Speaking in Tongues
I don't often post bible studies on here but I've been wanting to do this for a while.
The issue of speaking in tongues is perpetually contentious, and personally I've never known exactly where to stand on it. I was saved in a Pentecostal church but received much of my teaching in a baptist-style church, and if that's not enough to confuse me theologially I don't know what is!
I'm going to approach this with as little bias as possible, relying only on the text itself and a Greek dictionary. A truly in depth study would also consult works by theologians, but I am purposely avoiding this to make my reading "pure." (Noting that I am a sinful man and it is impossible to shed all bias).
So, this is going to be a chapter study of 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (the most definitive teaching on tongues in the entire bible) I will begin with some background info from chapter 12:
What is Speaking in Tongues?:
1 Cor 12:8, 10 (ESV): "[To one is given through the Spirit] ...various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues"
- "Tongues:" Gr. glossa lit. the physical tongue in the body. This word is also used in greek to mean "language"
- "various kinds:" Gr. genos very interesting word choice, literally means "different generation, different nation, different offspring." The word appears as though it should be refering to people.
- "interpretation;" Gr. hermeneia lit. "translation"
It should be noted that, implicitly, the speaker of the "tongues" does not know the language he or she is speaking (otherwise it wouldn't be a gift!) It is also implied that the languages are real human languages that could be understood by a native speaker. (This is clearly the case in Acts chapter 2 as well).
This letter was written to the church in Corinth. To their credit, they desired to use the spiritual gifts, but to their detriment, their motivation was wrong. The Corinthians desired to use the most noticable gift (tongues) as a claim to their spirituality.
Paul argues in chapter 12 that all the gifts are important, and that they are distributed according to God's will. There is no "spiritual elite" who have more of God's Holy Spirit than others, because every believer has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and each gift shows an equal measure of the Spirit's power. All are needed for the church to function properly:
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
(1 Cor 12: 11-14, ESV)
Now, on to chapter 14. The chapter is set up in a rhetorical style. The argument often begins with a positive assertion followed by a negative comment and then a stated or implied application. This can be shown in the style "[A], however, [B]. Therefore [C]" In this next section I will sum up Paul's statements using this formula (which has its limits but for the purpose of this study will work). Note that I will be offering interpretation of Paul's thoughts, and I will be stripping each idea down to what I think is the main point. Also note that the context of the whole chapter is corporate worship, and Paul is teaching specifically about the use of the gifts in group setting. I suggest that you have your bible open to this chapter and read these points along with it.
It is good to desire the Spiritual gifts, in a loving way
however
some gifts are suited better than others for certain events
therefore
in the context of corporate worship prophecy is better than tongues.
Speaking in tongues reveals the mysteries of the spirit
however
only God understands them
therefore
prophecy (which everyone understands) is better.
Speaking in tongues builds up [edifies] the speaker
however
it does not build up [edify] the church
therefore
it is better to use a gift that builds up the church (like prophecy)
Paul desires that everyone would speak in tongues (because it's great!) He desires even more that everyone would prophesy (because its really great!)
however
It is God (not Paul) who distributes the spiritual gifts. God does so as he desires, not as we desire (cf 1 Cor 12:4-7)
therefore
not everyone will speak in tongues or prophesy (cf 1 Cor 12:7-31).
Prophecy is greater than tongues
however
if an interpretation is given then tongues are just as great
therefore
Public speaking in tongues requires interpretation.
Speaking in tongues does not build up the church and is entirely useless without interpretation
however
it will build up the church if it is interpreted
therefore
people who speak in tongues should pray for interpretation as well.
The (human) spirit prays while speaking in tongues
however
the mind is unfruitful at this time
therefore
Tongues cannot replace regular prayer, teaching, and bible study.
Paul is thankful he speaks in tongues (and more than everyone else!)
however
in church Paul would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct than ten-thousand words in a tongue
therefore
The role of preaching and teaching is more important in the church than the manifestation of tongues.
Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers to convict them of God's power
however
if everyone speaks in tongues and no interpretation is given the church will look insane and the unbeliever will not be convicted
therefore
Interpretation is absolutely necessary, as are prophecy and teaching so that the unbeliever will be convicted of his or her sin and accept Christ.
In summary, Paul is teaching:
- All believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
- Each believer receives (a) gift(s) as God wills.
