Tongues/Interpretation of Tongues
Notes
Transcript
This morning we are discussing my favorite gift to study and talk about.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
It seems like what happens here in Acts 2 comes true at least somewhat…
Many people turn to Acts 2 as an example of the gift of tongues in operation
The problem we have is that we don’t know if what is happening on Pentecost is the gift of the Spirit that Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12-14
Now, it quite possibly could be, but we don’t know for certain.
My personal stance is that it is. But, it is also just as acceptable to understand that maybe it isn’t.
We know that the things that happened on that day are exceptional because we never see another instance like this and we are never commanded to seek these events.
So, we have the disciples together and there is unique event 1.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
We are never told to replicate this this unique event. In fact, it would almost seem ridiculous for us to sit in a room until a violent rushing wind comes
Then the second unique event
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Another unique event that again, we are not ever called to replicate or reproduce
Rather, we know from Peter’s sermons here in verse 38 and Paul’s teachings that we now receive the HS when we are saved
So, again, this is unique and is not something that should be replicated
And then we have unique event? (with a ?) 3
Now, before we get too far, notice that there is no direct mention of a gift of the Spirit here.
Now, it could be a gift, but may also be a unique event.
Often, people read tongues in the scripture and immediately assume the gift of tongues, but it literally just means languages
So, it could read that they “began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance”
Meaning that we don’t actually know if this is the gift of the Spirit that Paul desires that we all have, or if this is a unique experience
Notice though, that regardless of whether this is the gift in 1 corinthians 12-14, it is the Spirit giving them utterance - these languages are not known to those speaking them!
So, this could be a unique event, the other events of that day were, where the HS gave them the ability to speak in languages that they didn’t know, or it could be a normative practice of the gifts of tongues?
Note though, that we can’t say definitively that this is the gift in operation!
A lot of people, what I believe to be in error, start in Acts 2 as their proof text for the gift of tongues.
Again, it may or may not be. But we certainly can’t say for sure that it is. Because we have two distinctly unique events that have already happened, this could be a third and thus, not what we would consider the normative gift of speaking in tongues…
Let’s continue with the story
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
So, there are people from all over there! And, as the disciples were speaking in tongues they were bewildered because they heard them speaking in their own language.
The reason that they would be bewildered is because they know they wouldn’t know all of these languages
I want to point out something here that is really important.
Notice that the text never says that the disciples were speaking in specific known languages. The text just says “other tongues” meaning other languages
So, what languages that they are speaking, we don’t know
But we do from the text that those there heard them in their known languages
So the question I have is: were the speakers speaking in known languages of people that were there? And, is it possible there were two things happening at once?
Is it possible the speakers were speaking some language and the hearers were hearing a different language?
The answer is of course: we don’t know!
My place of landing is different than that of Sam Storms and DA Carson. So, of course, I could be wrong!
Let’s finish reading this really quickly and then we will jump back to where I land.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Pause for a second here, and notice what they are saying is they are declaring the wonders of God!
The reason I pause here is because it is an important note that if what is happening here is the gift of tongues, then what they are saying is pointing people to God.
And then we end with
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
I find verse 13 really interesting…I have been around many people who are drunk and I have never seen someone begin to speak another language when they are drunk
Now, the may slur their words and babble senseless things, but never another language
We have an accusation that they are drunk because they are speaking other languages?
I find that odd and we have to reconcile that in some way.
Why is the assumption that because someone is speaking another language is that they are drunk?
So we have some who were amazed and perplexed, and others were mocking and making fun of them.
We have to move on and get to 1 corinthians, but here is my hand…
I think that when they were filled with the Spirit, He gifted them the gift of tongues and they began to speak in the gift of tongues…and we will talk about that in a minute
And then some of those there heard them in their native language and some of them didn’t
I think possibly we have the gift of tongues from the speakers and the gift of interpretation for those who will hear
We know later that 3000 people were saved that day
So, I think those who heard, and would respond to the message Peter preaches, received the gift of interpretation to hear the things of God and ultimately are saved that day
And those who wouldn’t respond to the message didn't have the gift of interpretation in that moment and therefore, thought they were drunk
For this to be true, the speakers would have not been speaking in known languages, but what I would consider the gift of tongues to be
Which is the HS speaking through us! I’ll define this more at the end of the message once we look at all the evidence of the gift
My view, which is open for debate, is this:
Disciples speak in gift of tongues - unknown languages
Some heard in their native language - gift of interpretation
Those who heard in native language were saved that day (3000)
Others didn’t understand what they were saying at all
Those who didn’t hear, mocked and accused them of being drunk - probably not saved that day
You can totally disagree with me! And that is fine! Sam Storms and DA Carson both disagree
Some questions that everyone should answer about tongues:
What is the gift of tongues?
Is the gift of tongues always human languages?
Is Acts 2 the gift of tongues or a unique event?
Why were they accused of being drunk for speaking known languages?
After studying tongues, I think my view of it is the most consistent across all of the mentions of the gift.
We have looked at the first instance of tongues in Acts.
We will quickly look at the other two instances.
In Acts 10 we have Peter preaching to gentiles who had not received the HS yet
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Similar to what happened in Acts 2, we have people who receive the HS and begin to speak in tongues as well as praise God.
From this instance, we don’t know if they were speaking in known languages or if it is the gift of tongues.
Some make the argument that in acts 2 they were speaking known languages to share the gospel.
I say possible, but in Acts 2, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
It seems more connected to receiving the Spirit than it does evangelism.
So, this instance doesn’t really help us out in the debate.
We do note thought that this is the second time people received the HS and began to speak in tongues.
And now we jump to the last time that tongues is mentioned in Acts
In Acts 19, we have disciples of John, who were received John’s baptism of repentance, but have not been baptized in the new covenant, the baptism of Christ.
Paul says
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
So, again, people receive the HS and begin to speak in tongues.
Again, we ask the question if this is the gift of the HS or known languages?
From the text, we again, can’t make a determination.
Could be either. We don’t see a direct connection to evangelism here, however, we do know that Paul took some disciples him after leaves the synagogue and they reject his message.
Could be these new disciples or others. We don’t really know, but could be they were able to speak in known languages for evangelism if they were traveling with Paul.
Again, we don’t know.
We we definitely don’t see any instance other than potentially acts 2 where people receive the HS, and begin to speak in human languages for the purpose of evangelism.
So, I don’t think that you can honestly make the argument that tongues is always human languages from the examples.
So if the examples of tongues that we have are not explicit as to what is happening, we can’t really define the gift based on what is happening in Acts.
So, then we look to whether there is teaching on the gift.
Interestingly enough, the two gifts that are debatably the most controversial have the most teaching in scripture.
So, next week we will look closely at 1 corinthians 12-14 and look to teaching on the gifts, particularly tongues.
Hopefully this morning, I’ve got you thinking about what the gift of tongues is and shown that we can’t necessarily tie Acts to the gift.
As we look next week, however, we may be able to clarify some of the examples of tongues in acts…maybe?
See why this is interesting and intrigues me?
Anyone curious, or just my nerdy self?
If you’re curios, go read 1 cor. 14 and get your mind turning!