Learning To Cut It Straight
A Lesson In Pauline Theology
Lesson 13
Tongues and The Interpretation of Tongues
Is there a difference between speaking in tongues and praying in tongues?
Is there a difference between the “Gift of Tongues” and receiving a prayer language?
Is there a difference between praying in tongues and singing in the spirit?
Is blessing in the spirit the same as praying in tongues?
Why are tongues used in the plural and singular in I Cor. 14.
Do tongues manifest in the language of men and angels?
Are the tongues of Pentecost the same as the tongues in I Cor. 12,14?
Are all tongues merely diverse human languages?
Tongues are mentioned thirty five times in the scripture. That makes tongues a very important subject. It is at the forefront of controversy within the church. Every Christian at some point will seriously be confronted with this issue. It is good to study a subject so thoroughly discussed in scripture. It is not so clear-cut as many suppose.
A Quick Look At The Scripture
(Key Greek words are in italics)
Act 2:2 And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven as borne along by the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed; and it sat upon each of them Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other (heteros) tongues (Glossa), as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.:6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language (dialeKtos). 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language (Dialektos) to which we were born? 9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them in our own tongues (Glossa) speaking of the mighty deeds of God." Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, What does this mean? :13 But others mocking said, These men are full of sweet wine. 14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
(This is the fulfillment of Is. 28:11 - Isa 28:11 Indeed, He will speak to this people Through foreign lips and a strange tongue,)
Just the Facts of Acts Two
1. An awesome sound/noise came out of heaven that sounded like mighty wind
a. The noise of the sound filled the house
2. Tongues of fire hovered over the 120
3. Each was filled with the Holy Spirit
4. Different ones of the 120 spoke as the Spirit gave utterance
a. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
b. They spoke in “other tongues” (Notice the plural)
“other” Gr. heteros– different, altered, strange
5. The devout foreign Jewish proselytes heard what each person
said in their own Language
6. Each heard in their own language a proclamation of “The mighty deeds of God”
7. The unbelieving of Jews of Jerusalem and Judea heard, but did not understand and
mocked, supposing the 120 to be drunk.
Just the facts of I Cor. 12
1Co 12:10 and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another (heteros) kinds of tongues (Glossa); and to another the interpretation of tongues (Glossa).
1Co 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues (Glossa), do they? All do not interpret, do they?
1. Tongues are distributed to the body of Christ according the will of God
2. Not everyone is given this gift
Just the facts of I Cor. 13
1Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues (Glossa) of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1. Some say Paul spoke in earthly and heavenly language, but it is written in a form hyperbole. (Exaggeration for emphasis).
(i.e. If I prophesy and understand all mysteries and have all knowledge – though I have all faith to move mountains, though I give all my goods to the poor, though I give my body to be burned… and have not love I am nothing.
2. The emphasis is on the supremacy of love, not claiming angelic language.
Just the facts of I Cor. 14.
1Co 14:1 Follow after charity and desire spiritual things, but rather that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue (glossa) does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort. :4 The one speaking in a tongue (Glossa) builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a church.
5 I wish all of you to speak in tongues (Glossa) , but rather that you may prophesy; for greater is he prophesying than he speaking in tongues (Glossa), unless he interpret so that the church may receive building up. :6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues (Glossa) , what will I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? 7 Yet lifeless things giving a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sound (Phonay) how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
8 For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle? 9 So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language (phonay), how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 So it may be many kinds of languages (phonay) are in the world, and not one is without a distinct sound. 11 Therefore if I do not know the power of the language (phonay), I will be a foreigner to him speaking, and he speaking will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealots of spiritual things, seek to build up the church, in order that you may abound 13 So then he speaking in a tongue (Glossa) , let him pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue (Glossa) , my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.
