Is Speaking in Tongues an Evidence of True Worship?
A NUMBER of religious organizations throughout Christendom make speaking in tongues prominent in their worship, and they will answer, ‘Yes! speaking in tongues is a necessary requirement of true worship.’ “We believe,” states the Manual of one such organization, “in the baptism of the Holy Ghost as it was on the day of Pentecost. We believe all those who receive the Holy Ghost will speak with other tongues.”
Generally speaking, in the United States the Pentecostal churches grew out of a movement that had its start around the turn of the century, and whose revivals were characterized by “speaking in other tongues.” During the year 1906 the most spectacular of these revivals occurred at Los Angeles, California, where, according to the book Suddenly from Heaven, an official history of the Assemblies of God, on April 9, a group of worshipers was hit as though “by a bolt of lightning,” and “the entire company was knocked from their chairs to the floor. Seven began to speak in divers kinds of tongues and to magnify God. The shouts were so fervent—and so loud!—that a crowd gathered outside.”
Since this incident is viewed by Pentecostals as being similar to the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost, a second Pentecost as it were, the questions arise: Is speaking in tongues a distinguishing mark of a true Christian today? For what purpose were first-century Christians given the miraculous gift of tongues? Did Jesus speak in tongues?
PURPOSE OF GIFT OF TONGUES
Jesus cured the sick, raised the dead and performed many other amazing deeds. These miraculous powers identified him as a true prophet and servant of God, just as the performing of miracles established Moses’ authenticity as God’s prophet. However, speaking in tongues was not one of the miraculous powers exercised by Jesus. It was not until the festival of Pentecost A.D. 33 that this gift was first received, and on that occasion it served as an effective evidence that Christians had God’s spirit upon them.
In the late spring of A.D. 33 the Jews had gathered from inside and outside the Roman Empire for their annual festival of Pentecost. Just ten days before, Jesus had ascended into heaven, and, in obedience to his instructions, 120 of his disciples were waiting in Jerusalem to receive the promised “power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) About nine o’clock in the morning on that memorable day there suddenly “occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. . . . and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.”—Acts 2:2-4.
When the Jews heard Jesus’ followers speaking in perhaps over a dozen different languages, what effect did it have upon them? “They were astonished,” the Bible says, “and began to wonder and say: ‘See here, all these who are speaking are Galileans, are they not? And yet 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 2:5-11.
To hear Galileans speaking distinctly in their many different languages was convincing evidence to these foreigners that God’s spirit was upon Jesus’ followers. It was miraculous! It was entirely different from the ‘loud and fervent shouts’ of the Pentecostal revival at Los Angeles, for here in Jerusalem many foreigners received instruction in their native languages about “the magnificent things of God.”
From what occurred at Pentecost it is evident that the holy spirit was given to early Christians for the practical purpose of preaching the good news. Jesus indicated this in his parting instructions to his disciples: “Do not withdraw from Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, . . . 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 1:4-8.
This special gift of tongues received in Jerusalem through God’s holy spirit assisted the disciples there in preaching the good news for a sign to those Jewish worshipers from distant parts of the earth. But the real fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 on that day of Pentecost was the fact that those who were filled with the spirit prophesied. Speaking with tongues was incidental, for a sign of authenticity or divine backing.—Acts 2:16-22.
The Bible records only two other instances of the outpouring of the holy spirit being accompanied with the speaking in tongues. The first occurred about three and a half years after Pentecost, when God turned his attention to the nations and poured out his spirit upon the Gentile Cornelius and his household. Because of its immediate visible manifestation, speaking in tongues was the logical gift for God to bestow on these uncircumcised non-Jews in order to show the apostle Peter that they could be accepted into the Christian congregation.—Acts 10:44-46.
It was similar in the other instance, when the apostle Paul preached to the men at Ephesus who had received John’s baptism. Their speaking in tongues was impressive on-the-spot evidence that John’s baptism was no longer suitable in God’s sight, as it was prior to the outpouring of the spirit at Pentecost A.D. 33.—Acts 19:1-7.
NOT ALL SPOKE IN TONGUES
Now, do these three recorded instances indicate that all first-century Christians spoke in tongues, and that, therefore, all true Christians would today? That is the conclusion drawn by some, but is that what the Bible indicates? Let us examine and see.
