list is: No, no, no, no, no, no, no! This fact from God�s Word contradicts the false Pentecostal doctrine that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism with the Holy Ghost.
Pentecostals teach that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is not automatic when one is born again (Titus 3:5; James 1:17-18). Contrariwise the Word of God declares: �For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we he Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit.� (I Corinthians 12:13) Jesus Christ the Son of God �is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.� (John 1:33, cf. 1:29-37, 7:37-39; Matthew 3:11-17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8, 11:13-16) The Bible no where tells Christians to seek Spirit baptism! The Word of God does command us to �be filled with the Spirit� (Ephesians 5:18). There is no second blessing of Spirit baptism; there are, however, second, third, forth, and on and on blessings of being filled with the Holy Spirit when we are yielded to God (Romans 6:10-19, 12:1-10). In not everyone had the spiritual gift of tongues, and since the completion of the Bible no one has this spiritual gift any more.
I Corinthians 13:1-3:
�Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal�[and] I am nothing�[and] it profiteth me nothing.�
1. Love or charity is more important than any of the spiritual gifts: The Apostle Paul lists 1) tongues, 2) prophecy, 3) understanding of mysteries, 4) knowledge, 5) mountain moving faith, 6) sacrificial giving, and tells us all these things are ;nothing unless they are accompanied by God�s love. Charity or God�s love is the first and most important of �the fruit of the Spirit� (Galatians 5:22; cf. Colossians 3:12-14). Paul said that even if he had all these abilities, but did not have God�s love, he was �nothing.� He said: �[They] profiteth me nothing.� We need God, and �God is love� (I John 4:8, 16)� The Christian needs to speak with God�s love!
2. Tongues of fallen angels: �The Corinthians considered�tongues to be the languages of angels. Such was the association of tongues speaking in pagan worship at Corinth. When a priest of devotee spoke in tongues it was considered that he spoke in the language of the gods.� (Liberty Bible Commentary, Volume II, Dr. Jerry Falwell, 1982, pg. 454) �And used in the worship of�these false gods was speaking in�ecstatic babble accompanied by clanging cymbals, smashing gongs, and blaring trumpets.� (The Charismatics, Dr. John MacAruther, Jr., 1978, pg. 163) Here are some examples of the tongues of fallen angels:
a. Africa: �Reports have come from East Africa telling of persons possessed by demons who spoke fluently in Swahili or English although under normal circumstances they would not understand either language. Among the Thonga people of Africa, when a demon is exorcised, a song is usually sung in Zulu even though the Thonga people don�t know Zulu. The [exorcist] is supposedly able to speak Zulu by a �miracle of tongues.�� (The Charismatics, Dr. John MacAruther, 1978, pg. 175)
b. Asia: There are reports of tongues amoung Buddhists monks in Thailand, Tibet, and China. One report says �that during their ritual dances Tabetan monks have spoken in English, including profanity�� (The Charismatic Movement, Dr. John R. Rice, 1976, pg. 149). �[One evidence of demon possession] is the ability to speak languages unknown by the subject. This ability is frequently referred to by Chinese witnesses. (Demon Possession, Dr. John LoNevius, 1894, pg. 190)
c. Europe: In 1889 Dr. Andrew D. White reported a case that occurred in a French village on the boarder of Switzerland in 1953. In the report he says: �The afflicted were said�to have shown superhuman strength, and to have experienced the gift of tongues, speaking in German and Latin, and even Arabic.� (Demon Possession, Dr. John L. Nevius, 1894, pg. 191) A well documented case from Germany concerns Rev. John C. Blumherdt (1805-1880), and Miss Gottliebin Dittus who was demon possessed. Part of the account says: �Blumhardt held conversations with several of the demons [there were supposedly 1,067 in Dittus].. These demons spoke in all the different European languages, and in some which Blumhardt and others present did not recognize.� (Demon Possession, Dr. John L. Nevius, 1894, pg. 115) A demon, perhaps Satan himself, spoke through Adolf Hitler: As a teenager, Hitler had a young friend named Gustl Kubizek. �According to Kubizek�s account�[one night Hitler seemed to be]� �propelled by an invisible force�[and Hitler] looked almost sinister.��[Then he] launched into a pyroenic speech such as Gustl had never heard before and never heard again. Hitler�s voice�was hoarse and raucous�[Gustal] continues: �I was struck by something strange�even when he talked to me in moments of greatest excitement. It was if another being spoke out of his body�and moved him as much as it did me�[H]e himself listened with astonishment and emotion to what burst forth from him with elementary force.� What happened�was for Hitler a state of �complete ecstasy and emotion to what burst forth from him with elementary force.� What happened�was for Hitler a state of �complete ecstasy and repture�� [Hitler] spoke of a �mandate which, one day, he would receive,� special mission which would, one day, be entrusted to him.�� (The Twisted Cross, Joseph J. Carr, 1985, pg. 74, 75) Adolf Hitler�s occult connections with Tibetan Buddhist monks, astrology, yoga, and �gift� of foresight are well established. �Hitler was supposedly in tune with some mystical �Cosmic Consciousness,� and�was able to communicate with secret �Ascended Masters.�� (The Twisted Cross, Joseph J. Carr, 1985, pg. 78) Did he communicate with Ascended Masters or fallen angels? In 1918 Hitler was in a military hospital after having been gassed during the Battle of Ypres. There �Hitler learned of his �mission,� the task which had been promised him [as a teenager]: he heard voices that told him that he was selected by providence to rid Gremany of the hated Jews� (The Twisted Cross, Joseph J. Carr, 1985, pg. 68). �[Hitler had] an immense gift of oratory�[His audiences] seemed to be under a hypnotic spell when listening to their Fuehere speak. Germans were blindly obedient to Hitler�s will�[An estimated] 97 percent of the German public supported Hitler in 1938�[He] began each speech in the same low-key, stumbling manner�But soon after he started the speech, somethinig would �stiffen him like a firehose,� and he would take off in the flaming oratory for which he was so famous. Rather than being drained by his speeches, Hitler seemed to be charged by them�[T]he emotional and physical intensity of Hitler�s speeches�should exhaust a man any man. Yet Hitler was able to recover with only a few sips of tea!� (The Twisted Cross, Joseph J. Carr, 1985, pg. 82, 83) Most certainly Adolf Hitler had a satanic �gift of speech.�
I Corinthians 13:8-11:
�Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.�
1. Charity or God�s kind of love is eternal, where as the spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge are temporary. �[Love] never faileth,� but all the Biblical sign and revelation gifts have already �vanished away.�
2. We know that tongues have ceased from the following reason:
a. Tongues were one of the sign gifts given to the apostles to confirm their authority to speak for God (II Corinthians 12;12; Mark 16:17, 20). The sign gifts were to: 1) confirm the promises of God (Romans 15:8), 2) confirm the testimony of Christ (I Corinthians 1:6), 3) confirm the salvation spoken by the Lord J(Hebrews 2:3-4), 4) confirm the Word of God (Mark 16:20). The Lord went with the apostles and prophets of the infant Church �confirming The Word [Logos] with signs following� (Mark 16:20). �[S]alvation�was confirmed to us by them that heard [Jesus Christ]; God also bearing [the apostles and prophets] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and giftsof the Holy Ghost according to His will� (Hebrews 2:3-4). Today there are no more apostles and prophets that heard the Lord Jesus Christ personally. The Apostle John was the last apostle to die. Since his death around 95 A.D. there have been no more apostles to confirm with �signs and wonders.�
b. The Bible which is the Word of God, the Holy Faith, and the perfect Law of Liberty is now complete and has been delivered to the church (I Corinthians 13:9-10, 12; James 1:23-25; II Corinthians 3:5-6, 9, 14-18; Jude 3, 20; I Peter 1:25; Hebrews 4:12; I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19-20). The bible says: �[W]hen that which is perfect [the completed Bible] is come, then that which is in part [the revelation gifts] shall be done away.� (I Corinthians 13:10) There is no other absolutely perfect thing on Earth today, except the Word of God!!! When the Apostle Joh finished the last chapter of the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible to be written, and laid his pen down, revelation gifts ended and were done away with by God. John, the last living apostle, completed the Word of God around 95 A.D. with a stern warning: �I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this Book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book�He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.� (Revelation 22:18, 20-21). Thus direct revelation from God ceased!
c. The gift of tongues was inferior to prophecy (I Corinthians 12:28, 14:1-3). Tongues was a sign gift, but was also a revelation gift (I Corinthians 14:6; Acts 2:11, 19:6). If the superior revelation gift of prophecy ceased, and the Bible clearly says that it has been done away with (I Corinthians 13:9-10; Jude 3; Revelation 22:18), then why wouldn�t the inferior revelation gift of tongues have ceased also? The Biblical spiritual gift of tongues has been abolished along with all the other sign and revelation gifts!
d. The infant Church came of age when it was �weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts� of sign and revelation gifts (Isaiah 28:9, cf. 28:11-12). When the Church received the complet Bible then it could begin to really �understand doctrine� by putting �precept upon precept; line upon line..� here a little [and] there a little� from the Word of God (Isaiah 28:9-10, cf. 28:13). That is what Paul was talking about when he wrote: �when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood asa child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now [in Paul�s time] we [the Church] see through a glass [God�s Word], darkly [obscurely]; but then [when the Bible is complete] face to face: now I know in part [have only part of the revelation]; but then [when the Bible is completed] shall I know even as also I am known.� (I Corinthians 13:11-12; cf. Numbers 12:6-8; II Corinthians 3:7-18; James 1:23-25). Now that the Church is mature we must 1) �study to shew [ourselves] approved�rightly dividing the Word of Truth� (II Timothy 2:15; cf. I Timothy 3:15), 2) �[build] up [ourselves] on [our] most Holy Faith� (Jude 20), 3) �earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the saints� (Jude 3), and 4) �preach the Word� (II Timothy 4:2) to bring saving faith (Romans 10:17; Mark 16:15), and �for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, [and] for instruction in righteousness� (II Timothy 3:16).
I Corinthians 14:1-4:
�Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, an exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the Church.�
1. Christians are commanded to �follow after charity� (God�s love), and �desire spiritual [gifts]� or be zealous for the things imparted by the Holy Ghost. The word �desire� here is trans lated from the Greek word �zelo,� and the same word is also translated �covet earnestly� in I Corinthians 12:31 where it says: �covet earnestly the best gifts�� The question arises: Which spiritual gifts are the best, and which ones are we to be zealous for? The Bible answers this question: The best gifts are the ones that the Holy Spirit have given to each indivdual: �Now there are diversites of gifts, but the same Spirit�But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal�But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.� (I Corinthians 12:4, 7, 11 cf. Hebrews 2:4; Acts 2:4) Each Christian receives at least one spiritual gift according to God�s, not our, will. Therefore the best gifts that we are to be zealous for are the that God has given to personally �profit withal.� Christians are responsible to use their spiritual gifts in the context of the local church body (I Corinthians 12:27-28; Ephesians 4:11-12).
2. For the most part the Apostle Paul is not talking about the spiritual gift of tongues in I Corinthians 14, because spiritual gifts do not require reproof and correctin! Paul is not talking about ecstatic jibberish either. That is an ancient pagan meaning, and the modern Pentecostal meaniing, but the Biblical meaning of tongues is translatable language. What they had Corinth was members showing off hteir ability to speak in various foreign languages. �For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.� (I Corinthians 14:2) Someone that is showing off his knowledge of a foreign language that no one else around knows �edifieth himself� alone (I Corinthians 14:4), because he speaketh not unto men, but unto God� (I Corinthians 14:2). Of course God understands all languages! The whole jest of I Corinthiasn 14 is that all speech in the church should be clear and understandable. (I Corinthians 14:6, 9, 16, 19, 27, 28) When anyone speaks in a language that others around him don�t understansd his speech is a secret or mystery to them.