- Each gift shows a manifestation of the Spirit.
- Each gift is equal in power.
- Speaking in tongues involves the use of real languages.
- In corporate worship, prophecy is generally better than speaking in tongues.
- Tongues are good too, but only if they are interpreted.
- Speaking in tongues is not a replacement for normal prayer and teaching.
- Along with prophecy and teaching speaking in tongues will convict unbelievers, but only if the tongues are interpreted. Otherwise, speaking in tongues will deter unbelievers.
Thanks for reading this long post. I pray that you are edified by it, God bless.
PS: I have a lot of homework due in the next two weeks, so feel free to leave comments but don't expect any detailed responses for a while.
3 Comments:
"The (human) spirit prays while speaking in tongues
however
the mind is unfruitful at this time
therefore
Tongues cannot replace regular prayer, teaching, and bible study"
Everything you said was biblical before and after this statement, but I'd like to know how you come to the conclusion you do in this one statement, and why.
There's no reason to negate the personal PRIVATE use just because in public there's all these guidelines for the PUBLIC use/version of it.
I submit to you for consideration, you reach this conclusion because you have no familiarity with the experience of actually speaking in private edification tongues, therefore not knowing what it does and what it's for.
Since you yourself have admitted (to me privately in that email some time ago, not here on your blog, that I recall off the top of my head) that you have never spoken in tongues. Therefore you're less likely to realize, thru experience as well as Scripture, that private personal edification tongues, DO get interpreted. It's just *your spirit* that gets the interpretation, not your mind (which you said). Your mind is not where it's coming from, it's not your mind that's getting the answer/interpretation to the prayer/tongue.
Therefore, there's no necessary reason to conclude just because your mind doesn't get the interpretation, that it's not necessary to do this particular practice because it has a different effect than Bible study and "mindful" prayer. Paul DOES say in 14:15 he will do BOTH, and doesn't place more emphasis on one over the other.
Realize also, that "edify" is a greek word having to do with *building* things, and one of the literal definitions is "renovate or improve", and literally "to build". In architectural terms, when you edify an edifice, you are 'building a building' or 'erecting a superstructure'. It's like when you 'edify yourself', your 'building, brick upon brick that superstructure on the inside of you, your spirit.
If I go to gym and work out, after doing it once, I would not have any noticable muscles. It comes from what? Consistent resistence against my muscles over time, and persistence in perservering through those excercises, but ultimately, we ourselves are the ones in charge of how much we work out physically.
Likewise, we all CHOOSE how much of this personal edification praying we are going to do, and I guarantee you that's where much of "charismatic Christianity" falls short, in just simply "starting the engine" of the car, but never driving it. Or, to keep with the work out analogy, just doing some sha ta tas in a worship service, but neglecting it the rest of their lives privately would be like going to the gym, and after five minutes and one small sweat, going back to the locker room and putting their street clothes back on--will NOT produce any noticable muscle after doing this for only five minutes every day for a year.
Also, many men of God who moved in power and miracles, have all stated in various forms that what made their ministry was LOTS of this private tongue praying (Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake are a couple I could open up books to point to their own words, as well as a few men in our day I've met from being taught under and getting to ask these kind of questions to like Curry Blake, Lake's "successor"). Much of Charismatic Christianity is superficial and lacking any depth when it comes to the fruit/result of actual tongue praying. You can tell just by listening to them. The public is the tip of the iceberg of how deep they go in private.
Edifying yourself (for all intents and purposes I will call PRAYING in tongues, not just speaking it) does to you personally and privately what prophesying does corporately and publicly. BOTH are intended to get people edified, built up in their inner man, only one is private the other public/corporate.
Paul even says "I want you all to speak in tongues" probably in my opinion, from personal experience, because IT ROCKS someone's inner man in an awesome way the more they do it. Of course he's not "commanding it", if people don't want it, they don't have to have it, but it's their loss though. I just look at it like if people knew what they were missing out on, they certainly wouldn't spend so much time fighting against the subject or arguing why not to do it. Or being afraid of it like it's cultish or something.
Ask anyone the difference between when they were baptized in the Spirit and not (separate to when they got saved--if you don't like me phrazing it that way, then how about "ask someone about the difference in their life before and after they *started*--thru whatever starting point--speaking and praying in tongues on a consistent and regular basis") and try seeing if there's not unmistakable differences in their life (for just one example, power for *witness* like Acts 1:8).