First of all, it is interesting to find that the only other place in the inspired Scriptures where the gift of tongues is mentioned is in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. And on that occasion Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning tongues because they had attached apparently too much importance to them and had to be straightened out as to their use.
So, in order to determine the Christian’s proper position with respect to the gift of tongues, let us examine the three chapters in which the apostle Paul discusses them. In chapter twelve of his letter he explains that there were many miraculous gifts of the spirit, and where did he place tongues in importance? Paul minimized them in verse 28 by listing them last. He then asked: “Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they?” It is clear that Paul was showing that not all Christians possessed these miraculous gifts, and, therefore, the possession of any one of them, including the speaking in tongues, was not necessary to salvation.—1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-31.
However, someone may argue that there is a difference between the “gift of tongues” and the speaking in tongues as “evidence” of the outpouring of the holy spirit. All spoke in tongues upon receiving the spirit, they might say, but not all were later endowed with the “gift of tongues.” But where is the Scriptural support for such a supposition? It is lacking.
To illustrate: One will observe that other miraculous gifts were also bestowed when the holy spirit was poured out, as at Ephesus when the men “began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:6) Now, do the Scriptures make a distinction between receiving the gift of prophesying at the outpouring of the holy spirit and exercising it later on; that is, that all received the gift of prophesying when holy spirit first came upon them, but only some exercised it after that? No, the Scriptures do not make such a distinction, just as they do not show that all Christians spoke in tongues on receiving the holy spirit, while only some did afterward! There is no getting away from it, not all Christians spoke with tongues in the first century. It was not necessary to salvation.
GIFT OF TONGUES CEASES
Paul goes on, in the thirteenth chapter of his letter to the Corinthians, to show them the lowly position of tongues as compared with more important matters, especially the “surpassing way” of love. Even those blessed with the gift of tongues “become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal” if they do not exercise love, he explained. (1 Cor. 12:31; 13:1) And to emphasize the importance and permanence of love as compared to the miraculous gifts of the spirit, he wrote: “Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with.”—1 Cor. 13:8.
On the basis of Paul’s words here, there should be no question that the miraculous gifts of the spirit were to pass away. But when? It is argued by some that, since Paul said that ‘tongues are a sign to the unbelievers,’ they would not pass away until unbelievers passed away, that is, until there were no longer any unbelievers. (1 Cor. 14:22) But is that the point Paul is making in this thirteenth chapter? No, it is not. In this chapter he does not associate the cessation of tongues with unbelievers, but, rather, he is comparing the temporariness of the gifts of the spirit with the permanence of love; and he links the transitoriness of these gifts, not with unbelievers, but with the infancy of Christianity.
So after declaring, in verse 8, that the miraculous gifts of prophesying, tongues and knowledge are to be done away with, Paul shows that they were a feature of the babyhood of the Christian congregation. In its infancy such miraculous gifts were needed to identify in a spectacular way that God’s favor had shifted from the Jewish nation and was now upon this new congregation of Christians. But, as Paul explained, when a man reaches adulthood he does away with “the traits of a babe.” So when the Christian congregation grew to adulthood, that is, reached maturity by becoming a recognized, established organization, these miraculous gifts passed away. Yet faith, hope and love remained as the distinguishing mark of true Christianity.—1 Cor. 13:9-13.
Regarding the transitoriness of the miraculous gifts M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia, Volume 10, page 484, says: “It thus appears that the miraculous gifts of the first days bestowed upon the Church for a definite purpose were gradually but quickly withdrawn from men when the apostles and those who had learned Christ from their lips had fallen asleep.” The Scriptures show that it was “through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the spirit was given.” Therefore, when the apostles died, and when those who had received the miraculous gifts through them passed from the earthly scene, the supernatural gifts of the spirit, including speaking in tongues, ceased.—Acts 8:18.
TONGUES THE LESSER GIFT
But since the spiritual gifts were at that time still present, Paul went on, in chapter fourteen of his letter, to encourage the Corinthians to strive after them. But which one in particular? Not tongues, but “preferably that you may prophesy.” This would do more good in upbuilding others. For Paul explained: “He that speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself, but he that prophesies upbuilds a congregation.” He then asked: “If I should come speaking to you in tongues, what good would I do?” Yes, how would it help others if they did not understand what he was saying? So Paul said: “In a congregation I would rather speak five words with my mind, that I might also instruct others verbally, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”—1 Cor. 14:1-19.
