Beth-El Baptist Church
8/07/05
Is the gift of tongues gone today?
Within the worldwide “Christian” community there are some that believe in the speaking of “tongues” and some who do not believe it is present today. What do the scriptures say about this?
1. What is meant by “tongue”?
Genesis 10:5 – Language
Deuteronomy 28:49
Judges 7:5 – Anatomical tongue
Ezra 4:7
Job 27:4; 29:10; 33:2
Psalm 5:9; 12:3-4; 34:13; 35:28; 71:24 – Speech itself
Proverbs 16:1; 18:21
Isaiah 3:8
Isaiah 45:23 – Identification of an individual person
Acts 1:19 – Greek dialektos – dialect of language
1 Corinthians 12:10-11
1 Corinthians 14:2 – Spiritual language
The word ‘tongue’ is used in many different ways in the scripture. It can be used to describe the language or dialect of a person, the ability to have speech or what is said. It can also be used to identify the collective individual (‘every tongue’). It is also used to indicate or identify a special, spiritual or heavenly language (1 Corinthians 14).
2. Are “tongues” a mark or indication of the Holy Spirit?
Acts 10:45-48
Acts 19:6
1 Corinthians 12:28-30
1 Corinthians 13:1
At the beginning of the New Testament Church era, “tongues” were one of the indicators of having been indwelled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The “tongues” that were given were languages known by other people. This was particularly useful when the only people that understood about the gift of Grace were Jews and the Gospel was reaching into the lives and cultures of Gentiles. The gift of tongues was necessary to communicate the Gospel to other people who did not understand the language of the Jews.
3. What was the original purpose of tongues?
Isaiah 66:18-19
Mark 16:17
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 2:1-11
The gift of “tongues” was given as a form of authentication of the Holy Spirit’s work among them. It was a visible form of demonstration of the power of God and the reality of God. The gift of tongues was also given in order to spread the Gospel to new people who did not know the language of the Jews.
4. Is there a time when “tongues” are no longer necessary?
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
With the initial generation of believers, the gift of tongues was given as a form of authentication of their ministry, but there will be a time after that generation that the gift of tongues will no longer exist. Along with the ceasing of the gift of “tongues” will be the ceasing of “prophecies” which are new proclamations from God. This type of prophecy ceased at the writing of the Book or Revelation. There will also be a ceasing of “knowledge”. This is general knowledge and in this context it refers to the knowledge of God himself. The timing of the ceasing of tongues is not given, but the termination of prophecy and knowledge is given to occur when “that which is perfect is come”. The word perfect is more accurately termed “complete”. After that which makes an individual complete, then prophecy and general knowledge are able to cease.
Galatians 3:3
Ephesians 4:11-13
Perfection comes when we are in the perfect form, mind and understanding with God himself. Prior to that knowledge and prophecy (the proclaiming of the very Word of God) will continue.
5. Does that purpose still exist?
Galatians 5:22-23
John 13:35
1 Corinthians 1:22-23
The function of tongues to authenticate a person’s ministry does not seem to be necessary any more. What is necessary is the ability to show the love of Jesus Christ and to teach and preach. The name and mission of Jesus Christ is pretty much known throughout the world. It was the Jews who required a sign. One of those signs was “tongues” to authenticate the messenger. What is needed is neither signs nor knowledge but preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Add to that the reality that today’s society has many people that study languages as an occupation. These individuals do have the gift of “tongues”, but in a different form than in the first century. At the current point in history, there does not seem to be a need for the gift of tongues.
6. What is the purpose of “tongues” today?
The primary information on tongues and the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 14. This text will be used to direct the remainder of the time.
1 Corinthians 14:1-4
Although we are told to “desire spiritual gifts”, the gift that is to be desired is prophesy not tongues. The speaker of tongues and all listeners receive nothing useful from the individual speaking in tongues. In this context, the term “tongues” is in reference to a heavenly language that cannot be found on earth. It is prophesy that builds up the church rather than simply builds up himself.
1 Corinthians 14:5-6
The gift of tongues is explicitly identified as useless unless it is interpreted. Then tongues and interpretation work together as the single gift of prophesy.
1 John 4:1
2 Corinthians 11:14
It is important to remember that all things that are said to come from God are to be evaluated in light of other scriptures. Just because someone claims to have a new revelation from God does not mean that it is. It needs to be verified against the Word of God to see if it is consistent. We also cannot completely trust our experiences for even Satan himself is able to disguise himself as an angel of light. Scripture is to be trusted more than our experiences and our new revelation, dreams, visions, and ideas.
1 Corinthians 14:12-17
Paul reiterates that the gift of tongues may be a wonderful gift, but it is absolutely worthless without being interpreted. Even praying in tongues is useless to the believer if he does not understand what is being said.
7. Who is the gift of tongues for?
1 Corinthians 14:22-25
The gift of tongues is clearly identified to be a sign to those who do not believe. It is not for the believer but for the unbeliever (v22). Paul continues expressing the reality that if the believers are gathered together and an unbeliever enters their midst while they are speaking in tongues, the unbeliever will think that the people of the assembly has gone mad (v23). Tongues then are not for the unbeliever outside the church to convict them of their sin and their need to repent, that is the function of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:23), but the gift of tongues is for the unbeliever that is within the church.
While I am unwilling to say that it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to give the gift of tongues to anyone today, I do believe that scripture teaches that those that seek after or desire after the gift of tongues or that see that by having the gift of tongues that they now know that they have the Holy Spirit within them, I would say they need to examine their heart and lives (2 Corinthians 13:5) to be sure that they are not relying on the gift of tongues as their assurance into heaven. The entrance into heaven is not tongues but Jesus Christ. By seeking tongues, the question of seeking Jesus falls to the side. They are seeking gifts not Jesus. Be sure that you are looking for Jesus and only Jesus.