This is another discussion about tongues. However, it may present some information previously overlooked by traditional interpretations.
Tongues are defined in scripture in the following verses.
Ac 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Ac 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
In Acts 2:11 tongues is people speaking about the works of God.
In Acts 10:11 Tongues is people magnifying God.
The difficulty now becomes understanding how these clear definitions of tongues are incorporated into the statements regarding "tongues" in other sections of scripture.
To more clearly understand this gift it is useful to understand the reason scripture gives for the use of the gift of speaking in tongues.
Tongues is speaking about the works of God. If this gift is for the purpose of better communicating the gospel to people/unbelievers of other languages then why must there be an interpreter?
If a person views the gift of tongues as a method of evangelism as is traditionally understood, there would not have to be an interpreter, because the speaker would be gifted by God to communicate in a method that the hearers could easily understand.
Speaking about the works of God/Speaking in Tongues - is not speaking about the works of God in another language to be better understood. If that were the case there would be no need for an interpreter, because the very purpose of the supernatural gift would be to better communicate with others.
This suggests that the gift is not employed in order to better communicate the gospel to unbelievers. This statement is validated by the following verse -
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
In 1 Cor 14:3 it becomes clear the purpose of speaking in tongues or speaking about the works of God, is not to edify the hearers or to comfort them.
The understanding that scripture tells us that the reason that God enables a believer to speak in tongues is not to edify or comfort an unbeliever is generally a new idea for those who have traditionally viewed the gift of tongues to be a spiritual enablement given to a believer to enable them to better communicate the gospel to unbelievers.
Now to take this idea a little further - We are told in 1 Cor 14:22 that tongues are a sign for unbelievers.
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.
We are told in 1 Cor 14:3-4 that speaking in tongues is not to comfort people. Since the 1 Cor 14:22 tells is that tongues is a sign to unbelievers and 1 Cor 14:3 tells us that tongues are not used to comfort others then can be understood that tongues is not used to comfort unbelievers but it is directed towards them.
Coupled with the information found in 1 Cor 14:6, where we are told that speaking in tongues is used to convey 4 types of information, 1 Cor 14:6.
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?
(KJV)
It is now scriptural to make the statement that tongues = the conveying of either revelation-knowledge-prophesy or doctrine to unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22) but not necessarily to comfort the unbelievers.
This is a new concept to many, but it is entirely scriptural as you can see. This suggests that the traditional understanding of speaking in tongues is not necessarily to better communicate the gospel.
Now the question becomes this - what would conveying spiritual information to unbelievers tell them, since they cannot understand the spiritual truths, since an understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of God are given only to believers, Mat 13:11?
Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
It would tell them that they are foreigners to the speakers and not believers, or at least not mature enough to understand the spiritual truths mentioned.
Tongues are defined in scripture in the following verses.
Ac 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Ac 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
In Acts 2:11 tongues is people speaking about the works of God.
In Acts 10:11 Tongues is people magnifying God.
The difficulty now becomes understanding how these clear definitions of tongues are incorporated into the statements regarding "tongues" in other sections of scripture.
To more clearly understand this gift it is useful to understand the reason scripture gives for the use of the gift of speaking in tongues.
Tongues is speaking about the works of God. If this gift is for the purpose of better communicating the gospel to people/unbelievers of other languages then why must there be an interpreter?
If a person views the gift of tongues as a method of evangelism as is traditionally understood, there would not have to be an interpreter, because the speaker would be gifted by God to communicate in a method that the hearers could easily understand.
Speaking about the works of God/Speaking in Tongues - is not speaking about the works of God in another language to be better understood. If that were the case there would be no need for an interpreter, because the very purpose of the supernatural gift would be to better communicate with others.
This suggests that the gift is not employed in order to better communicate the gospel to unbelievers. This statement is validated by the following verse -
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
In 1 Cor 14:3 it becomes clear the purpose of speaking in tongues or speaking about the works of God, is not to edify the hearers or to comfort them.
The understanding that scripture tells us that the reason that God enables a believer to speak in tongues is not to edify or comfort an unbeliever is generally a new idea for those who have traditionally viewed the gift of tongues to be a spiritual enablement given to a believer to enable them to better communicate the gospel to unbelievers.
Now to take this idea a little further - We are told in 1 Cor 14:22 that tongues are a sign for unbelievers.
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.
We are told in 1 Cor 14:3-4 that speaking in tongues is not to comfort people. Since the 1 Cor 14:22 tells is that tongues is a sign to unbelievers and 1 Cor 14:3 tells us that tongues are not used to comfort others then can be understood that tongues is not used to comfort unbelievers but it is directed towards them.
Coupled with the information found in 1 Cor 14:6, where we are told that speaking in tongues is used to convey 4 types of information, 1 Cor 14:6.
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?
(KJV)
It is now scriptural to make the statement that tongues = the conveying of either revelation-knowledge-prophesy or doctrine to unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22) but not necessarily to comfort the unbelievers.
This is a new concept to many, but it is entirely scriptural as you can see. This suggests that the traditional understanding of speaking in tongues is not necessarily to better communicate the gospel.
Now the question becomes this - what would conveying spiritual information to unbelievers tell them, since they cannot understand the spiritual truths, since an understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of God are given only to believers, Mat 13:11?
Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
It would tell them that they are foreigners to the speakers and not believers, or at least not mature enough to understand the spiritual truths mentioned.
