TONGUES AND THE WORD OF THE GOD!
The word “tongues” is used some 35 times in the entire bible. Of these thirty five times we find that the Hebrew word for tongues is used exactly 8 times while the Greek New Testament has two words used some 27 times. Below you will find the three words used and the verses they have been used in.
Hebrew
Law-shone
or lesh-o-naw which meant tongue as an instrument of speech or language
Used in Genesis 10:20, Isaiah 66:18, Jeremiah 9:3, 23:31, Psalms 31:20, 55:9, 78:36 and 140:3
Greek
Glossa
which meant the tongue and by implication language
Hetero-glossa
which meant other tongued i.e. foreigner
Glossa
used in Mark 16:16-18, Acts 2:3,4,11, 10:46, 19:6, Romans 3:13, 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30, 13:1, 8, 14:5, 6, 18, 23, 39, Revelation 7:9, 10:11, 11:9, 13:7, 16:10, and 17:5
Hetero-Glossa
used only in 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 14:21
The best way to understand the application of the word tongues in the New Testament is to understand the word as defined by God. You must also understand how this word is used in context as well as the point in history when the use of “tongues” was relevant. Let us notice the following use of the words that were used to describe “languages”.
Genesis 10:20
states, “These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues (languages), in their countries, and in their nations.”
Isaiah 66:18
states, “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues (languages); and they shall come, and see my glory”
Jeremiah 9:3
states, “And they bend their tongues (languages) like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.”
Jeremiah 23:31
states, “Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues (language, speech, mouth), and say, He saith.
Psalms 31:20
states, “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues (languages).”
Psalm 55:9
states, “Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues (language or speech): for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 78:36
states, “Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues (language, speech, mouth).”
Psalm 140:3
states, “They have sharpened their tongues (speech, tongues) like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
It is obvious from the above Old Testament witnesses that the word translated “tongues” meant language, speech, the use of the mouth to speak etc. As a matter of fact as we will find out the New Testament use of the Word “tongues” is going to mean the exact same thing. Note the following examples and I will say that we will study the context and time frame of this in our next lesson.
Mark 16:17-18
states, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues (languages); they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; and they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Acts 2:3-4
states, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues (tongues) like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:11
states, “Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues (languages) the wonderful works of God.”
Acts 10:46
states, “For they heard them speak with tongues (languages), and magnify God…..”
Acts 19:6
states, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spake with tongues (languages), and prophesied.”
Romans 3:13
states, “Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongue (mouth, tongue used to speak) they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips….”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 12:10
states, “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers (many) kinds of tongues (languages); to another the interpretation of tongues (languages)….”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 12:28
states, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (languages).”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 12:30
states, “Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues (languages)? Do all interpret?”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 13:1
states, Though I speak with the tongues (languages) of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 13:8
states, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues (languages), they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 14:4-6
states, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue (language) edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaks with tongues (languages), except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto to speaking with tongues, what shall it profit you, except I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 14:18-19
states, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 14:21-23
states, “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues (languages) and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me saith the Lord. 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 that believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues (languages), and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad (nuts).”
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corinthians 14:39
states, “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues (languages).”
Let us notice some things to about the Corinthian Church and their state of mind if you will. I must state that the above must be studied and considered in light of the following facts.
The Corinthian Church was filled with immaturity.
The Corinthian Church had some dozen plus open sins and corrupt practices.
During the time frame of this letter the Word of God was some 30 years from being completed.
Tongues (languages) was a sign for unbelievers and was used to substantiate the message and the messenger as being valid.
Women are told to keep silence I.E. no speaking in tongues—note most charismatic groups regularly allow women to practice this.
Revelation 7:9
states, “After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues (languages), stood before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands
Revelation 10:11
states, And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues (languages), and kings.”
Revelation 11:9
states, “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues (languages) and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in grave.
Revelation 13:7
states, “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues (languages), and nations.”
Revelation 16:10
states, “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues (tongues) for pain.”
Revelation 17:15
states, “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues (languages).”
As we can clearly see there is no magic about the word “tongues” as it simply means languages, speech or use of tongue to produce speech. The early churches were without the completed word of God as well as “ministers” trained in the “languages” of the nations round about. The early gifts were used to substantiate the message and the messenger until the completed word of God came. As the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] century played out and as the Bible came to completion the miraculous gifts that accompanied the early word slowly faded out and were finally done away with at the completion of the word of God and the end of the apostolic age which was the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] century. It is interesting to note that other church letters state that a work of faith, hope, and love prevailed in the Lord’s churches in the latter third of the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] century and there is no apparent problem with this gift of “tongues” in the churches that were mature (complete) as they had moved on from childish things and had grown up embracing faith, hope and love as the three remaining spiritual gifts.
(This time that really is me rolling my eyes.)