The Corinthians needed to be reminded of the purpose of the gift of tongues. So Paul wrote: “Tongues are for a sign, not to the believers, but to the unbelievers.” Notice that Paul does not associate the cessation of tongues with unbelievers, but, rather, he explains that tongues should serve as a sign to unbelievers, as they did at Pentecost. At that time foreign-speaking peoples were attracted to Christianity as a result of hearing God’s Word explained to them in their own languages. So the Corinthians should remember that tongues were not given to instruct believers within the congregation, but “for a sign” to unbelievers who might attend a meeting of the believers.—1 Cor. 14:21-26.
As to the use of tongues in the congregation, Paul counseled: “If someone speaks in a tongue, let it be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns; and let someone translate. But if there be no translator, let him keep silent.” Such counsel served to control the use of tongues in the congregation. It relegated them to their proper place.—1 Cor. 14:24-28.
JESUS’ INSTRUCTIONS?
Does the foregoing, which includes the entire Bible record concerning tongues, indicate that Christians would speak in tongues today? No, for tongues and the other miraculous gifts served as credentials for God’s new Christian organization during its infancy. But after serving this honorable purpose these miraculous gifts ceased.
‘But hold on,’ someone may caution. ‘You overlooked the main scripture on the subject, Jesus’ own instructions at Mark 16:17, 18: “These signs will accompany those believing: By the use of my name they will expel demons, they will speak with tongues, and with their hands they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly it will not hurt them at all.” See, that proves Christians today would speak in tongues.’
But does it? A person who would deliberately handle poisonous snakes or drink a deadly potion would be considered either very foolish or mentally deranged, even by a Pentecostal. Yet that is what those words say Christians would do.
The fact of the matter is that Bible scholars are agreed that the last twelve verses shown with the book of Mark, which speak about tongues and not being injured by snakes, were not written by Mark but were added by another. Tregelles, a noted nineteenth-century Bible scholar, states: “Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Victor of Antioch, Severus of Antioch, Jerome, as well as other writers, especially Greeks, testify that these verses were not written by St. Mark, or not found in the best copies.” But even if these words were part of Mark’s inspired writings (although the bulk of evidence shows they are not) there is nothing in them contrary to the Scriptural evidence that tongues would pass away following the death of the apostles.
AN EVIDENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP TODAY?
Whereas the apostle Paul showed that the gift of tongues was to cease from the Christian congregation, he pointed to love as the permanent distinguishing characteristic of true Christians. Jesus did also, when he said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:35; 1 Cor. 13:8, 13.
Love is the primary fruitage of God’s holy spirit; the others are “joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” It is these qualities, along with faithful obedience to God’s command to preach “this good news of the kingdom,” that identify one as having the holy spirit today, and not the gift of tongues.—Gal. 5:22, 23; Matt. 24:14.
What, then, is it that on occasions knocks worshipers from their chairs and causes them to shout in different tongues? Since the Scriptures clearly show that it is not God’s spirit; if it is not the result of emotionalism or mental unbalance, then it is an instance of the operation of Satan and his demons. The apostle Paul warned that ‘Satan would transform himself into an angel of light’ and that he would deceive many with “lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception.”—2 Cor. 11:14; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10.
Those who seek these miraculous gifts that God no longer bestows upon his people lend themselves to such deception by Satan, and often the effects are embarrassing. Aside from the convulsive seizures and emotional shouting, D. A. Hayes in his book The Gift of Tongues described an incident similar to those reported by others. “At Los Angeles not long ago,” he wrote, “a woman had the gift of tongues, and a reputable Chinaman who heard her said that she was speaking his dialect of Chinese. When he was asked to interpret what she said, he refused to do it, saying that the language was the vilest of the vile.”
Such obscenity is characteristic of the work of the demons. No, the so-called ‘speaking in tongues’ of today is not an evidence of true worship. But, rather, Jesus said that his disciples would be known by the love among themselves.
No “Gift of Tongues” Today
What purposes were served by the Pentecostal gift of tongues? Does God’s holy spirit still impart the gift of tongues, and must we be able to speak in tongues to prove we have received the holy spirit? What does the Bible say?
THE location was an upper chamber in Jerusalem. Present were 120 of Christ’s followers including his apostles, his half brothers and his mother. The time was the day of Pentecost, A.D. 33, about May 20, according to our calendar. Ten days had passed since Christ was seen ascending into heaven. “Suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And tongues as if of fire became visible and were distributed to them, and one sat upon each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues.”—Acts 2:1-4, NW.
