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Commentary on "Spiritual Gifts and Prophecy"
Day 6: Thursday, January 15, 2009
This lesson’s purpose is solely to identify what the gift of tongues is, and what it isn’t. It is concluded that the gift of tongues is solely the speaking of human foreign languages. It is never speaking in unknown languages.
Problems
There are several Bible passages that clearly show the possibility that speaking in tongues can by exercised by speaking in an unknown tongue, only known to God and to someone gifted to interpret the tongue.
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues... (Mark 16:17).
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (I Cor. 1:1).
The passage from Mark says that believers will speak in new tongues. Are new tongues the same as known tongues? Notice that in I Corinthians there are two types of tongues mentioned, tongues of men and tongues of angels. Are the languages of angels known and understandable to humans?
It is very interesting that the lesson author only suggests that the student read the first five verses of I Corinthians 14. Let’s read through verse 28 (italics added):
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 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. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 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.
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? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 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. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 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 with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 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. 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? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 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.
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. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God (I Cor. 14:1-28, ESV).
Read this passage through several times. Let it sink in. Ask God to teach you the truth about the gift of tongues. Notice that tongues are sometimes not understood by anyone but God. They edify only the speaker, unless someone can interpret for the congregation.Praying in a tongue is an activity done in the Spirit, not the mind. Paul acknowledges that he speaks in tongues more than any of the members of the church in Corinth. He counsels them to use restraint. He states that an unbeliever would think the church was out of their minds if the unbeliever visited when the whole church is speaking in tongues. Paul contrasts prophesying and speaking in tongues. He states that prophesying is greater because it builds up the church, while tongues only builds up the one speaking.
In conclusion, the gift of tongues is more than just the gift of speaking foreign languages. It should be noted that there are church groups that claim the presence of this gift, but do not follow the Biblical instructions for its use. There are also groups that teach that everyone that is born again will receive the gift of tongues. This teaching does not agree with scripture that states, “...God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will" (Heb. 2:4). The gifts are given according to the Spirit’s will--not ours.
Summary
- The gift of speaking in tongues includes unknown languages.
- The gift of prophecy is to be desired over the gift of tongues.
- One gifted with “tongues” can control the manifestation to times when someone is present to interpret the tongues and by so doing edify all those present, rather than only edify the one speaking the tongue.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 14, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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