The modern concept of speaking in tongues was started by the Pentecostal movement. The Pentecostal movement is also known as the signs and wonders movement. Pentecostal Church’s invite people to their meetings with the promise of being healed from whatever ailment they are suffering from. I am sure you will agree that the promise of being healed is very alluring, and it is very difficult for someone who is sick to resist such an invitation. I am sure that you will also agree that when you are sick and suffering you don’t care who heals you so long as you are healed. But to promise people that they will be healed especially when that promise cannot be fulfilled, has got to be one of the cruellest lies of all. The Pentecostal movement right across the world have made countless claims of healing people for the express purpose of sensationalising their movement to make it more appealing to people. But the truth is that all of the claims that the Pentecostal movement has made of healings were false. Obviously, not every claim was investigated but a very large number of those claims were investigated and all of them were proven to be false. Once a person attends a Pentecostal movement meeting to be healed, they will then be introduced to the concept of speaking in tongues. In this study, we will not be dealing with the false claims of healings made by the Pentecostal movement. We will be dealing only with the issue of the correct Biblical teaching and understanding of speaking in tongues. Now no one seems to know exactly when The Pentecostal Movement started, other than the fact that it seems to have started in America over a hundred years ago and has now spread all over the world. Pentecostalism puts forth their teachings on the concept of speaking in tongues as if it were the word of God. But nothing could be further from the truth. As we examine what Pentecostalism teaches with what the Bible teaches, we will clearly see that Pentecostalism has deliberately and completely misinterpreted God’s holy word the Bible. Why they have done this is a question that only they can answer, but the fact that they have deliberately misinterpreted God’s holy word the Bible is beyond doubt. The format of the Pentecostal meetings is generally the same no matter where you find them. They play very loud music for long periods of time, usually hymns with short repetitious verses. This is done for the express purpose of working the people up into an emotional frenzy. Then people will supposedly be overcome by the spirit and start speaking in tongues. This usually takes the form of speaking words that no one can understand or translate, not even the person doing the speaking, you could truthfully say that when someone speaks in tongues that they are talking gibberish. Some people will shout and even fall on the floor and their bodies will convulse; this is an action that they have no control over. Surely this cannot be of God; nowhere in Scripture will you find anything even remotely resembling such antics. The only time in Scripture you will find people calling out in a loud voice, or been thrown to the ground with no control over their own bodies, is people who are possessed by evil spirits, and are about to have, or are having the evil spirit or Spirits cast out of them. This is the only time in Scripture you will see such things.

Now in the synagogue, there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God! But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Luke 4:33-35.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,  saying, Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God! But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him! And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mark 1:23-26. See Also Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-42.

Now as we begin to seek the correct Biblical teaching and the correct Biblical understanding of what it means to speak in tongues. It is of vital importance to remember that Scripture must always be understood in its proper context. How many times have you heard a preacher or a teacher make the statement, that you cannot take a single verse of scripture and make a complete doctrine out of it. There must be other Scriptures to back up the doctrine that you are preaching, other wise the doctrine that you are preaching is wrong and not in any way the doctrine of God. Pentecostals are guilty of this very thing, they have taken these eleven words at the start of 1orinthians 13:1 and created a complete false doctrine out of them, taking them completely out of context. {Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels} they deliberately take verses of Scripture out of their proper context to make Scripture teach what they want it to teach. We will very clearly see this as we study the passages of Scripture that deal with the true biblical meaning of speaking in tongues. As we begin our study please keep these verses of Scripture in mind, and ask yourselves this question.                                                                                                                                                                        Is it possible that you are being deceived by false teaching? 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1Timothy 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1                                            There are five passages of Scripture that speak about what the Pentecostal movement call “speaking in tongues” they are as follows. First, Mark 16:15-18. Second, Acts 2:1-21. Third, Acts 10:1-48. Fourth, Acts 19:1-7. And fifth 1Corinthians 12:1-14. As we study these passages of Scripture, we will clearly understand the correct Biblical teaching and the correct Biblical understanding of speaking in tongues. Once again let me state the absolute importance of understanding each passage of scripture in its correct context.          

The first time that the term speaking in tongues is used is in Mark chapter sixteen verses fifteen through eighteen. 

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:15-18. 

