jhaynes@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu (06/23/91)
Tongues
Tongues is an issue today that I feel must be address ONLY from a
scriptural point of view. In studying this topic one needs to understand
why the gifts of the Holy Spirit were given. Jesus makes references to
the gifts in the gospel according to Mark.
Mark 16:16-20 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my
name they will drive out demons; THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW
TONGUES;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they
drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will
place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up
into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
20 THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT OUT AND PREACHED EVERYWHERE, AND
THE LORD WORKED WITH THEM AND CONFIRMED HIS WORD BY THE
SIGNS THAT ACCOMPANIED IT. (NIV)
New Tongues is best translated new languages. The purpose I believe is
very clear in what happen at the day of pentecost to spread the wonders of
God in other languages from those who share the gospel message.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)
Acts 2:7-8 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are
speaking Galileans?
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native
language? (NIV)
Act 2:9-12 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia,
Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near
Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-- we
hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does
this mean?" (NIV)
Some will argue the point if the gift of interperting tongues fell on the
hearers. Well to put this argument to rest back in Mark the passage is
clear the signs will follow them that believe. Remember this is the first
time the gospel was ever preached so I doubt that the hearers received the
gift. Another important note is at the end of chapter two:
Acts 2:42-43 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and
miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (NIV)
The Apostles were given the gifts to confirm their words that it was from
God. In fact the signs that mark an apostle were the signs wonders and
miracles.
2 Cor 12:12 The things that mark an apostle-- signs, wonders and
miracles-- were done among you with great perseverance. (NIV)
From the New Testament we can see that this powerful ministry was past on
by the laying on of the hands of the apostles as seen in chapters 6-8 in
acts. Also we find the Apostle Paul was also included in this ministry
hand pick from Jesus himself.
I do not by any means want to under mind the work of the Holy Spirit in
the 1st century church, but I find it hard to believe that people are so
easily pulled away from the truth of the scriptures to support a prayer
language of tongues. They will use the 2nd chapter of Acts to support this
view and even go to the point of saying that to be baptized in the Holy
Spirit one must speak in tongues. The purpose again I repeat was to
spread the grace of God into other known languages.
I have attended several pentecostal churches Assembles of God, World
Harvest, and several independed churches, and here are some of the
verses that they will use to explain the prayer language of tongues.
1 Cor 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not
love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (NIV)
They use this to show that the prayer language is a heavenly language of
angels. But the verse hear Paul does not say when he speaks... he says if
I speak... big differents. Note the point is to focus the Corithians to
the importants of LOVE. The structure in verses 1-3 are the same the If..
then..conclusion... They are to make a point not that the contents are
true. Similar to the contrasting statements in Ecclesiates 1:4
Eccl 1:4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains
forever. (NIV)
The bible is full of contrasting statements which unlearned or those
without the Spirit of God distort to prove the bible controdicts itself.
Another verse they used to prove this point to me was this verse.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do
not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
(NIV)
If I take their line of logic that a prayer language of tongues does exist
than I have to conclude that it is a language of angel that have words.
But look to the verse it clearly says "...that WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS" this
verse to have the clear meaning needs to be in context that we don't know
how to prayer so the spirit of God which is one with our spirit intercedes
for us in our captivity of decay.
In their struggle to show me that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active
today I saw several heeling services and baptisms of the Holy Spirit where
some did utter in an unknown tongue but others did not. One time my
brother inlaw and father inlaw went up and the one person baptizing them
said repeat after me do what I do. Wait a minute flags went up no where
in scripture did the apostles say repeat after me to receive the gift of
speaking in tongues. The Spirit of God gives the gifts as He determines.
1 Cor 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, AND HE
GIVES THEM TO EACH ONE, JUST AS HE DETERMINES. (NIV)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Holy Spirit has complete control in this matter of distributing the
gift NOT MAN. Every example in Acts where the gift of tongues were used
there were conversions.
1 Cor 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for
unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for
unbelievers. (NIV)
In one of the heeling services my mother was given a word of knowledge
that her gallbladder had been heeled. One week later she had to have it
removed. Sorry if the heeling came from heaven she wouldn't have had her
gallbladder today.
After many false claims of heelings and tongue speaking I started to pray
and study the scriptures to see what the scriptures revealed about the
gifts and the purpose and especially the gift of tongues.
The passage in study I know is highly argumented about the meaning but I
believe with the use of other scriptures and some common sense can reveal
the truth. Here is the passage:
1 Cor 13:8-13 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they
will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled;
where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like
a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put
childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love. (NIV)
Now taking the passage one verse at a time, verse 8 three words need to be
define. They are prophecies, tongues and knowledge, Prophecy is the WORD
OF GOD spoken under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Tongues are the
gift to speak the WORD OF GOD in another human beings language.
Knowledge is the completion of a spiritual truth or the completion of a
prophecy. Knowledge is the one most people misunderstand like P. R. on
the seven hundred club. An example in scripture of Knowledge is about the
resurrection. Job knew of it Job 19:25-27; Isa 26:19-21; Dan 12:1-3 This
is Knowledge but Paul makes it complete or perfect is 1 Cor 15:51-53 and
also in 1 Thess 4:13-18. Now let's look to the next verse.
1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (NIV)
and also the next to have a complete sentence.
