10 Basic Questions about Speaking in Tongues

[Berserk]

(4) Did the tongues spoken in the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-47) and by the "disciples" at Ephesus (19:2, 6) express understandable human languages just as the tongues spoken on the Day of Pentecost did (2:4-6)?

4 points suggest that the answer is no:
(1) The Greek "glossai" ("tongues") need not mean "human languages" when it described ecstatic speech. For example, Greek examples can be provid in which "tongues" designates "a secret language" or "an expression which in speech...is strange and obscure and needs explanation" (TDNT. col., p. 720 for examples). Greek "prophets" were enlisted to interpret this apparent gibberish.

(2) The tongues spoken in Acts 2 are labelled "prophecy" (2:17) precisely because they are understood by some of the spectators.
By contrast, the tongues spoken by the Ephesian "disciples" are distinguished from "prophesying" a fact indicating that the tongues spoken at Ephesus were incomprehensible to those present. Indeed, there is no evidence that the tongues spoken in Cornelius' household (10:44-47) were interpreted.

(3) The comprehensible tongues spoken in Acts 2 are described as human languages (Greek: "dialektos"). In 1 Cor. 12 and 14
"tongues" are never identified as human languages. Instead, Paul can speak of "various kinds of tongues" (12:10)--this is, tongues as a prayer language (14:15-16, 28), messages in tongues that must be interpreted, and "tongues of angels (13:1; 14:12)."

(4) There is no reason to claim that 1 Cor. 13:1 has a hyperbolic character, so that "speaking in tongues of angels" is not meant to be a literal possibility. Only 13:2 is hyperbolic: "And if I understand all mysteries and all knowledge." Indeed, we know from ancient Jewish sources like first-century rabbi, Yohanan ben Zakkai and the Jewish book The Testament of Job that Jews considered speaking and understanding angelic tongues a genuine possibility. So Paul believes that when "glossai" (= "tongues") do not express to human languages, they can express angelic language.

In fact, this insight is confirmed by 1 Corinthians 14:12, which is normally mistranslated: "since you are eager for spiritual gifts." A literal translation reads instead, "since you are zealots for spirts (Greek: "pneuma") and "spirits" is an alternative term to designate angels (e. g. Hebrews 1:7). So Paul and the Corinthians believe that prphetic gifts and speaking in tongues can be angelically inspired. The Shepherd of Hermas provides the only other Christian description of the operation of spiritual gifts in public worship and it teaches the same thing (quoting Hermas Mandates 11:9):
"When a man who has the divine Spirit comes into a meeting of righteous people who have the faith of the divine Spirit and intercession is made to God from the assembly of those people, then THE ANGEL OF THE PROPHETIC SPIRIT RESTS ON HIM and fills the man, and the man...speaks to the congregation as God wills."
So if you ever wondered whether angels communicate with and through you, consider the possibility that angels may at times guide what you say when you speak in tongues.

 

[Berserk]

(5) Does 1 Cor. 12:29-31 imply that prophecy and speaking in tongues are gifts of the Spirit reserved for the chosen few?

Many evangelicals cite 1 Cor. 12:29-30 in support of their claim that the gift of speaking in tongues is not divinely intended for everyone.

This claim can be refuted on 4 grounds.
(1) Paul teaches, "I want you all to speak in tongues (2 Cor. 14:5), and then implies that, despite their abuse of tongues in public meetings, the Corinthians don't speak in (private) tongues often enough: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you (14:18)."

(2) Paul insists that we "can all prophesy one by one (14:31)." Yet the gift of prophesy is included in Paul's list that critics invoke to claim that these gifts are not divinely intended for everyone. So what Paul is instead teaching is this: Look around you: not everyone actually exercises their prophetic potential, but I want all believers to do so. (b) So when Paul encourages us all to speak in tongues, he clearly means that this gift if available to all believers

(3) Paul's command to "pray in the Spirit" is fulfilled by striving to speak in tongues. 3 points establish this teaching:
(a) Paul commands us to "pray in the Spirit" (Eph 6:18) and speaking in tongues is the only form of praying in the Spirit identified in the Bible (1 Cor 14:15). That is not to say that believers can't pray in the Spirit in their own language. (b) Paul commands us to "strive for spiritual gifts (14:1)," clarifying this command with his desire for all of us to speak in tongues (14:5). (c) Paul repeatedly commands us to imitate his spirituality (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; Phil 3:17) and makes it clear that such imitation includes a demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Cor. 4:29-20; cp. 2:4-5).

(4) Critics try to defend their anti-tongues stance by invoking Paul's preference that we all prophesy (14:5). Their misunderstanding is based on the neglect of the specific situation at Corinth that Paul addresses in 1 Cor. 14, namely that believers are speaking in uninterpreted tongues in public worship services at which outsiders are present who are not ready for such unintelligible Spirit manifestations. But Paul encourages speaking in tongues in private prayer sessions (1 Cor. 14:28; cp. 14:4) and in other public meetings (e. g. Acts 10:44-47; 19:1-6). So these evangelical critics are in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by implying that some of His gifts are irrelevant and not needed.