At the time, because of the feast of Pentecost, there “were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, from every nation of those under heaven. So, when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language” “the magnificent things of God.” Peter, as the spokesman, explained to the awe-stricken Jews the meaning of this miracle, that it was a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29 regarding Jehovah’s pouring out his spirit upon all kinds of flesh.—Acts 2:5-18, NW.
About three and a half years later speaking with tongues accompanied the pouring out of the holy spirit upon Cornelius and his household while Peter was preaching to them. Years later a similar incident took place after Paul had preached to some at Ephesus. Do these three instances, the only ones mentioned in the Scriptures, where the gift of tongues accompanied the receiving of the holy spirit, establish a hard and fast rule that all who have received the holy spirit will be able to speak in tongues?
Among a considerable number of the smaller sects of the United States, particularly those termed “Pentecostal,” there is a strong emphasis on speaking with tongues. Thus regarding the General Assemblies of God, whose membership is upward of a quarter of a million in the United States, we are told that “they are especially insistent upon the teaching of the gift of tongues following spirit baptism; no minister doubting that gift could hold credentials in this group.”—Handbook of Denominations.
PURPOSE OF GIFT OF TONGUES
Jehovah God had empowered Moses to perform miracles in order to establish his authenticity as God’s prophet. On the same basis Christ Jesus had proved himself as Jehovah’s prophet, even as he said to his critics. “Even though you do not believe me, believe the works.” What, then, could be more logical than that Jesus’ immediate followers should be able to do the same? And so they also performed miracles, cured the sick, raised the dead, etc. The gift of tongues was just one of the many gifts of the spirit possessed by the apostles and early disciples, helping them to demonstrate that they were indeed true followers of the Son of God and that they had the right, the true, religion.—John 10:38, NW.
The gift of tongues, however, served another purpose, a most practical purpose. Especially on the day of Pentecost, by means of this gift of tongues they were able to witness to Jews coming from many different lands and who did not understand Aramaic, the native tongue. No wonder that three thousand of them embraced Christianity on that day!
Today, however, neither of these two reasons holds. Christianity having demonstrated its divine origin, there is no further need for miracles. Incidentally, let us note that while some claim to possess the gift of healing there is absolutely no similarity between the healing done by Jesus and his apostles and that professed to be done today. Back there everyone that came to Jesus or the apostles was cured, today only an exceptional few can claim to have been helped. Besides, back there even the dead were raised. And then also, today we have the Bible in 1,125 and more languages and “this good news of the kingdom” is being preached in upward of a hundred different tongues.
The fact is that speaking in tongues played a very minor role in the early Christian ministry. Not a word do we read about Jesus himself speaking in tongues, nor of his followers being commanded to do so or doing so while he was with them. Their ministry being primarily to the Jews, there was no need of tongues. So speaking in tongues is not included in Jesus’ parting instructions: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”—Matt. 28:19, 20, NW.
“But,” asks a Pentecostal, “what about Mark 16:17, which says: ‘These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.’ Doesn’t that prove that all Christ’s followers should be able to speak with tongues?” But let us note the context. According to it believers should not only be able to talk with tongues but also be able to cast out demons, able to handle poisonous snakes without injury and drink deadly potions without harm.
True, there are some few who hold that the holy spirit will enable one to handle poisonous snakes without harm; that is why the United States press periodically tells of some of these misguided ones’ being bitten and even dying from snake bites under such conditions. Such as W. J. Palmer of Johnson City, Tennessee, who died of snake bites October 4, 1953; J. Thomas of Trenton, Georgia, who died of such snake bites June 15, 1954, and C. E. Canada, of Greenville, South Carolina, who in August, 1953, survived a snake bite only because he accepted massive injections of serum that the other two who died had refused.
The fact is that modern Bible scholars are agreed that the last twelve verses that speak about tongues and not being injured by snakes were not written by Mark but added by another. According to Goodspeed, Mark’s account “stops abruptly at the end of 16:8 in the two best and oldest manuscripts, the Sinaitic and the Vatican, and a few others.”—The Goodspeed Parallel New Testament.
