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10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
UNKNOWN
TONGUES
I COR. 12:10
Already we have presented information, which shows that this gift of tongues, being a part of the Apostolic ministry, has ceased. Although, in view of the heavy emphasis which is being currently laid on tongues, it is important that we look specifically into this gift Of the Spirit called, "divers kinds of tongues."
As the previous lessons teach, we believe the gift of tongues is not in effect today. We also maintain that all who practice "speaking in tongues" today are frauds and not of God. Furthermore, the "tongues speakers" of today bear minutely little, if any, resemblance to the speaking in tongues which was done during the Apostolic age.
I. The gift of tongues as practiced in the Apostolic age, which is described in the Bible:
A. The gift of tongues was the ability to speak fluently in other languages than that native to the speaker, without his ever having studied or learned those languages:
1. When tongues are referred to in the New Testament, the word tongues (sometimes tongue) is translated from the Greek word "glossa," which is defined in Strong's Greek Dictionary and in An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W. E. Vine to mean (1) The tongues like as of fire, which appeared at Pentecost, (2) The tongue as an organ of speech, and (3) A language.
2. Always, when speaking of the gift of tongues, the word tongues refers to another language, which has not been learned by the speaker.
3. Acts 2 illustrates this truth:
a. When the 12 Apostles (compare Acts 1:26 with Acts 2:1) spoke with other tongues (vs. 4), every man heard them speak in his own language", (vs. 6).
b. To show that the "tongues" were known languages, in verse 8, the hearers asked, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"
c. This passage is most often cited by the modern tongues movement to prove tongues to be speech in some strange Gibberish or utterance unknown to any people anywhere apart from a heavenly revelation.
d. Such was obviously not the case. The fact that so amazed the multitude here is that every man, (and a wide spectrum of languages was present, vs. 5), heard; not in unknown utterance; but in his "own tongue."
e. These Apostles were simply speaking in a variety of other languages, inspite of the fact that they had never learned them.
4. Always tongues as a gift refers to another language; never to a mysterious, ecstatic Gibberish. There is not one word, phrase, or context in the entire New Testament that even vaguely suggests such ecstatic utterance was ever done.
5. Other tongues to a man, who spoke only Hebrew, would be Arabic, Greek, Chinese, Chaldee, etc. For a modern English speaker, other tongues would be Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, etc.
6. The gift of tongues was to speak perfectly these languages without having ever learned them. This was speaking in tongues or languages.
7. This is not how the modern "tongues speakers" do it:
a. Their speaking is not in some other language, instead it is a conglommeration of sounds and utterances unknown to be any language on earth.
b. Consequently, the modern tongues movement does not even vaguely resemble the tongues gift practiced by some of the early Christians.
8. It is noteworthy that there is no indication that the "tongues" spoken in the Bible days were "unknown":
a. The word "unknown" does not appear in the most ancient manuscripts.
b. When it is used in some of the translations, the word is italicized purposely by the translators to tell the reader that the word does not appear in the original manuscripts, and that it was added by the translators.
c. The translators were attempting to show the "tongue" or "language" was unknown to the person speaking it; not unknown as an earthly language.
B. Any person endowed with the gift of tongues could speak in many different languages as the Spirit gave him utterance:
1. You will notice that I Cor. 12:10 mentions "kinds Of tongues":
a. Though the word "divers" is italicized in the King James translation, nevertheless the plurality of languages is seen.
b. Both "kinds" and "tongues" are plural, showing the speaker could speak in more than one language.
c. The statement of this verse also shows that the same person could speak in these different kinds of tongues. Notice "to another (singular) kinds of tongues" (plural). It was not a matter of there being a different person to speak each foreign language.
2. Acts 2:4-11 illustrates this as the 12 Apostles spoke in a large number of languages.
3 Notice too, that they were only able to do it "as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4), and I Cor. 12:11 indicates the gift was only operative by the Spirit. It was not that a man learned these languages; he had no knowledge of the language except as the Spirit revealed it to him.
