gks@vax135.UUCP (Ken Swanson) (04/26/85)
In reply to Richard Brower's question regarding the language used in speaking in tongues as practiced today: The classic NT passages on tongue-speaking are found in ACTS 2 and I Cor 14. To the best of my knowledge, ACTS 2 is the only place in the NT where tongues were spoken by some (the HS fell on the disciples on day of Pentecost, as promised by Jesus) and they were understood by others because the tongues were other known languages (Jews from many lands had come to celebrate the feast). I doubt that this falls under the tongue-speaking/interpretation situation described by Paul in I Cor 14. I have heard the witness of several people who have said that they have prayed in tongues and that it was heard by another who was healed, saved, ... - the tongue was unknown to the speaker, but it was the native language of another who understood (this is not interpretation). Others have witnessed that they or others have spoken in tongues and another person was healed, saved, ... - but this was a result of interpretation by the spirit and HS in the hearer - the tongue was understood by neither in the human sense. This last case is similar to what Paul is talking about in I Cor 14 when he says that speaking in tongues should be done in private (individual or small group prayer/ praise/worship) as opposed to mass confusion during a church service, unless there is someone who can interpret and, thus, edify the body of believers. Ken Swanson ... ihnp4!vax135!gks