GIFTS VERSUS FRUITAGE OF SPIRIT
Because the gift of tongues fascinated the Corinthian Christians all out of proportion to its value, Paul had to set them straight on the matter, which he did in his first letter to them, chapters 12 to 14 being the only other references to tongues aside from Acts. Even back there not all had the gift of tongues, for Paul wrote: “Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful works, do they? Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all are translators, are they?” And note the order, from the most important, apostles, to the least important, tongues and their interpretation.—1 Cor. 12:27-30, NW.
Continuing his argument in chapter 13, Paul shows what really is important: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal.” And, relegating the gift of tongues to its proper place, Paul states in the following chapter: “He that speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself, but he that prophesies upbuilds a congregation. Now I would like for all of you to speak in tongues, but I prefer that you prophesy. Indeed, he that prophesies is greater than he that speaks in tongues, unless, in fact, he translates, that the congregation may receive upbuilding.” “I thank God, I speak in more tongues than all of you do. Nevertheless, in a congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might also instruct others verbally, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not become young children in powers of understanding.” “Tongues are for a sign, not to the believers, but to the unbelievers.”—1 Cor. 14:4-25, NW.
No question about it, Paul did not attach great importance to the gift of tongues. He showed that it profited little unless what was said was translated, and that to prophesy, here meaning to expound publicly, was far more helpful than any gift of tongues.
Today the Christian congregation no longer needs the gift of tongues but it does need the fruit of the spirit, even as Paul shows: “Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; WHETHER THERE ARE TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE.” “When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a babe.” Clearly, the miraculous gifts that served the Christian congregation in its babyhood would no longer be necessary upon its maturity. What appears as speaking in tongues today, termed glossolalia, if not the product of emotionalism or mental unbalance, is an instance in which “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light” to deceive.—1 Cor. 13:8, 11; 2 Cor. 11:14, NW.
Jesus said, “By their fruits you will recognize them.” The fruits his true followers bear today are those of preaching “this good news of the kingdom,” keeping “oneself without spot from the world,” and “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” These, and not the speaking with tongues, identify the true Christian minister and show whether he has the holy spirit or not.—Matt. 7:16; 24:14; Jas. 1:27; Gal. 5:22, 23, NW.
Clothe yourselves with the new personality which through accurate knowledge is being renewed according to the image of the one who created it—Col. 3:10, NW.
Speaking in Tongues Today—From God?
“THE Scriptures teach that spirit baptism, evidenced by speaking in tongues, is for the true church today,” claims Pentecostal minister Marvin A. Hicks.
“The basic doctrine of tongue speaking is unscriptural and wrong,” contends Dr. W. A. Criswell of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. He adds: “If that is the Christian faith, then I am not a Christian.”
In the face of such controversy over the practice of speaking in tongues, you may wonder: ‘Just what do the Scriptures say about the gift of tongues? Is it part of Christianity today?’ For the answers, it is helpful to understand why the gift of tongues was given to the early Christians.
WHY THE GIFT WAS GIVEN
First of all, 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.
‘But 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 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 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 silent.—1 Cor. 14:28.
What about today? Would not gifts such as tongues be necessary to ‘indicate the presence of the holy spirit’ in a person?
A PART OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY?
The Scriptures show that the miraculous gifts given to first-century Christians were only temporary in nature. “Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease.” (1 Cor. 13:8) Does the Bible give any indication as to when the gifts would cease? Yes, it does.
Read for yourself the reported cases when the gift of tongues accompanied the outpouring of holy spirit: Acts 2:1-4, 14; 10:44-48; 19:6. You will notice that in every case one or more of the apostles of Jesus Christ were present. According to Acts 8:18, “through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the spirit was given.” Logically, then, with the death of the apostles, the transmitting of the gifts of the spirit, including the gift of tongues, ceased. The gift of tongues had served its purpose. It had been well established that the Christian congregation had God’s favor and backing. Moreover, Christians had grown in number and had been dispersed to many lands, carrying the “good news” with them.—Compare Colossians 1:23.
‘But if the gifts have ceased, then what accounts for modern-day manifestations?’ some may ask.
“We are also aware that a similar phenomenon can occur under occult/demonic influence,” admitted a joint statement by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council. (Italics added.)
Could it be possible that the modern-day gift of tongues is not from God? Admittedly, accepting this may be difficult for those who claim to have the gift. Of the 5,000,000 adult Americans who claim to speak in tongues, 33 percent do not even believe that the Devil is a personal being and that he can influence others. Well, then, how can you know for sure from what source modern-day manifestations come?