4. How different this is from the "tongues movement" of today:
a. In the first place, the speakers utter an ecstatic Gibberish, not another tongue.
b. And, in the second place, it is always almost exactly the same, every time it is spoken regardless of the speaker.
C. There are no "kinds" (plural) of Gibberish in the modern charismatic movement, let alone "kinds" of languages, instead their's (the charismatics) is one "kind" of Gibberish.
II. The Spirit of God decided who received the gift of tongues:
A. Not everyone received the gift of tongues:
1. In describing the gifts in I Cor. 12, Paul shows how different ones received different gifts (vs. 8-10); but not anyone (except the Apostles) had all the gifts:
a. In vs. 30, He asks, "do all speak with tongues" The context answers "No".
b. The various members of the body had differing abilities, but not everyone could do the same as others, Vs 14-24.
2. No woman ever received the gift of tongues (nor any of the gifts):
a. In the very context dealing with tongues (I Cor. 12-14), Paul said, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak, " I Cor. 14:34.
b. He continues in I Cor. 14:35, "it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
3. This is so very different from the modern tongues movement:
a. The modern "tongues speakers" generally claim that everybody can and must speak in unknown tongues to be saved.
b. Tongues are supposed to be evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost.
C. In this movement women and men speak in tongues, and generally, the women are the first and foremost in speaking in tongues.
d. Of course, none of the Bible women and few of the Bible men ever spoke in tongues; and if tongues are essential to salvation as the present charismatics usually contend; then these Corinthian "saints" (I Cor. 1:2) were not saints or saved (I Cor. 15:2) at all, but were lost, and the Spirit who inspired Paul to say they were saved saints didn't know what He was talking about.
4. This truth alone is sufficient to expose the fallacy in the charismatic movement.
B. The Spirit of God selected who would receive the gift of tongues:
1. I Cor. 12:11 in speaking of the gifts, including tongues, says, "all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will."
2. In other words, the gifts were not self chosen; the Spirit determined who got which gift.
3. You will notice in Acts 2 where the Apostles spoke in other tongues (vs. 4), they were not praying at some altar that they might receive the gift and speak in tongues:
a. To the contrary, they were merely waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus' promise of Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:5, 8.
b. As the resurrection of Christ fulfilled the prophecy of the feast of Firstfruits (I Cor. 15:20), likewise the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit at Pentecost fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of the feast of Pentecost. As there could only be one resurrection, there can only be one Pentecost.
c. The definite fact is that there was no self seeking or self choosing of what happened at Pentecost; it was in fulfillment of promise.
4. Furthermore, at no place, where the gifts of the Spirit were conferred by the laying on of Apostles hands, was there any self choosing of a gift:
a. This was true of Cornelius' house (Acts 10:45-46) and of John's disciples (Acts 19:6).
b. You will also note that in neither case were they at some altar begging for the gifts.
C. The Holy Spirit; not the Apostles or the man receiving, decided who would receive which gift, as I Cor. 12:11 says.
5. This is totally different from the modern tongues movement:
a. In this movement, everyone is to choose tongues.
b. Furthermore, the seekers are to get down at the altar and pray persistently until they receive the gift.
c. So, once again it becomes evident that what happened in the Bible was not the same as what is happening today.
III. Now, let me call your attention to how the gift of tongues was to be governed whenever practiced:
A. The gift of tongues was only to be exercised when unbelieving Jews were present:
1. The main purpose of tongues was to reach the unbelievers. Paul said, "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. " I Cor. 14:22.
2. When an unbeliever came into the services of the church; if he could not understand their language, then it meant nothing to him. Those members with the gift of knowledge, prophecy, etc. could not reach him, but the man with the gift of tongues could. When that unbeliever, knowing they knew not his language, heard the man, with the gift of tongues, speak in the foreign language; then the unbeliever could know of a certainty that what was going on in the church was of God.
3. I Cor. 14:21 shows the tongues gift was for unbelieving Jews:
a. This verse quotes Isa. 28:11-12 saying, "With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people.
b. The gift of tongues fulfilled this prophecy.
c. But, notice who it was directed toward. Verse 21 refers to "this people." Isaiah 28 shows "this people" to be Jews.