3. �[H]e that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.� (I Corinthains 14:3) Here �he htat prophesieth� is not necessarily someone with the gift of prophecy (I Corinthians 12:10, 28, Romans 12:6). The word �prophesy,� in addition to meaning �foretell,� can mean �tell forth the will of God� (Genesis 20:7; Deuteronomy 18:18). It means: 1) foretell future events by special revelation form God, and 2) tell forth what God has already revealed through special revelation. One who speaks according to the revealed Word of God may be called a prophet even though he does not have the spiritual gift of prophecy. A prophet of thistype may have the gift of �exhortation� (Romans 12:8), or �the word of wisdom� (I Corinthaisn 12:8) which are used in soul winning, teaching, and preaching for the �edification, and exhortation, and comfort�[of] the Church� (I Corinthians 14:3-4). All spiritual gifts, including tongues, are �[f]or the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body� (Ephesians 4:12, cf. 4:7-8, 11, 16). Spiritual gifts are for 1) �the perfecting of the saints,� they are for use in teachiing saved folks (Matthew 28:20), and exhorting and comforting to them (Romans 12:8; I Corinthians 14:3); 2) �the work of the ministry,� they are for governing or ruling and helping or ministering (Romans 12:7-8; I Corinthians 12:28); 3)�the edifying of the body,� they are for getting people saved and in church (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41). The word �edify� means �to build up.� We are never told to edify our selves in the Bible; we are commanded to �edify one another� (I Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 14:19, 15:2), and to edify the church (I Corinthians 14:12, 26). We are �to build up� the Church by 1) laying the foundation of salvation (I Corinthians 3:9-11; Ephesians 2:20), and 2) service, prayer, and giving (I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 4:16; Jude 20). Much of the tongues speaking in Corinth, and all of the tongues speaking today is and was unscriptual and self edifying!
4. �Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.� (I Corinthians 8:1) �Charity [or God�s love]�vauntheth not itself, is not puffed up, doeth not behave itself unseemly�� (I Corinthians 13:4-5) To �vaunteth� is to �display boastfully.� To be �puffed up� is to be �proud of one�s self.� Some of the Corinthians believers were proudly showing off their knowledge of languages that most of the other Corinthiasn believers did not understand. �He that speaketh in a tongue [unknown to anyone except himself] edifieth himself [only]� (I Corinthians 14:4). Similarly today, except now without any real knowledge, the Pentecostals speak in jibberish unknown to anyone, including angels most of the time, and some vaunt and boast of their �gift of tongues.� Tongues to many is a badge of spirituality, and one group, the United Pentecostal Church, even says, if you don�t speak in tongues then your not saved. But no where in the Bible do we find that speaking in tongues, much less jibbersih, is a sign of salvation, and neither re tongues �the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost� as many claim. Thiese false doctrines stem a false spiritual pride.
I Corinthians 14:5-13:
�I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for grater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, excet he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction, in the sounds how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh [shall be] a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.�
1. Paul begins here by saying, � I wish you all could speak in foreign languages.� If they could then every one would understand each other. But better than speaking a foreign language is the ability to plainly give out God�s Word or prophesy in the language of those present so that they can understand plainly, and receive edification. (I Corinthians 14:5)
2. Paul allows for the true spiritual gift of tongues when he said, �if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall it profit you, except I shall speak�by knowledge, or by prophesying�� (I Corinthians 14:6). Tongues was not only a sign gift, but also a gift toreveal new knowledge and foretell future events before they come to pass. �Revelation� is the opposite fo �mysteries� (I Corinthians 14:2). Today one may reveal mysteries in the Word of God through study, but, unlike in Paul�s day, the gifts of �the word of knowledge,� �prophecy,� and �tongues,� the three revelation gifts, have been done away with and vanished (I Corinthians 13:8-10).
3. Paul allows for gibberish, and rebukes it when he indicates that even musical instruments must make distincat sounds in order to know the tune. But just as much of the music in Pentecostal churches is not really music, so also much of their tongue speaking is not language, but gibberish. The �speak into the air,� and no one, not even angles, understand them (I Corinthians 14:9, cf. 13:1, 14:7-9).
4. A �barbarian� was someone that spoke a language other than Greek (Romans 1:14; Colossians 3:11). The apostles of the infant Church were few, and had to have the gifts of tongues and interpretation so that they could go into all the world to all nations in order to preach the gospel to them in their own languages, and so they could understand them (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, 17, 20: Acts 1:8). They did not have time to go to language school as the missionaries do today, so God equipped them supernaturally for their missionary task. Paul said: �There are�many kinds of voices [languages] in the world, and none of them is without signification [meaning]. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice [words], I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, ;and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.� (I Corinthians 14:10-11) That is exactly why God gave the gift of tongues, and interpretation of tongues: so the early missionaries could communicate in the foreign lands they went to evangelize. �Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.� (I Corinthians 14:12). Speak clearly and understandably so you can win people to Christ, and edify believers.
I Corinthians 14:13-17:
�Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit,how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.�
1. Some things to keep in mind here: 1) Paul is speaking of the real gift of languages here, not gibberish, 2) Paul is not referring to a private prayer language, that�s not found anywhere in the Bible, 3) Paul is teaching on tongues in public worship.
2. The Biblical gift of tongues is defined for us in Acts 2: It says: 1) �They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and�spake with other tongues, as the Spirit give them utterance.� The apostles may or man not have understood what they were saying, we are not told. 2) �Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven�heard them speak in his own language.� The Jews in Jerusalem on Pentecost Day who �heard them speak in [their] own tongues the wonderful works of God� were from the following nations where they �were born.� (Acts 2:4-11):
1. Parthia: A tribal area in Persia.
2. Media: A country the Caspian sea and Persa.
3. Elam: A region of Persia between Babylonia and Media.
4. Mesopotamia: The area between the Tigris and Euphraties revers.
5. Judea: In Israel.
6. Cappadocia: An inland area of Asia Minor.
7. Pontus: An area north of Cappadicia.
8. Asia: The western most Roman province in Asia Minor.
9. Phrygia: A province of Asia Minor where Colosse is located.
10. Pamphylia: An imperial Roman province of Asia Minor.
11. Egypt: In north Africa.
12. Libya: In north Africa west of Egypt. Cyrene was Libya�s capitol.
13. Rome: In Italy.
14. Create: An island south of Greece.
15. Arabia: A large area about 1300 miles from north to south between the Red Seam the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf.
These nations spoke various languages, and the apostles were able to supernaturally speak their tongues to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Remember, 1) �the Spirit gave [the apostles] utterance,� and 2) the utterances were real languages (Acts 2:4-11).
