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What About Speaking In Tongues?

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues...” (Mark 16:17). Does the Bible teach that men TODAY “...shall speak with new tongues...”? Some say, Yes! Others say, No! The Bible is right, what does it say?

The Bible teaches that some in the first century spoke in tongues (languages which they had not learned). It is important to remember that when one spoke in a tongue he was conveying a message. IT WASN’T JUST A BUNCH OF SOUNDS. The “unknown” in I Cor. 14:1 was added by the translators. It is not in the original texts. Consider several questions.

Who spoke in tongues? (1) Those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues. That includes the apostles on the day of Pentecost: “And they (the twelve apostles, gm) were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). The audience testified, “...we do hear them (the twelve apostles, gm) speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). The apostle Paul also spoke in tongues (I Cor. 14:18). It also includes the household of Cornelius, “For they (Peter and the Jewish brethren who accompanied him, gm) heard them (the house of Cornelius, gm) speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:45). (2) Some of those on whom the apostles laid hands spoke in tongues. “And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).

Why did they speak in tongues? The answer to this question involves the purpose of miracles: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Heb. 2:3,4; see also Mark 16:19,20). They did not have a New Testament, it had not been written. The miracles they performed were for the purpose of convincing the hearers that what they preached was the word of God (See Acts 8:6). Today, we take our Bibles and give book, chapter, and verse. This they could not do. Do you remember how the men in Acts 28 thought Paul was a murderer, but when he shook a venomous viper off and felt no harm, they thought he was a god (Acts 28:6)?

How did they receive the power to speak in tongues? (1) The apostles and the household of Cornelius were baptized in the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ (John 1:32-34), therefore spoke in tongues. (2) The apostle Paul laid his hands on the men in Acts 19:1-6 and gave them the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues, which is one of the nine spiritual gifts (I Cor. 12:4-11) bestowed by the laying on of the apostles hands (cf. Acts 8:14-17).

Today, do men have power to speak in tongues? Miraculous gifts were to cease, that included speaking in tongues. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (I Cor. 13:8). Why would they cease? (1) God said they would cease (I Cor. 13:8). (2) The need for them no longer existed. When the New Testament was completed, the need for confirming miracles ceased. (3) The manner of receiving them has ceased. Jesus is no longer baptizing men in the Holy Spirit. Paul said there is one baptism (Eph. 4:4,5) and Peter said it is in water (I Pet. 3:20,21, then see Acts 8:36-39). Also, remember that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a PROMISE to the apostles (Acts 1:4,5) and to no one else. It was for their guidance. Further, note that since the apostles are dead, they can no longer lay their hands on men and bestow those gifts. Keep in mind that the ability to bestow miraculous gifts was a sign of an apostle (II Cor. 12:12).

When did miraculous powers, including speaking in tongues, cease? “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (I Cor. 13:10). “That which is perfect” refers to the “perfect law of liberty “ (James 1:25), or “...the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). The miracles were “in part,” the infancy of the church. The maturity of Divine revelation was the New Testament, “...that which is perfect....” Before the end of the first century, the entire Bible had been revealed. The New Testament is Christ’s law for man today and it is sufficient to furnish man to every good work (II Tim. 3:16,17).

What about speaking in tongues? In the first century, certain ones spoke in languages which they had not studied. Do men do that today? NO!! Why? (1) The way of obtaining them is not present: baptism of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of the apostles’ hands. (2) The need, or purpose, is not present: confirming the word. The word has been confirmed and once delivered to the saints. Once confirmed, it no longer needs confirming. Study carefully. - Glenn Melton

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