Gift of Tongues
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You make it sound like speaking in tongues is just speaking in another language that people speak, but the Bible also talks about speaking in tongues that only God understands:
1 Corinthians 14:2 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.
How do you account for such a verse? Ironically, that's from 1 Corinthians 14 which you posted about as if there was nothing in that chapter about it.
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
So not everyone receives it. Nevertheless:
1 Corinthians 14:39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
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Jude 1:10
“Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.”
This verse highlights how some reject or criticize things they don’t comprehend, especially spiritual matters or God’s truth. Jude speaks to the attitude of people who may mock or dismiss godly things, following their desires without discernment. It’s a reminder to approach God’s truth with humility, seeking understanding rather than judgment.
“Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.”
This verse highlights how some reject or criticize things they don’t comprehend, especially spiritual matters or God’s truth. Jude speaks to the attitude of people who may mock or dismiss godly things, following their desires without discernment. It’s a reminder to approach God’s truth with humility, seeking understanding rather than judgment.
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Here is 1 Corinthians 14:2 in the Koine Greek along with a transliteration and English translation:
Koine Greek Text
1 Corinthians 14:2
“ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ, ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.”
Transliteration
“Hos gar lalei glōssē, anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mystēria.”
English Translation
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”
Context
In this verse, Paul is explaining the nature of speaking in tongues (or languages). He emphasizes that when someone speaks in tongues, they are communicating directly with God rather than with other people. This highlights the personal and spiritual aspect of speaking in tongues, as it involves expressing mysteries and truths that may not be understood by others.
Koine Greek Text
1 Corinthians 14:2
“ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ, ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.”
Transliteration
“Hos gar lalei glōssē, anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mystēria.”
English Translation
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”
Context
In this verse, Paul is explaining the nature of speaking in tongues (or languages). He emphasizes that when someone speaks in tongues, they are communicating directly with God rather than with other people. This highlights the personal and spiritual aspect of speaking in tongues, as it involves expressing mysteries and truths that may not be understood by others.
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Certainly! Here’s a deeper exploration of 1 Corinthians 14:2, including more context and additional insights:
Expanded Analysis of 1 Corinthians 14:2
1. Greek Text
• “ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ, ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.”
2. Transliteration
• “Hos gar lalei glōssē, anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mystēria.”
3. Literal Translation
• “For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.”
Key Components and Insights
• “ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ” (hos gar lalei glōssē)
• “For anyone who speaks in a tongue”: This phrase establishes the subject of the verse. “Glōssē” refers specifically to tongues or languages, often understood as supernatural languages that may be unknown to the speaker.
• “ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ” (anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō)
• “Does not speak to people but to God”: This highlights that the primary recipient of the communication is God. It underscores the personal and divine connection established through speaking in tongues.
• “οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει” (oudeis gar akouei)
• “Indeed, no one understands”: This indicates that tongues are not meant for human comprehension in a public context unless interpreted. It emphasizes the private and spiritual nature of the communication.
• “πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια” (pneumati de lalei mystēria)
• “In the Spirit he speaks mysteries”: Here, “mystērion” (mysteries) refers to divine truths or revelations that may be hidden or not readily understood. Speaking in tongues is portrayed as a form of spiritual expression that communicates deep, sacred truths to God.
Contextual Understanding
• Purpose of Tongues: In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul contrasts speaking in tongues with prophecy. While tongues are a valid form of worship and communication with God, prophecy serves to edify the church and communicate God’s message in a way that is understandable to the congregation.
• Church Edification: Paul’s emphasis throughout this chapter is on the need for the church to be built up and strengthened. He encourages believers to pursue spiritual gifts that benefit the body of Christ, which includes interpreting tongues for the sake of clarity and understanding.
• Spiritual Gifts: This chapter is part of a larger discussion on spiritual gifts in the church, where Paul provides guidelines for their use, encouraging orderly worship and the importance of intelligible communication.
