Cloven Tongues - A Biblical Study of Tongues

Cloven Tongues

A Biblical explanation of the gift of tongues. By. C. Speakman

The purpose of this article is to discuss a very controversial and much debated topic within the Church. As by the title of the article you can already surmise that the topic is it on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Some may consider this simply me tossing my “2 cents” worth into the mix or simply claiming which side of the field I choose to stand on, however, I have put much more into this topic other than just believing and choosing what makes me feel good or what a leader may preach to me. So let me take a moment and introduce what this article is about and how I will attempt to present its information. I will introduce this article with answers to three questions:

1. What this article is not? This article is not a debunking of the gift of tongues, its legitimacy,   its use or its place in the Church. My sole vision with this article is to present what Biblical facts and guidance are available on the subject.

2. Where am I basing my information? I am not arguing on the stance of any particular Church Doctrine or use of gifts. I am not siding with any other preacher, minister or teacher of faith. I am basing my information for this article strictly on the Word of God, the Bible.

3. What do I plan to illuminate in this article? There are 4 points I wish to cover and shed Biblical light on in an attempt that the reader may have a more Biblical and Scriptural understanding of the gift of tongues. These 4 points are:

§  Where did “tongues” come into existence?

§  Why was the gift of tongues needed?

§  How was the gift instructed to be used?

§  What the gift of tongues is not.

Part: 1. where did “tongues” come into existence?

Where did “tongues” come into existence? Most people automatically dive right to Acts Chapter 2 and the subject of the Day of Pentecost where the apostles began to speak in tongues. This indeed is the birthplace of the spiritual gift but what is a tongue? The very definition of this word alone is the cause for many problems in doctrine and belief alone.

For the very first use of “tongue” we need to go a bit farther back in history then the Day of Pentecost. As a matter of fact we need to travel all the way back to the days of the Book of Genesis and land in Chapter 11. In chapter 11 of Genesis we learn that up until now the world, all the inhabitants spoke one language. The word language in this portion of the Bible is translated from the Hebraic word Saphah which literally meant the lips of the mouth but was also used to annotate language or words. The word tongue is used itself in the Old Testament as well and when used its translated from the word Lashon which is, like the word Saphah, the word for the tongue, both a literal word for the body part but also a word used to denote speech and talking.

These comparisons and definitions will come into importance a little later in this article. The importance of Genesis 11:5-9 however, to this discussion, is that it is the exact point in history that man had his language, his tongue or “lip” divided. God looked down and seen the selfish self-righteous living as man attempted to build a tower to reach God himself. God then as scripture states confounded their language and caused confusion. Groups of man could not understand other groups, this caused man to separate. Like languages moved together dispersing and claiming their own land within and unique to their own tongues. The nations where now separated. Diplomacy, relations and even religion would now have a unique twist in its existence with nations unable to be able to communicate to other nations for without a common language there was no understanding.

Genesis 11:1-9 is displayed below for you to read the story from the King James Version:

Gen 11:1-9  And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.  (2)  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  (3)  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  (4)  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  (5)  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  (6)  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  (7)  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  (8)  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.  (9)  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

                We can now fast forward back to the focus of our story, the Day of Pentecost. In the book of Acts where our subject story lays as well as the rest of the New Testament the subject of speaking is identical to that of the Old Testament. You will see the word language and the word Tongue used. In the Greek the word translated to mean language in English is the word dialektos which means; dialect, language and tongue. The word translated into tongue in the New Testament, specifically in the subject text is glōssa which means in Greek; the literal tongue and also language. So, we can see by comparison between O.T. Hebrew and N.T. Greek that the words language and tongues where both used denoting the same thing, the language that man spoke and the different languages of nations. In no use of the words in the New Testament has the words been used or a Greek word been translated from that donated any other meaning other then the language of man.

Now to set the scene at the Day of Pentecost and the importance of the gift of tongues let’s look at the atmosphere of the event. It is post ascension of Christ and He has already breathed the Spirit onto the apostles. They where commanded to wait in Jerusalem for the “deliverance” or “manifestation” as you will of this Spirit. There were many men gathered at this event. As verse 5 of Acts Chapter 2 states, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, Devout men, from every nation under heaven.” Obviously from this statement you can surmise that numerous languages where present. All people where awaiting this manifestation of the Holy Spirit, all men from different languages, from different cultures, from different tongues. The apostles would have to express and pass on this manifestation, its teachings and its guidance, but how?

