Speaking in Tongues

[SamiSunny]

So I'm a freshman in college and I grew up in a pretty strict Southern-Baptist home. Now that I am out on my own I have been venturing to new denominations simply to quench my curiosity for knowlege. So the other night I atteneded an Assembly of God church on a revival night. Now I've been to a Holiness church so I wasn't unfamiliar with their structure and speaking in tongues but my room mate, who I brought with me, who also grew up Baptist was appauled. And she said that speaking in tongues was "not of God". Now we've cleared up that it most definately is but then we got into the discussion of when it is "okay" to do so. I stumbled across a few verses about it in my Daily Devotional in 1 Corinthians. I know the bible never contradicts itself but these two verses have me baffled: [SUP]22 [/SUP]Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. [SUP]23 [/SUP]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 it's saying that tongues are a sign for unbelievers but then it says don't use tongues around unbelievers. I'm confused. Can anyone help and/or give more scripture of speaking in tongues?

 

[Crazy4GODword]

If you read more in there, it describes two types of tongues. One is speaking in the tongues of men (speaking a literally language known in other nations around the world) and the other is speaking in tongues of angels (praying to God in a babbling language controlled by the Holy Spirit). One is useless in church because all it is is babbling and nonesense, but its good for yourself, for it edifies the person speaking it. The other is used to preach and talk in another foriegn language you havent learned before, remarkable as it is, Peter was the first recorded in the new testament to speak to all the men that were at pentacost, which had people from every nationality, or from other nations, to hear him in their own language.

 

[SamiSunny]

SO the verse and the one after it are actually referring to TWO DIFFERENT types of tongues?

 

[Cobus]

Samisunny it is an honor to share with you what God showed me.... In 1 Corinthians 14 we get a perfect exmle of what should happen in a church. Now many will argue this, but it would not change in God's Word, or God's will.


1 Cor 14 from verse 26 says that if the church does gather, BRETHREN ALL would have a Psalm to sing, all will have adoctrine (the same one) have tongue to speak, have a revelation, have an interpretation, but let ALL THINGS BE DONE UNTO EDIFYING... Now... the Truth about the tongues... If any MAN speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or three sentences, and let one interpret. And if there is no interpreter, let HIM BE SILENT in the church but continue to speak to God at home!

How would that man know there is an interpreter or not.... The HOLY SPIRIT who gives the gifts of tongues and interpretation would TELL THAT MAN! You see young lady, when God is in command of the WHOLE church HE IS ASO IN CONTROL, and everything will transpire as it is writeen here in 1 Cor 14, verses 26 to 40. No woman will speak in that church, no man will speak in a tongue if there is no interpreter. The man that is busy with a prohecy will be quiet when another man gets a revelation. It will exactly transpire like this church in 1 Cor 14. God does not change, neither does His church.

The devil can also speak in tongues, but it is not holy. He is a copier of God, and he does most preaching in churches. God calls them the false teachers/prophets/christs. My suggestion to you, is READ YOUR BIBLE/Know your Bible... It is the Truth of God and this Truth will set you free from ALL FALSE DOCTRINES and teachings!

Jesus said... You shall knw the Truth and the Truth shall make you free... Free from ALL EVIL. Jesus said... If I make you free, you are free indeed!.... And He is the Truth, the Way and the Life....

I pray God wise you up in no time to KNOW HIM AND THE ONE HE SENT.... that is evrlasting life in Christ Jesus. Be blesed daughter.

 

[SamiSunny]

Thank you!

 

[Crazy4GODword]

Yes there is two types, one is of men and the other is of angels:

1 Corinthians 13:1: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

The First one is tongues of men, speaking another language that is known around the world, which can be understood by interpretation:

1 Corinthians 12:10, 28: to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

In Acts we see Peter preaching at Pentecost to people from all the nations, for He was preaching to the unbelievers in their own tongue (tongues of men):

Acts 2:10-11: Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,Cretans and Arabs

 

[Crazy4GODword]

The second is speaking the tongues of angels, which is babbling nonsense, which is the Lord praying through you by the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 14:2: For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.

