Does the Bible Teach Speaking in
Tongues?
By Radio Pastor Perry F. Rockwood
Published by
The Peoples Gospel Hour
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Here for a Printable Version
1. Mark 16 and Acts
This Bible study on the subject of tongues is one that will bring
much profit to the individual person as well as help unify the body
of believers. In the light of the special attention being given
these days of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the world, a
clear understanding of the plain teaching of the Word of God alone
will enable us to properly evaluate existing trends.
The Greek word translated “tongues” is the word glossa and it
is found about fifty times in the New Testament. Sixteen times it
refers to the organ, the human tongue. Once, in Acts 2:3, it is used
of “cloven tongues like as of fire.” All other times it means known
languages.
TONGUES WERE GIVEN AS A SIGN IN THE EARLY CHURCH.
Let us hear the words of our Lord as recorded in Mark 16:15-18: “And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these SIGNS shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and
if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick; and they shall recover.”
The word “sign” means “a miracle intended as a proof of something
else” (Webster). There are few believers today, if any, who claim to
have all of these five spiritual gifts. Others claim to have some of
them, especially the gift of speaking with tongues.
I want you to notice that Christ was speaking to His eleven
disciples here in Mark and therefore the signs were promised to men
only and not to the women. The only ones who ever spoke in tongues
in the New Testament were men and we shall see that the women are
instructed definitely never to speak in tongues.
Our Lord promised that “signs shall follow them that believe” and in
the days that followed Pentecost we know that signs did follow the
believers. But we shall see that such signs are not required today
in order to manifest the power and reality of God’s Word among men.
THE PURPOSE OF TONGUES AS A SIGN IN THE EARLY CHURCH.
In 1 Corinthians 1:22 Paul said: “For the Jews require a sign, and
the Greeks seek after wisdom.” The primary purpose of signs was to
confirm the Word of God and in particular, the Gospel message. The
infant church did not possess the completed Scriptures as we do
today. They did not have access to the Old Testament like we do and
the New Testament was not yet written. We have both Testaments and
the Author of them, the Holy Spirit of God. If we do our part –
“search the scriptures,” “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of
truth.” – and if we seek to live by the Word and to obey it, we can
know assuredly, without miracles and signs, that the Bible is indeed
the Word of God.
This teaching is clearly set forth in John 20:30-31: “And many other
SIGNS truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are
not written in this book: but THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YE MIGHT
BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing
ye might have life through His name.”
When we turn to the Acts of the Apostles we find the word “tongue”
used for the first time in 1:19: “And it was known unto all the
dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their
proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood.” This
word ‘tongue’ certainly means a definite, understandable language of
Jerusalem.
In Acts 2:1-11 we have the key scripture on “tongues” and certainly
in no wise can we say that tongues means anything but languages.
Let us notice the persons who were present in the house where they
were sitting. In Acts 1:26 we have the 12 apostles mentioned and
without a doubt they were there. Acts 1:15,16 mentions one hundred
and twenty “men and brethren”. They might possibly have been present
although it is doubtful if 120 could be in the house unless they
were in different rooms. But in any event, only men were present and
only men spoke in the languages that are here mentioned. There is no
place in the Bible where women ever spoke in tongues and, indeed,
women are forbidden in 1 Corinthians 14 to speak in tongues.
Here in Acts 2 we are told: “every man heard them speak in his own
language” (vs. 6). Certainly the “other tongues” must mean “other
languages.” Sixteen different nationalities are named as hearing in
their own languages the wonderful works of God. Notice it definitely
states: “How hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were
born” (vs. 8). This was not an unknown tongue or even an unknown
language, for the people could hear the message from God in their
own language so that they could carry the message home with them in
order to share in there with others. This was no ‘spiritual
language’ or ‘heavenly language’ but the language of the peoples who
were there to hear the Word of God.
It is important to notice here at Pentecost that this was the
entrance of the Holy Spirit into God’s people in fulfillment of
Christ’s promise to send the Comforter. This was a once-for-all
experience. This was like Christ’s coming into this world by being
born in a manger through Mary and the Holy Spirit. We do not pray
for another incarnation, for Christ came but once to do His Father’s
will. We do not pray for another Pentecost for it was an historical
experience that is not to be repeated.