4. So, tongues were not for everybody; they were "a sign" for unbelieving Jews.
B. Furthermore, the gift of tongues was only to be exercised when an interpreter was present:
1. I Cor. 14:28 plainly says, "if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church."
2. The interpretation of tongues was another gift of the Spirit, I Cor. 12:10.
3. The interpretation of tongues is confusing to many:
a. The question arises, "Why did they need an interpreter if the speaker was speaking in a known language?"
b. The answer lies in the fact that the known language was the language of the unbelieving Jew. It was not known by the speaker of tongues or to the church.
c. Therefore, without an interpreter for the church, the speaking in tongues was meaningless and unedifying to them.
4. Since all things were to edify the church ("Let all things be done unto edifying," I Cor. 14:26), then tongues were to edify too.
5. Thus, as the man with the gift of tongues spoke in the language of the unbelieving Jew, the interpreter translated it into the language spoken by the church.
6. The interpreter did not interpret to the unbeliever, for he didn't need it; he was hearing in his own language. The interpreter interpreted for the church.
7. But, note well that if there was no interpreter present, no tongues were to be spoken, I Cor. 14:28.
8. Here is further proof that these tongues were not to be jargon or unintelligable jibber-jabber:
a. I Cor. 14:6-10 says that whatever is spoken must be with certain speech and words easy to be understood, not in some strange lingo, which no one would comprehend.
b. I Cor. 14:11 shows that if the language is not comprehendable, no communication is done.
c. And, if there be no interpreter to translate to the church (I Cor. 14:28), then silence in tongues should prevail, for "in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." I Cor. 14:19.
C. In no service were more than 3 men to speak in tongues:
1. I Cor. 14:27 says, "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three."
2. Notice that it was where worship services were conducted, and not where they were waiting for the promise of the Spirit in Acts 2.
D. No two were to speak in tongues simultaneously:
1. After I Cor. 14:27 says only two or three per service were to speak, the verse then says, "and that by course."
2. One was to speak, then another; but not all at the same time.
3. Everything in the church was to be done decently and in order. I Cor. 14:33 declares, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
E. As previously mentioned, women were forbidden to speak in tongues:
1. I Cor. 14:34-35 says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
2. Nowhere in Scriptures did anyone except a few Spirit selected men ever receive the gift of tongues.
F. This is all so very different from the modern tongues movement:
1. They give no consideration to whether or not an unbelieving Jew, who can't speak their language is present, thus their "jibberish" is not for unbelievers. By their own admission it is supposedly "evidence that the speaker is filled with the Holy Ghost."
2. Since the speaker is speaking a jargon and not another language, there is no way to check whether or not his interpretation is correct. This, of course, is a very convient escape device, which plays upon the superstition of the hearers, and protects the tongue speaker and the interpreter from exposure.
3. Also, the modern tongues people insist that everybody, including women present, should speak in tongues in each service.
4. Generally, they all do it at the same time too, and a great state of disorder and confusion prevails.
5. As indicated, they insist that the women must speak in tongues too:
a. Some say it is essential to their salvation.
b. Others, who will not go so far as to say it is essential to salvation, maintain that tongues are good for everybody; and that everybody really should speak in them and evidence a second blessing or deeper spiritual life.
6. Once again it becomes evident that the modern tongues movement is nowhere similar to the gift of tongues practiced during the days before completion of the Bible. In fact the modern movement contradicts the Bible practice of tongues at almost every point.
IV. The gift of tongues was not given to glorify its recipient:
A. All the gifts, including tongues, were to strengthen and edify the church:
1. Remember that I Cor. 14:26 says, "Let all things be done unto edifying," and I Cor. 14:7-11 condemns the practice of anything, which does not edify.
2. Instead of clamoring for gifts, Paul said , seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church, " I Cor. 14:12.
