Is it biblical to speak in tongues today? The following is an exhaustive study of this topic. All of the numbered points below are covered one by one with the Bible verses in context below them.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES: THE CLAIMS
CLAIM: "Tongues are very popular today in mainstream churches."
The main biblical problem with popularity is that it has zero to do with truth, as popular does not equate to truth.
- Most people rejected God throughout Scripture.
- Most people died in the Flood
- Most people will follow the anti-Christ
- Most of Israel did not follow God
- Most of the time this was true
- Most people in Laodicea do not follow God
- Most of the seven churches in Revelation do not follow God
- Most of the Jews rejected Christ
- Most of the Gentiles in Rome did also
- Most of the sheep were scattered when Jesus was arrested
- Most people will not make it to heaven
- Most Christians do not believe the Scriptures fully, cover to cover, as written, as truth
- Most churches do not preach the entire Scriptures, cover to cover, and believe them
- Most Christians believe a lot of false doctrine about a lot of things in the Scriptures
- Most Christians do not read much of their Scriptures as it is
- Most Christians are never even discipled; they just "go to church"
- To be included in most of anything is usually never a good thing, but especially so when it comes to biblical doctrines. It is best to study it for yourself
CLAIM: Tongues are widely claimed "to be for today's believers"
As this study will show, claims are for insurance company departments, not for those who claim to believe and follow God and His Word. The context of the whole of Scripture is the only thing to be used to determine a doctrine, especially when it is "widely claimed" (read important).
APPEALS TO MAJORITY ARE MEANINGLESS TO GOD
APPEALS TO AUTHORITY ARE MEANINGLESS TO GOD
- The order of importance in Scripture places them dead last, each time they occur in a listing of the gifts
- The problem is that in mainstream Christianity today, they are held as a very high priority
- One sign that a doctrine is not true (does not prove it, just a sign) is the behavior of anyone who does not hold to the doctrine. Terms such as "ignorant" (applying 1 Corinthians 12:1), "blasphemous", statements such as "you are restricting God", "cheating the Holy Spirit" simply add weight to the vacuousness nature of the "tongues are for today" idea
CLAIM: Charismatics believe "all believers can and should speak in tongues."
- The Scriptures teach no such thing!
- Paul told the Corinthian believers that they should covet the "best gifts" (v. 31). He listed the gifts in order of "best to worst" in verses 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 and tongues was dead last! Which gift which Paul considered the least important has become the most important in the tongues-speaking church today.
- The very apostles themselves, nor their disciples, did not earnestly seek or show a desire to speak in tongues. In all instances wherein the believers spoke in tongues in the New Testament, the tongues were sovereignly given as a gift (hence the name) by the Holy Ghost, not for the asking. In no instance were the recipients trying to speak in tongues.
- "Earnestly desire the best gifts" does not mean to seek the gift of tongues. Not once is there such instruction given by the Apostles.
- There is no built-in instruction manual in Scripture about how to speak in tongues. It literally was inspired by the Holy Ghost suddenly, without warning, with no help from others. If this gift was so important for a Spirit filled life, then it would be universal for every Christian to have this gift, most certainly God would have told us very specifically how to speak in tongues.
- "The Pentecostal/Charismatic method of speaking in tongues is unscriptural and dangerous. When a person asks how tongues can be received, they are instructed to simply open their mouth and start muttering words without using normal language while others lay hands on them and pray. God is supposed to take control of the tongue."
- http://elmwoodbaptist.org/resources/answers-from-the-bible/is-speaking-in-tongues-for-today/
There is not even the slightest trace in any verse in the Bible of such a thing occurring in the New Testament That said, there is a warning in the New Testament about the enemy having, using and being deceiving spirits, using signs, etc.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel 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.
(Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
When people ask why it is then, that people "receive the gift of tongues still today" when it is no longer needed , you can show them these verses to explain the origin. As it says in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. it happens because they are beguiled as Eve was, by that same serpent. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, 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 the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.Romans 12:6
1 Corinthians 7:7
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God , one after this manner, and another after that.- Diversities of gifts...different types, for different believers, given exclusively by the Holy Ghost "severally as he will"(v.11)
- This is speaking of all of the gifts
- Differences of administrations, or ways they are administered, and ways to use them
- Diversities of operations, or different works by different people
- A spiritual gift is an ability and a manifestation given by the Holy Spirit to do God's will, for God's Glory, in God's way, by the Spirit, using a person, to edify the church
- A spiritual gift has nothing to do with talent we are born with, which is also a gift.
- An unsaved person can be gifted in music, math, mercy and not serve God, but the flesh
- A saved person can have a spiritual gift to use for God's Glory or use in the flesh for their own glory
- They are never taken away, even if a believer does not glorify God with them (and they can)
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Romans 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 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? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
The implied answer to each of these questions is a hearty "NO!" - It is not a gift you can get because people lay hands on you and pray, while you "loose your tongue and babble" incessantly
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1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, 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 the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Diversity of gifts (not all get the same gift). Why is it that speaking in tongues seems to be the only one that "all Christians can receive if they will allow the Holy Spirit to work through them"?DIVERSITY, n. [L.]