The next important use of the word ‘tongues’ in Acts is found in
chapter 10:44-47: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because
that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues (languages) and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not
be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Here we have Cornelius, his kinsmen, and near friends (vs. 24)
gathered together. The purpose of these Gentiles speaking in other
languages was to further convince Peter and the other Jews that the
new birth baptism of the Holy Spirit was for Gentile as well as
Jewish believers. “God is no respecter of persons”. The “tongues”
spoken by these Gentile believers were languages because Peter and
the other Jew present “heard them speak…and magnify God.” Peter
explains this in Acts 11:15: “And as I began to speak, the Holy
Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning (Pentecost).”
In Acts 19:1-20 we have a record of the opposition and difficulties
Paul had to meet at Ephesus. Here our Lord confirmed Paul’s
preaching with “special miracles” and signs and wonders and
judgments, using the tongues-sign. Here were about twelve men (vs.
1-7) who spake in other languages so there were no women speaking in
tongues in this instance.
These twelve men knew only of John’s preaching and baptism and were
ignorant of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as had already occurred
at Pentecost. So God confirmed to them the same experience as He did
to those at Pentecost and as He did at Cornelius’ house. There were
many languages found in Ephesus so the speaking in other languages
confirmed Paul’s preaching.
As far as the Book of Acts is concerned, “tongues” refers to
languages understood by those present at the time. There were no
interpreters. But notice that tongues are mentioned only in
reference to the three groups mentioned above. (1) Acts 2, Jewish
believers. (2) Acts 10, Gentile believers. (3) Acts 19, John the
Baptist’s disciples. Now altogether at least sixteen groups are
mentioned in Acts but tongues is spoken of only in relation to three
groups. The Book of Acts relates the conversion or spiritual
experience of fourteen individual persons but not one of these is
said to have spoken with tongues. If tongues were a necessary part
of salvation or an indication of the baptism of the Holy Spirit then
certainly the Word of God would declare tongues to be a universal
necessity in such great spiritual experiences.
It is so hard today to get people to search the Scriptures and to
follow the Scriptures. So many want to go by the experiences of
others. We cannot build our spiritual lives upon experiences. We
must build upon the one true foundation which is the Lord Jesus
Christ. There is no teaching in the Book of Acts to indicate that
believers today should have an experience of speaking with tongues.
2. 1 Corinthians 12
Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians was written to correct
certain errors that crept into the church at Corinth. This local
assembly was carnal and immature. As spiritual babes, they were
unable to receive the “meat” of the Word and so were fed on “milk.”
Paul clearly condemns their carnal practices and childish
sectarianism. He had not set all disorders in the church aright, but
he dealt with the things of supreme importance. In Chapter 11:34 he
said: “And the rest will I set in order when I come.”
Now chapters 12, 13 and 14 all deal with the tongues confusion that
brought disrepute to the church. I believe God will bless our study
of these three chapters.
Let us read Paul’s words to the believers in Corinth as found in
Chapter 21: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not
have you ignorant (not knowing, unintelligent)”. These believers
were Gentiles led away by “dumb idols” (voiceless gods), and they
were seeking to carry over into their Christian faith some of the
hyper-emotional experiences of their Gentile days.
Verse 2 shows the extremes to which the tongues disorder had brought
them: “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by
the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say
that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” Their most common
expression was “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” while they rejected His
Lordship and authority. The Bible teaches not only “Jesus” but the
“Lord Jesus” or the “Lord Jesus Christ.” It should also be noticed
that the entire Trinity, the three persons of the Godhead, are
mentioned in relation to the giving and using of spiritual gifts. In
verse 4 we have the Holy Spirit. In verse 5 we have the Lord Jesus
Christ. In verse 6 we have God the Father.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (vs. 4).
