Tongues/Int. of Tongues Pt. 3
Notes
Transcript
Common Views of the Gift of Tongues
Human languages unknown to the speaker
Non-human languages (prayer/heavenly/gibberish language(s))
Multiple expressions - combination of the first two
Just a reminder that as we looked at all three instances of the the word tongues in Acts, none were 100% definitive on it being the gift of tongues
Certainly could be, and I lean that it is , especially in acts 10 and 19, but it is not explicitly states as such
We then looked at 1 Corinthians 12 where the gift is mentioned
We saw that there wasn't specific teaching on the gift, but we could draw some information on the gifts, such that not everyone will have that gift
So, now we turn to Paul teaching on the the use of the gift in the corporate church setting.
Notice as we go verse by verse, that Paul is mostly talking about the corporate church setting, but there is implications that he may also be talking about in a private settings
Let’s dive in!
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
We talked about verse 1 last week and the importance of pursuing love as our main focus, but also desiring the gifts. And, the reason we desire the gifts is because we love people!
So, now Paul shifts to discussing two gifts in a compare and contrast scenario.
Through this instruction we can potentially learn somethings about what the gift of tongues is
So, if we just read this verse, what does it tell us about tongues?
Well, first, Paul is saying that the church should desire prophesy more so than tongues because is a conversation with God.
Secondly, it would indicate that tongues is not a human language in that if it were, Paul’s statement would not be true.
If tongues were human languages is would not make sense to say those speaking in a human language speaks to no man, but to God.
The point of human languages is to communicate with others.
He then continues and says no one understands him…but even if it were a human language that you don’t understand, Paul wouldn’t say “no one understands”
If someone were to stand up and start speaking Korean, you wouldn’t no one understands them you would simply say that those who don’t know Korean don’t understand them.
It is very likely that in Corinth there would be people from all kinds of different languages there. And so the idea that no one understand them simply wouldn’t be the case.
And Paul finishes off the sentence with uttering mysteries in the Spirit.
Human languages wouldn’t be mysteries in the Spirit. They might be mysteries in the flesh, but not the Spirit.
We don’t need the HS to learn a language. We just need to study and learn the language. We can do that physiologically, without the Spirit.
So, if tongues are a human language, how are they mysteries in the Spirit?
If they are not human languages and no one understands them, then they would be mysteries in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
So, again, Paul is contrasting the two gifts…
He is saying that prophecy builds people up, but tongues doesn’t because no one understands them.
Now, if tongues were human languages, then they would build people up too!
So, if tongues were human languages, why would Paul go to all of this trouble explaining what is going on with tongues?
Wouldn’t he just say to speak languages that people know?
If someone stands up and begins to speak Korean in our church we would just simply ask them to speak english so that we could understand them.
I don’t think we would need all of this explanation that Paul is getting ready to do.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
If tongues were human languages, then how does this verse make sense?
To prophesy, you need to speak in a language that people understand. If someone here stands up and prophesies in Korean, then they are not building up the church. So, Paul would likely say “hey, stop speaking Korean” and he would say to speak in English.
The point I am getting at is that if tongues were human languages the correction is simple. Just tell the church to speak in one language.
No where in Paul’s instruction does he say to speak in one language.
Also, no where does he say to speak in a human language only if people of that language are present.
So, what I think what Paul is getting at is that tongues are not human languages.
I want to point out here that Paul is not correcting what they believe the gift of tongues to be.
He is correcting the application of the gift.
This is the point that I will wrap up with at the end.
Whether you believe tongues is human languages unknown to the speaker or a “prayer language” we need to apply the gift within the guidelines of scripture.
More on this later!
So, how does speaking in tongues build up the speaker?
If you are speaking a language that you don’t know, how does that build you up?
If you believe tongues to be a human language, I have no answer for that question.
But if you believe tongues to be a “prayer language” I have an answer for that. I will share that at the end.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Here we have Paul saying that he wishes everyone spoke in tongues. Again pointing to the fact that not everyone will, he doesn’t call them a second class christian, or to step it up, or question their christianity
But it seems like he does see the benefit of speaking in tongues!
And, of course prophesy is better in the sense that it builds up everyone and not just the speaker. Unless there is interpretation.
So, now Paul refers to himself as an example
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
So, he compares the gift to instruments not playing distinct sounds.
I’m not going to hang my hat on this point, but some accuse tongues as being babel or gibberish. It sure seems to me that is exactly what Paul is pointing out here.
Now, again, this analogy doesn’t seem to make much sense if tongues were human languages.
Though, human languages might sound like gibberish we would probably recognize at least that they are human languages.
I am not the most cultured person, but I can tell the difference in asian languages, russian, spanish, etc.
They sound like human languages, but I don’t understand them.
I’d argue that Corinth in the first century was way more cultured. They would certainly recognize other languages even if they didn’t understand them.
So, the instruments making random sounds analogy doesn’t make much sense if they were human languages.
It seems the analogy would be to say that the music isn’t even recognizable. I can recognize music even if it is in another language.
Again, not going to hang my hat here. The analogy just seems odd if tongues are human languages.
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
Here again we see that tongues is not intelligible…how will anyone know? Well, Paul, if it’s a human language, you get someone that speaks that language. The answer seems simple, but that not the answer that he gives
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
So, now it seems like Paul is comparing tongues to human languages.
Notice here that the word for “tongues” is translated as a different word. Paul doesn’t use the Greek word “glossa” here as he has so far, he changes to the greek word “phone.”
Last week I said these greek words are interchangeable, which is true. But that is throughout the entirety of the NT.
However, in this particular context Paul only uses “glossa” until these two verses.
