Study of Tongues in the New Testament

BuzzyWigs

I started this thread in case the Mods remove the requested study that Buzzywigs wanted in another thread because of thread drift.

I ask one thing. You have a Bible with you and you look at the scriptures I am using.

I may have posted this online somewhere but this is my copy from my study series as we went through the Bible. It would be a little different than any I may have placed online.

I will try to keep this outline short and simple. This is my Understanding of what the Scriptures say plainly about the Three types of tongues found in the Bible. One is a Sign gift (for Israel), one is a Spiritual gift (this is for the church), and one in a Selfish use of Tongues (there is no interpretation and only benefits and edifies the one who is using it.)

I had always wondered if tongues are not needed why did Paul mention them as a spiritual gift, and that when done properly would bring edification to the church. I discovered that by rightly dividing tongues I found there were three types of usage of tongues in the New Testament.

I. The Sign Gift of Tongues
Interesting enough the sign gift in every example needed no interpretation all who heard understood what was said. One thing to remember it was the Jews who always required a sign before they would follow anyone as a prophet

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

(though we are not told what the prophecy was the only way they would know it was a prophecy is if they knew what was being said).

II The Spiritual Gift of Tongues
The spiritual gift needs an interpretation and it is connected with interpretation in 1Cor 12:10, all Paul's instructions insist that there be an interpretation. The reason being that the church would be edified and profit from what is being spoken which is the purpose of the gift.

1Cor 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:
1Cor 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.
1Co 14:9-11 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. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 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.
1Cor 14:12, 13 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Cor 14:27, 28 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

III The Selfish use of tongues
The this use of tongues has no interpretation. And its use goes against the Lords purpose for giving it.

1Cor 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.
1Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.
1Cor 14:12-14 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1Cor 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.
1Cor 14:22, 23 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. 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?
1Cor 14:27, 28 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Clearly those who practice speaking in unknown tongues in the assembly of believers without an interpretation are in disobedience to Gods word. And if there be more than three speaking in tongues in the assembly they are in disobedience to Gods word as well.

Another interesting thing is only the sign gift has Biblical examples. The interpreted tongue has no example of any saint using it (now I could be wrong but I haven't found it yet). And the unknown tongue has no Biblical example all we have is Paul's word saying it was done. Of course it means it more than likely it was done, and it would also mean the spiritual gift and its interpretation was most likely done also.

So in short, the sign gift needs no interpretation, the spiritual gift needs an interpretation and the unknown tongue has no interpretation anf therefore Paul says it should not be done in the assembly.

God bless your reading of his word.

Like most other tenants of modern Churchian practice, speaking in mysterious languages is gibberish. Another contrived mystery, bent on confusing people. If you have something meaningful to say, say it. If you don't, make stuff up no-one can understand.

a reply to: intrptr

Did you even read the outline or the Bible before commenting?

Because I condemned speaking in it without an interpretation and the scriptures says because those visitors would think they were crazy.

I have only once experienced a gift of interpretation. I was witnessing to a woman in a foreign country. I spoke in English my tongue and she heard me in her tongue similar to that in Acts 2. I was using an interpreter but he only told me what she was saying that she understood me without interpretation in her own tongue.

Only one other time and this by the mouth of Chuck Smith founder of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa CA where a women spoke High French and another woman interpreted. Chuck was allowing people to exercise spiritual gifts. After the service was over a young Jewish girl came up and asked why the one woman spoke in French and the other interpreted. Chuck replied that neither one of those women knew how to speak French. The young women said she knew that because the one who spoke, spoke in High French which is learned only by the nobles and rich of France. She knew this because she was from France and was trained in the high French. She got saved that night because of that. The Jew requires a sign.

BTW, I f you have not heard me say. I am against the modern organizational 501c church. I am against those who teach for the Bible the doctrine of men. The above outline is in direct opposition to the AOG and other Pentecostal practice of supposed being Baptized in the spirit. Clear church teaching of Paul says that we are Baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Ghost and there is no tongues with that. Most of these men try and substitute themselves and their members for Israel who will have the sign gift of Tongues. They usually speak in an Unknown Tongue with no interpretation as proof they were baptized in the spirit. Which is against clear Bible teaching on the subject read the Selfish use of Tongues in the outline above.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Did you even read the outline or the Bible before commenting?

Sorry preacher, heard it all before a hunnert times. Besides, you lost me when you said ,

'get out your bibles and turn to page...'

a reply to: intrptr

Please I did not say get your Bibles out and turn to page. You should be ashamed.

I asked only that you use a bible and read the scriptures as I quoted them. This is so you could search the scriptures in context to see if those thing I was teaching were so. Paul said

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

I was giving you and anyone else a chance to be better than those who follow the teachings of men who use verses out of context to teach the doctrines of men for a profit and not by a calling.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Please I did not say get your Bibles out and turn to page.