The Holy Spirit manifests Himself in different ways throughout the
church. We do not all have the same gifts, therefore it is not
necessary for all to manifest the same gifts. We have been chided at
times by Christians who believe that if we do not speak in tongues
we do not have the power of the Holy Spirit upon our lives. Many of
these people are well-meaning and sincere. But in testing a work of
the Spirit, sincerity is not the standard of genuineness. Nor is
experience the final judge of reality. Every experience and every
claim must be able to stand the scrutiny of the Word of God. The
Bible teaches the “diversities” of gifts.
“And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord”
(vs. 5). The administrations refer to the proper use of these gifts
as they are brought in subjection to the Lordship of Christ.
“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all” (vs. 6). The operations refer to the power
or the equipment for service. So then we have the gifts, the
capacities for service; the administrations, the opportunities for
service; and the operations, the power for service. All of these
must be in subjection to God: to the Holy Spirit who bestows the
gifts, to the Son who arranges the service, and to the Father who
enables those who receive the gifts to exercise them for His glory.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal” (vs. 7). Gifts of the Spirit are not given for show or to
direct the attention of other people to ourselves or to bolster
pride by believing we have something others do not have. Spiritual
gifts are always given for the profit of others.
In verses 7-10 Paul sets forth these various gifts of the Holy
Spirit. (1) The gift of wisdom. This was given especially to help
believers to understand the plain teachings of the Bible. (2) The
gift of knowledge. This had a direct bearing on God’s plan and will
and was needed while the New Testament was still unwritten. (3)
Works of faith. This is not saving faith; it is operational faith in
the Christian life, such as was given to George Mueller, for
example. (4) The gift of healing. God is able to heal the body
according to His will. (5) The gift of miracles. Various signs and
wonders through the working of the Holy Spirit. (6) The gift of
prophecy enabling believers to understand God’s program for the
ages. (7) The discerning of spirits to enable believers to
distinguish between the workings of the Spirit of God and the
spirits that come from the Devil. (8) The gift of tongues. The word
for “tongues” literally means “the languages spoken by men.” (9) The
interpretation of tongues.
Now although the betowment of tongues was one of the least of all
the gifts, the Corinthian believers made it their first interest.
Not only that, but they tested the spirituality of other believers
by asking, “Do you speak in tongues?” If the answer was “No”, then
they considered such believers as inferior Christians, lacking the
Holy Spirit’s power upon their lives.
Verse 11 says: “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” We see here
that “sign-gifts” are always given according to the will of the Holy
Spirit and they were to be exercised humbly in serving God and in
ministering to one’s fellowman.
Let us now notice that the speaking with different languages has
nothing to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Verse 13: “For by
one Spirit are we ALL baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been ALL made to
drink into one Spirit.” This verse clearly teaches that ALL
believers are baptized by the Spirit. But we will see that the same
Bible in this same chapter, teaches that ALL believers do not have
the gift of tongues. Therefore it is not necessary for ALL believers
to speak with tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit.
Forty days after His resurrection, Christ ascended into Heaven and
was glorified. Ten days later, in accordance with His promise in
John 7:38,39, the Holy Spirit CAME and all believers there present
were baptized into one body. We, likewise, are baptized by the Holy
Spirit into that same body the moment we receive Christ as our own
personal Saviour. At that time, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives
to indwell us forever. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit has
full possession of us all the time. We need a daily filling and are
commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to: “…be filled (to keep on being
filled) with the Spirit.” Oh, how we need such a filling and
blessing and anointing in our day! But this has nothing to do with
speaking other languages. It has everything to do with holy living
and power for service.
Paul makes it clear in verses 29 and 30 that all believers were not
expected to speak with tongues and all were not expected to
interpret. “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?” Obviously not.
What is the logical, simple answer to each of these questions? “Are
all apostles?” No, of course all are not apostles! As a matter of
fact there are no apostles today in the strict Bible sense of the
Word. “Are all prophets?” The answer is surely, No. There are very
few, if any, true Bible prophets today. “Are all teachers?” No, all
are not teachers. But I do believe we need more teaching of the
Bible in our nation today. “Are all workers of miracles?” No. “Do
all have the gifts of healing?” No. “Do all speak with tongues?” The
answer is still, No. “Do all interpret?” Again there is only one
answer, No.