“BY THEIR FRUITS”
Jesus provided the key for identifying true Christians when he declared: “Every good tree produces fine fruit.” (Matt. 7:17) Yes, there would have to be fruitage, or evidence, that God’s holy spirit was backing them. It is revealing to consider the Scriptural evidences of such in the light of the Christianity Today—Gallup poll, published in the February 22, 1980, issue of Christianity Today.
Not once do the Scriptures record the granting of a miraculous gift to one who approved of or who practiced sin. The first-century Christian congregation at Corinth included persons who formerly had been immoral but had changed on becoming Christians. They no longer indulged in a life of sexual immorality. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) And, yet, according to the poll, 19 percent of those who speak in tongues today approve of sexual relations before marriage.
True Christians would respect the Bible as being the Word of God. Jesus Christ quoted the Scriptures and viewed them as being God’s word. (John 17:17) But, according to the poll, 44 percent of those who speak in tongues in our day do not hold the Bible to be the most important religious authority.
“Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations,” commanded Jesus. (Matt. 28:19, 20) And he foretold that the “good news” of God’s kingdom would be preached “in all the inhabited earth for a witness.” (Matt. 24:14) True Christians should be active in doing this. However, according to the poll, 51 percent of those who now speak in tongues do not talk about their faith at least weekly, and 58 percent do not set priority on helping to win others for Christ.
“They are no part of the world,” said Jesus regarding his followers. (John 17:16) But far from being “no part of the world,” “in political affiliation” speakers in tongues “conform closely to the pattern of the general populace,” reports Christianity Today.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves,” said Jesus. (John 13:35) The apostle John added: “We should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother.” (1 John 3:11, 12) True Christians have genuine love for one another. They are not divided by racial, national or social prejudices. Even in times of war, they refuse to slaughter fellow believers in other lands. Is that true of the general populace? Of those who claim to have the gift of tongues?
So, then, what does the evidence show? Well, since those who speak in tongues as a group are not producing the “fruits” that identify true Christians, it is clear that those who claim to have the gift of tongues could not have received it from the same source that the early Christians did.
The Scriptures contain strong warnings that indicate another source is responsible. Jesus foretold: “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you!” (Matt. 7:22, 23) The apostle Paul warned that the time would come when ‘powerful works’ and “lying signs” would take place as an “operation of Satan.”—2 Thess. 2:9, 10.
How, then, can you identify true followers of Christ if it is not by the possession of miraculous gifts of tongues? By the “fruits,” the Scriptural evidences, that we considered.
We invite you to investigate the Bible and then compare it with the teachings and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. See for yourself if what you observe will move you to say regarding them, “God is really among you.”—1 Cor. 14:25.
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“My Experience Was Not From God”
“The scripture at 1 Corinthians 14:27, 28 . . . convinced me that my experience was not from God. . . . Paul’s counsel there . . . was exactly opposite to what I had experienced. Instead of being limited to two or three at the most, we had large groups. Neither did we have anyone to interpret, so who was being upbuilt?”
The Bible’s Viewpoint
Speaking in Tongues—Is It From God?
“DIRECTLY, there came into my hands a strange feeling, and it . . . began to surge! It was like a thousand—like ten thousand—then a million volts of electricity . . . I spoke in a language I could not understand for about two hours.”
This experience typifies one of the most debated practices that many associate with Christian worship today: speaking in tongues. This matter has been of particular concern to Pentecostal groups and charismatic movements in other churches.
Dr. Vinson Synan of the Pentecostal Holiness Church stressed the dilemma sincere worshipers face concerning the role of speaking in tongues. He said: “Speaking in tongues is an embarrassment to us.” Why? Dr. Synan noted that tongues today may not seem to make sense to us. “Embarrassing as it may be,” he continued, “glossolalia [speaking in tongues] is the gift that God has chosen at strategic points in history to expand and renew the Church.”—Italics ours.
One such ‘strategic point’ was a most unusual occurrence some 1,900 years ago.
Why Tongues?
It was Pentecost of the year 33 C.E. A change was due. A new covenant was to replace the ancient Jewish Law covenant. For what reason? To open up a better way to worship Jehovah God. How could people see that God’s blessing was upon this shift in worship? He would use an outburst of miraculous events, including the speaking in tongues, to move the hearts of righteously disposed people. These would see that the almighty God of their forefathers was indeed now conferring his approval upon Jesus’ disciples.
