Speaking in Tongues a Cessationist View

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Waiting on him

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Which would be tempting God. I would not do anything purposely harmful to myself and expect deliverance. But... If I came down sick it is good to know I have people willing to hang in there with me in faith and in prayer.
Brother to be absent from the body is to cease from sin. That should be the goal.
 
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rockytopva

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Brother to be absent from the body is to cease from sin. That should be the goal.

I will not hesitate to go before the throne of grace in time of need...

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:14-16

For....

... Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: - Acts 10:34

What God did for others he has got to do for us.
 

amadeus

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This is false until you can prove
And this is the way one decides truth or falsehood? What is acceptable proof? For man we know what they say, but for God is it not established before two witnesses? For Jesus it was Him and His Father, was it not?
tongues came in any other way beyond the two outpourings or through an apostle's hands.
You never have explained where all the apostles have gone when Paul allowed that God was giving them for the perfection of the saints [Eph 4:11-12]. How many among us have already been perfected?
 

BARNEY BRIGHT

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According to scripture, God enabled believers to speak to him in a heavenly language. A language unknown except by him and those to whom he gave a gift for interpreting it (1 Corinthians 14:27–28
The apostle Paul explains at Hebrews 2:2-4 that the miraculous gifts, which would include the gift of tongues, were given to the first-century Christians to verify that God’s favor had shifted from the old Jewish arrangement for worship to the newly established Christian congregation. The shift of divine favor was well established by the latter part of the first century, while some of the apostles of Jesus Christ were yet alive.

That the gift of tongues also served another purpose can be seen from Jesus’ words to his disciples shortly before his ascension to heaven in 33 C.E. He said: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The small group of disciples did not include persons who spoke the languages of every part of the earth. But, true to Jesus’ promise, about 10 days later, on the festival day of Pentecost, the holy spirit was poured out on about 120 of his disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. The result? They “started to speak with different tongues” and so could proceed immediately to carry out the assigned work of witnessing.—Acts 2:1-4.

When those disciples gave a witness in Jerusalem at the festival of Pentecost, Jews and proselytes who had come from faraway places for the festival were heard to say: “How is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? . . . we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.” (Acts 2:8-11) It is obvious that the tongues mentioned here were known languages, not unintelligible speech. And notice that the gift was used in harmony with the purpose for which Jesus said the spirit would be given, namely, to witness to others. It notably served that purpose, for “on that day about three thousand souls were added.”—Acts 2:41.

Another instance when the outpouring of holy spirit was accompanied by the gift of tongues is reported on at Acts 10:44-46. If you read the account you will notice that when God’s spirit fell upon the Gentile Cornelius and his household, they, too, began “speaking with tongues.” Commenting on what he had observed on that occasion, the apostle Peter said: “But when I started to speak, the holy spirit fell upon them just as it did also upon us in the beginning.” So, according to Peter, the gift of tongues bestowed on that occasion was the same gift received several years previously at Pentecost—a miraculous ability to speak foreign languages. The Bible shows that the gift of tongues given to Cornelius and his household convinced Peter and those with him that God was now accepting uncircumcised Gentiles into the congregation. God was now using the Christian congregation.—Acts 11:15-18.

How do you explain Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 14:2?’ some ask. ‘Did not Paul say, “For he that speaks in a tongue speaks, not to men, but to God”?’

First of all, it should be noted that Paul is not here discussing private prayer but, rather, the use of the gift of tongues at a congregational meeting. (See 1 Corinthians 14:23.) Moreover, Paul’s words are in complete harmony with both the purpose for which the gift of tongues was given and the description of the gift given in the book of Acts. If you read the entire 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians, you will notice that (1) the tongues referred to were known languages, not unintelligible speech, and (2) the gift was to be used, not privately, but for the benefit of unbelievers.

Let us read 1Co 14 verse 2 in its entirety. It states: “For he that speaks in a tongue speaks, not to men, but to God, for no one listens, but he speaks sacred secrets by the spirit.” The Greek word translated “tongue,” glōssa, is the same word as that used at Acts 2:4, 11, where it obviously has reference to known languages. The Greek word translated “listens” can denote hearing something without understanding what is stated. This can be better understood in the light of verses 13, 16 and 17 of 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, where we read: “Therefore let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may translate. Otherwise, if you offer praise with a gift of the spirit, how will the man occupying the seat of the ordinary person [or, unbeliever; see 1Co 14 verses 22-25.] say ‘Amen’ to your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? True, you give thanks in a fine way, but the other man is not being built up.”

Simply put, the one speaking in a tongue speaks to God rather than to men if the men who are listening do not understand what he is saying. Paul had in mind not unintelligible speech but foreign languages that potentially could be understood by others. But if, in fact, none of those present could understand the language and if there were no interpreters present, then the one who spoke the tongue should pray that he might translate it and thus build up others, especially the unbelievers. If there was no one to translate, then, as the scripture says, it would be better for him to keep quiet.1 Corinthians 14: 26-28
 
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Dave L

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You do not understand tongues any more than the averages Charismatic does.
 
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Dave L

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And this is the way one decides truth or falsehood? What is acceptable proof? For man we know what they say, but for God is it not established before two witnesses? For Jesus it was Him and His Father, was it not?