            The answer was with the gift of tongues. This spiritual gift was given to the apostles to assist them with this language barrier. The Day of Pentecost was the initial gifting of this gift. It shocked the observers so much that as stated further in the 2^nd chapter of Acts some even speculated the apostles to be drunk. Something unexplained and sudden happened, shocking to all those who witnessed. The scripture states:

 Act 2:7-8  And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not these who speak all Galileans?  (8)  And how do we each hear in our own dialect in which we were born?

There were numerous representatives from neighboring nations each with their own language and the apostles where Galileans with their own languages of birth. The sudden shock of the sudden ability of the apostles to speak in the native languages of the other nations was a sudden and unexplained event. Why though, was it needed for the apostles able to speak in tongues?

                Part: 2. Why was the gift of tongues needed?

                The answer to the need for this gift is quite simple. Christ left the Spirit with the apostles as what he called a “great helper.” The apostles wouldn’t know until the Day of Pentecost how helpful this Holy Spirit would actually be in their future work. The need for the gift of tongues is shown in the Great Commission in which Christ gave His final order of business to the Disciples. In the book of Matthew we have a recording of Christ’s command to the Disciples:

Mat 28:19-20  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

                Here in Matthew’s account of the Great Commission, prior to the Disciples receiving the gift Christ gives the command, “Teach all nations...” and continues on and says, “Teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you.” There is no way He could have given His wishes in any more of a detailed manner.

                The Disciples, up to this point, and under the guidance of Christ have been evangelizing to Judea and to surrounding areas where the language barrier was not a great influence or inhibiter on their work. Now, in this change of vision, Christ commands them to go forth, to ALL the NATIONS. Well, as we stated in Part 1, all the nations where confused, their tongues, or language was split from each other and different. The Disciples now found themselves being commanded to go forth into this language barrier and preach the Gospel. How could they? They couldn’t, without the “Great Helper.”

                God, in His ultimate power, through the Holy Spirit imparted the most useful gift ever to the Disciples. That gift was the gift of tongues. Until the Day of Pentecost the Disciples where limited in their mission ability due to language. Now, they could spread to the entire world preaching the life giving Gospel of Christ in the very language of those that they taught.

                The fruit of this gift was instantaneously growing even at this very day as we see in verse 11 of Acts 2:

Act 2:11  Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking the great things of God in our own languages.

                Because of this gift, people from the Arabians, Egypt, Rome, Asia and many other nations, each with their own language could now hear the Apostles speaking clearly to them in their own language the “great things of God.”

                The amazing benefit of this gift to the Apostles’ ministry was made even more apparent that day. At the Day of Pentecost there were many men from many countries present. This gift gave Peter the ability to preach the Gospel to all of them. The harvest that followed was amazing as we can read in Acts 2:40-41:

Act 2:40-41  And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.  (41)  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added about three thousand souls.

Thousands where saved that day, many of which would not have been able to understand the Word of God without the incredible gift of tongues gifted to them by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. From this day on the Disciples then went forward “teaching all nations.” In this one chapter alone in the Bible, it is without a doubt easy to understand why the gift of tongues was needed and given.

Part: 3. How was the gift instructed to be used?

                Just as with anything given, especially things given from God, there are generally intended ways or rules governing the use of them. Take for instance prayer. The Disciples questioned Christ on how they ought to pray and in the Sermon on the Mount Christ gave a tutorial on the appropriate way to communicate and pray with the Lord. The same can be said with the gift of tongues.

                This has also become one of the 2 most disputed topics when discussing the gift of tongues. This part will discuss the use and the next part will discuss the other disputed and misunderstood topics as that part will discuss what the Bible illuminates what the gift of tongues is not. It would be safe to speculate that issues arising around the gift of tongues may have begun very early on in the church. Many onlookers or those in the faith probably seen those with the gift and desired it for themselves. There are passages as well in the Epistles of men seeking out to purchase the ability to do certain spiritual gifts. These attempts where rightfully rebuked by the Apostles.

                Paul, a post Day of Pentecost Apostle obviously noticed the issues and problems surrounding these gifts and addressed such in his letters to the churches. We will examine these letters to come to Biblical understanding on how this gift is to be used and performed.

                Before I go into detail about the Scriptural rules regarding tongues I wish to show you a few other verses:

2Timmothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Jude 1:17  But you, beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

1Thessalonians 2:13  And for this cause we thank God without ceasing, that when you received the Word of hearing, of God, you welcomed it as the Word of God, not as a word of men, but as it is, truly the Word of God, which also effectually works in you who believe.

