The Purpose of the Gift of Divers Tongues
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Except that we are not talking about unbelievers.
The gift of supernaturally speaking in a foreign language (which had never been learned by the speaker) was evidence that God the Holy Spirit was empowering that person. This was a sign to unbelieving Jews that the Gospel was from God. And that is why the apostles and disciples were enabled to speak in approximately 15 languages and dialects on the Day of Pentecost.
In the law [the OT] 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. 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. (1 Cor 14:21,22).
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people [the Jews]. 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. (Isa 28:11,12)
In spite of the miracle on the Day of Pentecost, Israel (as a whole) did not believe the Gospel. But this same gift of tongues was being manifested in the apostolic churches, and 1 Cor 12-14 was written TO CORRECT THE ABUSES of this gift, as well as teach us about the various gifts of the Spirit.
The gift of supernaturally speaking in a foreign language (which had never been learned by the speaker) was evidence that God the Holy Spirit was empowering that person. This was a sign to unbelieving Jews that the Gospel was from God. And that is why the apostles and disciples were enabled to speak in approximately 15 languages and dialects on the Day of Pentecost.
In the law [the OT] 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. 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. (1 Cor 14:21,22).
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people [the Jews]. 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. (Isa 28:11,12)
In spite of the miracle on the Day of Pentecost, Israel (as a whole) did not believe the Gospel. But this same gift of tongues was being manifested in the apostolic churches, and 1 Cor 12-14 was written TO CORRECT THE ABUSES of this gift, as well as teach us about the various gifts of the Spirit.
The answer is quite simple. The ones who were in Jerusalem from other lands heard what was said in their own native languages. So if you were from Arabia (for example) you would have heard Arabic spoken (Acts 2:11).
On the other hand the Corinthian church was a Greek-speaking church (Greek being the language of Greece and Macedonia, and Corinth being due West of Athens). Hence the need for a translator if you starting talking in Arabic and no one had a clue.
On the other hand the Corinthian church was a Greek-speaking church (Greek being the language of Greece and Macedonia, and Corinth being due West of Athens). Hence the need for a translator if you starting talking in Arabic and no one had a clue.
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Yes this is what I see as well.
So then it was not the same phenomena at Corinth that occurred like the one in Acts, at the church in Corinth there were a variety of languages and dialects being spoken, but no one was speaking a language they did not know.
I see nothing in the text that states they were speaking languages they had not learned.
So then it was not the same phenomena at Corinth that occurred like the one in Acts, at the church in Corinth there were a variety of languages and dialects being spoken, but no one was speaking a language they did not know.
I see nothing in the text that states they were speaking languages they had not learned.
I agree with everything you've written here. However, this is not what you were claiming in your earlier post. While Paul's instructions regarding "languages" are definitely applicable to the use of "foreign" languages in a local assembly, the context is the spiritual gift of speaking in unlearned languages.
unlike the instruction for the Church at Corinth.That fact that the gift of languages was A SUPERNATURAL GIFT should make it obvious that it was NOT a learned language.
If you had never heard or been taught Chinese, and you suddenly started speaking fluently in Mandarin, that would certainly be a miracle. And that is what the gift of tongues was all about.
If you had never heard or been taught Chinese, and you suddenly started speaking fluently in Mandarin, that would certainly be a miracle. And that is what the gift of tongues was all about.
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I think that anyone that is against tongues should ask for interpretations. There are few times when it's felt sincerely "off". There are times when I don't know what to say/pray and I just "breath" and ask the Lord to know me. Corporately I'm skeptical.
I am VERY leery of making a judgement against it. I can say I've been much more impacted (to my knowledge) by words that I understand. There are certainly times where I would like to be clandestine and so it appears to have utility but it feels like a bypass of my own will. Not that one's will should be tantamount but it has been my experience that the Lord wants us to couple with him in spirit and in truth.
Other languages, sure. It takes the Spirit to understand what someone is "saying" regardless of whether you know that "Perro" is dog in spanish. To KNOW what their language means in context is something I find I have to lean on him for, even in English.
Consider someone that is distraught and is speaking English but isn't making any sense really. That's where this particular thing comes in for me personally, interpreting what they are saying not through myself.
I am VERY leery of making a judgement against it. I can say I've been much more impacted (to my knowledge) by words that I understand. There are certainly times where I would like to be clandestine and so it appears to have utility but it feels like a bypass of my own will. Not that one's will should be tantamount but it has been my experience that the Lord wants us to couple with him in spirit and in truth.
Other languages, sure. It takes the Spirit to understand what someone is "saying" regardless of whether you know that "Perro" is dog in spanish. To KNOW what their language means in context is something I find I have to lean on him for, even in English.
Consider someone that is distraught and is speaking English but isn't making any sense really. That's where this particular thing comes in for me personally, interpreting what they are saying not through myself.
The appearance of tongues in Acts 2 was unique in that the tongue seen as fire was heard in native languages by those present. Tongues are not described as appearing as fire anyplace else in scripture. Again Acts 2 is the only record of the words spoken being heard in the native language of those present. I wonder why?
For the cause of Christ
Roger
For the cause of Christ
Roger
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Wow...
I know it is true because I have met people who are believers in other faiths, therefore not Christ, and they speak other languages.
I know that is NOT (entirely) what Paul was addressing at Corinth, because he listed "speaking in tongues" among the gifts of the Spirit, alongside prophecy, miracles, healing, and distinguishing between spirits.
As for Acts 2, they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They were NOT speaking learned languages.
I know it is true because I have met people who are believers in other faiths, therefore not Christ, and they speak other languages.
I know that is NOT (entirely) what Paul was addressing at Corinth, because he listed "speaking in tongues" among the gifts of the Spirit, alongside prophecy, miracles, healing, and distinguishing between spirits.
As for Acts 2, they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They were NOT speaking learned languages.
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Why would someone speak in an unlearned language and then have a translator to translate?
Perhaps he/she was speaking his native language/dialect that was not known by others in the congregation and therefore needed a translator and if there was no translator he/she just just pray to himself and God.
Perhaps he/she was speaking his native language/dialect that was not known by others in the congregation and therefore needed a translator and if there was no translator he/she just just pray to himself and God.
It's not speculative at all, and I said nothing about which languages they were. The Scripture clearly states, "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." Those who were present heard in languages that they, the hearers from surrounding regions, knew. They marveled because the speakers were all Galileans. Why? Most likely because Galileans would not likely have learned all the other languages or dialects. If all that was happening was that the disciples spoke in languages they already knew, why did the people marvel?