You never have explained where all the apostles have gone when Paul allowed that God was giving them for the perfection of the saints [Eph 4:11-12]. How many among us have already been perfected?
You need scripture to support your understanding. True Faith does not exist apart from that.
 
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Dave L

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Not so.

This is yet just one more logical fallacy.

The gift is given. It remains God's gift. Prove otherwise. Prove that God cannot and does not give tongues to believers today.
You need to prove the gifts came in another way beyond the two outpourings or through an apostles's hands. Otherwise you are adding to scripture and preaching false doctrine, deceiving the church.
 

rockytopva

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Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. - 1 Corinthians 14:39

Forbid not..... Which means don’t disallow it!
 
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Dave L

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Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. - 1 Corinthians 14:39

Forbid not..... Which means don’t disallow it!
If people want to babble and let off steam, that's fine. But it is not biblical tongues by any stretch.
 

Episkopos

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You need scripture to support your understanding. True Faith does not exist apart from that.
You mean...proper dogmatic beliefs. Faith moves mountains...remember?

You think this is about accuracy of beliefs. Like say...the Spanish Inquisition?
 
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Dave L

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You mean...proper dogmatic beliefs. Faith moves mountains...remember?

You think this is about accuracy of beliefs. Like say...the Spanish Inquisition?
If you love the truth (Jesus) you will put his word first in every matter. You have no scripture to support tongues being for today.
 

VictoryinJesus

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No need for the anointing oil on the pulpit as the unbelief is so dense that the Lord cannot get a blessing in there edgewise!

anointing oil on the pulpit

Should be the Spirit of God...not a bottle of oil man has held in what is passed away by what is revealed. The oil is the Spirit, yeah? The help a sick person needs. Superstition...hand held items that ward off or have supernatural power within themselves?

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. - Mark 7:13

Oil set on a pulpit is the tradition. The body is the church ...where is the pulpit within the body of Christ where the oil comes from?

Psalm 23:5-6
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Ephesians 5:23
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

What happens when you are somewhere where there is no anointing oil on the pulpit ...does that mean you can’t pray a prayer of faith over the sick and God will raise them up?
 

bbyrd009

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If you love the truth (Jesus) you will put his word first in every matter. You have no scripture to support tongues being for today.
Dave you don't think this is maybe a rather dangerous slope to start down?
Fwiw I suggest refining our def of "speaking in tongues" before this
Seems to be obviously and deliberately occluded to me
 
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Dave L

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Dave you don't think this is maybe a rather dangerous slope to start down?
Fwiw I suggest refining our def of "speaking in tongues" before this
Seems to be obviously and deliberately occluded to me
Scripture determines what we think about tongues. But many do not understand scripture on the matter and think mindless babbling is what the early Christians did. But this is just blowing off steam and has nothing to do with biblical tongues.
 

bbyrd009

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Scripture determines what we think about tongues. But many do not understand scripture on the matter and think mindless babbling is what the early Christians did. But this is just blowing off steam and has nothing to do with biblical tongues.
Dave you make several implications here, mostly about yourself and what you profess to know, that I am seeing now actually invites debate and contrast. I know this is maybe hard to correlate from a literal perspective but I would invite you to contemplate how this essentially = "Standing where it should not be" (let the reader understand!) if you will ok. If you profess yourself wise, you will be seen as a fool.

Who is this "we" that Scripture determines what they think about (or "believe," if I may) tongues, may I ask, and what was their determination? Bc wadr my determination there is "run for the hills" ok, no offense
 
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Dave L

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Dave you make several implications here, mostly about yourself and what you profess to know, that I am seeing now actually invites debate and contrast. I know this is maybe hard to correlate from a literal perspective but I would invite you to contemplate how this essentially = "Standing where it should not be" (let the reader understand!) if you will ok. If you profess yourself wise, you will be seen as a fool.

Who is this "we" that Scripture determines what they think about (or "believe," if I may) tongues, may I ask, and what was their determination? Bc wadr my determination there is "run for the hills" ok, no offense
Do you "speak in tongues"?
 

bbyrd009

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Do you "speak in tongues"?
Imo I was just now mostly speaking in tongues to you I guess, Dave

but I was Charismatic, and then Pentacostal, twenty years prolly
I don't SiT like they do any more, but I would not take back the experience if I could, either. They helped get me to here imo
 
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Dave L

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Imo I was just now speaking in tongues to you I guess, Dave

but I was Charismatic, and then Pentacostal, twenty years prolly
OK, so you know what you are talking about from their perspective. Did you ever have any questions while running in those circles about what you saw asking how it aligned with scripture? I ran in those circles too and had far more questions than I could ever begin to answer. It would be good to compare notes.
 

bbyrd009

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OK, so you know what you are talking about from their perspective. Did you ever have any questions while running in those circles about what you saw asking how it aligned with scripture? I ran in those circles too and had far more questions than I could ever begin to answer. It would be good to compare notes.
I don't doubt that our conclusions would be similar, but that does not mean that those ppl are being intentionally deceptive or even that I am somehow "against" them now. They boldly add to Acts 2:38, so imo we had all the warning we needed right