Now in verse seventeen of this passage of Scripture Jesus told His Apostles that there would be certain signs that would follow those who would believe in the Gospel. Now a sign in this instance and within the context of this passage is of a supernatural nature. Something that is beyond the ability of man to achieve, something that only God could do, a miracle.  One of those signs would be that, “They would speak with new tongues” So the question is, what did Jesus mean when He said, They would speak with new tongues. There is only one possible understanding of this statement within the context of this passage and that is, that those who believed in the Gospel and became believers would be given the gift of speaking in new tongues or new languages, which they could not speak before they became believers. New tongues, means, new languages spoken by people from different places, these are known earthly languages, they are not angelic languages spoken by Angels. Note that every time an Angle spoke in the Bible, they always spoke in the language of the people they were speaking to. There are two hundred and ninety-three verses of Scripture that speak of an Angel or Angels, and they always spoke in the language of the person or persons that they were speaking to. There is no mention anywhere in Scripture of an angelic language been spoken by an Angel or a human being, first Corinthians chapter one and verse one is the only mention of the tongues of men and of angels and this is spoken of from a hypothetical or allegorical point of view. We will deal with this more fully in the last portion of our study. So to continue, it is just not possible to get any other understanding from this passage of Scripture. As you can clearly see this passage does not make any mention of an angelic language that cannot be understood by the person speaking it or by the people hearing it. 

Now the next passage of Scripture where the term speaking in tongues is used is in Acts chapter two verses one through twenty-one.

1.When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3.Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8. And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?                    9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,11. Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.12. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean? 13. Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine.14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.15. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.16. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions; Your old men shall dream dreams.18. And on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.19. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.            20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.                                                                                                                                                                                                             This passage truly does not need any explanation, as you read the passage it explains itself very clearly. This entire passage tells us about all of the important events that took place with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. But for the purpose of our study on the correct biblical teaching of speaking in tongues we are only going to look at verses four through twelve.  4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.                                                Verse four clearly states that those who were filled with the Holy Spirit, meaning all the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who were gathered together in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit were given the miraculous ability by God to speak in a human language, or a foreign language which was previously unknown to the person speaking it. 5. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under Heaven. 6. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  Again, verses five and six point out very clearly that all the different people from all the different nations could hear the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who were filled with the Holy Spirit speak in their own native language.                                                                                                                        7. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8. And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Verses seven and eight again make it very clear that all the people from all of different nations who had gathered in Jerusalem for to celebrate the Passover were amazed and marvelled at the fact that they could hear the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who had been filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to them in their own native language. 9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes.  11. Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.             Verses nine, ten, and eleven give a list of fifteen different nations of people who spoke fifteen different languages who all heard the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ speak to them in their own native language, and what they heard the disciples of the Lord Jesus speak to them was. The Wonderful works of God. All those who heard the Disciples of the Lord speak could clearly understand what they were saying.                                                                                                                                                                                      12. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?                                                                                                                             Then verse twelve points out again that they were all amazed and perplexed at what they saw and at what they heard, and they were all asking themselves the same question. Whatever could all these miraculous signs from God mean? Then in verses thirteen through forty-seven Peter explains to them exactly what all of the miraculous signs which they had just witnessed meant. Now again let me point out that nowhere in this entire passage is there any mention of an angelic language or a Heavenly language spoken by a person with no control over what they are saying, or no understanding of what they are saying. How does the person who is speaking in an unknown language which they have no understanding of, know if they are praising God or cursing God when they speak? The simple truth is they do not know. The Bible makes it clear that God is not the author of confusion but of peace. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33.                                                                            To speak in an unknown language, that neither the speaker nor anyone else can understand or intrepid is the very essence of confusion. No one can say amen to or be in agreement with something that they cannot understand, that would just be foolish now, wouldn’t it. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of the people who would teach such false doctrines.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. Matthew 15:14.                                                                                          Remember you cannot teach false doctrine or believe in and follow false doctrine and be a saved Christian at the same time. That would be in total contradiction to God's Holy Word the Bible. The next passage of Scripture that deals with speaking in tongues is in Acts chapter ten verses one through forty-eight. Now again we are not going to deal with the whole chapter, but for the purpose of our study, we are only going to deal with verses forty-four through forty-six. Now the context of this passage is very simple and very clear. This passage deals with the preaching of the Gospel to unbelievers and the Holy Spirit coming upon those who believed and accepted the Gospel preached to them by Peter. The chapter starts with Peter sitting on the roof of a house in prayer, and while in prayer peter received a vision which he did not understand at the time that he received the vision, it was sometime later that God showed Peter the meaning of the vision which he had been given. Peter was sent by God to the home of a man whose name was Cornelius; this was done because this man Cornelius was truly seeking God with all his heart. When somebody truly seeks God with all their heart, then they will find God.                                              I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me.  Proverbs 8:7.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.

