TONGUES

                        By: Arthur L. Clanton

The WORD "TONGUES," as it appears in the King James Version of the Bible, is undoubtedly familiar to all Pentecostals. They believe that speaking with tongues as the Spirit gives utterance is the initial sign or evidence of the Holy Ghost baptism. Those who have not spoken with tongues have not received the Holy Ghost, though they may have been blessed of God in repentance or in baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Tongues at Pentecost

So far as tongues are concerned, what actually happened on the day of Pentecost?

Acts 2:4 declares: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The original word for "tongues" in this verse is "glossa," which means either "language" or "languages," depending upon whether the usage is singular or plural. From this original comes the modern word "glossalalia," which is often used today to denote speaking with tongues (languages not learned, but used as the Spirit gives utterance).

In verse 8, this question was asked by the multitude that assembled after the Holy Ghost was poured out on the day of Pentecost: "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" The original word for "tongue" in this verse is not "glossa," but "dialektos," which means "dialect." A dialect is defined as "the form or variety of a spoken language peculiar to a region or community, differing from the standard language in matters of pronunciation, syntax, etc." The language of one country may have in it several different dialects, spoken in different areas of that country. India is a prime example of this.

Verses 9-11 mention approximately sixteen different groups present on the day of Pentecost. It is generally thought that these were descendants of Jews of various dispersions, who had settled in these countries, and now spoke their languages. Approximately sixteen languages were spoken, but there could have been many more dialects spoken, as the Holy Ghost miraculously have these Galileans utterance. Notice that every man heard them speak in the dialect (dialektos) wherein he was born.

Tongues Today

As mentioned earlier, Pentecostals believe that speaking with tongues is the initial evidence or sign of the Holy Spirit baptism. This belief is founded not only upon what occurred at Pentecost, but upon other records in the Book of Acts. For example, at Samaria (Acts 8:18) Simon the sorcerer saw something which made him know that those upon whom the apostles laid their hands received the Holy Ghost. What was this? It could not have been the manifestation of joy, or divine healings and miracles, for these had already occurred. These Samaritans must have spoken with tongues (languages which they had not learned).

The same was true at the house of Cornelius. Peter and the Jews with him knew that Cornelius, his kinsmen and his friends had received the Holy Ghost, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:46).

Later, Paul found certain disciples at Ephesus who had not heard of the Holy Ghost. When they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, Paul laid his hands upon them, and they spoke with tongues (languages) and prophesied (Acts 19:1-6).

Today, when one receives the Holy Ghost, he will speak in a tongue (language) he has never learned, as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance. It is not essential that the individual speak in more than one tongue (language), though he may do so. The tongue in which he speaks may be one of the many earthly languages (perhaps even a "dead" earthly language) or the language of angels (1 Corinthians 13:1).

This rule concerning speaking in only one tongue is not meant to apply to the gift of tongues. The Bible says, ". . .to another (singular) divers kinds of tongues" (plural). One who has the gift of tongues may, on a given occasion, speak in more than one tongue (language) as the Spirit moves him. Or he may, at a certain time, speak in one tongue, and, at another time, speak in an entirely different tongue.

To be perfectly fair in Scriptural interpretation, one must admit that the word "unknown," as found in I Corinthians 14 (KJV) is not in the original manuscripts. (This is why the word is italicized.) But any tongue is an unknown tongue if it is not known by the one who miraculously speaks it.

 Tongues Overemphasized

Speaking with tongues must be kept in the proper perspective, and rightly related to the receiving of the Holy Ghost. To do otherwise is perilous, indeed.

In certain circles today, undue emphasis is being placed upon speaking with tongues. This has led honest but misguided individuals to "seek" tongues rather than the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

What emphasis did Jesus and the apostles place. upon speaking with tongues? Jesus, after His resurrection, said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; . . .they shall speak with new tongues" (Mark 16 : 17 ). In his sermon on the day of Pentecost Peter said nothing about speaking with tongues. He emphasized the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. And he told his hearers to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

At the house of Cornelius, Peter preached the same message. As mentioned earlier, his hearers received the Holy Ghost, and were heard to speak with tongues, yet Peter had said nothing about speaking with tongues.

The same pattern was followed at Ephesus, where twelve received the Holy Ghost. The twelve admitted that they had not even heard of the Holy Ghost. In spite of this, Paul said nothing about speaking with tongues. Perhaps they had no idea that they would speak with tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. And yet they did!

This is not meant to imply that it is wrong to teach people that they will speak with tongues when they receive the  Holy Ghost. But it is wrong to so overemphasize this evidence, that those who desire the Holy Ghost will have their minds overly centered upon the evidence, rather than upon the gift itself. Such people will seek to speak with tongues, rather than seeking the Christ who gives the Holy Ghost, and also the evidence of this divine gift.

By the same token, it is wrong for Pentecostals to try to "make" those desiring the Holy Ghost speak with other tongues. What better method can be found than the one in Acts 2:38? One who would receive the Holy Ghost must first repent. Then, if God does not fill him immediately, he should be baptized in Jesus' name. He is then promised the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This gift may fall upon him, or he may receive it through prayer and the laying on of hands. (It is unscriptural to so lay hands upon one unless there is the assurance that he has repented.)

"They HEARD Them Speak with Tongues"

Look again at Acts 10:46--"For they HEARD them speak with tongues. . . ." If speaking with tongues is the evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost, if those who have not spoken with tongues have not received the gift, then we should "listen" for this evidence. We should not be satisfied, nor should the one desiring the Holy Ghost be satisfied, until he has spoken in another tongue (language) as the Spirit gives utterance. Of course, if one receives the Holy Ghost when he is alone, only he can be the judge.

It is our prayer that what happened at Pentecost will occur again in our day, only upon a vastly larger scale. And what happened on that memorable day? ". . .they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

(The above article appeared in an issue of Gospel Tidings.)

Back