3. The Apostle Paul said: �[L]et him that speaketh in a [supernaturally given language] pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a [supernaturally given language], my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.� (I Corinthians 14:13-14) Paul is saying that everyone in the Church needs to be able to understand the one who is praying. Either he himself should interpret, or someone else may (I Corinthians 14:13-14, 27). But as for Paul he says: �I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also,� and the same for singing (I Corinthians 14:15). Unless there is an interpretation of the tongue �the unlearned�understandeth not what [he] sayest�[others are] not edified� (I Corinthians 14:16-17). For this reason Paul forbids speaking in tongues in Church unless they are interpreted (I Corinthians 14:27-28).
I Corinthians 14:18-19:
�I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all: Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.�
1. Paul here says that he spoke with tongues more than any of the Corinthians. Paul had probably learned at least 4 languages: Hebrew because he was Jewish (Acts 21:40), Latin because he was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29), Aramaic which was in common use in Judea then, and Koine Greek which he used to write all his epistles. In addition to having learned languages, Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, and his missionary journeys took him to Arabia, Syria, Asia Minor (Roman provinces of Cilicia, Pamphylia, Galatia, Lycia, and Asia), Europe (Macedonia, Achaia, and Italy), and islands of the Mediterranean Sea (Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, and Sicily). We are led by the Bible to believe that Paul had the spiritual gifts of tongue, and interpretation in order to communicate with the Gentiles of these lands also, because he said: �[I]f I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful� (I Corinthians 14:14). That means that the God given ability to communicate in a unknown foreign language did not necessarily guarantee that the speaker would understand what he was saying (That also goes for the demon given ability to speak in tongues) However, when God, in apostolic times, gave someone the ability to speak in tongues we can be sure there was someone there who needed to hear the Gospel, or a special Word from God.
2. Paul teaches that if tongues are used n a church service there must always be an interpretation, and that just five words, like, �Christ died for our sings,� are many many times more beneficial than �ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue� (I Corinthians 14:19, cf. 14:27-28). Paul wanted to �teach others,� which is what Jesus Christ commanded His Church to do! Jesus said: �Go ye [Church] therefore [because the Lord would give power, i.e. spiritual gifts], and teach all nations [give them the plan of salvation and get them saved]�[and then teach] them [the new church members] to observe all tings whatsoever I have commanded you�� (Matthew 28:19-20). Getting people saved, and teaching them are the ultimate purpose of all the spiritual gifts!
I Corinthians 14:20-25:
�Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice by ye children, but in understanding be men. In the Law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear Me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.�
1. Note that word �understanding.� The word �understandeth,� �understood,� and �understanding� appears 9 times in this chapter (I Corinthians 14:2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20). The word �understanding� generally refers to the understanding of the speaker (I Corinthians 14:14, 15, 19, 20), rather than the hearer (I Corinthians 14:2, 9, 16). The understanding of the hearer is most important, but Paul puts the emphasis on the understanding of the one speaking in tongues. Why? 1) He said if one prays in an unknown tongue without knowing the interpretation his �understanding is unfruitful.� (I Corinthians 14:14) 2) He said we should pray and sing �with the spirit, and�with the understanding also.� (I Corinthians 14:16) 3) he said that one should speak �with [one�s ] understanding, that�[he] might teach others also.� (I Corinthians 14:19) There are 2 main reasons why all speech, prayer, and song must be understood by the one speaking, praying, or singing: 1) one should never relinquish his understanding, or put his mind in neutral, as in hypnosis, due to the possibility of demonic influence (in such a state it is impossible to �try [test] the spirits whether they are of God� (I John 4:1-2) as we have been commanded); 2) speech, prayer, and singing without understanding is childish: Paul said: �Brethren [born again persons], be not children in understanding�but in understanding be men.� (I Corinthians 14:20) A child many times can say word and phrases without having any idea what they mean, and they often speak in baby talk and jibberish which has no meaning at all. Paul has already said: �When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.� (I Corinthians 13:11) Tongues are baby talk. The real spiritual gift of tongues was the baby talk of the infant church, and for the most part Pentecostal tongues are chilish learned behavior, but sometimes they are demonic. Paul�s use of the word �understanding� is important, because it helps us realize that we are not to have an �unknown, prayer language,� as the Pentecostals falsely teach, and that all speech, prayer, an song in the Church must be understandable!
2. Paul said: �[H]owbeit in malice be ye children�� (I Corinthians 14:20). This brings us back to the fact that some of the Corinthiasn were proudly vaunting their ability to speak in foreign languages that others there did not understand (I Corinthians 8:1, 13:4, 14:2). Paul�s statement here may be translated: �yet ye are evil children.� The word translated �malice� here is a noun (Greek: �kakia�) which means: �Wickedness as an evil habit of�heart, life and character (Acts 8:22; I Corinthains 14:20; I Peter 2:16).� (Zodhiates) That is exactly what some of the tongues speaking in the Church of Corinth was, and it is what much of the modern Tongues Movement is all about! A lot of born again people are acting like �evil children.� Pride is a wicked thing. Pride was the down fall of Satan (Ezekiel 28:17); it is the down fall of most lost people; and it is the down fall of a lot of saved folks!!! Lord help us!!1
3. �In the Law [Isaiah 28:11-12] it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear Me, saith the Lord.� (I Corinthians 14:21) �The context of Isaiah 28 is set in the reign of King Hezekiah of Judeah [705-701 B.C.]�Isaiah reprimanded [Judah]�with a sever warning of coming judgement [because of their wickedness]�[T]he Jews would not listen when God spoke to them [through Isaiah and other prophets] in plain Hebrew; so God would speak to them in a language they would not understand. It was the language of the Assyrian invaders from Babylon. Because of Judah�s constand unbelief and departure from the faith, god was going to bring judgement upon her [which would be]�signaled by� �other tongues� (Isaiah 28:11; cf. Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 5:15). This prophecy found its fulfillment when the Babylonians conquered Judah in 586 B.C., and even greater judgement would come later to the nation [as the Lord Jesus Christ]�had clearly warned (Luke 13:35, 21:20, 24)�In 70 A.D., Titus the Roman sacked Jerusalem, killing 1,100,000 Jews and scattering the rest all over the world. The gift of languages was a sign of this judgement on unbelieving Israel.� (The Charismatics, Dr. John MacArthur, Jr., 1978, pg. 167, 168) It is interesting to note that all references to the gift of tongues in the Bible were written before 70 A.D. when the Roman General, Titus conquered Israel (Mark 16:17 was written between 55 and 65 A.D., Acts 2:4-11, 10:46, 19:6 was written around 62 or 63 A.D., and I Corinthians was written about 56 A.D.). tongues were clearly a sign of God�s impending judgement upon Israel.