In Acts we see Peter preaching at Pentecost to people from all the nations, for He was preaching to the unbelievers in their own tongue (tongues of men):

Acts 2:10-11: Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”

1 Corinthians 14:4: He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

So we see here one is used for the preaching to other nations and nationalities, the other is speaking within himself to God. One can be interpreted, the other cant.

 

[piper27]

Good questions, here's something to think about: (long to read, but great explanation)
[TABLE="class: content"]
[TR]
[TD]1 Corinthians 14:22
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Note 26 at 1Co 14:22: Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers, not believers. Usually a sign is a positive thing that helps people believe, but there are also negative signs that are intended to be stumbling blocks to those with hardened hearts
Simeon prophesied over Jesus at His circumcision in the temple that Jesus would be a sign that would be spoken against (Lu 2:34). Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah would be "a stone of stumbling," "a rock of offence," "a gin," and "a snare" (Isa 8:14). These prophecies certainly came true in many people's lives. Isaiah also said, in the scriptures that Paul had just quoted (Isa 28:11-12), that despite this miraculous manifestation, "they would not hear."

Therefore, speaking in tongues is a negative sign to unbelievers that will cause them to think we are crazy (1Co 14:23). That's the point Paul was making, and that is the reason he was telling them not to speak in tongues in church in a way that dominates the assembly .

Someone might say, "But the disciples spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved" (Ac 2:41). However, those tongues were the known languages of the people who were listening. Tongues with an interpretation equals prophecy.
Since those tongues were able to be interpreted by the hearers, that had the same positive effect that prophecy has (1Co 14:24-25).

So, Paul quoted Old Testament scripture to verify that tongues are a negative sign that will cause unbelievers to reject our witness. This was done to persuade the Corinthians not to speak in tongues in church without an interpretation.

Note 27 at 1Co 14:22: This verse is simply saying that tongues has a negative effect on unbelievers (see note 26 at this verse), while prophecy has a positive effect on those who will believe.
[TABLE="class: content"]
[TR]
[TD]1 Corinthians 14:23
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Note 1 at 1Co 14:23: Tongues benefited the church only if they were interpreted. Even though they benefited the individual users, the goal of the church service was to be edification for all . It seems that some of the Corinthians didn't understand this principle. Therefore, Paul was writing not to discourage spiritual gifts but rather to instruct that their goal in the church was to be the edification of others

Note 2 at 1Co 14:23: Paul was stating that if all are speaking in unknown tongues in the church service and people come in who are either unlearned or unbelievers, they will conclude that these people are insane and suffer from a disorder of the mind.

The Greek word for "unlearned" in this passage is "IDIOTES," from which we derive the English word "idiot." It is simply denoting someone who is ignorant of this gift of speaking in tongues, and was translated "ignorant" in Ac 4:13.

Note 3 at 1Co 14:23: The Greek word that was translated "unbelievers" here is "APISTOS." This is a compound word consisting of "PISTOS" and "A." PISTOS is the adjective form of "PISTIS," the Greek word for faith, and A is being used here as a negative particle (Strong's Concordance). Therefore, this is describing someone who is against speaking in tongues or doesn't believe in it.

 

[layman316]

Yes there is two types, one is of men and the other is of angels:

1 Corinthians 13:1: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

The First one is tongues of men, speaking another language that is known around the world, which can be understood by interpretation:

1 Corinthians 12:10, 28: to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

In Acts we see Peter preaching at Pentecost to people from all the nations, for He was preaching to the unbelievers in their own tongue (tongues of men):

Acts 2:10-11: Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,Cretans and Arabs

Tongues of men are their natural language, in our case, the English language. The "tongues of angels" was a statement of hyperbole. There isn

 

[layman316]

**sigh....the 5 min editing time limit is a joke (no offense). Here is my original text.

Tongues of mean are their natural language, in our caseEnglish. The tongues of angels was a hyperbole statement. You are reading intothe text something that isn't there. The context of this passage is"love."

