The Bible, the Gift of Tongues and Other Wonders!
by Evangelist Robert F. Simpson
In Bible interpretation we should always go to the passage where a subject is first mentioned. This is called the "Law of First Mention." This helps us to determine God's interpretation, and not to create our own. Let God be true and every man a liar!
There are many going around these days teaching as the commandments of God, the doctrines of men. Some have been deceived and are spreading the lie that they have believed, from a sincere heart. However, they are sincerely WRONG. Others are purposely going about stirring great crowds into a frenzy only to empty their wallets and pocket books.
If we are going to know the TRUTH about modern day signs and wonders, we will first want to look to the source of all TRUTH! We must look to God's Word (John 17:17). God's Word is TRUTH. There is no need to look to God's Word if we are not going to allow IT to change and shape our beliefs. The Bible is where we RECEIVE our doctrine. We do not go to the Bible and force it to prove OUR doctrine.
There are some basic questions that we should ask as we go to God's Word; What were tongues in the Bible? Were these miracle gifts temporary or permanent? What was the purpose of these miracle gifts? Let's go to God's Word to FIND the answers to these very important questions.
I. What were Tongues (or the "Gift of Tongues") in the Bible?
In Genesis 10:5 we see that the word "tongue" is not referring to the instrument that is in the mouth, but it is referring to the language of that instrument. "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." (the people's "language" -See also Isaiah 66:18, Daniel 1:4, & Acts 2:8-11).
The gift of tongues was first given in Acts 2. Verse 4 says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
B The word "tongue" also means "language."
B In verse 4 they were speaking a language that was not their own. They had not learned the language previously. It was given to them for a specific purpose. The purpose was to prove that their message was from God!
In verse 6 the people of other nations heard the message of the disciples in their own language. "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." (Vss. 6-11; vs. 11 "our tongues" is the same as "our languages")
B When people practice "tongues" today are they speaking in the language of a foreign country? In the Bible it was always a human language that they were speaking.
II. Were the "Miracle Gifts" Permanent? or Would they Stop Someday?
I Corinthians 13 says that they will cease (be finished) someday. I Corinthians 13:8 says, "Charity never faileth (to come to an end): but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (come to an end); whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
B All of the sign gifts (miracle gifts) would stop someday!
According to verse 10 they would stop when that which is perfect is come. "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part (sign gifts) shall be done away."
B The Bible is now complete. "Perfect," according to the dictionary, means "complete." So when the Bible was completed these gifts (prophecies, tongues, knowledge) would be finished (because their purpose was finished). The purpose of these gifts was to prove that the message was from God!
In I Corinthians 13:12 Paul said he was looking into a glass darkly (a mirror that was not complete - he could not see the whole image or reflection of himself). In II Corinthians 3:18 he talks about this glass again. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (the Word of God) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
B What is this "glass?" Hebrews 4:12,13 tells us more about it. James 1:23-25 teaches that this "glass" (mirror) is the "perfect law of liberty" (Word of God). It says, "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:"... vs. 25 says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law (Word of God) of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