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 14:2 encapsulates the essence of the practice of speaking in tongues: it is a personal, spiritual form of communication with God that is primarily intended for the individual rather than for the congregation. Paul’s teaching emphasizes the importance of understanding and order in worship, ensuring that all believers are edified and that the church functions harmoniously. The verse serves as a foundational understanding of the role of tongues within the broader spectrum of spiritual gifts.
Bible flex completed. Indisputable.
Expanded Analysis of 1 Corinthians 14:2
1. Greek Text
• “ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ, ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια.”
2. Transliteration
• “Hos gar lalei glōssē, anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō; oudeis gar akouei, pneumati de lalei mystēria.”
3. Literal Translation
• “For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.”
Key Components and Insights
• “ὃς γὰρ λαλεῖ γλώσσῃ” (hos gar lalei glōssē)
• “For anyone who speaks in a tongue”: This phrase establishes the subject of the verse. “Glōssē” refers specifically to tongues or languages, often understood as supernatural languages that may be unknown to the speaker.
• “ἀνθρώποις οὐ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ” (anthrōpois ou lalei, alla tō theō)
• “Does not speak to people but to God”: This highlights that the primary recipient of the communication is God. It underscores the personal and divine connection established through speaking in tongues.
• “οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει” (oudeis gar akouei)
• “Indeed, no one understands”: This indicates that tongues are not meant for human comprehension in a public context unless interpreted. It emphasizes the private and spiritual nature of the communication.
• “πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια” (pneumati de lalei mystēria)
• “In the Spirit he speaks mysteries”: Here, “mystērion” (mysteries) refers to divine truths or revelations that may be hidden or not readily understood. Speaking in tongues is portrayed as a form of spiritual expression that communicates deep, sacred truths to God.
Contextual Understanding
• Purpose of Tongues: In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul contrasts speaking in tongues with prophecy. While tongues are a valid form of worship and communication with God, prophecy serves to edify the church and communicate God’s message in a way that is understandable to the congregation.
• Church Edification: Paul’s emphasis throughout this chapter is on the need for the church to be built up and strengthened. He encourages believers to pursue spiritual gifts that benefit the body of Christ, which includes interpreting tongues for the sake of clarity and understanding.
• Spiritual Gifts: This chapter is part of a larger discussion on spiritual gifts in the church, where Paul provides guidelines for their use, encouraging orderly worship and the importance of intelligible communication.
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 14:2 encapsulates the essence of the practice of speaking in tongues: it is a personal, spiritual form of communication with God that is primarily intended for the individual rather than for the congregation. Paul’s teaching emphasizes the importance of understanding and order in worship, ensuring that all believers are edified and that the church functions harmoniously. The verse serves as a foundational understanding of the role of tongues within the broader spectrum of spiritual gifts.
Bible flex completed. Indisputable.
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Yes. When you baptized in the Holy Spirit you will speak in tongues. Then you can speak in tongues whenever you want. You do the speaking, it is your tongue, the Spirit gives the utterance.
Do not think that you must be in some kind of "out of control" emotional state to speak in tongues. When Paul gave instructions about knowing when to speak in tongues in the assembly for someone with the gift of interpretation to interpret so that all could be edified, and when to speak to yourself and to God so that you could be edified, and when to prophesy, or wait for someone else to prophesy, he said that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet and by saying this he is declaring that you have control over when to speak and when not to, and it is not true that one "cannot help himself" when they are moved by the Spirit to speak. The idea of uncontrollable fits of forced utterance is not how Paul explains things in 1 Cor 14. And my experience has been that I can speak in tongues at will.
Do not think that you must be in some kind of "out of control" emotional state to speak in tongues. When Paul gave instructions about knowing when to speak in tongues in the assembly for someone with the gift of interpretation to interpret so that all could be edified, and when to speak to yourself and to God so that you could be edified, and when to prophesy, or wait for someone else to prophesy, he said that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet and by saying this he is declaring that you have control over when to speak and when not to, and it is not true that one "cannot help himself" when they are moved by the Spirit to speak. The idea of uncontrollable fits of forced utterance is not how Paul explains things in 1 Cor 14. And my experience has been that I can speak in tongues at will.
