The Holy Spirit’s Response
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:44-48
Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
1 Corinthians 12:10
Now we are beginning yet another of those extremely controversial topics – speaking in tongues and the interpretation thereof. This is a topic that will continue for a while as Paul addresses the issue of tongues in Chapter 14 as well. It was clearly an issue for the Corinthian church. But not only the Corinthians; it is an issue for church worldwide in this present age as well and has divided congregations of believers across the board. It is one of the issues I have encountered that has a polarising effect across the body of Christ. As a past Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators (NZ) I have encountered either a welcome or a refusal purely on the basis of my doctrinal belief about the gift of tongues. The same is true of other countries I have visited and is certainly true of Indonesia where I am now living.
Wycliffe Bible Translators NZ requires a new member to make a statement of faith, a doctrinal statement on 16 topics as to what we personally believe on each of those topics. The gift of speaking in tongues is one of those topics. It is an interesting experience having to do that – To write down what you believe about a particular biblical truth. Try it, do it now! There is something about putting in writing what you believe on a matter. It crystallises your beliefs and your thoughts on that matter. Not what your church believes, not what your denomination’s doctrinal stand is, not what your parents believe but what you believe. Don’t worry, no one is going to see your statement. You won’t get booted out of your church or your denomination after this exercise. You don’t have to send them to me. I won’t post them on the internet. This is an exercise for you to do for your own benefit. Know what you believe! Take time to think about it and write it down.
These are the guiding questions for the Wycliffe NZ Statements of faith re tongues:
- What do you believe the “gift of tongues” to be?
- Is the gift of tongues operative today?
- Have any gifts disappeared since the early church?
- Must all speak in tongues?
- Is the gift of tongues the sign gift of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”?
- Give your thoughts on being ‘Filled with the Spirit’ or ‘Baptised in the Spirit’.
- What is the difference between being in-dwelt and being filled, include discussion on whether or not the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, (including those who have never spoken in tongues.)
- How strongly do you hold your beliefs?
There you have your assignment for today. Hey this assignment is for your benefit, not mine. Do it. I haven’t given you much to do over the last gems by way of homework. The clearer you state your doctrinal belief the more benefit it is to you. You may need to do your own research to find out what you believe because it maybe fuzzy. Doing this exercise brings things into focus for you.
ἑτέρῳ δὲ γένη γλωσσῶν, ἄλλῳ δὲ ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶν·
{to another} and kinds tongues {to others} and interpretation {of tongues}
The translations fall into two categories: those which translated this verses literally and preserve “tongues” in the translation (19) and those which interpret the word to mean languages (4). The numbers I included are a count of the spread of translations I have loaded on E-sword and how they handle it. Most as you can tell choose “Tongues” in this case, they decide to go for the literal translation and not interpret. But it is interesting that the LITV (The Literal Translation of the Bible) chooses languages. In fact showing that it is not literal on some things. In other words they are making an interpretive choice here and not taking the literal route. When that happens there is generally a theological or denominational reason behind it.
“and to another, workings of powers, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to another, kinds of languages, and to another, interpretation of languages.” (LITV)
So you still have to make a choice as to which side of the fence you come down on. There are those who interpret tongues to mean languages (as in normal languages) and there are those interpret it to mean a heavenly language which is given at a particular moment, imparted by the Holy Spirit. Some choose to explain it as meaning normal languages, one from the many languages spoken on the earth. The latter generally choose “languages” to get around the supernatural way in which “a spiritual tongue” is meant to be imparted. But by doing that you have not got around the problem, the supernatural element is still present because in many cases “tongues” are spoken without any study or learning of a language. People just start speaking in a new language. I have heard anecdotal stories which claim a person’s tongue ended up being Biblical Hebrew or another tongue was proved to be Latvian.
Still other research has been applied to tongues in the case of those who speak what they believe to be a tongue from the Holy Spirit, namely their prayer language and linguistic experts have claimed that it does not have the structure of a normal language. i.e none of the normal elements that are present with languages were reportedly there. Other claim tongues to be merely repetitive and therefore not a language. You will come across all kinds of reactions and proofs one way or another on tongues/heavenly languages. You still have to make a choice on your stand on what you personally believe on the issue of tongues.
Because there is a denominational / theological divide on this Wycliffe don’t take a stand along denominational lines. A translation of the Bible ideally has to be acceptable across the board. Wycliffe don’t push theological or denominational barrows. They are interdenominational. In terms of translation sometimes that is good, sometimes it is not helpful. Committee type translations will often sit on the fence on theological issues because they are a committee. Individual translations (where one person has translated the Bible) can err on the side of making interpretative choices for you when you don’t want them to do so. You have to choose what side you come down on. As in this case.
Wycliffe as a whole is more interested in the answer to the question “How strongly do you hold the view you have?” If your view of speaking in tongues is wildly divisive by nature that can be more problematic than whether your choice is yes or no on tongues being acceptable or not. You will see I am prepared to step on toes on both sides of fence as we continue on this topic. I desire to be biblical not “right” or to be aligned with a particular camp or group. I will tell you straight what the text says and what the issues are – to the extent that I know them.
Here are links to two Gems I wrote
- Bible Gem 438 – Speaking in Tongues – what you believe (1 Cor 12:10)
- Bible Gem 439 – Tongues – The Controversy (1 Cor 12:10)
What does speaking in tongues (glossolalia) actually mean? Is it languages or is it the pentecostal tongues? The word is used to translate both concepts. Therein lies the problem. There is not a clear line of demarcation.
What is the baptism mentioned here? Does it refer to water baptism or baptism in the spirit/being slain in the Spirit? There is a contrast between the two, especially when it comes to the Acts 19 passage. That is why I will leave the bulk of my handling of the issue for that time.
“Can I accept a person who has a different theological viewpoint to my own?” A telling indication of your degree of balance.
Are you willing to go to one whom you know doesn’t agree with you and listen to their point of view without challenging or seeking to prove them wrong? Just to listen and learn.
Love means never having to say you’re sorry – unless it is a theological issue.
Love Story – The Movie
Like the man stranded alone on a desert island who when rescued was asked why there were clearly two church buildings on the island. Oh that one is my old church but I left.
Anon