1 Cor 12 does not say there is more than one kind of gift oftongues. It says there are different tongues, meaning there are different languages.

 

[rauleetoe]

So I'm a freshman in college and I grew up in a pretty strict Southern-Baptist home. Now that I am out on my own I have been venturing to new denominations simply to quench my curiosity for knowlege. So the other night I atteneded an Assembly of God church on a revival night. Now I've been to a Holiness church so I wasn't unfamiliar with their structure and speaking in tongues but my room mate, who I brought with me, who also grew up Baptist was appauled. And she said that speaking in tongues was "not of God". Now we've cleared up that it most definately is but then we got into the discussion of when it is "okay" to do so. I stumbled across a few verses about it in my Daily Devotional in 1 Corinthians. I know the bible never contradicts itself but these two verses have me baffled: [SUP]22 [/SUP]Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. [SUP]23 [/SUP]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 it's saying that tongues are a sign for unbelievers but then it says don't use tongues around unbelievers. I'm confused. Can anyone help and/or give more scripture of speaking in tongues?

1 corinthians 14..read it. Sadly some of the tongue speaking groups,not all..but some do not adhere to an orderly way of doing this when it says to have an interpreter if you are to speak in tongues at church,otherwise, do not speak..because you cannot edify the church then,you are merely edifying yourself aka keep the tongues in your prayer closet if you do not have the faith to interpret yourself of have one with the gift of interpreting to do so after you did so.

 

[Enow]

I stumbled across a few verses about it in my Daily Devotional in 1 Corinthians. I know the bible never contradicts itself but these two verses have me baffled: [SUP]22 [/SUP]Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. [SUP]23 [/SUP]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 it's saying that tongues are a sign for unbelievers but then it says don't use tongues around unbelievers. I'm confused. Can anyone help and/or give more scripture of speaking in tongues?

Paul did not say not to use tongues around unbelievers. Remember Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when the disciples were speaking in tongues of the wonderful works of God in foreign languages of the visiting Jews from other nations?

What Paul is saying is that if ALL the church was speaking in tongues, the unbeliever that came in would think they were all out of their minds. Paul goes on to set the proper order for tongues to be used in church and that was to have tow or three speak in tongues while another interpret. The same goes for prophesying: let two or three prophesy and one judge it.

Paul was establishing decency & order in the use of tongues in the church.

And she said that speaking in tongues was "not of God". Now we've cleared up that it most definately is

There is a supernatural tongue that is not of God as found in world's religions, occults, & cults in christianity as babbling nonsense.

Isaiah 8:[SUP]19 [/SUP]And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

So when errant believers use tongues as a prayer language because it comes without interpretation, that is them wanting to believe it is of God and thus not testing the spirits nor proving the tongue as being of Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:[SUP]21 [/SUP]Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. [SUP]22 [/SUP]Abstain from all appearance of evil. [SUP]23 [/SUP]And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [SUP]24 [/SUP]Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. [SUP]25 [/SUP]Brethren, pray for us.

So how can these sinners that had that supernatural tongue of the devil show that they have repented and abstained from all appearances of evil unless God would never use tongues for a prayer language?

Paul said what tongues were for. He did not give any exception when he took time out in 1 Corinthians 14th chapter when Paul was exhorting believers to seek the gift of prophesy over all spiritual gifts and began to explain why by comparing the singualr gift of prophesy against the singular gift of tongues throughout that chapter by bottomlining what tongues were for.

1 Corinthians 14:[SUP]20 [/SUP]Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. [SUP]21 [/SUP]In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

This verse 20 above was Paul way of emphasizing what God would use tongues for, to speak unto the people because it was of other men's lips....nothing more. Paul had to clarify because readers may misunderstood him when he was talking about praying in tongues when what he really meant in context that he was praying that someone will interpret while the Spirit manifested tongues in Him so that he may understand what he was saying and be edified and thus fruitful to himself.