Everyone saved gets the Holy Spirit, wisdom from the Word. In the days this letter was written, some were given wisdom, the word of knowledge. Some extraordinary faith, others miracle workers. Some preached the word (prophesy), some had discernment, "to another" diverse kinds of tongues (people languages), some could interpret (people languages)-and it says "to some"; it does not say "to all"
1. Difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness.
There may be diversity without contrariety.
There is a great diversity in human constitutions.
2. Variety; as a diversity of ceremonies in churches.
3. Distinct being, as opposed to identity.
4. Variegation.
Blushing in bright diversities of day. - It is, according to verse eleven, up to the Holy Spirit who gets what("severally as he will"), not us by the laying on of hands.
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit:
- Are given, not earned through laying on of hands, intense prayer, loosing tongues. If someone gives you a gift, you did not do anything to get it, it was not up to you what and when it was, nor how nor why.
- Are for the purpose of Glorifying God only
- Are for the purpose of edifying one another only
- Are given in order to do the work of God
- Are given in order to have unity among diversity
- The manifestation of a spiritual gift is not always a sign, nor ever was
- You can show the manifestation through helping, discernment, administrating, faith, martyrdom, teaching, pastoring, etc.
- Natural, God-given talent we were born with before being born-again can be manifested and used; that is not the same as a gift of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 14:5
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
- Paul wished they had his gift of tongues
- He also wished that they would remain single
- How many are deciding to abstain from marriage today, versus how many are actively seeking the sign gift of tongues?
- In either case, he is not implying tongues and remaining single are for everyone.
- Again, this tongues is a people language, and uses an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:5)
CLAIM: It is considered NOT a sign of the Baptism OF the Holy Spirit, but rather IS considered a sign of the "Baptism IN the Holy Spirit", to both believers and unbelievers
- No place in Scripture is there a baptism IN the Holy Spirit after the Baptism OF the Holy Spirit (baptized into the church)
- In the book of Acts there are several verses speaking about Christians being filled with the Spirit, but only a few times is tongues speaking mentioned. It is ridiculous, then, to try to make tongues speaking the primary evidence of Holy Spirit filling.
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The Baptism and the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.They got the Holy Ghost in John 20:22,
Romans 8:9-11
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.-We are in the Spirit if we are saved and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 3:27
-The Spirit is the giver of our Christian life, not a source of requested tongues.
-The Holy Spirit will see us through our Resurrection
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.1 Corinthians 12:13
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. - We are baptized into the body of Christ, as members of His Church.
- The evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - We do not get baptized with fire, either
- In Acts (not our doctrinal book) people had the Holy Ghost come on them, tongues were spoken. Others had the Holy Ghost come on them and...no tongues spoken.
- The apostles received the Holy Ghost in John 20:22. They spoke in tongues after in Acts 2. After that, not always, not all of them, and always with Jews present.
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Romans 8:9-11
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:6-7
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Romans 8:9-11
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
ACTS: TONGUES SPOKEN/NOT SPOKEN
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
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, 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?
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with TONGUES, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
NO MENTION OF TONGUES
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
SPOKE WITH OTHER TONGUES-AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE
Acts 2:33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
NO TONGUES HERE NOW
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
NO MENTION OF TONGUES SPOKEN BY STEPHEN
Acts 7:55
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 8:15
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts 8:17
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 8:18-19
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN BUT....IT IS DISCOVERED THAT THE CONCEPT OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST CAN BE USED TO MAKE MONEY!
Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 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, 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?
TONGUES SPOKEN (v.46) WITH JEWS PRESENT (THE CIRCUMCISION)
Acts 11:15-16
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 11:24
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 13:9
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
NO TONGUES SPOKEN
Acts 15:8
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
NO MENTION OF TONGUES BEING SPOKEN
Acts 19:1-7
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with TONGUES, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
TONGUES SPOKEN, TWELVE JEWS PRESENT
CLAIM: It is considered to be undeniable physical evidence that a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit
- We are to examine and know them by their fruit, not their signs
-
Matthew 7:16-20
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. - The fruit of the spirit list a lot of things, and tongues is not one of them.
-
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
CLAIM: It is supposed to be a sign both to the person speaking and those witnessing them speak
- In Scripture, it was a sign to Jews alone.
- Tongues were not exclusively spoken by Jews, but were exclusively spoken to Jews, because Jews were always present when they were spoken
CLAIM: It is claimed that this is how God speaks to His Church, via interpretation of tongues
- God speaks to His Church through His Word, which is why He gave it and why we have it
- It is to be useful ("profitable") for all of mankind's needs-teaching, encouragement, doctrine, exhorting, literally everything we need
2 Timothy 2:15-16
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
CLAIM: Tongues are claimed to also come in the form of a "private prayer language"
Often when Charismatics and Pentecostals want someone to speak in tongues, they lay hands on them, pray and ask the person to "open their mouth and loose their tongue and let the Holy Spirit take over". This, they claim when the person begins to babble, is evidence of a "heavenly prayer language".