 

[Enoch111]

Does 1 Cor. 12:29-31 imply that prophecy and speaking in tongues are gifts of the Spirit reserved for the chosen few?

Not merely imply. That is a statement of fact. So who needs your revisionist ideas?

 

[Berserk]

Not merely imply. That is a statement of fact. So who needs your revisionist ideas?

You need to reread 1 Cor. 12:30. This verse contains no "statements of fact" as you claim, but a series of questions inviting a negative answer.
What is not clarified is WHY the answers are No and one must choose between these 2 possibilities:
(1) Because God never intended any of these gifts and ministries to be available to all believers (your view).
(2) Because Paul is simply describing the apparent distribution of gifts among the Corinthians without implying that none of these gifts are available to every seeker (the view taught by God's Word).
It is easy to show why (2) is the right answer. Paul asks, "Are all prophets?" But then teaches, "I want you ALL to prophesy (14:5)" and "you can all prophesy one by one (14:31)." So clearly God's Word teaches that the gift of prophecy is intended for every seeker. Paul's clarification equally applies to the gift of tongues. Paul asks, "Do all speak in tongues?" but then teaches, "I want all of you to speak in tongues (14:5)" and then encourages them to speak in tongues more often: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you (14:18)." Paul commands us all to "pray in the Spirit" to wage spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:18; cp. 6:11-17). Tongues is an important way of uttering such Spirit-directed prayer.

 

[Berserk]

(6) Does Paul teach that all speaking in tongues must be interpreted?

The answer of the modern scholarly consensus is "Of course not!!"
C. K. Barrett and Hans Conzelmann are eminent secular (non-Pentecostal~) New Testament scholars who have written magisterial commentaries on 1 Corinthians. Here a sample of what they wrote on 14:4-5 and 14:28:

Barrett, pp. 316, 328:
"He who speaks in a tongue builds up (edifies) himself (14:4)" and thus his speaking is a profitable exercise as far as he himself is concerned...The inevitable conclusion follows: "I wish you all to speak with tongues (14:5);" for speaking in tongues is a good thing, a gift from God by which you may all INDIVIDUALLY be built up."
"What he [the tongues speaker] does at home, privately, is another matter. It [prayer tongues] is genuine prayer, addressed to God..."Let him speak only to himself and to God (14:28).""

Conzelmann, p. 245 on 14:28:
"The rule that he should speak in tongues "at home" (Greek: heautou"= "for himself") is in harmony with verse 2."

Now I challenge opponents of tongues here to find even one MODERN critical Commentary on 1 Corinthians alone that disagrees with this British and German scholarly consensus that private tongues need not be interpreted? Indeed, since private tongues offers up praise and thanksgiving to God (so 14:14-16), why would it need to be interpreted?

 

[Berserk]

(7a) Does Paul's command to "strive for spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1)," exclude speaking in tongues? (7b) What principles should guide our striving for spiritual gifts?

The answer to (7a) is an emphatic No for 2 reasons:
(1) Paul twice commands us to "zealously strive for" spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1) and in both cases the 2 gifts he immediately discusses are speaking in tongues are prophecy (13:1; 14:2ff.).

(2) Paul asks rhetorically, "Are all prophets?...Do all speak in tongues (12:29-30)?" But then he makes it clear that, though in actual fact some believers don't speak in tongues or prophesy, God intends all believers to pursue both gifts:
"You can ALL prophesy one by one (14:31)."
'I want you ALL to prophesy (14:5)."
"I want you all to speak in tongues (14:5).

The answer to (7b) includes preparation and the right kind of intercession:
(a) PREPARATION: First learn to pray in the Spirit in your own language. In such Spirit-directed prapyer, the automatic spontaneous flow of words will prepare the Spirit to surrender to the spontaneous flow of words in speaking in tongues.
(b) THE INTERCESSION: The best approach for actually seeking the gift of tongues raises tricky questions. The worst approach is to be coached by someone praying next to you who advises, "Just step out in faith and speak it out!" Experience teaches that such prompting too often encourages the flesh to eject counterfeit tongues. The right timing is subject to the Spirit's sovereign discretion. The Holy Spirit doesn't jump just because we crack our whip! Some believers unconsciously seek an ecstatic high analogous to a drug high rather than a more intimate connection with Christ and His gifts. Yes, seekers need to make their desire for the gift of tongues clear to the Lord. but then they need to avoid treating tongues like a spiritual fetish; they need to seek the Giver, not the gift, and as they get lost in praise and their hearts well up with an intensifying longing for more of God, they will often find themselves lovingly ambushed by the Holy Spirit and thus surprised by joy.

Finally, let me offer the disclaimer that the Holy Spirit reserves the right to bypass these 2 principles and baptise seekers when and how He pleases.