1 Corinthians 14:[SUP]13 [/SUP]Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. [SUP]15 [/SUP]What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

See that verse 13? This is what Paul meant. Believes use verse 14 to justify using tongues as a prayer language but that was not what Paul was saying at all because he said "my spirit prayeth" and not the Holy Spirit that was praying so Paul was praying that someone may interpret so that he would understand what the Spirit was manifesting tongues in him for just as he said in verse 13 for others to do when they are speaking in tongues.

So tongues ws never meant to be used as a prayer language. God exhorts us to pray so that when we pray in our language, knowing what we had prayed for, we would give thanks to God & be glorified for answering our prayers.

John 14:[SUP]13 [/SUP]And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Better to know what you had prayed for to give thanks & glorify God for answering your prayers, then to not know and found out that the devil was stealing your private time away from Him in prayer by coming inbetween you & Him with babbling nonsense.

1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world....[SUP]5 [/SUP]They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [SUP]6 [/SUP]We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. [SUP]7 [/SUP]Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

2 Timothy 2:[SUP]15 [/SUP]Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [SUP]16 [/SUP]But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness....[SUP]24 [/SUP]And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [SUP]25 [/SUP]In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [SUP]26 [/SUP]And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Psalm 19:[SUP]12 [/SUP]Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. [SUP]13 [/SUP]Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. [SUP]14 [/SUP]Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

1 Corinthians 14:[SUP]32 [/SUP]And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. [SUP]33 [/SUP]For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

And that goes for individual believers as well so God would never use tongues as a prayer language so that we can abstain from all appearances of evil and know what we had prayed for so we can give thanks & glorify God for answered prayers.

 

[Mark51]

Speaking in “tongues” is the ability to miraculously and suddenly speak in a language/s not yet learned.

The purpose of this gift was to glorify God and to preach/translate his word to people of the nations that have different languages. It came about because God’s favor had shifted from the Jewish system of worship to the newly established Christian Congregation.

Speaking in tongues had meaning and were understood in the first century. Is this what is being accomplished by those who claim an ability to speak in tongues today through outbursts of unintelligible sounds? Keep in mind that this same phenomenon is claimed to cover under occult/demonic influences. See
Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11: 14, 15

This gift fulfilled its intended purpose and ended with the deaths of the disciples, apostle Paul-including those of whom they passed this gift to by “laying hands” on.-Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 13:8.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Good questions, here's something to think about: (long to read, but great explanation)
[TABLE="class: content"]
[TR]
[TD]1 Corinthians 14:22[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Note 26 at 1Co 14:22: Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers, not believers. Usually a sign is a positive thing that helps people believe, but there are also negative signs that are intended to be stumbling blocks to those with hardened hearts
Simeon prophesied over Jesus at His circumcision in the temple that Jesus would be a sign that would be spoken against (Lu 2:34). Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah would be "a stone of stumbling," "a rock of offence," "a gin," and "a snare" (Isa 8:14). These prophecies certainly came true in many people's lives. Isaiah also said, in the scriptures that Paul had just quoted (Isa 28:11-12), that despite this miraculous manifestation, "they would not hear."

Therefore, speaking in tongues is a negative sign to unbelievers that will cause them to think we are crazy (1Co 14:23). That's the point Paul was making, and that is the reason he was telling them not to speak in tongues in church in a way that dominates the assembly .

Someone might say, "But the disciples spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved" (Ac 2:41). However, those tongues were the known languages of the people who were listening. Tongues with an interpretation equals prophecy.
Since those tongues were able to be interpreted by the hearers, that had the same positive effect that prophecy has (1Co 14:24-25).

So, Paul quoted Old Testament scripture to verify that tongues are a negative sign that will cause unbelievers to reject our witness. This was done to persuade the Corinthians not to speak in tongues in church without an interpretation.