Acts 2:6-11
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Biblical tongues were always real, earthly languages (tongues), understood and spoken by real people on and of the earth and not some gibberish. On top of that, if you are ONLY speaking to God, then that is between you and God ONLY, so why do many with a "prayer language" do it publicly, and talk about doing it and try to recruit others to do the same? Are you assuming that God does not understand English? None of the people in the early Church, recorded in Acts, asked for the gift of speaking in tongues. It simply happened by the will of the Holy Spirit
The Tongues of Angels
1 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 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. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.....And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Genesis 16:11
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am. And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 1 Kings 19:7
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. Zechariah 5:10
Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. L
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
And I beheld, and heard an angel f
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
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 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. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
One of the main verses used to justify an "angelic language" (tongues of angels) or what is referred to as a "heavenly prayer language" is this one right here. It seems convenient to babble incoherently, only to then claim one is speaking in an unknown tongue to God Himself alone and to use it to edify oneself (right there something we are not ever called to do). In our earthly realm, who could disprove that without the Scriptures?
The Scriptures themselves are our spiritual filter. Nevertheless, be that as it may be, what exactly did every angel in the Scriptures speak? Every one, without fail, a people language, whether Hebrew or Greek or now translated into English-even angels while IN Heaven before the throne. A clue to the answer is actually in the very verse itself, "of men AND of angels", meaning one and the same tongue. Be a Berean and study it for yourself. As was said earlier, we should never use one, single, obscure verse to interpret the bulk of very clear verses.(Acts 17:10-11)
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
While, in some or many of the verses cited below the "angel of the LORD" must be a "pre-incarnation" of the LORD Jesus Christ, to the person, it is an angel, and that angel always spoke to them, as did all other angels, in their own tongue. While some were confused was as to what God wanted from them at that moment, it was not a language issue. It was a heart issue.
Genesis 16:7, 9
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.....And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Genesis 16:10
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Genesis 16:11
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
Genesis 19:15
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
Genesis 21:17
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Genesis 22:11
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Genesis 22:15-18
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Genesis 31:11-12
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Numbers 22:32
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Numbers 22:35
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Judges 2:1-4
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Judges 5:23
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
Judges 6:20
And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
Judges 13:3
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Judges 13:9-18
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am. And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
1 Kings 19:5
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 1 Kings 19:7
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
2 Kings 1:3
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
2 Kings 1:15
And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
1 Chronicles 21:15
And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:18
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Psalms 103:20
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psalms 148:2
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Ecclesiastes 5:6
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Zechariah 1:9
Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
Zechariah 1:11
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
Zechariah 1:12
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
Zechariah 1:13
And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
Zechariah 1:14
So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
Zechariah 1:19
And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Zechariah 2:3
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
Zechariah 3:6-10
And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
Zechariah 4:1-2
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zechariah 4:4-7
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zechariah 5:5
Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. Zechariah 5:10
Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
Zechariah 6:4-5
Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 2:13
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Matthew 2:19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
Matthew 28:5
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Luke 1:13
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. L
uke 1:18-19
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Luke 1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luke 1:30-35
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 2:10-15
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luke 24:23
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
John 12:29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
Acts 5:19-20
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts 7:38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Acts 7:53
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Acts 8:26
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Acts 10:3-7
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
Acts 10:22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Acts 11:13
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Acts 12:7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:8
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Acts 23:9
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Timothy 5:21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Hebrews 1:5
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Hebrews 1:13
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 2:1
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Revelation 2:8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Revelation 2:12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Revelation 2:18
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Revelation 3:1
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Revelation 3:14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Revelation 5:2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Revelation 5:11
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Revelation 7:2
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Revelation 8:13
And I beheld, and heard an angel f
lying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Revelation 9:13-14
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Revelation 10:8
And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Revelation 10:9
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Revelation 11:1
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Revelation 14:6
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Revelation 14:8
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Revelation 14:9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:15
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Revelation 14:18
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Revelation 16:1
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Revelation 16:5-7
And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
Revelation 16:17
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Revelation 17:1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Revelation 17:7-18
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18:21
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Revelation 19:17
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Revelation 21:9
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation 22:8-9
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
The obvious conclusion drawn from these many verses is that angels speak to men in their tongues, always. No matter the language, angels speak to them only in it. The Law, the promises, the instructions, the pronouncements, the warnings, the relayed messages, the praises, the prophecies, all were given in a people's tongue.
