In many popular churches today, much excitement is found over what is referred to as the gift of tongues. People work themselves into an uncontrolled frenzy and utter a fast, repetitive series of syllables. (It is noteworthy to realize that some occult groups also have this practice. It is also significant that while the words usually uttered in charismatic churches may sound like meaningless jibberish, there have been cases reported whereby foreigners recognized distinct words as actually being the foulest curse words in a language with which they were familiar.)
Nevertheless, many sincere Christian believers have strong confidence in the gift of tongues for today. So, if it is indeed God’s will for this gift to be again manifested exactly as it was at Pentecost, what must we understand about it from the Bible record? Two questions arise that must and can be answered:
1. What purpose do the tongues of the Bible serve?
2. Would Christ choose for His people meaningless words by which to communicate life and death messages?
What is the purpose?
There may be other reasons why tongues (languages) were given by God, but the obvious ones are:
1. That people could communicate with each other.
2. That people could be identified as a nation.
3. That God could send messages through His prophets.
We can know that speech is God-given, since He saw fit to create in us vocal cords which have no other function than to enable us to speak.
There are 35 books in the Bible that use the word “tongue” or “tongues.” Twenty-three of them are in the Old Testament; twelve are in the New Testament. Let us find out what this word can mean.
In the beginning there was one language (Genesis 11:1) and it remained that way until the building of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:6–8). God saw that if men could not understand one another’s speech, it would affect their ability to continue in their rebellion of building the tower.
Nations soon became known by their tongues (Genesis 10:5, 20, 31; Deuteronomy 28:49). Each distinct group of people was recognized by their unique language. It was organized speech, thus which they communicated with those of their own nation, different from that of any other nation. They could speak with other nations only through an interpreter, or by making a special effort to learn the foreign language.
The term “tongue” can also describe the ability to use one’s own language effectively, as when Moses pleaded with God that he had “a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). The tongue could be used to talk or to lap (Judges 7:5); it could cleave to the roof or the mouth (Job 29:10); it could be touched (Mark 7:33). The Spirit of God used the prophets’ tongues to speak to the people (2 Samuel 23:2) in speech they could understand. There were false prophets who used their tongues for personal gain (Jeremiah 23:32). Sometimes the “tongues” of nations were named, such as Syrian (Ezra 4:7) or Hebrew (John 5:2). The tongue can speak truth or deceit, righteousness or filthy rags. It can build up or tear down, it can start a war or advocate peace, speak wisdom or foolishness; it can sing praises to God or to the devil. What a powerful tool has been entrusted to our control!
Throughout the Bible, a “tongue” always has had an aim, to relay information, good or bad. Although in the sense of being a specific language, a tongue was exclusive within a nation, it could be written, studied and learned (Ezra 4:7; Mark 5:41; 15:34) by anyone else who wished to do so. Nowhere in the Old Testament is there even a hint that tongues were anything but known languages, or a useful part of the physical body.
Have tongues changed?
Seeing as there is “no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), one would expect the Old Testament to mention any unusual tongues, but it does not. Looking to the New Testament, Mark 16:17 speaks of new tongues. However, when investigating the meaning of this in Strong’s Concordance #1100, the definition is “by implication—a language—one naturally unacquired.” That is, one acquired by having been born into it. “New” must therefore refer to the fact that the tongue would be new to the disciples, one which they personally could not speak before, but was nonetheless a known language. Webster’s dictionary defines “language” as
- the words, their pronunciation and the methods of combining them, used and understood by a considerable community,
- audible, articulate, meaningful sound produced by the action of the vocal cords, and
- a systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventional signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings.
It is interesting also that the book of Daniel, parallel to the book of Revelation, mentions “people, nations, and languages” (Daniel 7:14; 3:4; 4:1; 5:19; 6:25), while Revelation uses the term “tongues” to convey the same idea (Revelation 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 17:15; 14:6).
God’s language is so much higher than ours that it would seem a form of blasphemy to attribute nonsensical, repetitious, and often inarticulate sounds to being a way that He would communicate with anyone. God spoke audibly to His prophets and on some occasions to others such as Abraham and Moses in person; but again, these instances were in a known language and conveyed doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
Tongues at Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire and “sat” upon all who were assembled in the upper room, thus bestowing upon them the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4-11). This is the first mention of tongues as a special gift and what it consisted of is explained in verses 5–11. The disciples were speaking in known foreign languages, so that the many visitors from foreign lands gathered for Pentecost could hear what God had to say to them in their native tongue. This was needed because people of so many different nationalities were present. “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:5–11).