Romans 1:25  For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

                I wanted to point these verses out for a few reasons. Many wish to dispute these rules of tongues as it touches close to home as well as against their own personal doctrine as well as the doctrine of their own church and the way they were brought up in their faith. These few verses explain some solid truths.

                2 Timothy tells us the ultimate truth of the Word of God. It is inspired by God as His Word and with it we can teach, correct and form our doctrine. Simply put, what is written in the confines of the Bible is God’s Word. To add to it or take away would be corrupting God’s Word. Jude tells us to remember the words of the Apostles. They received not only knowledge from Christ but also received the authority of Christ. The written Word of the Apostles is the Word of God as stated in 2 Timothy. 1 Thessalonians emphasized that remark stating that we are to accept the words of the Apostles in the Scripture not as the word of man but as the Word of God. The passage in Romans that I have shown shows what we worship when we change, amend or rewrite the Word of Scripture. We no longer worship the Creator but worship man when we forget what scripture teaches and follow what we desire on our own accord or follow along with teachings of man that have been changed from that of Scripture. I ask that you keep these verses in mind as we dig deeper into the Scripture and examine further the gift of tongues.

                How are we to use this gift then? As I stated above it is probable that the apostle Paul seen many issues generated with this gift and under the inspiration of God placed it in an Epistle. This Epistle then became part of that permanent Word of God and should be regarded not as Paul’s words but the Word that our Lord God intended us to hear.

                I will start this explanation by showing the Biblical reference in entirety of Paul’s teachings on this matter:

1Co 14:18-28  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:  (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.  (20)  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.  (21)  In the law 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.  (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.  (23)  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?  (24)  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  (25)  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.  (26)  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  (27)  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.  (28)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

                I would also like to point out first as pertaining to this translation. The portion I have used is from the King James Version. The word tongue/s used throughout this portion is from the Greek word glossa  in its original Greek which is translated as language. The New King James Version as well as other newer versions of the Bible transposed the word language  in place of tongues.

                I want to draw your attention firstly to verse 27. In it Paul states “if a man speak in an unknown tongue (language)”. This obviously refers to a member of the church speaking in tongues and he continues on to how this scenario is to be handled. He states “let it be by two, or at the most by three.” Here we can easily see that at the most no more than three shall be at any time speaking in tongue. This is a far cry from many practicing tongue speaking churches where you can at times see tens to hundreds at one point speaking in tongues. The guideline becomes even more fine tuned with the command, “and that by course.” The word course in original Greek is the word meros which means; section, allotment, division or share used to donate taking a turn. So, from this verse we can summarize that if the gift of tongues is being utilized in a church that no more than three at a time should and they should take turns at that. Once again this is completely uncharacteristic of most churches that actively use tongues as a part of their worship.

                The most crucial rule is the last part of verse 27, “and let one interpret.” Paul simply states that a person with the gift of interpretation of tongues, or in modern translation, one who can understand the spoken language, is needed for one to even use the gift in the first place. In all my experiences of attending any service where people, and multitudes at that, spoke in tongues, I never once seen or heard any person interpreting those speaking in tongues.

                What is one supposed to do then if there are no interpreters in the church or one who can understand the language being spoken? Paul answers this dilemma in verse 28 stating, “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church.” There is no logical way to misconstrue these rules for speaking in tongues in a church.

                Why the rules? Why, should we if we have this great gift keep it silent or unused? Paul explains this to the church in Corinth in the beginning portion of the shared passage but first I have to point you back to the reason for the gift in the first place. In Part: 2 we shown by the scripture the reason the gift was imparted to the Apostles. It was an evangelical tool to be used to spread the Gospel to the nations. It was a gift to be used to approach those who spoke a different language and be able to teach them the wondrous truths of our Christ. One has to seriously think to themselves, if you are an English speaking person in an English speaking church with an English speaking pastor is the gift of tongues needed in that church?

                Paul explains in verse 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.” Simply put, he would rather never speak multitudes of words in another tongue in a church if nobody is there to benefit from it. What profit is there to be gained if none are there to listen and understand? He states he would rather speak very little in his own understood language that all could benefit in then in many words of uselessness.