CLAIM: Tongues, in this capacity, are claimed to be "for the edification of the person speaking them"
1 Corinthians 14:4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
- The main problem is that we are to edify one another, not ourselves
- The verse above is a rebuke to those who would edify themselves, not a recommendation! This is why using the context of Scripture proximally (immediate) and distally (whole of Scripture) is so important, as not using context means we are free to interpret any verse the way we want to fit our pet doctrine!
- A verse claimed to be supporting the idea that David edified himself is 2 Samuel 30:6
- The problem is the text says, "in the LORD", not "by speaking tongues and edifying himself"
ED'IFY, v.t. [L. oedifico; oedes, a house, and facio, to make.]
1. To build, in a literal sense. [Not now used.]
2. To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally,and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. Edify one another. 1 Th 5.
3. To teach or persuade. [Not used.]
1. To build, in a literal sense. [Not now used.]
2. To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally,and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. Edify one another. 1 Th 5.
3. To teach or persuade. [Not used.]
1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
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.
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (Romans 14:19)
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
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. God plainly tells us the purpose for tongues. It was to give a sign to those who needed the Gospel in their language, not for edifying oneself.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1 Corinthians 14:5
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26
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.
2 Corinthians 12:19
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
BIBLICAL FALLACY #5
Speaking in tongues is for "one's personal edification". Speaking in tongues in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is claimed to be for the purpose of privately edifying oneself. One problem: No place in Scripture are we to edify OURSELVES! We are only encouraged to edify and encourage one another, and be edified by others; and to encourage ourselves only in the LORD.
(1 Samuel 30:6)
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (Romans 14:19)
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(1 Corinthians 14:26)
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. God plainly tells us the purpose for tongues. It was to give a sign to those who needed the Gospel in their language, not for edifying oneself.
CLAIM: It is claimed that speaking in tongues will even help you sleep better!
CLAIM: Men, women, anyone can speak in tongues, or so they say
The Biblical Truth About Tongues:
- The Law of first use applies to any biblical verse. The very first use of tongues in the Bible is in Acts 2:
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- There was no mention of an expectation of tongues being spoken here
- Suddenly the sound came. It was not a wind, but a sound of one. No groups today hear this sound when "tongues" are spoken
- This was LIKE fire, not fire, but tongues. No cloven tongues like fire appear today when people speak in "tongues"
- They were filled with the Holy Ghost. Previously they had received the Holy Ghost
John 20:22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
- They spoke in "other" tongues which were earthly languages "out of every nation under heaven" (v.5) in the context here, since earthly people all heard them speak in their language
- The Holy Ghost gave them utterance; it was not because they prayed, laid hands, loosed their tongues. It was a true gift.
Acts 2:5-11
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
- All major people languages represented here so as to have universal impact
- Jews were present, as they always were
- The message is the wonderful works of God, not man (not to be edifying to themselves)
- This is confirmed as a fulfillment of prophecy by Joel and Jesus:
Mark 16:17-18
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speakwith 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.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Verse 22 was included here because it clearly shows that this was a sign to Jews, prophesied about Jews, fulfilled for Jews.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speakwith 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.
This is the only verse in the Gospels, spoken by our LORD Jesus Christ Himself, mentioning tongues. This verse is one of many taken as proof that we can and should be speaking tongues today, and that we can and should be having some sort of special "prayer language" directly to God, available to all for the asking. However, the words "new tongues" in the verse would have to apply, logically and contextually (very important) to any known and spoken people language as, say, Russian, would definitely be new to you if you did not speak it. Then there is that little context of the immediate verses, followed by the totality of Scripture. This same verse also demands all should be able to heal anyone they try to, pick up deadly snakes and handle them, drink poisons, but speaking in tongues seems always to be the focus.
Acts 2:17-22
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Verse 22 was included here because it clearly shows that this was a sign to Jews, prophesied about Jews, fulfilled for Jews.
- We should never use one, single, obscure verse to interpret the bulk of very clear verses
- In fact, the exact opposite is what is actually done: an obscure verse is used to interpret many clearer ones
- Tongues confuse unbelievers as well as true believers
- Tongues are spoken by unbelievers in many of the world's pagan religions
- Tongues were for Jewish unbelievers to hear the word in their spoken, known, earthly language
- Tongues were always interpreted, and a known people language
- Tongues were always spoken when Jews were present
- Angels always spoke in a people language
- Tongues were necessary because the Word was not yet complete like it is today
- Tongues were foretold to go away, along with special revelation, special words of knowledge, prophecies, precisely because the written Word is finished.
The Spiritual Gifts
1 Peter 4:10-11
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. The listings of the spiritual gifts are in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31, Ephesians 4:7-13, 1 Peter 4:10. The italics are for gifts which are not explicitly listed, but rather implied.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. The listings of the spiritual gifts are in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31, Ephesians 4:7-13, 1 Peter 4:10. The italics are for gifts which are not explicitly listed, but rather implied.