Lord Wolseley once said of Stonewall Jackson: “He inspired his
soldiers with an unquestionable belief in him as their leader; they
did not ask him where he was going, they were content to follow.”
Fundamental believers maintain the same attitude towards the Word of
God. We want to follow the plain teaching of the Bible rather than
the teachings and commandments of men.
Paul concludes this 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians with
these words in verse 31: “But covet earnestly the best gifts:” We
want God’s best gifts. It is wrong to say we much receive God’s
least before we receive His greatest. It is wrong to seek God’s
least gift because it is not intended for all believers. The Bible
teaches us to covet earnestly the best gifts.
It is scripturally wrong to give more attention to the Holy Spirit
than to Christ. Jesus said in John 15:26: “He shall testify of me”;
and in John 16:14: “He shall glorify me”; and in John 16:13: “He
shall not speak of himself.” So the gifts and blessings of the Holy
Spirit will always turn our attention to the glory and honour and
praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps some of you are unbelievers who are looking for a sign or
some special spiritual experience before you are willing to believe
the Bible. There is only one way to be saved and that is to accept
the clear teaching of God’s Word. Our blessed Lord Jesus said: “He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Will you come today on the
basis of God’s Word and receive Christ as your own personal Saviour?
3. 1 Corinthians 13
This chapter, usually referrred to as “The Love Chapter” is really
“The Tongues Chapter”. It is found between the two chapters that
deal primarily with tongues and has vital teaching on this subject.
Paul, after making clear that all believers do not speak with
tongues, concluded 1 Corinthians 12 with these words: “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? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I
unto you a more excellent way” (vss. 30-31).
Now chapter thirteen is a continuation of chapter twelve. It sets
forth the preeminence of love in the believer’s life in relation to
the gifts of the Spirit. The real test of all the gifts of the Holy
Spirit is whether or not they promote love among believers. So Paul
tells us clearly: “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing.” (Read carefully verses 2-7).
Not only does this chapter teach us that love must be preeminet in
all gifts of the Spirit, but it also teaches that love and love
alone will last forever. Verse 8: “Charity (love) 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.” Notice four things here: (1) Love never faileth. (2)
Prophecies shall fail. (3) Tongues shall cease. (4) Knowledge shall
vanish away.
In relation to prophecies and knowledge the same Greek verb is used
and means “shall vanish away” or “shall be done away” or “to
abolish.” The same word is used in verse 11: “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 (abolished, made void) childish
things.” In maturity, that is spiritual maturity, we no longer need
the things that pertain to childhood. As we have already seen in our
last study, the speaking in tongues took place during the childish
life of Corinthians believers and have no part in the life of
spiritually mature believers.
In verse 9 we read: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”
This is the prophecy and the knowledge that was given before the
completion of the New Testament scriptures. It has nothing to do
with general knowledge that is attained from classrooms in schools
and colleges. “But when that which is perfect is come (the completed
revelation of the scriptures) then that which is in part shall be
done away.” Both prophecy and knowledge are superseded by that which
is perfect – the Holy Scriptures.
Verse 8 deals with the matter of tongues: “Whether there be tongues,
they shall cease.” After the outbreak of the tongues heresy in the
church at Corinth there is no further evidence in the Bible that
tongues were a part of the church gifts. This can be shown by the
following facts.
1. Paul did not refer once to tongues after writing his Epistle to
the Corinthians.
2. Peter, James, John and Jude all wrote their epistles after the
First Epistle to the Corinthians was written and not once do they
refer to tongues. Not even in the last book, the Book of Revelation,
are tongues mentioned.
3. While 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that prophecies, knowledge, and
tongues fail or cease or vanish away, it also tells us that three
other things abide – faith, hope and charity (love) (vs. 13). Some
things cease. Some things abide.
But let us notice that even faith and hope will not abide forever.
They will abide only until the rapture of the church for faith will
give way to sight and hope will give way to realization.
Our Lord said to Thomas: “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed.” The day is coming when faith will give place to sight and
we shall see our blessed Lord as He is, and we shall be like Him.