Later on, when newly converted Gentiles spoke in tongues magnifying God, others heard and understood them (Acts 10:45-46). Still others spoke in tongues, prophesying. It would have been of no benefit had they prophesied in a language that no one could understand.
Tongues were not a sign of acceptance into the Christian faith, for not all were able to speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30). This was a gift given along with the gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10). Apparently this gift was misused, as Paul had to admonish the Corinthian church, but there is no evidence whatsoever that tongues were ever anything but real languages. 1 Corinthians 13:1 informs us that there are tongues that men speak and tongues that angels speak. But tongues shall cease when we are personally with Christ (verse 8). If tongues are the language of heaven, why should they cease? It seems that it would then increase and all would speak it. Then we are told that “greater is he that prophesies” than those that speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5); and in verse 19, Paul would rather speak five words with understanding than 10,000 in an unknown tongue. In order to have 10,000 words, Paul must have been referring to a language as defined above by Webster. For what many refer to in our day as the gift of tongues falls far short of this number, consisting of mostly repetitious syllables.
Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 to remind that “with men of other tongues . . . will I speak unto this people,” but they still won’t listen, so tongues are not a sign to them that believe, but to those who don’t believe. This is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 28:9–13. The Lord, speaking to Israel, showed them how to study His word and learn, but they wouldn’t hear—it was as though one was stammering in another nation’s language. Can you see how difficult this would be to understand? The proper way was line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little. Those who were unbelievers, those of many nations and languages would be convinced when they heard and understood the message in their native tongue. God’s people refused to obey, even though He had instructed them all along in their own tongue. The Corinthians were fast following in the footsteps of ancient Israel.
Once the gift had been given, used and explained at Pentecost, would God change it to something different later? What would His purpose be? Remember, He has a purpose in everything that He does. Did He change the other gifts—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment? No, they have remained the same since they were first bestowed. The fact is, God made no changes.
There is another verse which needs to be studied:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). Turning to Strong’s Concordance for a definition of “groanings,” #4726, #4727, we see “a sigh. To sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly.”
Which definition fits? Praying inaudibly, of course—sighs are very limited in conveying thoughts; God the Holy Spirit is not limited, and there is no record anywhere of Him “murmuring.”
So the answer to the second question is that Christ did not choose meaningless, powerless words to prepare a people for eternal life—words “spoken” by a few, and “interpreted” by a few. He gave the gospel to the whole world. We do not have to rely upon simple man for the life-saving truths from God. His word is not of “any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20).
Summary
The gift of speech, language, or tongues—however one might wish to describe it—is of divine origin. First, God gave man a physical body, including organs of speech; then He gave him language which was first used by Adam to identify all living creatures (Genesis 2:19-20). When language was confounded by God at Babel, nations then became known by their tongues, each nation speaking a different tongue. The gift of tongues at Pentecost was to enable men of different nations to hear the plan of salvation and the wonderful news that the prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament had been fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It was not to be used as a form of boasting of having received the gift of tongues or as entertainment for the congregation, as the Corinthians were prone to do. It was to be used to bring this message to men of “other lips,” even the whole world (Romans 10:18; 1 Corinthians 14:21). To claim that this precious gift was changed so that only a favored few could learn and interpret would leave the rest of us out of the picture. Plus, there would be no way to compare or be sure that the interpreter knows what he is talking about—no checks and balances. Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:16 to “shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” What spirit is it that would overcome a congregation with disorderliness and confusion? This is a perversion of the original gift and unacceptable to those who are dedicating their life to God. We have a Bible, the more “sure word of prophecy.” God is Lord also of harmony.
To everything under the sun there is a time and purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is a time and purpose for tongues. Today, much of the world is bilingual, English being the predominant second language. Today, there are computer programs available which at the click of a key can interpret a language instantly. Today, tongues as a special gift are rarely needed. Pentecost in 31 A.D. was the time. The purpose is always clear, then and now—to understand one another and to have a relationship with God. And that takes more than tongues. In fact, most would agree that today there is too much talk and not enough action. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”—a lot of hollow noise (1 Corinthians 13:1). Life is much richer when it has meaning and substance to it. Let us look to the Fountain of life, for the answers to it come only through Him.