- Wisdom
- Knowledge
- Faith
- Miracles
- Prophecy
- Discernment
- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Pastors and teachers
- Ministry
- Teaching
- Exhortation
- Giving
- Ruling
- Mercy
- Helps
- Government
- Celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:8)
- Hospitality (Romans 12:13, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8, 1 Peter 4:9)
- There may be others in Scripture which are in the gray areas, debatable, held by some, such as exorcism, intercession, voluntary poverty. None of these can be established with certainty using any context
- THE STATED PURPOSE:
(Ephesians 4:12)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 13:8
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.
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.
- Tongues were to authenticate the birth of the Church and to fulfill prophecy
- Tongues were not spoken by all when they received the Holy Spirit
- We are not to edify ourselves, but others
- If one babbles in a "prayer language", they have no way of knowing what they are praying to God about or even if they are praying to God or talking the air and, therefore, cannot agree in prayer.
- Tongues were always given to people by the will of the Holy Spirit-never by asking in prayer, laying on of hands or "loosing one's tongue"
- Tongues were not the only evidence of the Holy Spirit's salvation
- The Word of God is complete today, not to be added to by signs and wonders
- The Jews sought after the signs.........not the Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 1:22)
- Christians can be deceived by the enemy as well as unbelievers, especially in these last days with the apostasy in full swing
- We are to guard against deception by filtering all things through the Scriptures
- Unbelievers do not come to Christ today via tongues, but by hearing the Word of God in their language
- Since much of the earth is unreached and unchurched, missionaries would be able to go to any place and preach the Gospel to any people group, since they could use "tongues" to do it, by faith.
- Tongues even then were not the most important spiritual gift, unlike today
- A really effective gift for unbelievers are the gifts of service, helps, martyrdom-yet people seek tongues and other "sign gifts".
- Tongues were spoken by some ancient pagan religions, and today by Mormons, devil-possessed modern day spiritists, witch doctors in Africa and Asia, Muslims, Indian fakirs (Muslim Sufi ascetics) and even patients with schizophrenia, neurosis, and psychosis.
- The evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5-6 does not mention tongues at all. The marks of Spirit filling are said to be spiritual relationships (Eph. 5:19,21-33; 6:1-9), worship (Eph. 5:19), resisting Satan (Eph. 6:11-18), and an effective prayer life (Eph. 5:18-20).
- Tongues were permitted (with ALL the restrictions) in the early church to reach unbelieving Jews of the remnant from the time of Christ. They are NOT able to accomplish that today (the Jews from then are all dead), thus they are obsolete
- Bottom Line: Christians cannot rely on miracles as proof of Gods working
- While we do not necessarily understand what a "prayer language" MAY have been, we are 2,000 years removed from it, like so many things in Scripture, so to expect us to understand it is not reasonable
- NOT all have diverse tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10 & 30)
- · Tongues were always people LANGUAGES (Acts 2)
- The Spirit decides, not us (1 Corinthians 12:11)
- Spoken by the preacher, not the congregation (Acts 2)
- Tongues shall CEASE (1 Corinthians 13:8)
- Tongues NOT for speaking to men (1 Corinthians 14:2)
- Men can't understand them (1 Corinthians 14:2)
- They are to NO profit without an interpreter
(1 Corinthians 14:6) - Use EASILY understood words (1 Corinthians 14:9)
- The meaning must be known (1 Corinthians 14:11)
- Understanding must be fruitful (1 Corinthians 14:14)
- They're for a SIGN (1 Corinthians 14:22)
- SIGNS are for UNBELIEVING JEWS (1 Corinthians 1:22)
- By no more than two or three (1 Corinthians 14:27)
- By course (1 Corinthians 14:27)
- Women are to keep SILENT (1 Corinthians 14:34)
(Deuteronomy 4:2)
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
For 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: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (Matthew 24:5)
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Revelation 22:18-19
For 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: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (Matthew 24:5)
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
(Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Revelation 13:13-14
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
(1 Corinthians 1:22)
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
(1 Corinthians 14:33)
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
(1 Peter 4:7)
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
(1 Peter 5:8)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(Ezekiel 37:4)
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
THE END OF THE SIGNS AND WONDERS
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 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.
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 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.
- Gift of prophecy-gone
- Gift of tongues-gone
- Gift of "word of knowledge" (ie. special revelation, not biblical wisdom)-gone
1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings***. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. *** Preaching
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings***. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. *** Preaching
(Ezekiel 37:4)
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 14:1-28
(vv. 1-5) 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, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Verse 2, is any foreign earthly language without any interpretation.
How would one know a foreign language without one?
Why would you speak one to God anyways?
Can you not pray in your language to God so you know what you are saying (in order to "worship the LORD thy God with thy whole MIND" also)?
If your spirit prayed to God, nobody else would ever know about it. The only time anyone else would find out about "tongues" is if they are spoken to other people.
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?
This is an earthly language also, because it includes elements of understanding
Revelation that they can understand
Knowledge that they can understand
Prophesy that they can understand
Doctrine that they can understand
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.
