NAME: BABATUNDE OLAGUNJU
MATRIC NO: LE2021022
TERM PAPER:
SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
COURSE: PAULINE EPISTLES
LECTURER: REVD. DR. OLUWAGBEMIGA
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TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0
1.0
Introduction
2.0
Background
3.0
The Teachings
4.0
Implications of the Teaching on Contemporary Church
5.0
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
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In contemporary time, the term Glossolalia – made up of two Greek words: Glossa – Language or
Tongue and Lalia – Speech is used to identify the Tongues movement. It therefore means speaking
in languages or tongues. Speaking in tongues within the context of the Christian faith suggests the
it is a divine enablement that is brought about on every believer through the ministry of the Holy
Spirit – otherwise referred to as the Gift of the Spirit.
Speaking in tongues is a form of communication to God. It is a prayer, and doing so speaks directly
to God alone, according to 1 Corinthians 14:2, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak
to people but God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”
Paul further emphasized this in his letter to the Corinthians, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit
prays, but my mind is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:14).
Thus, the practice of speaking in tongues was important during Paul’s time to efficiently
communicate with God through prayer and he admonish all believers to desire this gift as it is one
of the gifts that is majorly centred towards self-edification as opposed to the edification of the body
of Christ or evangelistic purpose which the other Gifts are geared towards.
2.0
BACKGROUND
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What happened at Pentecost in the New Testament?
Acts 2 describes a miracle: During the festival of Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples are given the Holy
Spirit, and they begin speaking in tongues (other languages). Are the disciples speaking in human
languages, or is this an instance of glossolalia in the Bible?
Glossolalia—speaking in angelic tongues—is described as a spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 12–14.
Webster’s dictionary defines glossolalia as “prayer characterized chiefly by incomprehensible
speech, originating in primitive Christianity and now practiced by Pentecostal groups in ecstatic
forms of worship.”
Ben Witherington III addresses what happened at Pentecost in his Biblical Views column
“Speaking in the Tongues of Men or Angels?” in the July/August 2015 issue of Biblical
Archaeology Review. While some believe that Acts 2 is the first instance of glossolalia in the
Bible, he maintains that it is not.
When the disciples begin speaking in tongues, Acts 2:6 says that the crowd of Diaspora Jews who
were in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost “gathered and was bewildered, because each one
heard them speaking in the native language of each.”
Those who believe this is an instance of glossolalia in the Bible say that two miracles took place:
The disciples were speaking in angelic tongues, and each person heard the message in his native
language. However, Ben Witherington III contends that just one miracle occurred. The disciples
miraculously began speaking other human languages, which is supported by the Greek grammar
of Acts 2:6. Witherington explains:
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The phrase “in their native language” modifies the verb “speaking” in verse 6, not the verb
“hearing.” So there is exactly one miracle of speech at Pentecost—a miracle my Greek students
regularly pray for, namely, the ability to suddenly speak a foreign language without further study!
In short, the Pentecost story is not about glossolalia, despite the name of the modern Protestant
denomination. If you want to find a story about glossolalia in a story about conversion in Acts,
then you should turn to the story of Cornelius in Acts 10.
Witherington further explains that what happened at Pentecost is the opposite of what occurred at
the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). As a result of the Tower of Babel, human language is
confused, and a language barrier is created, but at Pentecost, the language barrier is surmounted:
At Pentecost the multiple languages problem and language barrier is not resolved, but the Good
News overcomes the problem by being shared in all the various languages of the persons present
there. While Pentecost doesn’t reverse the effect of God’s confusing the languages at Babel, it
overcomes the problem for the sake of the salvation of the nations.
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THE TEACHINGS
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The gift of speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift. It means speaking with words or in a language
one doesn’t know in order to edify both oneself and others.
Jesus foretold of speaking in tongues: “And these signs will follow those who believe… they will
speak with new tongues.” Mark 16:17. The first time anybody spoke in tongues based on the
Account of scriptures was on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the
apostles, as related in Acts 2:1-12. The apostles spoke the gospel to the crowds in Jerusalem, and
what they said could be understood by people speaking many different languages: “… we hear
them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” Acts 2:11.
Later Paul also writes about the gift of speaking in tongues, in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. However,
here he writes that the person speaking in tongues doesn’t speak in an understandable language:
“no one understands him; however, in his spirit he speaks mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 14:2. Yet this
gift that has been given to believers can be of benefit to the recipients and used to edify others in
Christian gatherings.
What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues?
Much of what is written in the Bible about this gift is written by Paul to the Corinthian church.
Apparently, many of them had received this gift but did not understand the proper use of it in their
gatherings.