Also, a few times in my blog's existence, I've linked to a website that provides an entire PDF document of the book "The Walk of the Spirit, the Walk of Power: The Vital Role of Praying in Tongues" by Dave Roberson. It's found here http://www.daveroberson.org/ and maybe you more than likely have paid it a visit before, I don't know, but it's like one of the only books I know of on the subject. I have another one called "The Hidden Power of Speaking in Tongues" by Mahesh Chavda, but I honestly think the former is far superior if one only read one book on it.
*sigh*
Remember, you invited comments. :P
This is more a response to the comment than anything else. I agree with Noah for the most part, but that is probably because of my personality, and how my quietness carries into my faith.
"Of course he's not "commanding it", if people don't want it, they don't have to have it, but it's their loss though. I just look at it like if people knew what they were missing out on, they certainly wouldn't spend so much time fighting against the subject or arguing why not to do it. Or being afraid of it like it's cultish or something."
I see your point, and I believe that if more people actually looked at the Bible before deciding what is right and what is wrong, then much controversy would be avoided. However, I have to admit that I resent the implication that I am missing out on something because I do not speak in tongues, and I have no desire to speak in tongues, either in public or in private. It sounds to me as if you are saying that my faith is weaker than yours because I do not speak in tongues. I'm not sure whether or not that was the intent, but that's how I interpret it. Besides, how do we measure faith? (That was a sidenote, sorry.) But I do not feel that I am missing anything because I do not speak in tongues, and I know that I could go the rest of my life, whether it be a day, or a century, without speaking in tongues, and not be at all disappointed.
"Therefore, there's no necessary reason to conclude just because your mind doesn't get the interpretation, that it's not necessary to do this particular practice because it has a different effect than Bible study and "mindful" prayer."
As far as I can see, it isn't necessary to speak in tongues. If it is, why does not God give us all that gift?
And I'm not sure where you got the idea that Noah is arguing against speaking in tongues. He never concluded that speaking in tongues is wrong in itself, at least not that I see.
I think that everyone is missing my point.
For clarification:
The two main teachings about tongues are these:
Fundamentalists- Speaking in tongues has "ceased" and no longer happens today.
Charismatics- Everyone should speak in tongues, because that is what God wants.
With this post I was trying to argue that I believe both of these teachings are incorrect.
I am not saying that people should *not* speak in tongues, if that is someone's gift they should use it.
This goes out to Steve and Corriane though, because I think you totally got me wrong:
You both said that if someone does not speak in tongues that they are "missing out." That is not true. Read 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
In verse 11 it says that each gift is GIVEN by the SAME Spirit, as HE wills. If I don't speak in tongues I am not "missing out," that is just not MY gift from God.
I can't CHOOSE what gift I get (if I could it wouldn't be a GIFT). It is given as GOD wills, not us.
Verse 12-13 says we ALL have the same Spirit that gives the gifts, and the rest of the chapter explains that ALL the gifts are needed for the body to function PROPERLY.
What does that mean?
I'd say, if I go to a church and EVERYONE is speaking in tongues, then they are probably NOT glorifying God. In fact, most of them are probably making it up.
However, the converse is true, if I go into a church and NO ONE is speaking in tongues then they as well are most likely not glorifying God. (And this is something that TOO many churches are guilty of).
So, for the record, speaking in tongues is good, but it is NOT for everyone, and those who DON'T do it are not "missing out," they just have a DIFFERENT spiritual gift... (you know, one of the 17 other ones) or perhaps they don't know what their gift is yet...
... which, if they don't, they should find out. I can say from experience that my faith has become stronger and my love for God has grown since I discovered my gift of knowledge (In fact Steve, it is much the same as how you changed after you started speaking in tongues).
We should all remember that there is not one gift that is evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the evidences of the baptism of the Holy Spirit are listed in John chapter 14:
1- Comfort from God (The Spirit is a "counsellor")
- Discernment (he guides us in truth)
2-Judgment
3-Conviction of our need of God (conviction of sin, judgment, righteousness)
4-Conviction of our need of Jesus
5-Bearing fruit (eg Gal ch. 5)
Hopefully this clears up any misunderstandings as to what I am teaching here.
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