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Mark 16:16-18
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Anyone wo can allegedly speak in tongues should also be able to do all these other things, otherwise they are not speaking in tongues, but only yammering senselessly in spite of their emotions and the "evidence" their emotions present to them. To argue against this is to call Jesus a liar, or those not able to do these things are not in the faith. It cannot be both.
So, who here are complete cessationists, partial cessationists, and who rightly divides the word of truth? If tongues are still with us, then why are the speakers in tongues doing ALL these things?
Did Jesus lay down a limitation in time and events to the functionality of these things in the Church? Nope. Not one word of limitation is mentioned, but some will inevitably point to people like Wigglesworth, Copeland, Branham, et al, as if they are/were all great men who worked all these things. Wait a minute, Jesus said that ALL "those" who believe will be in operation by ALL those who believe. What other interpretation could there be in what He said?
Come on, let's dispense with laying claim to what is easily emulated as allegedly being genuine, and ALSO do all those things that cannot be emulated except by those charlatans who put on healing shows in front of video cameras and audiences that they had previously set up and choreographed.
How about it. I want to see the evidence, and all I have seen and heard thus far is blubbering in an alleged language that is not foreign language at all. No missing limbs restored, hospitals not emptied out, nothing! I'm an Israeli who believes in Paul's Gospel given to him by Christ Jesus, and I want to see ALL these things in operation that are verifiable.
If perfection coming has put an end to most of these things, then why not ALL? Who here is able to rightly divide the word of truth? Anyone? Wo here is going to call Jesus a liar by not doing ALL these things? Do you not have faith? If you are not a man or woman of faith, then you cannot be saved.
"...these signs shall follow them that believe"
Which is it? Either some here don't believe the words of Jesus, or they are not rightly dividing the word of truth, or they are followers of other interpretations that provide the convenience for getting out from under the evidence for their faith, or they just believe whatever fits the narrative of the religious bandwagon they happen to be riding. The conversations always revolve around tongues, but all the other things remain left out from the evidence of faith. Were you saved under the Kingdom Gospel or the Gospel of Grace?
Come on! Where's the proof behind some of the claims being made here? I wanna see and hear it!
MM
MM
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Anyone wo can allegedly speak in tongues should also be able to do all these other things, otherwise they are not speaking in tongues, but only yammering senselessly in spite of their emotions and the "evidence" their emotions present to them. To argue against this is to call Jesus a liar, or those not able to do these things are not in the faith. It cannot be both.
So, who here are complete cessationists, partial cessationists, and who rightly divides the word of truth? If tongues are still with us, then why are the speakers in tongues doing ALL these things?
Did Jesus lay down a limitation in time and events to the functionality of these things in the Church? Nope. Not one word of limitation is mentioned, but some will inevitably point to people like Wigglesworth, Copeland, Branham, et al, as if they are/were all great men who worked all these things. Wait a minute, Jesus said that ALL "those" who believe will be in operation by ALL those who believe. What other interpretation could there be in what He said?
Come on, let's dispense with laying claim to what is easily emulated as allegedly being genuine, and ALSO do all those things that cannot be emulated except by those charlatans who put on healing shows in front of video cameras and audiences that they had previously set up and choreographed.
How about it. I want to see the evidence, and all I have seen and heard thus far is blubbering in an alleged language that is not foreign language at all. No missing limbs restored, hospitals not emptied out, nothing! I'm an Israeli who believes in Paul's Gospel given to him by Christ Jesus, and I want to see ALL these things in operation that are verifiable.
If perfection coming has put an end to most of these things, then why not ALL? Who here is able to rightly divide the word of truth? Anyone? Wo here is going to call Jesus a liar by not doing ALL these things? Do you not have faith? If you are not a man or woman of faith, then you cannot be saved.