4. Note again that �tongues are for a sign�� (I Corinthians 14:22): 10 to authenticate the apostles authority to speak for Go (Mark 16:17, 20), 2) to the Jews of inpending judgement (Isaiah 28:11; Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 5:15; Luke 13:34-35, 21:12-24), 3) to �thm that believe not� in general including the barbarians of Indiato whom Nathanael and Thomas went, them of Ethiopia to whom Matthew and Matthias went, them of Egypt to whom Simon Zelotes went, them of Syria to whom Andrew went, them of Persia to whom Thaddeus went, and to them of other parts of the world to whom the apostles may have went where they needed the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues (I Corinthians 14:22), 4) to Jews who would believe when they heard God�s Truth (Acts 2:4-11, 10:46).
5. But if tongues were to be of benefit in the Church they had to be tongues understood by those who heard them. If anyone come into the church who was �unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad� or out of you minds if you are all jibbering away (I Corinthians 14:23). �But if all prophecy [in an orderly fashion], and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.� (I Corinthians 14:24, cf. 14:27-33). The only way to get people saved by way of tongues is that they understand the tongue being spoken. Paul had already said that the only way to �profit� form tongues was to use one that the people understood. He said: �if I come unto you speaking with tongues what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you [in an understandable tongue] either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?� (I Corinthians 14:6) People just have to know what is being said if they are ever going to get saved or edified, that all there is to it!!!
6. If the Church is doing its job the they are in the business of convincing and judging sinners of their sins. The Lord Jesus Christ said to the church after His resurrection: �Receive the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.� (John 20:22-23) How does the Church know whose sins to remit, and whose sins to retain? We know by the Spirit of Truth Who Christ sent to �guide [the Church] into all Truth� (John 16:13, cf. 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7-11). The Lord Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would �be in,� �teach,� �guide,� �comfort� and �testify� with the Church, and that He would �reprove the world� (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:8). The Church that is doing its job right is following the leadership of the Holy spirit. The Spirit of God guided the apostles in their writing of the New Testament (John 16:13), just as He did the Old Testament prophets (II Peter 1:21). Once the 66 Books of the Bible were completed the Spirit of truth guided the Church as to what Books were inspired so that they could be gathered into volume and preserved. Now the Holy Spirit teaches and guides the Church in the proper interpretation and use of the Bible. The Word of God is the Standard by which the Church must judge. We must not judge according to our own thoughts, but according to the Word of God as we are guided by the spirit of Truth. The business of the Church is winning souls, not speaking in tongues! The Bible says that the Holy Spirit �will reprove [Greek: elegxo] the World of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgmenet.� (John 16:8) The Bible also says that an unbeliever �is convinced [Greek: elegxo] of all [the whole Church], he is judged of all� (I Corinthians 14:24, cf. 14:23). The same goes for �unlearned,� and �malice� filled Church members (I Corinthians 14:20, 23, 24; Matthew 18:15-18). The Bible is the standard that judges both lost sinner, and church members. Conviction of both saved and lost sinners from the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) through the church (I Corinthians 14:23-24) by the man of God according to the Word of God: �For a bishop [pastor] must�[hold] fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince [Greek: elegxo] the gainsayers.� (Titus 1:9) But before we can �elegxo� (convince, reprove, or convict) anyone we must �anakrino� [examine, discern, or judge] them and before we can properly judge or examine anyone we must �search [anakrino] the scriptures (Acts 17:11; cf. I Corinthians 2:14-15).
7. The Church must go along with the verdict of God who has already examined all the evidence, and convicted the whole world of sin (Romans 3:19, 23; John 16:8-11). So our job is to get the lost person to see 1) he is a sinner (Romans 3:23). 2) the wages of his sin is eternal death in hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14, 21:8), 3) God love him in spite of his sin and died on the cross to keep him out of Hell, and rose from the dead to demonstrate his power to take the sinner to heaven and keep him safe forever (Romans 4:25, 5:8-10; Hebrews 7:25; John 3:16), 4) the only way to be saved is to simply turn from the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour (Matthew 22:37-38; John 1:11-13, 14:6; Romans 6:23, 10:9-10; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Revelation 21:7). When the members of the Church ar working together along side of God, in accordance with His Word the end results is that lost people get saved. When the Church is doing what it is supposed to do that lost man is �convicted� in his heart that he is a sinner on his way to hell, and that it was for his sins that Christ went to the cruel cross of Calvary. When the sinner understand this �the secrets of his heart [are] made manifest [he repents of his sin] and falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth� (I Corinthians 14:25).
I Corinthians 14:26-40:
�How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the Church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two of three, and let the other judge. If [any thing] be revealed to another that setteth by, let him first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not [the author] of confusion, but peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the Law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the Church. What? Came the word of God out of you, or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I writed unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.�
1. The Apostle Paul here is laying down some rules for Church order. He reiterates that if a foreign tongue is used that it must be interpreted so that it will �profit,� and �edify� others (I Corinthians 14:6, 16-17). This is the list of rules for tongues in the Church:
a. Only �two or at the most three� may speak in tongues in a church service (I Corinthians 14:27).
b. They that speak in tongues must speak one at a time (I Corinthians 14:26). They are to speak �by course,� or one at a time.
c. They are to �keep silent� �if there be no interpreter.� (I Corinthians 14:28)
d. Women are never allowed to speak in tongues in the Church (I Corinthians 14:34).