These sounds are useless when they are gibberish, muttering, babbling sounds
Those sounds lacking distinction, are TO NO ONE, into the air, not to any person, including God
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. All people languages have the ability to be understood
All languages have distinguishing characteristics
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. If it is anything else (a muttering, babbling "prayer language") heard by others, then we look like barbarians
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. The gifts were for edifying in the church, and edifying the church
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. Again, the unknown tongue is something that can be interpreted as an earthly language
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. Without that interpretation, it is a complete and utter waste of one's time
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. This prayer of which Paul speaks is not, therefore, a prayer language at all, but a prayer in Hebrew or Greek for him, and English for us.
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? The implied answer here is that "the cannot know" because it is just gibberish. The person hearing this prayer must understand to stand in agreement with the person praying.
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. If a person were to babble without interpretation, the other persons are not edified, encouraged, and have no way to agree.
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye 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. An unknown tongue is any tongue a person does not speak
Paul prefers to speak in his native tongue to people
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Tongues are childish, cannot teach, nor be understood.
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. Again, this is people language, just "others" (the Church)
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. This is why they are no longer needed and not fruitful, edifying for today:
Then, it was to preach the Gospel to a person in their native tongue, to be interpreted by someone else who spoke that tongue
Unbelievers today think we are nuts, wacko when we babble in tongues
No one today gets saved due to tongues speaking in church, but by the Gospel preached, with a translator in their language. In other words, no one goes to an African country and preaches the Gospel in Swahili, without an interpreter.
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? This happens today in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, under the guise of "worship" services or IN church gatherings.
It sounds satanic, like a gaggle of geese or a flock of chickens clucking, or animals all screaming!
It sounds exactly the same as pagan unbelievers getting together to speak tongues!
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. Proper usage of prophesying in the day led to true conversions
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. Decently and in order, to edification
They practiced disorder, as today, and edified themselves, as today.
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. Again, an unknown tongue is a foreign language with an interpreter
Today, we use interpreters in foreign languages and do not need tongues
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Speaking to oneself and to God has to be in that person's own language or they have no idea what they are saying and to whom it is said.
Tongues could not be spoken by more than a few, and an interpreter was an ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT.
Paul simply wanted them to speak in tongues to the unbelieving foreigners.
In context, that means orderly, with interpreters so they understand, but again not as a priority, even here.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silence 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 from 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 write 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. Women were to keep their tongues in their mouths.
These regulations are violated by Pentecostals on a regular basis. But there's an easier way
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; All of chapters 5-6 of Ephesians is about walking in the Spirit in family relationships, personal relationships, professional relationships
Wherefore tongues are for a SIGN, not to them that believe, but to them that BELIEVE NOT:
For the JEWS require a SIGN, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; As were other miracles:
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.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. No Christians go around today bringing snakes and scorpions into church and other deadly things to demonstrate the power of the Holy Ghost and spirituality, but they bring tongues in.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. The context is that if someone refuses to heed Paul's admonitions, then let him be ignorant. Let him make a fool of himself and babble on, but covet instead to preach, like Paul said all along.
It says, "if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant ... forbid not".
It's saying to let him go on if he ignores Paul's admonitions.
It's NOT saying that it's right to speak in tongues.
The commandments concerning tongues are routinely ignored by Pentecostals.
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the JEWS require a SIGN, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: BUT we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1 Corinthians 14:37-38
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. But if ANY man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. The ignorant are any who ignore Paul's commandments, not just unlearned or unbelievers.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Does this happen when Pentecostals speak in tongues? And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. How about this? Don't they burn? And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Notice THEY, the Apostles from Acts 1:26, spoke, not the assembly, they heard
A rushing wind does not come when people speak in tongues corporately or in small groups today
Verse 4: The spoke "with OTHER tongues", they did not speak not "in tongues" and "TONGUES" is plural. Meaning more than 1 people language was spoken, not a prayer language
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (v. 5) "out of every nation under heaven" All men who were there no matter where their from. (v. 6) "because that every man heard them speak in his own language." From verse 4 to verse 6 we have learned that the tongues mentioned in the above passages are referring to known people languages.
No babbling and unintelligible gibberish was spoken, because "all men understood".
That meshes well with the admonitions in 1 Corinthians that tongues must be interpreted & understood(v. 7-8)
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Notice the pluralness of "HEAR we every man" still more than one tongue(language) as from "wherein we were born" same as native tongue.
Still no mention of an unknown tongue at this time because all men UNDERSTOOD, and no mention of a heavenly language that only a few could understand. (v.9-11) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Again the many languages spoken here that they "do HEAR them speak"
Everybody HEARD and understood what was said.
The only miracle here is not speaking "in tongues" but it is the HEARING that also was in the miracle.