The gift of tongues served another purpose at Pentecost. In Jesus’ day, printing and broadcasting did not exist, and written records were not common among the ordinary people. Hence, the good news of God’s will and purpose would have to be carried forth on the tongues of believers. Worshipers of Jehovah had come to the Festival of Pentecost in Jerusalem from over a dozen lands in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and they spoke several different languages. About 120 of Jesus’ disciples also assembled in Jerusalem. Empowered with God’s holy spirit, the disciples started to speak with different tongues. What a banquet of good news was served to a multitude of worshipers! These were able to “hear them speaking in [their own] tongues about the magnificent things of God.”—Acts 2:5-11.
How effective was this miracle? Three thousand listeners became believers that same day! (Acts 2:41) Returning to their far-off homes, these new converts then bore witness about true worship “to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.
Only a little more than two decades after Pentecost, Paul served notice that the gift of tongues would eventually cease. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Why would this be reasonable? Because the miracles at Pentecost, as a confirmation of early Christianity, had served their purpose well and were no longer needed.
We can similarly view the case at Mount Sinai over 1,500 years earlier. Here God caused spectacular supernatural signs in order to impress upon the assembled people that the Law covenant was of divine origin. Once this new arrangement had been accepted by the people, these particular miraculous signs ceased to be seen.—Exodus 19:16-19.
Tongues Today?
Today many feel that they are assisted by God’s holy spirit to speak in tongues. How can we reconcile this with Scriptural evidence that the gift of tongues has passed away?
Speaking in tongues usually amounts to highly emotional outbursts of sounds that no one understands. So it cannot be from God. Jesus said that religious hypocrites would try to attach his name to such “powerful works,” but he rejected these “workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23) And Paul prophetically warned of a future time when there would be fraudulent miracles, or “lying signs and portents.” Thus, “every unrighteous deception” is a specialty of the archdeceiver, Satan the Devil.—2 Thessalonians 2:8-10.
Did you know that speaking in tongues was a part of certain pagan religions of Greece in Paul’s day? Their rites mixed speaking in tongues with practices such as the cutting of the flesh and frenzied nude dancing. Such historical examples clearly show that speaking in tongues can occur under influences that are most unholy.
Reason Speaks Out
If you are still uncertain about the origin of the ecstatic speaking in tongues today, ponder over 1 John 4:1, which says: “Beloved ones . . . test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God.” Yes, test by a sober study of God’s Word, with prayerful petition for help. (Acts 17:11) See if those religions that speak in tongues today are really guided into “all the truth.”—John 16:13.
When Christians spoke in tongues in the first century, it edified the listeners. The inspired message was to be clear and intelligible.—1 Corinthians 14:26-28.
Those who now honor Bible truth are uttering expressions that surpass the speech that came forth from inspired tongues on that day of Pentecost long ago. Why so? Because they are announcing God’s Kingdom rule by Christ for all obedient mankind to a larger audience and in a permanent form. Their message is part of the Bible’s written record, and unlike the first-century Christians’ speaking in tongues, the Bible, in whole or in part, is available in some 1,800 languages.
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First-century Christians were given the gift to witness in foreign tongues
What Is the Bible’s View?
What Does Speaking in Tongues Signify?
PENTECOST 33 C.E. was an outstanding date in human history. On that day the Christian congregation was founded by the outpouring of God’s holy spirit upon about 120 of Jesus’ disciples assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem. The Bible relates that, as a result of this, “they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues.”—Acts 2:4.
This ‘speaking in tongues’ was no outflow of gibberish from persons in religious ecstasy. Foreigners present understood what was said and were astonished, asking: “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.
The apostle Peter, according to Acts 2:14-21, explained that speaking in tongues on that occasion signified that God’s holy spirit had been poured out upon those Christian disciples in fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32.
Millions of people throughout the earth today claim to have the ability to speak in tongues that they have not learned through study. Often this occurs in languages that cannot be identified, requiring an “inspired interpretation” by the speaker or someone else present. But at times words, phrases and even extended speech in Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Chinese and other tongues have been uttered by persons normally unfamiliar with those languages.
People who have had this experience sometimes claim that it is “the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.” Thereafter, it is claimed, some persons cultivate tongues as a “gift,” while others have the experience only once. Does speaking in tongues really signify that one has God’s holy spirit?