2. Generally every one of the rules for speaking in tongues in the Church are broken by Pentecostals and Charismatics today: 1) a lot of them 2) all speak at the same time 3) without any interpretation, and 4) women do most of the jibberish. H have seen it, and testify that not only is the doctrine in error, but also the church order. The Word of God says: �God is not of confusion commotions, or tumults], but of peace, as in all churches of the saints�Let all things be done decently and in order.� (I Corinthians 14:33, 40) (Note: The same Greek word which is translated �confusion� here is elsewhere translated �commotions� [Luke 21:9], and �tumults� (II Corinthians 6:5, 12:20]) Speaking in tongues in the Church of Corinth was causing confusion, commotion, disorder, and some of it was down right indecent or dishonest. (Note: The Greek word translated �decently� here is elsewhere translated �honestly� [Romans 13:13; I Thessalonians 4:12]) Much of todays Pentecostal and Charismatic tongues speaking is sincere, but �ignorant� and �childish� learned behavior (I Corinthians 13:11, 14:20, 38). They really believe they are doing something �spiritual.� (I Corinthians 14:37). But many, especially the leaders, are down right dishonest fakes that are not even saved. And some ard demon possessed. The whole tongues movement today is not Biblical for two obvious reasons: 1) tongues are clearly stated in the word of God to have ceased, and 2) the tongues that are spoken today do not meet the criteria laid down by God for their use.
3. Paul referring back to everything he had said in I Corinthians 14 (especially verses 18 and 24) says: �How is it then, brethren?...� 1) is it that your understand what you are saying (I Corinthians 14:14-19)? 2) Is it that you are able to �teach others� with your tongues (I Corinthians 14:19)? 3) is it that you are malicious (evil) in your use f tongues (perhaps showing off) (I Corinthians 14:20)? 4) Are your tongues a direct revelation from God (I Corinthians inthians 13:8-10, 14:21)? 5) Are your tongues helping to convince people that they need Christ to be saved (I Corinthians 14:22-25)? Today people that speak in tongues 1) do not know what they are saying, 2) do not teach others with their tongue, 3) are not receiving direct revelation from God, and 4) their tongues are not helping any one to get saved!!! The only uses of tongues today, and they�re not God given tongues, are: 1) self edification (spiritual gifts were for the edification of the Church, not self), 2) prayer (no where in the Bible do we find that we are to pray in tongues), 3) to show off spirituality (I Corinthians 14:20, 37), 4) to deceive and lead people astray (Matthew 7:21-23; II Peter 2:1-3). Paul continues: �When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a [teaching];, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation�� (I Corinthians 14:26) In many churches today no one wants to do anything. The Church of Corinth didn�t have that problem. Everyone wanted to get into the limelight, everybody wanted a piece of the action, they were all competing to sing, speak, and teach. It was a madhouse. No wonder Paul said: �If�the whole Church�all speak with tongues�will [unbelievers] not say that ye are mad?...But if all prophesy [in an orderly fashion]�he is convinced of all [repents, gets saved]�and report that God is in you of a truth.� (I Corinthians 14:23-25) In mass confusion no one is edified, and no one gets saved. With order in the Church people are edified and the lost understand clearly God�s Plan (the Godpel of Jesus Christ) for their salvation.
4. �If any man think himself�spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that [Paul wrote unto us about tongues and Church order] are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. (I Corinthians 14:37-38) The Apostle Paul wrote the book of First Corinthians �by inspiration of God� as he was �moved by the Holy Ghost� (II Timothy 3:16; II peter 1:21). It is the Word of God, and �[God�s] Word is Truth� (John 17:17). Another name of the Holy Ghost is �the Spirit of Truth� (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13). The Lord Jesus Christ said: �To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the World, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth heareth My voice.� (John 18:37) �Those involved in the charismatic [tongues] movement have chosen experience as opposed to Truth�[Some] charismatics mook the Word of God in preference to their spirit experience. When a charismatic pitches the Bible on the floor�and says, �I don�t care what the Bible says, I have my experience,� we know that spirit is not of God.� (You Can Lead Roman Catholics to Christ, Rev. Wilson Ewin, 1980, pg. 103) The Lord Jesus Christ said: �He that is of God heareth God�s words: ye therefore heart [them] not, because ye are not of God.� (John 8:47) To be sure there are many born again people who have become entangled in the charismatic tongues movement: these are the �unlearned,� �ignorant,� and sometimes �in malice� even the willfully disobedient that Paul made reference to (I Corinthians 14:20, 23, 24, 38). To these and to all saved people the Lord Jesus Christ said: �If you continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.� (John 8:31-32, cf. 15:7-14) The problem is that all to often we do not �continue in [Christ�s] Word,� and we do not allow �[Christ�s] words [to] abide in [us],� and we do not �keep [Christ�s] commandments� (John 8:31, 15;7, 10; cf. I John 2:3-6). God says to the unlearned and ignorant believers, and all saved people for that matter: �Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the World.� (I John 4:1) This brings us to the leaders, the �false prophets� and �false teachers,� for the charismatic tongues movement: The Word of God says: �But as there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in [shall secretly smuggle in] damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious [cestructive] ways; by reason of whom the Way of Truth shall be evil spoken of [blasphemed]. And through their covetousness shall they with feigned words [lying words shaped for deceit to] make merchandise [profit financially] of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.� (II Peter 2:1-3) The false teaching of the Charismatics and Pentecostals is that speaking in tongues is only �the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.� However, the Word of God teaches that after Christ�s ascension back to the Father, He began His pastoral work of baptizing �with the Holy Ghost� (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:29-34, 7:37-39; Acts 1:4-5, 10:44-45, 11:15-17; I Corinthians 12:13). Today when one is saved, he is regenerated, in dwelt, baptized, and filled aby the Holy Spirit who the Father sends in Christ�s name (John 3:5-8, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26). Pastor Jesus, since the days of ht eapostles, baptizes all who receive Him the very instant that they believe (Acts 10:34-48; I Corinthians 12:13; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 2:25). Today the evidence of �the baptism with the Holy Ghost� is obedience to the Word of God, not speaking in tongues: �[H]ereby we do know that we know Him [that we are saved], if we keep His commandments�[W]hoso keepeth His Word, in him verily in the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth n Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.� (I John 2:3, 5, 6) Tongues, however, are an �initial evidence,� but not of Spirit baptism. Tongues are at this time the initial evidence that 1) believers are being made �merchandise of� (II Peter 2:3), and 2) �doctrines of demons� are being taught (I Timothy 4:1). That word �merchandise� comes from the Greek word �emporeuomai� which �primarily signifies �to travel.� Especially for business��to traffic�� (Vine), �to travel about as a merchant or trader on a large scale,�to traffic in, make gain of� (Zodhiates). Tongues are the initial false doctrine that opens the door for many demonic doctrines. The �false teachers� and �false prophets� travel all over the world trafficking in false doctrine, and their first false doctrine is: �the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.