These verses of Scripture leave no doubt what so ever that if any person truly seeks God with a true heart, then they will find God. From verse one to verse forty-three is an account of the events which took place from the vision which Peter had while praying on the roof of the house of Simon, who was a tanner in which he Peter was staying, up to the time that Peter stood before Cornelius and his family and his close friends and preached to them the Gospel of Salvation by Grace through Faith.

43.To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.  44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  45. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47. Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?  48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. Acts 10:43-48.

Now we see in verse forty-four that the Holy Spirit fell on everyone in the house of Cornelius who heard and believed in the Gospel which Peter preached to them. Then in verse forty-five, we learn that those who had come with Peter as witnesses were astonished at what they were seeing and hearing. They witnessed the same gift of the Holy Spirit which they received on the day of Pentecost being poured out on Cornelius and all his family and friends who believed in the Gospel which was preached to them. Then verse forty-six tells us exactly what Peter and those who came with him witnessed. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. This is exactly what happened on the day of Pentecost when all of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were gathered in the upper room when they received the Holy Spirit. When you compare Acts chapter ten and verse forty-six and Acts chapter two and verse four you see exactly the same thing.

We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:11.

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:46.

This is very clearly the same gift of the Holy Spirit received by two different groups of people in different places and at different times. It is equally as clear that this gift of the Holy Spirit is a miracle from God. The person receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit was given the ability to speak in different known earthly languages which they did not know or could not speak before they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The reason that the gift of being able to speak in different languages was given was for the express purpose of magnifying God by teaching people of all nations and tongues the wonderful works of God. It is not possible to glorify God or to magnify God by speaking in an unknown language that cannot be understood either by the person speaking it or by the people hearing it. The Pentecostal doctrine of speaking in tongues can truly be classified as just nonsense and gibberish. It is a tool of the evil one designed to keep people from God not to bring people to God. The next passage we will look at is found in Acts chapter nineteen verses one through seven.

1.And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So, they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So, they said, "Into John's baptism. 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all. 

Now in this passage, we are dealing with the very same miracle as in the previous passages, but this time it is the disciples of John the Baptist who receive the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues or different languages which they could not speak before they were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. We learn from verse one that when the Apostle Paul came to Ephesus that he found a group of disciples, then in verse two Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they became believers. This group of Disciples told Paul that they were not even aware that there was such a thing as the Holy Spirit. Then in verse three Paul asked them into what then were they baptized, and they told Paul that they were baptized into John’s baptism, that being John the Baptist.  Then in verse four, Paul told them that John indeed baptized them with a baptism of repentance, telling them that they should believe on the one who would come after him that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in verse five, we see immediate surrender and obedience by this group of disciples of John the Baptist. They were immediately baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in verse six, we learn that when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. In order for this group of disciples of John the Baptist who had just received the Holy Spirit, to speak in tongues and prophesy. The people who they were prophesying to would have to be able to understand what they were saying. Otherwise, it would not be of any benefit to the people who they were prophesying to. That is just plain simple common sense now, isn't it? As in the previous three passages that we have looked at we can very clearly see that upon receiving the Holy Spirit, this group of believers spoke in earthly languages that they could not speak in before they received the Holy Spirit, and what they spoke was the wonderful works of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Now we are going to look at the final passage of Scripture in our study of the correct biblical teaching of what it means to speak in tongues. The passage that we are going to look at is first Corinthians chapters twelve through fourteen. This will leave in no doubt that the Pentecostal teaching on speaking in tongues is not just wrong but completely unbiblical. This is by far the most controversial passage on the subject of speaking in tongues. But that being said it is only controversial if it is taken out of its correct context. The correct context in this lengthy passage of Scripture is, understanding the Spiritual gifts and their correct use by those who have received them.

Now the first question that we must ask ourselves is this. Why did Paul write this passage of Scripture to the believers in the Corinthian church in the first place? When you think about it the answer is simple, because it had been brought to Paul's attention that the Corinthian believers had been misusing the Spiritual gifts which they had received from God when they became believers. They were exalting or promoting some of the Spiritual gifts as more important and greater than others. This of course was done to promote themselves as more important and more spiritual than other believers in the church. 