Paul attempted to help them understand its purpose: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities,
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but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one
for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word
of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-10.
The gift of speaking in tongues was one of many given to believers to aid in the building up of the
body of Christ, which is the Church.
Speaking in tongues for edification
Speaking in tongues in itself can benefit a person. Paul states: “He who speaks in a tongue edifies
himself.” 1 Corinthians 14:4. Speaking in tongues can help you express what is in your spirit and
which you cannot express with words. Paul makes it clear that the best way to edify the church is
to speak prophetically, with “plain” words that build faith and understanding for all who hear the
message. “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather
speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in
a tongue.” 1 Corinthians 14:18-19.
However, speaking in tongues can also be of “profit to all” in a Christian assembly if it is
interpreted to a common language of those in the gathering: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever
you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an
interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two
or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.” 1 Corinthians 14:26-27.
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When used in this way, the gift of tongues should be used to emphasize and support the spiritual
message, and not because you feel strongly moved in your emotions. In this way, others besides
the one speaking in tongues will be edified.
Speaking in tongues as a sign for unbelievers
There is another reason the gift of tongues is given: “In the law it is written: ‘With men of other
tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says
the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers.” 1
Corinthians 14:21-22. In this way, it could benefit those who attend a gathering but have not yet
committed their life to Christ.
There are also occurrences in the book of Acts in which people who were baptized with the Holy
Spirit spoke in tongues at the same time. This occurred most notably on the day of Pentecost when
the baptism of the Holy Spirit was given for the first time, though it did also occur at other times
(see Acts 1 and Acts 19:5-7). However, there is nothing written that these two always are to occur
together.
Who receives this spiritual gift?
It is expressed in the Bible that not all believers will receive this gift: “God has appointed these in
the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings,
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helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret?” 1 Corinthians 12:28-30. We can see here that only some will receive the gift to speak
in tongues, just as only some are called to be apostles, etc.
As with all gifts of the Spirit, the speaking of tongues is not necessarily a sign of spiritual maturity.
Many of the Corinthians spoke in tongues but Paul states that they were “babes in Christ.” (1
Corinthians 3:1) However, when used in an orderly and appropriate manner, it can be used to build
up the individual and other members of the body of Christ.
4.0
IMPLICATIONS OF THE TEACHINGS ON THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH
Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and he ascended 40 days after his resurrection. The Holy
Spirit in the Tongues of fire came upon men exactly fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, ten days
after the ascension. In other words, Jesus was with them for forty days and the grace came upon
them ten days after. Thus, Peter's speech (Acts 2:14ff) was given to an international audience, and
it resulted in a worldwide harvest of new believers - the first converts to Christianity. From that
time onward, every release of God's spirit upon believers in the Acts of the Apostles always has
their first manifestation of speaking in tongues as was also the experience of Cornelius, a gentile
but devoted convert (Acts 10:44-46).
Below are some of the uses of tongues: First, in Acts 2:11: ("We hear them declaring the wonders
of God in our own tongues".) This is an indication that tongues were used to communicate the
Good News to expatriate Jews of other language groups. The book of First Corinthians (which
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contains the major teaching on tongues) was written to a church located in Corinth. The Christians
there had much exposure to people of various language groups, due to the international shipping
that passed by the canal, through the Isthmus of Corinth. The value of tongues-speaking for
corporate worship and preaching would be obvious in the light of the sailors and travellers
frequenting that city. Hasel (1991:32) also argues that if speaking in tongues does not serve to
communicate, how can it benefit the church?
Speaking in tongues is for the benefit of the church; it is not for the benefit of the person who is
the tongues-speaker alone.
Second, tongues were given for a sign of judgment. Isaiah the prophet warned the Old Testament
Jews that God would bring judgment on Israel using a people who spoke a foreign language. Isaiah
28:11 says, "Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people."
In context, this evidence would be the Assyrians. Israel was aghast at the thought that God (being
infinitely holy) could or would use gentiles to discipline Israel. Since Israel wouldn't discipline
herself, the foreign speech was a sign of God's judgment. Assyria did come and defeat Israel and
take them away into captivity. In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, tongues, besides being a
communication tool, was a sign of God's judgment on the nation Israel. Because Israel rejected
Jesus as her Messiah, God was now offering the Good News to people of other language groups.
As outlined in Acts, the gospel was soon to escape the birthing place of Jerusalem and Israel and
go out to the Samaritans and even the whole world.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
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Instead of God using the Jews, He was reaching past them to begin working through the gentiles,
using "non-Jewish" languages - all because Israel rebelled against God (see Romans 10-11).
