It really doesn’t matter whether it was or was not. Speaking in tongues was a spiritual gift that was a “sign” to unbelievers that proved God was with them. Hebrews 2:3-4 says that God “confirmed” his word with signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Also, Mark 16:20. This was their purpose and was needed BEFORE they had the written Bible. That’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 that speaking in tongues would CEASE when that which is perfect comes. He ‘s talking about the “perfect” will of God described in Romans 12 and James 1. Since we HAVE the perfect will of God written down for us with all of the miracles, wonders, signs and gifts of the Spirit recorded there for us, there is no longer any NEED for those things to confirm God’s word. It has been confirmed and so those things have ceased! Whatever people are claiming to do today—like miraculous healing, and speaking in tongues—is not from God. God does not lie. And he said they have ceased.
I've personally experienced miraculous healing. God healed my infant daughter of a heart defect. I also watched the Lord heal a down syndrome man and over time turn him into a fully functioning normal adult. Those are only two examples, I could provide more.
I like to think of myself as a loving father. If I were an all knowing, all powerful loving Father, I imagine that at least from time to time, it would be difficult for me not to help my hurting children.
You say that there is no need for miraculous signs to confirm the word of God, and I completely agree. But friend, you're drawing an inference from the text that just isn't there.
God loves His children and performs miracles on their behalf on a regular basis. God's kinda in the miracle business ya know? Oh wait, you don't know, that's really sad. I could probably list three or four miracles in my own life just in the last year. No parting of the sea, no consuming fires, but small miracles are no less miraculous than the big ones.
I'm not sure that there is any greater miracle than turning a lost and sinful man into a justified and sanctified one.
I'm sorry you have no spiritual gifts. Or maybe you do and you're just not aware of it. Maybe you should pray and ask for some?
I appreciate your input, but I think I'll stick with Brother Paul on this one. This was written well after Pentecost. Nowhere in scripture can I find it written that after the epistles were written and collected together, that God would stop being God and doing miraculous things on behalf of His children or unbelievers for that matter. Quite the opposite actually.
As for me, God was doing miracles in my own life long before I ever came to faith in His Son, probably yours too.
But hey, you be you man. Fortunately for the rest of us
God will keep being God. He's a God of miracles.
I'll just leave this here. It's Gods word. You know, that God who never changes, the same yesterday today and tomorrow.
Mercy, grace and peace to you my friend.
1 Corinthians 14:20-40
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy
is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26 What is
the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,
it should be by two or at the most three, and
each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not
a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Was it from you that the word of God
first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize
this, he is not recognized.
39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.