                                                                                                                1 Corinthians 12:1-31

 

1.Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

In first Corinthians chapter twelve and verse one Paul starts by expressing that he did not want the believers in the church at Corinth to be ignorant concerning the Spiritual gifts and their correct use.

2.You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

Then in verse two, Paul reminds the Corinthians that before they were saved by the grace of God that they were Gentiles or unbelievers who worshipped idols or false gods and were being led astray by the evil spirits who promoted such worship.

3.Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Then in verse three, Paul gives the Corinthian believers a very serious warning. He reminds them that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed. To call the Lord Jesus Christ accursed means to deny the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. To deny even one part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is to deny all of it, because to deny even one part of the Gospel calls in to question the validity of the entire Gospel. To deny the deity or the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ is to call the Lord Jesus Christ accursed. There are many churches that claim to be Christian who deny the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and many who teach other false doctrines such as the Pentecostal doctrine of speaking in tongues. There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament and every one of these twenty-seven books holds many warnings about false teachers and false prophets creeping in among the flock, the flock meaning true believers and leading them astray. Leading them away from God by causing them to believe in false doctrine.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

In verses four, five, and six Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that there are different gifts, different ministries, and different activities, but it is the same God who gives all of these different things and empowers all of these different things for His own glory, and not for the glory of the people or the individuals who receive them.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:                                                                                                                                                                    In verse seven Paul points out the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, which means the gifts of the Holy Spirit is given to each believer not just for his or her own benefit, but for the benefit of all believers. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used for the glory of God and not to promote one’s own glory or position in the Church.

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 

Then in verses eight through eleven Paul mentions eight of the Spiritual gifts. Now verse ten is the verse we want to focus on because this verse deals with the gift of speaking in different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. The gift of speaking in different kinds of tongues is the ability to speak in different foreign earthly languages without ever studying them or learning them in any way. The gift of the interpretation of tongues is the ability to understand different earthly languages which the person could not understand before receiving the gift of interpretation from the Holy Spirit. Now I cannot stress enough that speaking in tongues is not speaking in some unknown language that neither the person speaking or the person or persons hearing cannot understand.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.                                                                                                                          Then in verse eleven, Paul points out that it is the Holy Spirit who gives all the gifts, and it is the Holy Spirit that decides which gift each person receives.

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you. 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.                                                                                                                                 Notice here in verse twenty-eight that Paul uses the term variety of tongues, meaning different earthly languages.                                                                                                        29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?                        Again, in verse thirty staying within the context of the entire passage when Paul asks, Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? The meaning is very clear Paul is referring to different earthly languages. From verses twelve through thirty-one Paul goes to great extremes to point out that the Church which is the body of Christ is made up not just of one person, but is in fact made up of many different people from many different nations, who speak many different languages. But the one thing that all of these people from many different nations from all around the world, and who speak many different languages have in common is that they all believe in one doctrine and one Gospel, which is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are not many different doctrines or many different Gospels, there is only one, and all of the different people from all around the world make up a single unit which is the Church, and the Church is the body of Christ.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  Ephesians 4:4-6.

Then Paul ends chapter twelve with these words of encouragement.

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

                                                                           1Corinthians 13:1-13

As we begin chapter thirteen, we discover what that more excellent way is.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.                                                                                                                                     In the first three verses of chapter thirteen Paul is not saying that he can actually do any of these things. What Paul is doing is, he is speaking hypothetically or allegorically; we know this because Paul goes to great lengths or great extremes to make or to emphasize the point that all of these things are completely useless and empty if they are void of love. Paul is not claiming that he can speak in the tongues of men and of Angels, and Paul is not claiming that he has the gift of prophecy (To foretell the future) and Paul is not claiming that he understands all mysteries and has all knowledge, and neither is Paul claiming that he has all faith so that he could remove mountains. There is only one person that has all knowledge and understands all mysteries and can foretell the future and can move a mountain from one place to another and that is God. If Paul was really claiming that he could do all of these things, that would mean that Paul was claiming to be able to do all the things that only God could do, and that would quite simply be heresy. But that is not what Paul is saying, but what Paul is saying here is this, that if he could do all of these things and he did not have love in his heart then he is nothing and all of these things would be of no benefit to him at all and it would be of no benefit to anyone else either. When it comes to people who teach false doctrine and claim to be something that they are not, so that they can fulfil their own selfish ambitions, the Lord Jesus Christ put it best when He asked two questions of such people.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26.                                                    Next, we look at verses four through eight.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