                Paul then in verse 22 reiterates the evangelistic only use of the gift of tongues by stating; “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.” Tongues are for a sign to those that do not believe. It is for those, of different languages, who do not know and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was intended for use when evangelizing or witnessing to those of a different language when you had no possible way in your own tongue to communicate with them. Once again I have to ask; is the gift of tongues needed in a church full of believers, or even in a church full of believers and some non-believers who all speak the same language?

                Let me paint a scenario. This scenario is based on the Biblical need for the gift of tongues, the Biblical empowerment of the gift and the Biblical guidelines as described by Paul for its use and purpose.

                Two missionaries are taking the Gospel to a new area. The area has a different tribe of people who have a different language then the rest of the country and that the missionaries are familiar with. They understand they cannot communicate with this tribe but one missionary begins to speak. The Holy Spirit moves within him and begins to speak to the tribe’s person in his/her own language delivering the Word in a way that is understandable to them. Only one missionary is speaking, and person is interpreting (tribesman) and the gift is being used as a sign to a nonbeliever. This is a scenario of the use of tongues based on the Biblical truths and from the examples of the Apostles in Scripture, none of which contradicts what Paul wrote in his Epistle to the church in Corinth.

                Part: 4 What the gift of tongues is not

                So what is the gift of tongues not? We covered the need for the gift and then covered how it was introduced to the apostles. Then we covered how it is to be used as well as a scenario based on the covered text as to how it would be used, but why is it being used the way it is today? I cannot and I am not going to attempt to understand nor explain how the gift of tongues became what it is today but what I wish to do is explain what it is not. So many churches, pastors and individuals have a changed image of what the gift of tongues is. Now, before I continue on with any of these statements, I am in no way claiming nor stating or being a judge that any person that claims to have or practices the gift of tongues today in any confines outside of what I revealed is not a saved or born again Christian. That is not the direction of this study nor is it my intent to be judgmental and claim that another is not a saved Christian. What I wish to do however is cover some misconceptions with use of Scripture as to what the gift of tongues is not.

                There are five common beliefs on the gift of tongues that are not at all scripturally based. The Scripture, as a matter of fact, points one in a completely different direction when it comes to these popular misconceptions.

                1. Tongues are not the voice of God or the angels.  We covered thoroughly in this study that the exact translated words of tongue in the Bible simply means spoken language. Its usage has not changed and its use only ever denoted the spoken language of men on Earth. Now one argument many will use is verse 4 of Acts chapter 2. Let’s take a look at it:

Acts 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Many arguments come in the use of the word utterance when it states the “Spirit gave them utterance.” This is simply a misuse of the word as some claim to utter is to speak an unknown or unintelligible word. The English definition of utterance is not at all that but I rather look upon the Greek word apophtheggomai which it was translated from in its original script and means in Greek; to enunciate plainly.

                Many will also argue that tongues are the language of angels and God. This has no grounding in the Bible anywhere. Firstly, God created all, including language. Would He not be able to speak and understand any man in His creation? He was also the reason, as we stated in Part: 1 at the tower of Babel that all languages where created. One would place God at a lesser power to think less. Secondly, both God and angles spoke to man. The Old Testament is full of God speaking to Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham to name a few and many more times angels spoke to man. No mention is ever made of a different language being used so one could only conclude that God and the angels spoke to man in man’s own language. The Bible is very detailed to think that such a detail would be left out. The New Testament was none the less a testimony to this fact from the angels appearing to Mary to God booming down from Heaven at Christ’s baptism, at which Christ did not begin speaking in tongues thereafter.

                Some claim Hebrew was the language of God and when they speak in tongues it is indeed Hebrew. But once again, when God created man, and created a nation they where a Hebrew nation. Naturally when God would speak to His Hebrew people He would speak in such a language as would His angels. God speaks to our hearts, in us as Christian believers we have the Holy Spirit which intercedes on our behalf and will bring to us the voice of God in a way we will understand it. God is not a God of confusion, why would He confuse you in a different language when He is speaking to you. Only one other has ever been noted as a man of confusion and disguise, that man was Satan.

                2. Speaking in tongues is not evidence the Holy Spirit is in us. Nowhere in the Scripture does it state you need to speak in tongues to “prove” you have the Holy Spirit in you. There are many references to shed light on this fact but none are more to the point then 1 Corinthians chapter 12 where Paul names and speaks on the many spiritual gifts:

1Co 12:1-14  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.  (2)  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.  (3)  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  (4)  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  (5)  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  (6)  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  (7)  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  (8)  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  (9)  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  (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:  (11)  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  (12)  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  (14)  For the body is not one member, but many.