16 Else, if you bless in the spirit, he occupying the place of the unlearned, how will he say the amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say? 17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up. 18 I thank my God that I speak more tongues than all of you; 19 yet in a church I desire to speak five words with my mind, so that I might also teach others, than ten thousand words in a tongue (Glossa). 20 Brothers, do not be children in your minds, but in malice be
like infants, and in your minds be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, "By other tongues (Glossa) and other lips I will speak to this people, and even so they will not hear Me, says the Lord."(See Is. 28:11) 22 So that tongues (Glossa) are not a sign to those who believe, but to those who do not believe. But prophesying is not to those who do not believe, but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church has come together, and all speak in tongues (Glossa) , and if uninstructed ones or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you rave?
24 But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or one not instructed comes, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all. 25 And so the secrets of his heart become revealed. And so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 26 Then how is it, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up. 27 If one speaks in a tongue (Glossa), let it be by two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in a church; and let him speak to himself and to God…. 1Co 14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
1. Speaking in a tongue speaks to God, not man. V. 2
2. To speak in a tongue is to speak mysteries in the spirit. V. 2
3. Speaking in a tongue only builds up the one speaking. V. 4
4. Paul wished everyone spoke in tongues
5. Speaking in tongues doesn’t profit others unless it is understood. V. 6-12
6. One who speaks in a tongue should pray for the gift of interpretation. V. 13
7. When one prays in a tongue, his spirit prays, but the mind doesn’t understand. V. 14
8. Praying and singing in the spirit doesn’t replace praying and singing with the mind. V. 15
9. Speaking blessing in a tongue can’t secure an “amen” from other that hear. V. 16
10. Blessing in the spirit is a giving of thanks, but it doesn’t build up the hearers. V. 17
11. Paul spoke in tongues more than any Corinthian. V. 18
12. In the church it is more important to five words with understanding than 10,000 in tongues. V. 19
13. Tongues are for a sigh to the unbeliever. V. 20-22
14. Uninstructed believers and unbelievers that come in the church with everyone speaking in tongues will think they are crazy. V. 23
15. Tongues is to be used in equity with the other gifts for edification. V. 26
16. The most any can speak in tongues is three in succession. V.27
17. There must be an interpreter of the tongues. V. 27
18. It there is no interpreter, there are to be no tongues. V. 28
19. If there is no interpreter, the tongue speaker can only speak to himself and God. V.28
20. One is not to forbid the speaking of tongues in the assembly.
The word tongue is used in 1 Corinthians 14 sometimes in the singular (14:2, 4, 13, 14, 19, 26, 27), and sometimes in the plural (14:5, 6, 18, 21, 22, 23, 39).
There are two primary interpretations of tongues in
Acts Two and in I Cor. 14.
I. Tongues is a ______language never previously learned, but supernaturally imparted.
II. Tongues is the ability to speak one or more ______languages never previously learned, but supernaturally imparted.
Interpretation One
Definition of the Gift of Tongues by this view
It is another language never being learned, but supernaturally imparted of the Holy Spirit, which no man on earth understands without the gift of interpretation
1Co 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
Evidence Used that speaking in tongues is not a human language
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
1Co 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another (heteros) kinds (ghenos) of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
Point One
The “other tongues ” is (heterais glossais) in the Greek, which means different or strange. It is never used of a foreigner.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Point Two
In Acts Two, the 120 were not speaking to men, but were glorifying God. Their soul’s were completely occupied with God and His praise. Why then, in a foreign tongue? It was never used to preach or talk to others.
Mar 16:17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new (kainos) tongues;
Point Three
The word for new is “kainos” which means brand new. The new is used with the language.
1Co 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. ..28 But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in a church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
Point Four
In I Cor. 14:2, it says no man understands. This would not be true if it was a human language. The theory that speaking in tongues is merely speaking a human language not previously learned doesn’t square with I Cor. 14.2,28
1Co 14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
Point Five
If tongues are always human language, then the gift of interpretation would require no special work of the Spirit. Anyone who was multi-lingual could interpret tongues-speech simply by virtue of their education.
1Co 14:23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
Point Six
If tongues are always human language, then Paul's statement in 1 Cor. 14:23 wouldn't always hold true. Any unbeliever who would know the language being spoken would more likely conclude the person speaking was highly educated rather than "mad."