� And from this false doctrine they move on into deep heresy. Some teach a false doctrine which denies the Holy Trinity (I John 5:7), others elevate Satan and man, some teach faith in faith as opposed to faith in Christ, most teach that God is not able to keep His children from Hell, but that they must maintain their salvation by good works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Jude 24; Hebrews 7:25; John 10:27-29; Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:38-39), most teach continuing revelation from God (Revelation 22:18), most teach a unity based on the tongues experience without regard to doctrinal Truth (II Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 18:2-5), and many of these false teachers �do not abide in the doctrine of Christ� by �denying the Lord that bought them� (II John 9; II Peter 2:1; cf. I John 2:2, 4:1-3; II John 7:11). Hear what some tongues people say for yourself: �Christ supposedly told [Kenneth] Copeland: ��They crucified Me for claiming that I was God. But I didn�t claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with Him and that He was in Me�� Upon being questioned about this blasphemy, Copeland replied, �I did�s say Jesus wasn�t God, I said He [Jesus] didn�t claim to be God when He lived on the earth. Search the Gospels for yourself. If you do, you�ll find what I say is true.� If�[we do] search the Gosples�[we] discover how wrong he really is. To being, consider the Gospel of John�Jesus says, �I and [the] Father are one.� [John 10:30; cf. I John 5:7]�[The Jews] knew precisely what Jesus meant. Immediately they picked up stones and denounced Christ for blasphemy, because they said, �thou, being a man, makest thyself God� (John 10:33, cf. 1:1-3, 14, 3:13, 5:17-18, 8:58, 17:5)�It is mind-boggling to hear Copeland assert: ��[God had] go have a man like that first one [Adam]. It�s got to be a man�He cannot be a God and come storming in here with attributes and dignities that are not common to man. He can�t do that. It�s not legal.� Not only does Copeland reduce Jesus to a carbon copy of [Adam]�but he clearly divests Christ of every shred of deity�Benny Hinn�s statements are even more unnerving�Hinn [another tongues speaker] writes: ��Had the Holy Spirit not been with Jesus, He would have sinned. That�s right, it was the Holy Spirit that was the power that kept Him pure�He was capable of sinning. ��While Christ voluntarily veiled His divine glory, Scripture insists that He did not surrender His divine attributes (Philippians 2:5-11). And as God, Jesus would not have sinned (II Corinthians 5:21; I John 3:5).� (Christianity in Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff, 1993, pg. 137-140) Many tongue speaking false teachers, like Hinn and Copeland, have bought into Satan�s lie, and like Satan are now �going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down it� with their �merchandise� of false doctrines (Job 1:7, 2:2; Ezekiel 28:16). Today many of the leaders of the tongues movement, like Satan himself, �[have] defiled [their] sanctuaries by the multitude of [their] iniquities, by the iniquity of [their] traffic�� (Ezekiel 28:18). �For such are false [are] false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angle of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.� (II Corinthians 11:13-15) Many of these false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles are not �ignorant� of what they are doing, but know full well that they are making �merchandise� of God�s people (II Peter 2:3). Tongues an other false doctrines are also promoted over �Christian� television networks like C.B.N., and T.B.N. (Ephesians 2:2). Pat Robertson�s Christians Broadcasting Network teaches speaking in ecstatic utterance, and also perverts the teaching on some of the other spiritual gifts. Robertson promotes unity with Catholics and others on the basis of the charismatic tongues experience. Paul Crouch�s Trinity Broadcasting Network is perhaps the largest merchandiser of false doctrine in a �Christian� package that there is. Crouch, for example, �gives his staunch support to the United Pentecostal church, a cult which claims that the Trinity is a pagan doctrine�To those who would speak out against this promotion of cultic doctrine, Crouch issues this ominous warning: ��God�s gonna shoot you if I don�t� [and]�damned and on their way to hell�� [and again]� �If you want to criticize Ken Copeland�get out of my life!...I don�t want to see your ugly face. Get out of my face, in Jesus� name.�� (Christianity in Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff, 1993, pg. 360) Tongues are not the measure of spirituality! Knowing God�s Word and obeying it is the measure of spirituality. �But I any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.� (I Corinthians 14:38)
5. �[C]ovet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.� (I Corinthians 14:39-40) Paul here is teaching that we are to �forbid not to speak with tongues�[if it is] done decently and in order.� Again the rules for speaking in tongues in Church are: 1) The language must be understood by all (I Corinthians 14:12-19, 28). That means, no fake jibberish in the Church! Note that even the one speaking must know what he said himself or through an interpreter. And also remember that the tongue must profit and edify the Church cy revelation [Ephesians 1:17-20; Romans 16:25-26], by knowledge [Romans 2:20; Colossians 2:2-3], by prophesying [II Peter 1:21; Titus 1:12-13], or by doctrine [Titus 1:9, II Timothy 3:16] (I Corinthians 14:6, 19). 2) Only two or three people were allowed to speak a foreign language in any one church service and they had to talk one at a time. Members were not allowed to all speak in tongues at the same time. 3) Women were not allowed to speak in tongues or prophesy �when the Whole Church be come together into one place� (I Corinthians 14:23, 34). Women may speak, testify, and teach in ladies meetings, and when children's classes, but not in the main service, although they may sing in the main service. To �prophesy� most often means to fore-tell future events, but it sometimes means to tell forth what has already been disclosed by God. In this since it means to preach, teach, or testify in accordance with the Word of God. Women may prophesy in this sense (Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:17-18, 18:24-26), but not in the main church service. Why? Because: 1) The main service is to �teach,� and the Bible says: �Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.� (I Timothy 2:11). The women of the Church of had been disruptive and insubordinate in Church (I Corinthians 11:5-8). 2) God said through Paul: �I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.� (I Timothy 2:12; cf. I Corinthians 14:34). A woman is just not allowed to teach or rule over men. 3) �Behind the [ancient] City of Corinth was [a]�high Acro[polis]�[crowned with] a magnificent Temple to Aphrodite (Latin: Venus)�[This] Greek goddess of love and beauty was worshiped with sexual orgies. The Temple prostitutes who were used in these orgies of worship worked themselves up into ecstatic frenzies [and spoke in unknown tongues] as they followed their heathen, immoral rituals. [This] sight of frenzied women speaking in unknown tongues in their dedication to immorality was�[common in Paul�s day]. Paul�s abhorrence of such [ecstatic utterance] is�obvious.� (The Tongues Confusion, Dr. Curtis Hutson, 1985, pg. 15) these Temple prostitutes or priestesses wore their hair very short and were easily recognized, but some of the women in the Church were speaking like, and dressing like them (I Peter 3:1-6; I Timothy 2:9-14; I Corinthians 11:5-15; Deuteronomy 22:5). The last two verses of the Tongues Chapter of the Bible say: �Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy (Preach, teach, and witness], and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.� (I Corinthians 14:39-40) It is not �decent� for a woman to speak in ecstatic tongues! If possible when people of other tongues come to our churches we should orderly interpret the message from God�s Word for them to understand; but the Word of God teaches that there is no place for ecstatic gibberish or the tongues of angles [demons] in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Away with such childishness, and wickedness!