Certainly Jesus Christ had God’s spirit; yet there is no indication that he ever spoke by a miraculous gift of tongues. (Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:16-21) And of first-century Christians, the apostle Paul wrote: “Not all speak in tongues, do they?” (1 Cor. 12:30) Instead, God’s spirit endowed them with “varieties” of miraculous powers. (1 Cor. 12:4, 11, 13) When setting forth a list of “spiritual gifts,” the apostle Paul placed tongues and their interpretation last, encouraging Christians to “keep zealously seeking the greater gifts,” especially love, which Jesus said would be the true identifying mark of his followers.—1 Cor. 12:1, 4-10, 29-31; 13:1, 8, 13; John 13:35.
Of interest, too, is the fact that miraculous gifts of God’s holy spirit were not to remain with the Christian congregation indefinitely. The Scriptures, at 1 Corinthians 13:8, state: “Whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease.” When would they disappear?
According to Acts 8:18, God’s spirit as expressed in miraculous gifts was given “through the laying on of the hands of the apostles.” And after Pentecost each recorded case of outpouring of God’s spirit accompanied by miraculous gifts took place in the presence of one or more of the apostles of Jesus. (Acts 8:9-20; 10:44-46; 19:6) Evidently the transmitting of these God-given powers ceased with the death of the apostles; and when those who had received them died, such gifts ceased altogether from the Christian congregation.
Thus John Chrysostom, who became religious patriarch of Constantinople in the fourth century C.E., observed that the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14 “used to occur but now no longer take place.” At about the same time Augustine, who greatly influenced the teachings of the Western or Latin branch of Christendom, said of tongues and other spiritual gifts: “These were signs adapted to the time. . . . That thing was done for a betokening, and it passed away.”
But have there not been reports of speaking in tongues since the days of the apostles of Jesus Christ? Are there not many examples of this today? One should not be quick to conclude that today’s tongue speaking signifies an outpouring of holy spirit. Why not? Because it does not really resemble that of first-century Christianity. Christians at Pentecost spoke in tongues about “the magnificent things of God.” (Acts 2:11) The Expositor’s Greek Testament points out that the Greek word for “magnificent things” is used “not only of the Resurrection of the Lord . . . , but of all that the prophets had foretold, of all that Christ had done and the Holy Ghost had conferred.”
In other words, speaking in tongues among Christians originally served to edify the listeners with information about God’s purpose in connection with Jesus Christ. In harmony with this, the apostle Paul directed that all speaking in tongues be translated, “that the congregation may receive upbuilding.” (1 Cor. 14:5, 27, 28) But today’s tongue speaking, if it can be translated at all, often means simply “God is great,” “God is good,” or like expressions. On occasion even filthy speech may occur. D. A. Hayes, in his book The Gift of Tongues, relates such an experience:
“At Los Angeles not long ago a woman had the gift of tongues, and a reputable Chinaman who heard her said that she was speaking his dialect of Chinese. When he was asked to interpret what she said, he refused to do it, saying that the language was the vilest of the vile.”
Certainly God could not be responsible for “vile” speech. What, then, is behind tongue speaking that does not conform to the Biblical pattern? It is noteworthy that the apostle Paul spoke of a coming “apostasy” from true Christianity and the appearance of a class called “the man of lawlessness,” whose presence would be “according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing.” (2 Thess. 2:3, 9, 10) Could tongue speaking be part of an “unrighteous deception” promoted by Satan?
Interestingly, An Encyclopædia of Occultism states: “Speaking and writing in foreign tongues, or in unintelligible outpourings mistaken for such, is a very old form of psychic phenomenon.” This reference work continues:
“Instances are to be found in plenty in the annals of modern spiritualism . . . Comparatively early in the movement there are evidences of speaking and writing in Latin, Greek, French, Swiss, Spanish, and Red Indian languages. Judge Edmonds, the well-known American Spiritualist, testified to these faculties in his daughter and niece. . . . Some of these cases are well attested.”
Speaking in tongues today, therefore, does not indicate an outpouring of God’s spirit. This ability ceased as a gift from God shortly after the death of the apostles of Jesus. In view of Scriptural warnings and the fact that tongue speaking “is a very old form of psychic phenomenon,” people will do well to be cautious. Speaking in tongues today may well signify, not God’s influence, but that of “wicked spirit forces” opposed to God.—Eph. 6:12.