                Paul plainly states in this passage that we are all joined, saved and gifted by one “spirit”, the one Holy Spirit of God. He also states that not all have the same gifts. So, not everybody will have the gift of tongues just like not all will have the gift of healing, interpretations or miracles. If not all have the gift of tongues, then how can any man, if the Word of God states such, claim that one must have the gift of tongues to prove one truly has the Holy Spirit in them?

                Later on in chapter 12 we find the corner stone to this truth:

1Co 12:28-31  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  (29)  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?  (30)  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?  (31)  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

                God set “some” in the church with gifts and some without and some with certain gifts and some with completely different gifts. One cannot confirm the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives by the manifestation of a spiritual gift. We are all part of a body as Paul states. Not everybody can be the same body part. We all have a specific use, purpose, gift, skill or trait that we bring to the table. The Holy Spirit manifests itself in us all individually.

                I cannot move on however without reassuring how one has the spirit in them. I would do this argument no justice if I did not reveal Holy Spirit assurance outlined in the Scripture.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

               

When we are in Christ, and take on His salvation and walk after Him we are in the Spirit.

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

When you deny yourself and pursue Christ accepting Him in your Heart and ask for His forgiveness understanding that without Christ you are not saved and that abiding in Christ is the only way to salvation then you are in the Spirit. When you pursue and ask Christ into your heart the Spirit of God then dwells in you.

1Corinthians 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

When we receive and accept Christ into our hearts, and repent of our sins, putting to death the old sinful man and become a born again man of the spirit we receive the Spirit which is of God and we know the things that are freely given to us of God.

                The list can go on throughout the entire New Testament. Not one case where a writer speaks of the spirit dwelling or being in the believer is it stated that one must speak in tongues as proof. We have to prove to no man that the Spirit is in us. Any man that asks for such a proof is a judge and placing themselves in the job of Christ. The Holy Spirit reads your heart, you know in your own faith if you truly have the Spirit in you. The Bible states that you will know if the Spirit is true in somebody by the fruit that they bear. To see the Holy Spirit alive in your life and to see if it is bearing fruit read Galatians 5:22-26 for evidence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

                3. Speaking in tongues is not proof of true baptism. I half answered this point in the last point as well. As we stated in argument 2 not all believers will have the same gift so one cannot claim that tongues is manifestation of a true baptism.

                One argument or more of a caution I would have to put out is, however, when one speaks in tongues after baptism, what spirit is this really? If one speaks in tongues we need an interpreter to interpret as Paul mandated. If we cannot interpret someone speaking in tongues how can one ever be concrete that any tongues is truly of the Holy Spirit.

                When baptizing we are commanded in the Great Commission to baptize in “the name ..of the Holy Spirit” At no point is it scribed anywhere to baptize them, check and see if they speak in tongues then approve of them as saved.

                Many argue that baptism is when the Holy Spirit enters the body. The Spirit of God enters a man when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, believes He is the Son of God sent to die for our sins and then was resurrected by God, confesses his sins and accepts the Spirit into his life when he puts to death the old man and becomes saved. Christ imparted the spirit to the Apostles with His death.

                Baptism is not a moment of salvation. It is a public statement of regeneration and commitment, being buried in the likeness of Christ’s death and resurrected in the likeness of His resurrection as a regenerated man or woman. You already had the Holy Spirit in you before this point when you became saved for it is the Holy Spirit in you that convicts you and drives you to become baptized as a public testimony to your faith.

                4. Speaking in tongues is not proof of salvation. This argument as well can be answered but both point 2 and 3. I should not have to repeat those statements and by now you should understand that it is not proof of salvation. For the sake however of this being a Biblical exploration I will bring into the picture one defining truth that speaking in tongues is not needed as proof of salvation.

                This example has always been one of my favorite stories of Gods ultimate love for us and His wanting to save our souls regardless of who we are. If we look to the Cross of Calvary we will see this story. Luke reads:

Luke 23:42-43  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

                How incredible is this. At the moment of Christ’s death He still had love and compassion. The thief hanging next to Him believed on Him as the true Christ. Wanting this everlasting life he did nothing more than believed on and called out to Christ. Christ in response told him that today, as in that moment, that day they will be together in paradise. Amazing, the man on the cross did not need to either be baptized nor did he need to speak in tongues or demonstrate any other spiritual gift. He had and done all he needed to do for salvation. He believed in, and called out to Christ. In that instance he both received the Holy Spirit and was written in the Book of Life in Heaven and dined with his Christ in paradise.