CONCLUSION:
We have now seen from the Word of God: 1) What the true spiritual gift of tongues was, 2) what the gift was for, 3) its decent and orderly use in the Church, and 4) that it ceased during the apostolic age. The Biblical gift of tongues were real languages that people back then understood. Their purpose was primarily to get people saved, and then teach them as is commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
From my own experience in Pentecostal churches, although I never spoke in ecstatic utterance, I know: 1) the great electric excitement that is in their services, 2) there are many saved, and sincere people in the movement that love the Lord and His Word, and 3) these folks have been deceived by ignorant or down right lying teachers, and by their own selves, because they don't check their tongues experience against the Bible. I also know, form personal experience, of the destructiveness of the movement, because I lost a close and long time friend to deep heresy that began with the tongues movement.
From careful study of modern tongues and the heresies associated with it, I know that the movement is satanically inspired! No one can afford to put his own thoughts, experience, ecstasy, or anything else before what the Bible, God�s perfect and infallible Word, says! Experience and feelings are sometimes deceptive, but we can always trust the Word of God. What ever the Bible says, that is the way it is! Period!!!
A Christian doctrine cannot be built without clear statements from the Scriptures. But that is what the tongues speaker today does when he says, �I speak in tongues to edify myself based on I Corinthians 14:4.� This verse is not a commandment. It isn't ever a suggestion to speak in tongues to edify self. On the contrary, it is a reprimand for speaking in a tongue that no one else around understands.
A false doctrine of an ununderstandable prayer language is based on I Corinthians 14:14, but that is not what it means at all. In the context of the verse (I Corinthians 14:13-16) it is not a teaching to pray in an unknown tongue; it is the opposite, it is a command to pray with one's understanding.
There is not one single spiritual gift that is for self edification. Not one! They are all for the edification of the Church (I Corinthians 12:12; I Peter 4:10). The Bible says: �Follow after charity [which vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doeth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own], and desire spiritual gifts�that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church.� (I Corinthians 14:1, 12, cf. 13:4-5) The tongues of today are used to edify self [seek her own] as opposed to building up the Church which were their true purpose in apostolic times.
If you believe that tongues are an ecstatic prayer language, you have bought into a lie of the Devil! You don't have a Scriptural leg to stand on! Scriptural tongues were never ecstatic gibberish, but were understandable languages. And if you talk in tongues you are not speaking in angel talk, because not even they understand you, unless you are vexed or possessed by demons. The tongue talkers of today have just plain been deceived, or are simply deceivers themselves.
Speaking in tongues comes to people in one of four ways: 1) In apostolic times they were given by the Holy Spirit of God. 2) Today it is generally learned behavior caused by seeing others do it and then being pressured and/or desiring to do it, and then really believing it. 3) Some are just fakes and liars. 4) Some are actually possessed by devils. �Lucian, who died about A.D. 181,... alludes to our Lord ... �who cured the sick man," saying, �The man is silent but the demon answers in the language of the Greek, or Barbarians ...�� (Demon Possession, John L. Nevius, p. 192, 193) Demons or childishness. Today it is one or the other.
If tongues teaching is right, then why is it that there is no record of tongues in church history except the Montanists who were branded as heretics, and a few occurrences a thousand years latter in the 1700�s by clearly heretical groups like the shakers, led by Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784) who regarded herself as the female equivalent of Jesus Christ? All through the church persecutions (A.D. 100 to 313), through the early Catholic period (A.D. 313 to 590), through the Dark Ages of full blown Roman Catholicism (590 to 1517), through the Reformation (1517 to 1648), and up until 1901 there is no significant record of tongues in church history.
All the Pentecostal denominations were born out of the experience of Agnes Ozman when she spoke in tongues upon receiving what she called the baptism of the Spirit on the first day of the 20th Century (Jan. 1, 1901) at Bethel Bible College, a Methodist School, in Topeka, Kansas. Then in 1906 tongues broke out on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, and for several years people visited Azusa street form all over the world and took the false doctrine of the baptism of the spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues back with them. Every Pentecostal denomination and the beginning of the modern tongues movement can be traced back to these two events. The mother of all Pentecostal denominations is the Methodist Church, the mother of the Methodist church is the Church of England, and the mother of the Church of England is the Roman Catholic Church, who is �Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth� (Revelation 17:5). It all goes back to Nimrod and the Tower Of Babel (Genesis 10:8-10, 11:1-9), and all the way back to the very beginning when Eve was deceived by a fallen angel speaking through the mouth of a snake (Genesis 3:1-5).
My tongues speaking brothers and sisters in Christ, what are you doing in that mess?! Get out of there!!! The Word of God says: �... Come out of her [Mystery Babylon], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. � (Revelation 18:4-5) I pray that if you are mixed up in that satanically inspired movement that you will repent, denounce it, come out of it, and join a Bible Believing Baptist Church! You can use your real spiritual gifts the way that God intended for you too only in the Church that Jesus Christ established.