Historically, we see that God, began to use the Gentiles (i.e. Christians) as a means of bringing
Israel back to himself (see Romans 11:30-31). Tongues at Pentecost was a subtle judgment on
Israel that they no longer were God's primary instrument in reaching the nations. The Apostle Paul
quotes that passage from Isaiah (see above) and applies it to the Corinthian context.
In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will
speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a
sign, not for believers but for unbelievers .„(1 Corinthians 14:21-22).
Tongues speaking would be a sign to unbelieving Jews (in Corinth and everywhere) of coming
judgment for unbelieving Jews (in the same way as the foreign speech was a sign to the unbelieving
Jews in Isaiah's time).
The fact that tongues were evident among the Corinthian believers would doubtlessly remind the
Jewish community in Corinth that God was now working with Gentiles (other language groups) once again a sign of judgment on Israel.
Third, tongues were given for the edification of the church. As with all spiritual gifts, tongues were
not given for an individual's (i.e. the tongues speaker) own benefit.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (1 Cor 12:7).
These are body life gifts to be used for building up the body of believers. The purpose was not to
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bless or edify the individual who possessed the gift. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul
addresses this concern and explains that self-edification was precisely what was wrong with the
Corinthian abuse of tongues!
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands
him; he utters mysteries with his spirit ... He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who
prophesies edifies the church (1 Cor 14:2, 4).
As Joseph Dillow (1975:78-79) points out, "... referring to 1 Corinthians 14:4 does not help us in
the discussion of the purpose of the gift, because what this passage describes is an accompanying
product of the exercise of the gift. Any man is edified as he exercises his gift. But we can't say, for
example, that because the man who has the gift of evangelism is edified as he evangelizes, the
purpose of the gift of evangelism is personal edification. When Paul says that "... he who speaks
in a tongue edifies himself", he isn't commending the Corinthians for their spirituality! He is
rebuking them for their misuse of the gift. As a spiritual gift, tongues have the purpose of edifying
the Church (1 Cor 12:7; 14:12).
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three should speak, one at a time and someone
must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to
himself and God (14:27-28).
This mandate provides for both the foreign audience who can understand the foreign language
spoken as well as the local audience.
Fourth, tongues, as one of the sign gifts, served to authenticate the ministry of the early Christians,
particularly the Apostles, and the spread of the Word of God
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In today's Christian scenario in Nigeria, it is almost impossible to imagine an authentic minister of
God devoid of spiritual gifts. Charismatic spirituality in Nigerian mainline churches is better
described as an appraisal of an in-depth religious consciousness, or as an un-concealment of the
divine and an in-breaking of the fundamental religious expectations among the people. According
to Hocken ((2001:82), "In Nigeria, all the denominations are experiencing renewal. Prayer and
fasting and signs and wonders of healing and deliverance are common." This observation indicates
the impact of Pentecostalism on the mainline churches in Nigeria. The explosion of Pentecostalism
introduced into Nigeria a spirituality that was not fostered by the initial western missionaries. It
inaugurated an approach to faith and ecclesial polity that is glaringly different from the initial
practices of the mainline churches. Pentecostalism has awakened a tremendous yearning for a
primal spirituality in the country.
5.0
SUBMISSION/CONCLUSION
From all that has been shared, it is evident that there are two main School of thoughts around the
teachings on Speaking in tongues. One suggests that there are two miracles involved in Speaking
in tongues; the miracle of the Angelic tongue otherwise know as unknown tongue and the miracle
of interpretation to known language to the listener. This teaching is prominent among the
Glossolalia scholars while the other school of thoughts believes that the records of Acts 2 –
Pentecost; only shows that there was one miracle which is the speaking of “other tongues”
unknown to the speaker but heard and understood by the listener because they spoke in a language
known to them.
One thing stood out though, that there is a miracle accompanying speaking in tongues from either
of the 2 prominent school of thoughts and so must be accorded its divine origin.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) Ben Witheringthon III, Speaking in the tongues of men or angels; 2015 Issue of Biblical,
July/August 2015 issue
2) What
does
the
bible
say
about
speaking
in
tongues
by
Steve
Lenk;
https://activechristianity.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-speaking-in-tongues#; June
3, 2023
3) Abashiya, C.S. 2012. Tongues: To Speak or Not to Speak. Jos: Challenge Press.
[
Links ]
4) Achunike, H.C. 2004. The Influence of Pentecostalism on Catholic Priests and Seminarians
in Nigeria. Africana First Publishers Limited.
5) Dillow, Joseph 1975. Speaking in Tongues: Seven Crucial Questions. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishers, 1975.
6) Hocken, P.D. 2001. Charismatic Movement. In New International Dictionary of
Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 510-511.
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