Note 27 at 1Co 14:22: This verse is simply saying that tongues has a negative effect on unbelievers (see note 26 at this verse), while prophecy has a positive effect on those who will believe.
[TABLE="class: content"]
[TR]
[TD]1 Corinthians 14:23[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Note 1 at 1Co 14:23: Tongues benefited the church only if they were interpreted. Even though they benefited the individual users, the goal of the church service was to be edification for all . It seems that some of the Corinthians didn't understand this principle. Therefore, Paul was writing not to discourage spiritual gifts but rather to instruct that their goal in the church was to be the edification of others

Note 2 at 1Co 14:23: Paul was stating that if all are speaking in unknown tongues in the church service and people come in who are either unlearned or unbelievers, they will conclude that these people are insane and suffer from a disorder of the mind.

The Greek word for "unlearned" in this passage is "IDIOTES," from which we derive the English word "idiot." It is simply denoting someone who is ignorant of this gift of speaking in tongues, and was translated "ignorant" in Ac 4:13.

Note 3 at 1Co 14:23: The Greek word that was translated "unbelievers" here is "APISTOS." This is a compound word consisting of "PISTOS" and "A." PISTOS is the adjective form of "PISTIS," the Greek word for faith, and A is being used here as a negative particle (Strong's Concordance). Therefore, this is describing someone who is against speaking in tongues or doesn't believe in it.

I think if you quote Andrew Wommack Ministries, you should probably cite them.

1 Corinthians 14:23 - Andrew Wommack Ministries <--- click

 

[jimmydiggs]

So I'm a freshman in college and I grew up in a pretty strict Southern-Baptist home. Now that I am out on my own I have been venturing to new denominations simply to quench my curiosity for knowlege. So the other night I atteneded an Assembly of God church on a revival night. Now I've been to a Holiness church so I wasn't unfamiliar with their structure and speaking in tongues but my room mate, who I brought with me, who also grew up Baptist was appauled. And she said that speaking in tongues was "not of God". Now we've cleared up that it most definately is but then we got into the discussion of when it is "okay" to do so. I stumbled across a few verses about it in my Daily Devotional in 1 Corinthians. I know the bible never contradicts itself but these two verses have me baffled: [SUP]22 [/SUP]Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. [SUP]23 [/SUP]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 it's saying that tongues are a sign for unbelievers but then it says don't use tongues around unbelievers. I'm confused. Can anyone help and/or give more scripture of speaking in tongues?

The vast majority of speaking in tongues today is fake. It's sad, but true.

Also, scripture is quite clear in Acts 2 that speaking in tongues is dealing with human languages.

 

[RickyZ]

There are two types of tongues.

The gift of tongues is a personal issue, to be shared only among a very few if that. Think of this as a prayer language and not for public consumption. It is to be an adjunct to prayer; so that the Holy Spirit may pray thru us to speak to things and ways we otherwise wouldn't know to address. This tongue is for believers; since it is a tool to be used by believers for the spiritual edification of ourselves and those we pray for. Use in small prayers circles within an assembly may be appropriate if kept private among that group. Personal tongues may be also used in lifting praise and worship towards God in an assembly that is doing so.

Then there is a a public tongue, or prophecy, intended to be spoken among an assembly. If one feels they are being led to give a word to an assembly, that leading should be reported to the leadership. Someone else should report being led to interpret a word, before leadership permission it is given. This tongue is given to an assembly as an exhortation, and a sign and wonder.

And then there's the origin of 'tongues'. As man's numbers grew after creation he had a single spiritual language. It was one of the few things he took out of the fall, and it persisted until the tower of Babel. When Christ returns to restore all man has lost, one of those things restored will be that pure singular spiritual language. The different 'gifts' of tongues are an accessing of that restored language thru the Holy Spirit. Where it talks about tongues 'ceasing', it's not that speaking in that manner will stop, but that doing so will cease to be known as a tongue because it is in fact our native language. English at that point would be the tongue.

And no it is not necessary for salvation. As with all gifts of the Spirit, it is available to all but not required of any.

Given a good thing, we humans will find some way to screw it up. We will over-use, over-sell, and over-the-top it. That's just our nature. That's when outsiders start thinking we're crazy, and that's where Paul tells some to put a leash on it. Place and moderation are key to tongues being useful vs being foolish.