Yes, you did.

I ask one thing. You have a Bible with you and you look at the scriptures am using.

a reply to: intrptr

No that is your interpretation of what I said. But I never said it. But lets get back to the outline. Read it and see if what I say is true.

I bet you never heard it not even from a Baptist fundamentalist church.

Remember I gave you a chance to be better than the churchians of today and you proved you are not.

originally posted by: intrptr

Like most other tenants of modern Churchian practice, speaking in mysterious languages is gibberish. Another contrived mystery, bent on confusing people. If you have something meaningful to say, say it. If you don't, make stuff up no-one can understand.

I don't think the true tenants of Love thy neighbor as yourself meme I hear in "Churhcian practice" is hurting people.

Speaking in tongues is a conundrum. It quite frankly means, that in a room full of people who cannot speak the same common language I speak in my language that all hear in their specific language and understand the words. Anything else is a hoax. What i have seen in person WAS gibberish and deserves criticism. Charlatan like to do something like that.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

No that is your interpretation of what I said. But I never said it.

LOL....The wiggly, fancy dancing wordsmith magician, who claims words don't mean what they mean, is doing a thread on "tongues". LOL

a reply to: Justoneman
This is true. Many a church organization today (501c) work the emotional feelings of people to fill their pockets with their followers hard earned cash.

Not only is their form of tongues unbiblical but their supposed prosperity doctrines as well. That is that no Christian should be poor and unhealthy. Goes against all the Bible says.

a reply to: windword

the wigglyone are those who put words in another's mouth.

If you go to where I originally posted this outline you would see I asked buzzy to use a Bible. However when I started it here I removed his name from it.

Now the Point of having you read it for your self is to give you the chance to check what I said in connection to those scriptures to see the context and to verify what I said is correct.

This makes you the better person than those who don't use a Bible but follow every word of a man and his doctrines to their own destruction. The big problem of those organized churches they don't want you to read your Bible because you might see what they are teaching is not so. Just like Westboro Baptist their whole practice about protesting Funerals and holding signs up protesting Homosexuality. Cannot be found in the Bible, it is their own teaching.

Are you a better man than those of the 501c organized church?

a reply to: ChesterJohn

It is poor practice to lie to people and call it God. I believe in the holy trinity and still sing in a church choir because I will always love the message that Jesus brought. As a child my parents taught me a plan of salvation and it involved simply believing God sent his son as the Bill Gaither song goes, accepting you are not perfect, and go about using love thy neighbor as yourself as the measuring stick. And with all that is going on in today's world I feel the princes of this world are out to bring hate into our hearts to create their power over the innocent through hate mongering.

Claims of speaking in tongues better be real when it is paraded around or they create doubt for those on the fence.

a reply to: Justoneman

Amen brother.

I gave you a star for that reply.

I fully agree with all you said.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

I've sat and listened to "tongues", its gibberish.

Nothing useful can come from speaking to people in a language they don't understand.

Except confusion.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Look, you continue to argue over words and their meaning, as ever, while posting a thread on "tongues". It's rather ironic, in my opinion.

a reply to: intrptr

Yes of course it is, when not of God and not for them. This is why we are to rightly divide the word of truth and study to show ourselves approved. If not people will fall into the trap of the cash cow ministry, while others are repelled by what they see and hear.

If you read the outline you will see Paul condemned the way it is practiced today an it is all gibberish. I went to one of these churches and while they were ALL (at least a majority of them) spoke in tongues I shouted for an interpreter to tell me what was being said so I could be edified and encouraged.

I was promptly escorted out and asked not to come back. I was only trying to get what Paul wanted the tongues to be used for edification and growth. You get neither with these cash cow ministries.

a reply to: Justoneman

I don't think the true tenants of Love thy neighbor as yourself meme I hear in "Churchman practice" is hurting people.

Not talking about being infused wth the spirit, awe and wonder like when staring at the stars (for instance) are true worship, what they call worship in church is spiritually dead, comparatively speaking.

If you go there to get a feel good from the "service", thats not rightly worship.

You worship in your heart, you serve others, you try and be an example.

a reply to: windword

1) there is not argument over any bible word in my out line

2) I never said what was placed in quotes. That is an interpretation that he made of it. And not what I meant. I have explained my self to you and him and you are not getting it.

Do you have anything positive to add to this thread?

Are not you better than those of the churchian practices and can study to see if what they or I teach is so?

If so prove it.

a reply to: intrptr

and here I am trying to serve you with this correct biblical teaching and you ridicule me.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Difference is I study the spirit, not books. The book is the milk of the word not the meat, the word is spirit, not flesh.

You should read your own book, then grow out of it.