“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
How did you go with the exercise I gave you yesterday? Did it crystalise things for you? Did you find you wrote down things which were not in accord with your denomination’s statements of belief, or do you believe your denominational belief to the letter? Are these beliefs truly yours or someone else’s?
Do you know what the gift of tongues is or are you confused? If you are confused, join the club, many are. The reason is because of the Greek text that lies behind this verse.
ἑτέρῳ δὲ γένη γλωσσῶν ἄλλῳ δὲ ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶ
{to another} then kinds {of tongues} {to others} then interpretation {of tongues}
The translations fall into two categories: those which translated this verse 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 translations, 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 tongues 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 of 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/languages” 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 etc.
Still other research has been applied to tongues in the case of those who speak what they beleive 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. Others 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.
What is Wycliffe Bible Translators stand on the issue of tongues? I told you yesterday new members of Wycliffe have to complete statements of faith as to what we believe on the issue of tongues. So tell us Ian, are you in or out? Is a person who speaks in tongues acceptable to Wycliffe or not? 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. We are interdenominational and an international organisation. But also each Wycliffe entity is autonomous in their own right of decision making and setting policy. I can’t speak for the organisation, worldwide or even for Wycliffe New Zealand.
In terms of translation, not pushing denominational doctrine is good, other times 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.
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 doesnt 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.
(Original quote from 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 is my old church but I left.
Anon