3. Like the human body, the church body needs many varying members in order to be complete and function well. See I Cor. 12:14-30. In those days before completion of the Bible, God provided these gifts of the Spirit, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. " I Cor. 12:25.
4. As our preceeding studies show, the gifts served to confirm the Word and edify the church until the Word was completed. Thus, the gifts of the Spirit were for the benefit of the whole church; not the glory of an individual member.
B. In the listing of the spiritual gifts, tongues and interpretations come last:
1. You will find this to be true in both I Cor. 12:8-10 and I Cor. 12:28-30.
2. Although, you will see in the context of I Cor. 12-14, that many of the Corinthians had elevated tongues as though it was the foremost gift. Read I Cor. 14:15.
3. Though Paul told them it was not wrong to speak in tongues at that time (see preceeding chapters), he shows clearly it is not the foremost gift, I Cor. 14:39.
4. In view of the Bible principle that men ought to humble and abase self (Lukel4:11),none of the gifts were to cause anyone to become proud, with a superior air about them.
C. Although, the modern tongue speakers generally are highly puffed up, thinking themselves to be superior to everybody else:
1. Tongue speaking is made the most important thing anyone is to do.
2. It seems subconsciously assumed that once you ve spoken in tongues, you've really arrived; and you are in a very elite group of God's "in circle." Those who haven't spoken in a tongue are usually regarded as inferior, if saved at all. They're not "deep" yet.
3. So, the modern movement does not produce the same effect the Bible gift produced.
V. The gift of tongues was to continue only until the Word of God was completed:
A. The ministry of gifts was a ministry in part:
1. In that day, Paul could say, "we know in part, and we prophesy in part, " I Cor. 13:9.
2. The completion of the Scriptures was then in process. Consequently, they did not have the whole or completed Bible.
3. Therefore, these early saints could not go to the Bible for the guidance and counsel necessary to their edification and the well being of the church.
4. During this period, they were given these qifts by which the church could carry on without handicap.
B. But, the ministry of the church was not to remain permanently a ministry in part:
1. In the very midst of defining the gifts (ministry in part), Paul says, "yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." I Cor. 12:31. He indicates there's coming something better than this ministry of gifts.
2. At that very time, the more excellent way, which would be a complete way; not one in part, was being developed:
a. Jesus had said to the Apostles , "the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your rememberance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26). He had also said in John 16:12-13, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howheit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." When you put what Jesus had done and taught with what He would teach, you have the whole.
b. The Apostles, during the time of the gifts, were putting the parts together, (I Cor. 2); and Paul, an Apostle, "born out of due time", (I Cor. 15:8) said, "that by me the preaching might be fully known. " II Tim. 4:17.
C. Jesus said, "the things concerning me have an end," (Luke 22:37); therefore, Paul could look forward to the day when the Word would no longer be in part (as in tongues), but it would be completed. He thus spoke of the day, "when that which is perfect ("complete" from the Greek word "teleios") is come," I Cor. 13:10.
d. The completed Bible is "that which is perfect," of I Cor. 13:10 and "a more excellent way" of I Cor. 12:31.
3. Not long after Paul's statements of I Cor. 12-14, the last book of the Bible was written and the ministry, which supplied the church, ceased to be "in part."
Instead, the Bible is the completed revelation of God and supplies the church with all it needs to serve God acceptably. II Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
4. Therefore, with the completion of the Bible, we have, in one book, a supply which provides the church all it needs, and what tongues alone could never supply. The Bible is "a more excellent way" to conduct the services and business of the church.
C. When the Bible, God's completed revelation, was finished, tongues ceased:
1. I Cor. 13:8 says, "whether there be tongues, they shall cease;" and "cease" is from the Greek "pauo" meaning "come to an end."
2. I Cor. 13:10 locates the time of that "cease" to be "when that which is perfect is come," at that time, the ministry "in part," which was, terminated.
3. If tongues ceased with the completion of the Bible (and they did); then the gift of tongues is not now in effect; and the actions of todays "tongues speakers" prove they do not have what the Bible speakers had: THE GIFT OF TONGUES.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"