In verses four through eight Paul again makes two very important points. The first thing that Paul does is to point out sixteen different ways in which love is seen or expressed. Love suffers long, Love is kind, Love does not envy, Love does not parade itself, Love is not puffed up, Love does not behave rudely, Love does not seek its own, Love is not provoked, Love thinks no evil, Love does not rejoice in iniquity, Love rejoices in truth, Love bears all things, Love believes all things, Love hopes for all things, Love endures all things, Love never fails. All of these things working together show us what love should look like and feel like whether it is being given or received. Then the second point that Paul is making in verse eight is that prophecies will fail, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish, all of these things are only temporary but love is forever, love is eternal, love will never fail. Love is the one constant that you can depend on, and place all of your faith on, because love comes from God. God is love, love never fails. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.    

In verses nine and ten Paul teaches us that right now in this earthly and mortal state because we do not possess all knowledge we only know in part, and because we only know in part, we can only prophesy or teach in part. But when that which is perfect has come, that which is perfect can only be the Lord Jesus Christ, (God in human form) He will teach us all things and we will no longer know only in part but we will know in full.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

In verse eleven, we are again reminded that because we now only know in part our ability to speak, to understand, and to think is like that of a child, it is limited. But when Christ comes and teaches us all things then we will no longer be children, but will have become men and women of God.                                                                                                      12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

In verse twelve Paul again points out that right now we know very little indeed, but we do know enough. But when we meet Christ face to face then we will know everything that God wants us to know.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Then in verse thirteen Paul again encourages the believers to hold on firmly to faith, hope, and love but emphasises that love is the greatest of these three gifts.                              

                                                                     1Corinthians 14:1-33

Then in chapter fourteen, Paul continues to encourage the Corinthian believers to seek diligently after the greatest gift, which is love

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.                                                                                                                                                                In verse one Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to pursue love, because as Paul pointed out in the previous chapter that none of the other Spiritual gift’s work as they should, and are of no value what so ever to the person using them, or to anyone else if love is not in the heart of the person using the gifts. Paul also encourages the believers to desire Spiritual gifts, but that they should desire the gift of prophesying; and prophesying in the correct context of this verse means to teach, not to foretell the future, because God is the only one who can do that.  

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.                                                         In verse two, Paul points out that the person who speaks in a tongue, meaning a foreigner who does not speak the native tongue or native language of the place or country he is in, does not speak to men but to God. Because without an interpreter, that is someone who can understand the language that is being spoken, and who can translate it into the native tongue or language of that place or country, no one will be able to understand what is being said. Because when a person speaks in a foreign language that those who hear cannot understand, it truly is a mystery to them. Now in the last part of verse two, Paul is not saying that there is anything wrong with what the speaker is saying, however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But what Paul is saying is that no one can agree with something that they do not understand, because that would just not make any sense at all, now would it. 

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.                                                                                                                                                          In verse three Paul points out why a person should not speak in a tongue or a language that everyone in the Church cannot clearly understand, because to do so does not bring edification and exhortation and comfort to those who cannot clearly understand what is being said. Paul makes it clear that when someone prophesies, that is to teach the Scriptures, it is this teaching of Gods Holy Word that brings edification and exhortation and comfort to those who hear it.

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.                                                                                                                                        Then verse four explains further why a person should not speak in an unknown tongue or language, because he who speaks in an unknown tongue or language edifies only himself but does not edify anyone else in the Church. But the person who prophesies or teaches Gods Holy Word in the native language of the place or country that they are in edifies the whole Church. 

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Then in verse five, Paul tells the Corinthian believers that he wished that all of them could speak in tongues or other earthly languages. There can be no doubt that Paul wished this so that they could share the Gospel with everyone that they would meet no matter what country they came from or what language they spoke. Then Paul tells them that he wished even more that they could all prophecy, to prophecy is to teach Gods Holy Word the Bible. Because the person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in a tongue or a foreign language, unless they can interpret the language that they are speaking into the native tongue or language of those who are listening to them. Surely this verse must dispel any foolish notions of a person speaking in a language that they cannot themselves understand or interpret, because this would not edify themselves or anybody else. 