"...these signs shall follow them that believe"
Which is it? Either some here don't believe the words of Jesus, or they are not rightly dividing the word of truth, or they are followers of other interpretations that provide the convenience for getting out from under the evidence for their faith, or they just believe whatever fits the narrative of the religious bandwagon they happen to be riding. The conversations always revolve around tongues, but all the other things remain left out from the evidence of faith. Were you saved under the Kingdom Gospel or the Gospel of Grace?
Come on! Where's the proof behind some of the claims being made here? I wanna see and hear it!
MM
MM
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Come visit my church and you will. We have seen all those things.
Except the snakes. We're not a snake handling church. There is also the verse about not tempting God. I fully believe if I got a snake bite out in the woods, God would protect me. But we don't push it just to prove God will.
Even Paul was not deliberately picking up a snake. The snake happened to be there and bite him. He wasn't bringing it to the synagogue.
Except the snakes. We're not a snake handling church. There is also the verse about not tempting God. I fully believe if I got a snake bite out in the woods, God would protect me. But we don't push it just to prove God will.
Even Paul was not deliberately picking up a snake. The snake happened to be there and bite him. He wasn't bringing it to the synagogue.
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Here is Hebrews 11:1 in the original Koine Greek, along with a transliteration and English translation:
Greek Text
Hebrews 11:1
“Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων.”
Transliteration
“Estin de pistis elpizomenōn hypostasis, pragmatōn elegchos ou blepomenōn.”
English Translation
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV)
Word-by-Word Breakdown
1. Ἔστιν (Estin): “Now is” or “is” — linking faith to the definitions that follow.
2. πίστις (pistis): “Faith” — a firm belief or trust, especially in God.
3. ἐλπιζομένων (elpizomenōn): “Things hoped for” — the things believers anticipate or trust in, based on God’s promises.
4. ὑπόστασις (hypostasis): “Substance” or “assurance” — often translated as the foundation, essence, or realization of what is hoped for.
5. πραγμάτων (pragmatōn): “Things” — referring to real matters or realities.
6. ἔλεγχος (elegchos): “Evidence” or “conviction” — the inner assurance or proof of these unseen realities.
7. οὐ βλεπομένων (ou blepomenōn): “Not seen” — highlighting the invisibility of these matters, which are beyond physical perception.
Summary
This verse emphasizes that faith is a solid assurance (hypostasis) of what believers hope for and an inner conviction (elegchos) of the unseen spiritual realities. Faith, therefore, provides both the foundation and proof that make hope a reality, despite its invisibility. This passage encourages believers to trust in God’s promises as though they are as real as the things they can see.
Greek Text
Hebrews 11:1
“Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων.”
Transliteration
“Estin de pistis elpizomenōn hypostasis, pragmatōn elegchos ou blepomenōn.”
English Translation
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV)
Word-by-Word Breakdown
1. Ἔστιν (Estin): “Now is” or “is” — linking faith to the definitions that follow.
2. πίστις (pistis): “Faith” — a firm belief or trust, especially in God.
3. ἐλπιζομένων (elpizomenōn): “Things hoped for” — the things believers anticipate or trust in, based on God’s promises.
4. ὑπόστασις (hypostasis): “Substance” or “assurance” — often translated as the foundation, essence, or realization of what is hoped for.
5. πραγμάτων (pragmatōn): “Things” — referring to real matters or realities.
6. ἔλεγχος (elegchos): “Evidence” or “conviction” — the inner assurance or proof of these unseen realities.
7. οὐ βλεπομένων (ou blepomenōn): “Not seen” — highlighting the invisibility of these matters, which are beyond physical perception.
Summary
This verse emphasizes that faith is a solid assurance (hypostasis) of what believers hope for and an inner conviction (elegchos) of the unseen spiritual realities. Faith, therefore, provides both the foundation and proof that make hope a reality, despite its invisibility. This passage encourages believers to trust in God’s promises as though they are as real as the things they can see.
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