1 Cor 13:10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. (NIV)
Some questions all of the three gifts deal with the Word of God so what is
the imperfect Paul is talking about? Right the word of God. For
knowledge in part is imperpect or incomplete and so is prophecy in part
is imperfect or incomplete. This is the point Paul is trying to reveal.
For when the Word of God is completely revealed through Knowledge and
Prophecy, then Prophecy, Tongues, and Knowledge will ceased. Let's look
to the next set of verses to reveal this.
1 Cor 13:11-12 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought
like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man,
I put childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
know fully, even as I am fully known. (NIV)
This is similar to understand when one only reads one or two books of the
bible without reading the entire bible. I know I had some weird thoughts
about doctrines but soon put them behind me when reading the entire bible
as a whole not just in part. Usually this is where false doctrines get
there start because people will not read the bible and test what they
believe with the few verses they have in hand. Paul doesn't loose his
train of thought he is still speaking about the Word of God here. The
argument that I always run into in the Pentecostal movement is Paul is
speaking about when we see Jesus face to face. Well if I would take that
line of thought then the bible would controdict itself. Look at this
passage in Isaiah.
Isaiah 65:17-18 17 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they
come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people
a joy. (NIV)
If Paul was speaking about when Jesus returns then then we would have
complete knowledge of God and his thoughts. I doubt it I believe when
Jesus returns the sins of King David and the other sins named in the Old
and New testement will never be remembered nor will the come to mind as
the verses in Isaiah reveal. Jesus even alludes in teaching the sermon on
the mount.
Matt 5:17-18 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them.
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear,
not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will
by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished. (NIV)
Sure Jesus says Heaven and earth will disappear but my words will remain
forever. I believe he is talking about His very words and promises.
Now for Pauls closing statement.
1 Cor 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love. (NIV)
In contrast using english to understand Paul is saying after Prophecies
Tongue and Knowledge cease this three will remain faith, hope and love.
Love will endure for all eternity but when Jesus returns there will be no
need for faith or hope. Let's examine other scriptures that point this
statement out.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see. (NIV)
Rom 8:24-25 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is
no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it
patiently. (NIV)
Seeing Jesus face to face will be what we are hoping for, once we are with
him we will no long need faith or hope because we will be with Jesus. If
you hold to the other view of this passage to support your view on tongues
and that they are for today, then I would like to ask that you see what
verses you uses to support your view.
Again I am not trying to undermind the work of the Holy Spirit but if they
are for today then why has it spread to the J. W. the latter day Saints the
Cathlic church and most of all the other denominations of the protestants.
I have heard of the J.W.'s claim that it is the Spirit revealing himself
in the true believers. Funny thing though they still hold fast to the
false doctrines. It is your own choice but I believe the next study on
the gifts of the Holy Spirit will alarm you.
After seeing the verses in 1 Corithians 13:8-13 and what I believe the
true meaning is I continued with my study. I looked up the words of
signs, wonders and miracles to further my understanding. Here is what I
found.
Acts 2:42-43 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and
miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (NIV)
2 Cor 12:12 The things that mark an apostle-- signs, wonders and
miracles-- were done among you with great perseverance. (NIV)
Here are just some of the verses to point out that this was an era of
history just like the era of the ten plagues with Moses and the manna and
quail in the desert. The points here is God uses a variety of miraculous
signs for His people to cling to for the hope of the New Heaven and a new
earth. But before Jesus returns I believe that Satan will be set free to
immate the first century church. Here are the passage to support my view.
Matt 24:24-25 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and
perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--
if that were possible.
25 See, I have told you ahead of time. (NIV)
2 Thes 2:1-13 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some
prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us,
saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day
will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything
that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself
up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to
tell you these things?
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may
be revealed at the proper time.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work;
but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so
till he is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord
Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and
destroy by the splendor of his coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with
the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit
miracles, signs and wonders,
10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are
perishing. They perish because they refused to love the
truth and so be saved.
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so
that they will believe the lie
12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed
the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved
by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be
saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through
belief in the truth. (NIV)
2 Cor 11:13-15 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen,
masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel
of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade
as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their
actions deserve. (NIV)
Jesus gives us warning and says he has told us ahead of time. Also I
believe from the passage in second Thess. is very clear in revealing that
before Jesus comes the rebellion must take place first. This rebellion is
apostasy not of unbeliever but of believers that appear to be servants of
righteousness but are really working for their father satan, meaning they
are not true believers at all. Jesus warns us about them.
Matt 7:15-23 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick
grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree
bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot
bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and
perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!' (NIV)
Look carefully at their plea they will say that they prophesied in His
name and drove out demons and performed many miracles. But this power to
do this isn't from heaven but the pit. Jesus will tell them "I NEVER KNEW
YOU". That is how powerful the delusion will be people will be caught up in
the Pentecostal Movement thing they are saved but in reality are trapped
in the powerful delusion.
Here is a test for yourself. Did you read the scriptures that were typed
out for you? If not why? The Spirit of God wants you to read the
scriptures to find out the truth. Satan is the one who doesn't want you
to read the truth.
In closing I will followup with anyone and hear any thing where you believe
I am wrong. One thing I ask use the scriptures to prove your point and if
you use the posting, followup command, then use the scriptures not human
reasoning. I don't claim to have all truth but I say without a doubt when
Jesus returns I will be in His Sheep Pen.
In His Hands,
Joel
1 Thes 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. (NIV)
Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (NIV)