So, possibly, he is talking about two different things. Maybe the gift of tongues, described as glossa and human languages described as “phone”
I think he is making a comparison between the gift and human languages.
Which would only mean that they are different things, otherwise the comparison would be pointless.
I think what he is saying is that tongues are like human languages in that theres a meaning, but you won’t know the meaning unless you understand the language.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
So, seek to build up the church! And how do we do that?
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
Notice the solution isn’t to find someone who speaks the language, but to pray. Not, learn the language, but go to God and ask for an interpretation.
If tongues were a human language, why would the Spirit give you that gift in the presence of people that don’t understand it?
He is the sovereign Lord! He would know if no one there spoke that language. Seems like a pointless gift in that moment.
It would be like be speaking russian, I can’t understand it and none of you can! God, that’s a waist of time, in my opinion!
And the solution isn’t to learn russian or to get someone who speaks russian, it’s to ask the Lord to interpret it for me.
Doesn’t seem like a human language.
So, here is what Paul does with tongues..
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
notice that he now brings in prayer….he doesn’t say that I will speak in a tongue..but pray
This is the main idea of where the idea of a prayer language comes from
Keep in mind here that we are talking about in a public setting.
So, this couldn’t be that Paul is saying to pray over the microphone in tongues, because that would require and interpretation as he just said.
He is connecting the gift of tongues with prayer and his spirit. His mind is unfruitful, meaning he doesn’t know what he is praying.
But he still does it.
So, now he is in this place of knowing that he prays as some would say “in the Spirit” and he doesn’t know what he’s praying but he’s also in a public setting.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
So, he says pray in tongues, but also pray with your mind. Sing in tongues, but also sing with your mind.
So that those who don’t understand can still say be in agreement with you!
Notice he connects tongues with giving praise…btw, that’s what they were doing in acts as they were speaking in tongues…
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Some think that Paul’s correction here is that speaking in tongues is in error because it promotes arrogance as paul says it edifies the speaker.
And so they believe this whole passage to be a negative reflection of tongues.
The main problem is: 1. Paul wishes everyone speaks in tongues 2. Paul thanks God for it and 3. He does it more than everyone else
So, how could Paul think it to be a negative reflection of the gift?
Doesn’t seem to be the correction Paul intends here. Seems to be the practice of the gift in the corporate setting.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
So, in church, build each other up. Speak in a language everyone understands.
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
So, basically be wise about what you’re doing with tongues. Don’t be immature in the gift!
And then he links tongues with
11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people, 12 to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear.
Isaiah 28 is about the Israelites rejecting God and his judgment coming upon them. The Lord is going to speak to them and they will reject Him! and thus, judgement.
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
So, this isn’t a positive sign. Those who would know the scripture would maybe recognize the foreign tongues and think God’s judgment has come.
23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
So, if everyone in church is speaking in tongues and someone comes in, they are going to think judgment has come.
So, if you don’t have interpretation, don’t do it!
And this is where I get in trouble with some of my pentecostal friends. How many of you have been in a church where the pastor or worship leader stands up and says everyone sing or begin to speak in tongues?
I have been to a service like that! What happens when an unbeliever comes in? They are going to think that you are nuts!
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
I am not preaching on prophecy today, but take a quick note that prophesy here is in the context of someone’s secrets of their hearts disclosed and they fall and worship God.
Prophecy in this context is not knowing all of these future events. It’s simply where God is revealing something about someone that would draw them to God!
Let’s wrap up. How do we practice tongues in corporate worship?
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
and
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
So, the gift should be used for building up the body, which can only be done through interpretation. And should be done orderly a couple at a time with interpretation.
And finally, don’t forbid it! So, if people speak in tongues, do it orderly. If there is no interpretation, then do it quietly.
And that is all of the mentions of tongues as a gift in the NT. So, we form our ideas based on those verses.
So, what is tongues?
I believe it is some non-human language that the Holy Spirit speaks through you that builds you up! And can build others up with interpretation.
I agree with DA Carson’s view of the gift which is a non-human language that the Lord gives and is a coded language.
We don’t know the code.
He explains it this way:
If you take a sentence and take all of the vows out, as that might be the code then you have the language
I love Jesus, He is awesome!
lve jss h s wsm
He, and I believe, that the gift of interpretation is God giving someone the key to the code
So, God would allow someone to hear the vows in that example, and therefore, knowing what they are saying.
I land that the this view could explain the three examples of the gift in acts and fits within all the verses about tongues.
And, it seems to be the most consistent view.
Now, to be clear, could tongues be one of these three?
Human languages unknown to the speaker
Non-human languages (prayer/heavenly/gibberish language(s))
Multiple expressions - combination of the first two
Sure! Could God give us a human language we don’t know in order to speak to someone? Sure!
Could God have someone speaking in a language we that we don’t know, but make it so we can understand them? Sure!
So, not going to die on this hill! What is tongues? We don’t exactly!
But how we practice it, we have a good idea!
In corporate worship, we don’t do it from the stage and we don’t cause a disruption in the worship service. If someone does have a tongue out loud and causes an interruption, we ask for an interpretation and if there isn’t one we ask them to speak quietly.
But, we also need to understand that people in our church have the gift and can exercise that gift quietly without causing disruption.
I also believe that in a small group setting where outsiders won’t frequent the gift can be exercised where it has been taught on and everyone understands what it is and what is going on.
Again, you may have questions on the gift. We have the class where we will discuss these things in more depth. Or, give me a call and we can talk about it!
Resources:
Understanding Spiritual Gifts - Sam Storms
Showing the Spirit - D.A. Carson
The Language of Heaven - Sam Storms