Both speaking and hearing occurred. Verse 4 says they SPOKE with other tongues,
These verses (8-11) say that they HEARD those tongues. (v. 12-18)And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: God said, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:"
God also said that the sons and daughters shall prophesy
God also said that the young men will see visions
God also said that the old men would dream dreams,
God did not say that they would be speaking in tongues.)
God also said that the servants and handmaidens will prophesy. Acts 19:6-7
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Tongues, multiple languages
The tongues were for the benefit of the Jews, as part of them learning that the Gospel was now offered to Gentiles
The enemy can speak in tongues and do a lot of other miracles in order to deceive mankind:
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. APPEARED AS A SERPENT IN THE GARDEN
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. Exodus 8:6-7
And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
(vv. 1-5) 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, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
The context of the word "prophesieth" is preaching, hence they edify, exhort and comfort. You do not predict and do those things.
Verse 2, is any foreign earthly language without any interpretation.
How would one know a foreign language without one?
Why would you speak one to God anyways?
Can you not pray in your language to God so you know what you are saying (in order to "worship the LORD thy God with thy whole MIND" also)?
If your spirit prayed to God, nobody else would ever know about it. The only time anyone else would find out about "tongues" is if they are spoken to other people.
1 Corinthians 14:6
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?
The implied answer to what it shall profit anyone is...... "nothing", or "no profit"
This is an earthly language also, because it includes elements of understanding
Revelation that they can understand
Knowledge that they can understand
Prophesy that they can understand
Doctrine that they can understand
1 Corinthians 14:7-9
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.
Each instrument is completely distinguishable and not unknown, as is each tongue (language), to the proper listening ear.
This is necessary for any music to work, as well as any people language
These sounds are useless when they are gibberish, muttering, babbling sounds
Those sounds lacking distinction, are TO NO ONE, into the air, not to any person, including God
1 Corinthians 14:10
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. All people languages have the ability to be understood
All languages have distinguishing characteristics
(1 Corinthians 14:11)
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. If it is anything else (a muttering, babbling "prayer language") heard by others, then we look like barbarians
(1 Corinthians 14:12)
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. The gifts were for edifying in the church, and edifying the church
(1 Corinthians 14:13)
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. Again, the unknown tongue is something that can be interpreted as an earthly language
(1 Corinthians 14:14)
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. Without that interpretation, it is a complete and utter waste of one's time
(1 Corinthians 14:15)
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. This prayer of which Paul speaks is not, therefore, a prayer language at all, but a prayer in Hebrew or Greek for him, and English for us.
(1 Corinthians 14:16)
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? The implied answer here is that "the cannot know" because it is just gibberish. The person hearing this prayer must understand to stand in agreement with the person praying.
(1 Corinthians 14:17)
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. If a person were to babble without interpretation, the other persons are not edified, encouraged, and have no way to agree.
(1 Corinthians 14:18-19)
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye 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. An unknown tongue is any tongue a person does not speak
Paul prefers to speak in his native tongue to people
(1 Corinthians 14:20)
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
The concept is simple and any mature Christian can get it.
Tongues are childish, cannot teach, nor be understood.
(1 Corinthians 14:21)
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. Again, this is people language, just "others" (the Church)
(1 Corinthians 14:22)
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. This is why they are no longer needed and not fruitful, edifying for today:
Then, it was to preach the Gospel to a person in their native tongue, to be interpreted by someone else who spoke that tongue
Unbelievers today think we are nuts, wacko when we babble in tongues
No one today gets saved due to tongues speaking in church, but by the Gospel preached, with a translator in their language. In other words, no one goes to an African country and preaches the Gospel in Swahili, without an interpreter.
(1 Corinthians 14:23)
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? This happens today in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, under the guise of "worship" services or IN church gatherings.
It sounds satanic, like a gaggle of geese or a flock of chickens clucking, or animals all screaming!
It sounds exactly the same as pagan unbelievers getting together to speak tongues!
(1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
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. Proper usage of prophesying in the day led to true conversions
(1 Corinthians 14:26)
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. Decently and in order, to edification
They practiced disorder, as today, and edified themselves, as today.
(1 Corinthians 14:27)
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. Again, an unknown tongue is a foreign language with an interpreter
Today, we use interpreters in foreign languages and do not need tongues
(1 Corinthians 14:28)
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Speaking to oneself and to God has to be in that person's own language or they have no idea what they are saying and to whom it is said.
Tongues could not be spoken by more than a few, and an interpreter was an ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT.
Paul simply wanted them to speak in tongues to the unbelieving foreigners.
In context, that means orderly, with interpreters so they understand, but again not as a priority, even here.
(1 Corinthians 14:33)
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:34-38
Let your women keep silence 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 from 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 write 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. Women were to keep their tongues in their mouths.
These regulations are violated by Pentecostals on a regular basis. But there's an easier way
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
No tongues.
THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 5:18-19
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; All of chapters 5-6 of Ephesians is about walking in the Spirit in family relationships, personal relationships, professional relationships
OTHER RELIGIONS SPEAK IN TONGUES
1 Corinthians 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a SIGN, not to them that believe, but to them that BELIEVE NOT:
1 Corinthians 1:22
For the JEWS require a SIGN, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
So tongues (which can never be shown to be anything but a LANGUAGE, not babble) are a SIGN for LOST JEWS. If you are an unsaved Jew from the Apostolic remnant, God may have a preacher preach in your language so you can get saved. This is what we see in the only three instances of tongues being spoken in the Bible.
(Acts 2:4)
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:7-12
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
(Acts 19:6)
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
TONGUES WERE FORETOLD
(Mark 16:17)
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; As were other miracles:
(Mark 16:18)
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.
(Luke 10:19)
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. No Christians go around today bringing snakes and scorpions into church and other deadly things to demonstrate the power of the Holy Ghost and spirituality, but they bring tongues in.
1 Corinthians 14:38
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. The context is that if someone refuses to heed Paul's admonitions, then let him be ignorant. Let him make a fool of himself and babble on, but covet instead to preach, like Paul said all along.
It says, "if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant ... forbid not".
It's saying to let him go on if he ignores Paul's admonitions.
It's NOT saying that it's right to speak in tongues.
The commandments concerning tongues are routinely ignored by Pentecostals.
1 Corinthians 1:21-23
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the JEWS require a SIGN, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: BUT we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1 Corinthians 14:37-38
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. But if ANY man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. The ignorant are any who ignore Paul's commandments, not just unlearned or unbelievers.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
THE PENTECOST: Acts Chapter 2
(v. 1-4)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Does this happen when Pentecostals speak in tongues? And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. How about this? Don't they burn? And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
NOT of their own desire, but as the Holy Spirit gave them
Notice THEY, the Apostles from Acts 1:26, spoke, not the assembly, they heard
A rushing wind does not come when people speak in tongues corporately or in small groups today
Verse 4: The spoke "with OTHER tongues", they did not speak not "in tongues" and "TONGUES" is plural. Meaning more than 1 people language was spoken, not a prayer language
(v. 5-6)
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (v. 5) "out of every nation under heaven" All men who were there no matter where their from. (v. 6) "because that every man heard them speak in his own language." From verse 4 to verse 6 we have learned that the tongues mentioned in the above passages are referring to known people languages.
No babbling and unintelligible gibberish was spoken, because "all men understood".
That meshes well with the admonitions in 1 Corinthians that tongues must be interpreted & understood(v. 7-8)
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Notice the pluralness of "HEAR we every man" still more than one tongue(language) as from "wherein we were born" same as native tongue.
Still no mention of an unknown tongue at this time because all men UNDERSTOOD, and no mention of a heavenly language that only a few could understand. (v.9-11) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Again the many languages spoken here that they "do HEAR them speak"
Everybody HEARD and understood what was said.
The only miracle here is not speaking "in tongues" but it is the HEARING that also was in the miracle.
Both speaking and hearing occurred. Verse 4 says they SPOKE with other tongues,
These verses (8-11) say that they HEARD those tongues. (v. 12-18)And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: God said, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:"
God also said that the sons and daughters shall prophesy
God also said that the young men will see visions
God also said that the old men would dream dreams,
God did not say that they would be speaking in tongues.)
God also said that the servants and handmaidens will prophesy. Acts 19:6-7
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Tongues, multiple languages
The tongues were for the benefit of the Jews, as part of them learning that the Gospel was now offered to Gentiles
The enemy can speak in tongues and do a lot of other miracles in order to deceive mankind:
WE WERE WARNED 2,000 YEARS AGO
(Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. APPEARED AS A SERPENT IN THE GARDEN
(Genesis 3:1)
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
DUPLICATED MIRACLES OF GOD DONE THROUGH JANNES AND JAMBRES
Exodus 7:10-11
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Exodus 7:20-22
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. Exodus 8:6-7
And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
SHOWED JESUS HIMSELF THE ENTIRE WORLD HISTORY OF KINGDOMS
(Luke 4:5)
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT
(2 Corinthians 11:14)
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
WILL APPEAR TO SURVIVE A MORTAL HEAD WOUND
(Revelation 13:3)
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
WILL DECEIVE THE ENTIRE WORLD ONE DAY SOON
Revelation 13:13-14
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
(Revelation 13:14)
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Revelation 16:13-14
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Gives occultists fantastic dreams
Gives powers of magic such as levitation, disappearing, etc.
Give power to psychics, witches and pagans
Allows people to "speak to the dead"
Gives people power to engage in "automatic writing"
Gives people the power of telekinesis
ADDITIONAL VERSES:
(Jeremiah 29:8)
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Matthew 7:15-16
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(Matthew 24:4-5)
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:24)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(Ephesians 5:6)
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(Colossians 2:18)
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(2 Peter 2:1)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
(2 John 1:7)
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.