Tongues

Studied in the KJV and put together by Eddie Martinie

I. OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES

           

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

            Point1. It was a “tongue” that brought light into the world

 

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

            Point1. God used a “tongue” to introduce His plan of salvation

 

Gen 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called (qara) every living creature, that was the name thereof.Gen 2:20 Adam gave names(qara) to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

            Point1. Adam used a “tongue” to communicate with and name beasts of the earth.

 

Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made (banah) he a woman, and brought her unto the man.Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

            Point1. Adam used a “tongue” to communicate with and name his wife.

 

Gen 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

       Gen 11:5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded (banah).Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Gen 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. Gen 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel (Babylon, confusion), because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth:

       Point1. Until Babel (which mean confusion ) there was but one “tongue”

 

Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

        Point1 

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

 

II. NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES

 

A.  The Prediction by Jesus

Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

16:17 σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασιν ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει· ἐν τῶ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσιν, γλώσσαις λαλήσουσιν καιναῖς,

 

a similar example:  1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

12:1 περὶ δὲ τῶν πνευματικῶν, ἀδελφοί, οὐ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν.

 

B. The Spirit comes with tongues at Pentecost

 

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

            Point1. The sound filled the house

            Point2. Tongues of fire sat upon them individually, so there were twelve tongues of fire

            Point3. They spoke with other “tongues”, plural, they were not all speaking the same tongue

            Point4. The number of apostles almost exactly matches the number of dialects present

 

C. Tongues after Pentecost

 

Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

            Point1. They understood them when they spoke in tongues.

            Point2.The Spirit fell on everyone who believed

            Point3. No one was baptized until after they spoke in tongues

 

Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

            Point1. They prophesied, that means they knew what they said, they were preaching the Word, they understood

           

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (sumphero, bring us together).1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

            Point1. There are different gifts but the same Holy Spirit gives all the gifts

            Point2. There are different offices given by the same Lord

            Point3. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to all…to benefit the church (to all Gal 5:22, John 14:17, 1John 3:24, 1John Chapter four)

            Point4. The gift of any “tongues” is NEVER mentioned in ANY Scripture as a manifestation or evidence of the Spirit

            Point5. There is no spiritual “gift” that the Spirit has given to everyone, They are divided to men as He wills

 

1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

            Point1. No gift or office is given to everyone.

            Point2. We are not to seek the gifts, we are to seek the love

 

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

            Point1. Love is eternal

            Point2. Prophesies, tongues and knowledge will cease when “That which is perfect is come”

            Point3. “That which is perfect” can only be the Bible or Jesus Christ

            Point4. If it refers to Jesus then there will be no tongues in heaven.

            Point5. If it refers to the Bible then there are no tongues now.

 

Comment:  Immediately after Pentecost, almost everyone that was saved spoke with tongues. This was important. But by the time Paul wrote to Corinth, they had around 10, 000 teachers (1Co 4:15). The gift of tongues was no longer important, which agrees with how Paul down-plays the gift.

 

1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (musterion, hidden).1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth (oikodomeo to build or promote) himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

            Point1. The churches did not understand the gifts and were misusing the gifts

            Point2. Paul is speaking to them as if they are children

            Point3. Tongues were always meant for the building of the Kingdom, not the “building up” of ourselves

 

1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?1Co 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.1Co 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.1Co 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.( Even so ye)

            Point1. If no one understands, no one profits

            Point2. Even things without life need to make sense and be understood

            Point3. People as well should “utter by the tongue words easy to be understood”

           

1Co 14:12 (Even so ye), forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

            Point1. They should be trying as hard to build the churches as they are seeking spiritual gifts.

            Point2. Not being able to understand is unfruitful

 

1Co 14:15 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.

1Co 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?1Co 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

            Point1. Paul’s point is whether we pray, give thanks or sing we should understand, and so should anyone who hears

 

1Co 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:1Co 14:19 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.

            Point1. Paul spoke in more tongues (outside the church) than any of them

            Point2. But in the church he spoke to be understood

            Point3. The gift of tongues was not for the church (1Co 14:22)

 

1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.1Co 14:21 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.1Co 14:22 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.

            Point1. They should have known the scripture in Isaiah 28:12

            Point2. Tongues were for a sign to the Jews (that judgement was upon them) and a sign to make people believe

            Point3. But prophecy was a gift for the churches

 

1Co 14:23 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?1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:1Co 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

            Point1. If we are speaking in tongues at church, people will not believe, they will think we are crazy

            Point2. But if one comes in and understands Truth, he will be convicted of the truth and repent

            Point3. Everyone had a song to sing, something to teach, speaking in tongues, a revelation from God, an interpretation-but the church was not edified.

            Point4. All things in the church must edify the church

 

1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course(in turn); and let one interpret.1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.1Co 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

            Point1. Whether tongues or prophecy, no more than 1 was to speak or interpret

            Point2. If there was no interpreter, there was to be no tongues

            Point3. Whether tongues or prophecy, all others were to judge if it be from God

            Point4. If anyone else began to speak, all others were to be silent because only one was to speak at a time

            Point5. The gifts are all controlled by us so that there is no confusion in or out of the church gatherings

 

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.1Co 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.1Co 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

            Point1. Women are not to speak in tongues or prophecy in the church

            Point2. If they have any questions about the Bible or church, let them learn it from their husbands

            Point3. A woman who asks questions in church shows that her husband is not teaching her and he is shamed

            Point4. A spiritual person must take these things as commandments from God

            Point5. Desire teaching first, and forbid not tongues (if it is according to these commands)

            Point6. Everything in the churches must be done decently, in order