Faith will end at the Rapture of the church but it continues
throughout this church age.
Hope will also end at the Rapture. Romans 8:24: “For what a man
seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Now we hope for Christ’s return.
We long for the blessings that His return will bring. But when He
does return we shall have the fact of His presence and hope will
give way to realization.
But love is the greatest of all for it is eternal. It never
vanishes. “Charity (love) never faileth” (verse 8) for love is as
eternal as God.
4. Paul wrote to the mature Ephesians setting out God’s provision
for the church. He listed in Chapter 4:11 the “gifts” for use in the
ministry of the church and tongues are not mentioned: “And he gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers.” Now notice the purpose for which these gifts
were given. Verses 12-15: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ: That we be henceforth no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait
to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Here Paul makes it clear that we are to speak the truth in love, not
in tongues. That is what we, by the grace of God, are seeking to do
through the ministry of The Peoples Gospel Hour. Pray for us. We
have only one authority by which we can become mature believers and
that authority is the Word of God.
Everything we have and everything God wants us to have is found in
the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the working and blessing of the
Holy Spirit that we are brought in to the overflowing, abundant life
and given power for service. He exalts Christ who is our all in all.
By daily submission, consecration and obedience to the Holy Spirit,
we can know the fulness of the Godhead in our lives. How wonderful!
God grant us this blessing!
4. 1 Corinthians 14
The 14th chapter of Paul’s First Epistle to the
Corinthians deal primarily with a tongues heresy that brought
dishonour to God. This church at Corinth had all the earmarks of
carnality, worldiness, and spiritual immaturity and was the only
church where speaking in tongues was practiced.
The church at Corinth was a church of many problems: (1) It was
characterized by divisions (1:11-13). (2) The believers were carnal
and not spiritual (3:1-11). (3) They were baby Christians still
feeding on the milk rather than on the meat of the Bible (3:2). (4)
Some of them were puffed up and offended with Paul (4:18). (5) There
was fornication among them, a man living in sin with his stepmother
and the church defending him (ch. 5). (6) Believers went to law one
against another (6:1-8). (7) Some ate meats offered to idols which
caused others to stumble (ch. 8). (7) Some came to the Lord’s Supper
drunk and there were other scandals connected with the Lord’s Supper
(11:17-21).
In the light of the terrible spiritual condition of these believers
at Corinth, it is not hard to believe why they were involved in a
tongues heresy.
If we read this chapter carefully it teaches us not how to
speak in tongues, but how not to speak in tongues. It
encourages us to seek other gifts rather than the gift of tongues.
It also teaches us that not ALL speak in tongues and therefore
tongues cannot be the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit for
“By one Spirit are we ALL baptized into one body” (1 Cor.
12:13).
Let us notice that the word unknown is not found in the
origianl but has been placed in italics, by the translators. The
word ‘tongue’ in the Bible means foreign language. At
Pentecost the Spirit-filled disciples were given the gift of
speaking in some sixteen different languages of sixteen different
nationalities who were there present. These foreigners heard the
disciples speak “in our own tongue wherein we were born.” The
languages there spoken were not unknown tongues but foreign
languages known and used by people and understood by them when
spoken by the disciples at Pentecost.
If this gift is still for us today, then the important question
comes to mind: Why do missionaries whose lives are dedicated to God
have to spend years learning the language or languages of the people
whom they serve?
In 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Paul shows that speaking in a foreign
language in the church was not edifying to the church but was
directed only to God. Those who spoke in another language were
actually selfish, “edifieth himself” (vs. 4). The gift
believers should really seek after is the gift of prophecy which was
being neglected in the Corinthian church. They sought primarily for
the less important gift of tongues. In fact, they were judging one
another’s spiritual state by asking, “Do you speak in tongues?” To
them, this was the most important thing while to the Holy Spirit it
was of the least importance.
We have heard people say, “Well, you have to seek the least gift
before you receive the greatest gift.” But Paul clearly teaches that
ALL do not speak in tongues and therefore all are not to seek the
lesser gift. All believers, however, are to seek after the gift of
prophecy, so that the church as a whole might be edified.