                5. Speaking in tongues is not the greatest spiritual gift to possess. Many churches and pastors who are advocates of speaking in tongues will hold to their beliefs that speaking in tongues is the best, ultimate or most superb spiritual gift or best way to show you have the spirit in you. Once again, if they would turn to the Scripture they would see that this as well is far from the truth.

                1 Corinthians 12:28 which we mentioned in point 2 even shows a hierarchy if you will of gifts and those appointed with gifts. Tongues are 8^th on that list. Then in verse 31 he states:

1Corinthians 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Paul now states that we should earnestly covet the best gifts and seek after them, but, he continues and states that he can show us a more “excellent way.” So there is something even greater then spiritual gifts let alone tongues? Indeed this is true. There is even a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s work in us and a better proof of us living with the Spirit of God dwelling in us then that of any spiritual gift. You can discover this “more excellent” thing in the very next chapter, chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians better known as the “Love Chapter.” Let’s explore what Paul continues to say;

1Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.  (2)  And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have charity, I am nothing.  (3)  And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing.

                In this passage Paul lists his own abilities. The first being the ability of tongues but he also references his ability to prophecy and understand mysteries as well as all his good deeds. But charity is what is the greatest of all. Charity, which is the old English word for love, is what is the greatest of all gifts. In this passage he makes two bold statements about his image and testimony before God. Despite all of his spiritual gifts, including tongues, without love in his heart, without the Holy Spirit manifesting Christian love from his living, he states first, “I am nothing,” and second, “I am profited nothing.”

                There cannot be any bolder of a statement as to what manifests the Holy Spirit in our lives then what Paul states. Paul has all spiritual attributes one could think of, and none can disagree after reading of his life in the Bible that he has done many great deeds for Christ and the church, however, in his words he states that without Christ like love which he describes in the rest of the chapter he is absolutely nothing. He states that it profits a man absolutely nothing to have great gifts but to not live a life of love.

                Speaking in tongues is not the greatest spiritual gift. It is a great gift to have if one has it and abides in it the right way, uses it for the right reasons, the right times and for the right purposes but one cannot claim it as the best spiritual gift.

                The true way to examine a person and see if they have the Holy Spirit in them is by their love manifesting from them. Not by whether or not they speak in tongues or not, and to judge one according to if they can or not places you in jeopardy of judging others as only Christ has the right to judge.

                Conclusion:

                In conclusion I would like to first state that I hope that the readers of this study will feel and understand that I wrote this out of love for all in an attempt to reveal the Scripture for what it is. I did not bend or put my own words into the scripture but took it for its inerrant, God inspired purity as I expounded upon each verse.

                I also hope that you, the reader understand that I wrote this in love without wanting to be judgmental or judging one’s own salvation as I stated in the beginning of the writing. My only desire was to illuminate the points that I mentioned to help bring better understanding to this topic.

                In this work I demonstrated the origin of the need for the spiritual gift of tongues. I shown through the scripture why there was a language barrier and how that barrier would have interrupted the Apostles evangelistic work that they where commanded to perform by Christ. I highlighted in Scripture the moment that Christ passed onto them this gift to use in their evangelistic work to “all the nations”. I shown you the immediate impact of the gift and how it in an instant helped the Apostles preach the Gospel and win thousands over to Christ in one day and how the gift of tongues set the pavement for the spread of the Gospel to all foreign lands. I then discussed the rules set forth by Paul as problems where arising with the use of the spiritual gift and how it was intended to be used by the church.

                I then attempted to expound on 5 common debated and misconstrued facts about speaking in tongues. In the argumentative portion of Part: 5 I attempted to approach each topic with love and Scripture foundations, not in an attempt to attack any particular church, pastor or denominational doctrine, but to simply show in the Word of God how many beliefs that are held dear by many churches and believers are simply not Biblical in foundation or are simply against what the Bible teaches.

                In closing I hope this study opened your heart up further to understanding Scripture and spiritual gifts. I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in your life and illuminate the Scripture presented to be more understandable to you and bear much fruit in your life. I also hope that this study prompts you to focus on the greatest most excellent way of all as Paul put it, the way of love. For the greatest commandment is this: that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. And let’s not forget the second commandment which is like the first, that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love is truly the one and only proof of the Holy Spirit manifested in our life.

In Christ,

C.Speakman of WH