From verses 6-11 we have the plain teaching that any speaking we do
in the church must be easy to be understood by all: “Now, brethren,
if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you,
except I shall 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
(difference) in the sounds (notes), how shall it be known (by tune)
what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet given an uncertain
(indistinct) sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So
likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words 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 is without signification (its own meaning). Therefore
if I know not the meaning of the voice (language), I shall be unto
him that speaketh a barbarian (foreigner), and he that speaketh
shall be a barbarian unto me.”
Every language has a clear meaning that can be understood; so all
speaking in the church should be clearly set forth by languages that
can be understood. “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of
spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying (upbuilding)
of the church” (vs. 12). How selfish you are to seek the gift of
speaking in other languages when such speaking will not be
understood by the church and will not build up the church.
Then Paul goes on to point out that if someone does speak in a
foreign language in the church there must be an interpreter (vs.
13). The Bible gives a definite order for speaking in foreign
languages and if this order is not followed then it is not according
to the Word of God.
Verse 27: “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.”
Women are absolutely forbidden to speak in tongues and if they do so
then they are acting contrary and in disobedience to the Bible –
verses 34-35). Men were permitted to speak only one at a time and
that with an interpreter to explain his message.
Verse 28: “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in
the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.” You know as
well as I do that tongues are spoken in some churches time and again
without an interpreter. You also know that oftentimes several people
are speaking at one time. God does not contradict His Word and
therefore any practice that does not agree with the Bible cannot be
of God.
Another evidence that Paul was speaking about ordinary foreign
languages is found in verse 18: “I thank my God, I speak with
tongues more than ye all.” Paul had no gift of unknown tongues. When
Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit first in Acts 9:17 there is no
mention of speaking with tongues. Paul wrote fourteen of the
twenty-seven books of the New Testament and there is never a mention
of him speaking with tongues. Paul was an educated man and could
speak in other languages, certainly in the Koine Greek as well as
the Aramaic language. He was preaching over the entire Roman Empire
and spoke more often in a foreign language than any other believer
in Corinth. “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” (verse 19).
Verse 22: “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.”
Two different Greek words are used here for those who believe and
those who believe not. For those who believe the word pisteuo
is used which means full of confidence and trust. Those who believe
not have the word apistos which means without confidence or
doubters. This verse tells us then that tongues are for a sign, not
to them who fully trust the Lord but to them who still doubt.
Thomas was such a doubter. Jesus said to Thomas in John 20:27 “…and
be not faithless (apistos, a doubter) but believing.” Thomas
was saved but he was not willing, at that time, to believe God’s
Word and the testimony of the other disciples. Jesus said to him in
effect that this is not the way to live. “Be not faithless” (be not
a doubter). In John 20:29 we read: “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that
have not seen, and yet have believed.”
This explanation helps us to understand why the tongues heresy was
found in the Corinthian church and in no other. This was a baby
church that believed not the plain teaching of the Bible. 1
Corinthians 14:20: “Brethren, be not children in understanding:
howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
Don’t remain babies all your life. Paul has the same thought in mind
in 1 Cor. 13:11: “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.” One characteristic of childish
believers is that they do not wish to live by the plain teaching of
the Bible. They want, like Thomas, to see before they believe. We
are to believe the Word of God without any other evidence if we are
to mature in the Lord.
In verses 34-35 of chapter 14 we read that women are to keep silent
in the church in relation to speaking with tongues. Wherever woman
are found taking part in speaking with tongues we know it is not
according to the Bible, therefore it is not of the Holy Spirit. Paul
does not forbid the speaking with languages in the church. But it
must be according to the guidelines of Scripture. It must be done
decently and in order.
Verse 37: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual,
let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord.” The Lord Jesus Christ is our all in all
and we need to be taken up with Him. When we allow the Holy Spirit
His rightful place in our lives, our hearts will be satisfied and we
will not seek after other experiences. Let each of us today receive
from the Lord by His Spirit what He has for us. “Blessed are they
that have not see, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
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