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?            Paul starts verse six by pointing out that even if he came to the believers in Corinth and he spoke to them in tongues, which means in one foreign language or another, it would be of no benefit to them unless they could understand what he was saying. To be able to receive any revelation any knowledge any prophesying or any teaching a person must be able to understand what is being said, again this is just simple common sense.

7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?                      8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?                                                                                                                                                  Then in verses seven and eight, Paul uses musical instruments to make the point that if a person picks up a musical instrument and just plays random notes or chords, then no matter how intently a person listens it is not possible to recognise what is being played, quite simply because nothing is being played. This is exactly what happens in the Pentecostal doctrine or teaching of speaking in tongues. A person opens his or her mouth and many sounds come out, but none of it is recognisable because quite simply nothing is actually being said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.                                             Then in verse nine Paul again points out that if a person does not speak by the tongue or in a known language words easy to understand how will anyone know or understand what is being said. Paul ends verse nine by pointing out that if your words cannot be understood then all you are doing is speaking into the air, in other words it is meaningless because no one receives any benefit from such a thing, not even the speaker.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.                                                                                                                  Then in verse ten, we learn that there are many different languages in the world and all of them are important. 

11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.                                                      In verse eleven, we learn that if we do not understand the language that is being spoken then we are a foreigner to the person who is speaking, and the person who is speaking is a foreigner to us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.                                                                                                Then in verse twelve, Paul tells the Corinthian believers that he understands that they are zealous or have a strong desire for the Spiritual gifts. Paul encourages them to desire the Spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church and not to give themselves a better or more important position in the Church. 

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.                             

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.                                                                                                                                                                In verses thirteen and fourteen, we learn that if we pray in a tongue or a foreign language we should not do so unless that tongue or language can be interpreted or translated into the native language of the people who are listening. 

15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.                 In verse fifteen, we learn that when we pray or when we sing the people who hear us should be able to understand what we are saying. 

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?    Then verse sixteen teaches us why it is so important to be able to understand what is being said. How can any person say Amen to what is being said if they do not understand what is being said? (The word Amen means Agreement) When a person says, Amen they are saying that they are in agreement with what has just being said. But how can anybody be in agreement with what has being said if they do not know what has been said? No reasonable minded person could do such a foolish thing.

17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.                                                                                                                                                                                       In verse seventeen Paul points out that in your own language you may be giving thanks very well indeed, but no one else is edified or getting any benefit from your giving of thanks because they do not understand what is being said.                                                                                                                                                                                                        18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;                                                                                                                                                                                               Then in verse eighteen Paul thanks God that he speaks with tongues or foreign languages more than any of the believers in the Corinthian Church. Now Paul is not saying this to be boastful, nor is Paul saying this to point out that he is better or more important than any of the other believers in the Corinthian Church, just because he is able to speak more languages than they can. What Paul is saying is that because he has been given the gift of speaking many different languages, he is able to share the Gospel with understanding with many different people from many different places and many different countries, and that is what Paul is thanking God for. The whole point here is that Paul is pointing out that if you cannot speak publicly in a language that everyone can clearly understand then you should not speak at all, otherwise all you will do is cause confusion.

19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.                                                           Then in verse Nineteen Paul says that even though he can speak more languages than anyone else in the Corinthian Church he would rather speak five words that others could understand and learn from, than ten thousand words that no one could understand.                                                                                                                                                      20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.                                                                                                         Then in verse twenty, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that they should not be like children in their understanding of the correct way to do things. A child does not really care if something is not done correctly, if a child cannot understand something they will just ignore it and move along to something else. But an adult is supposed to be mature enough not to ignore something that they know to be wrong, a mature adult is supposed to do something about it. In a Church setting the mature thing to do when a doctrine or practice is wrong. is to bring it to the attention of the leaders of the Church. If the leaders of the Church are unwilling to address the issue, then a responsible believer should leave that Church and find a Church that in practice and doctrine are correct.                                                                                                                                                                                  21 In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.                                            In verse twenty-one Paul is addressing the issue of those who do not want to hear God’s word and reject it out of hand. For those people who have closed their minds and their hearts to the word of God, will not understand it when they hear it. See Matthew 13:1-14, Mark 4:1-23, Luke 8:1-18. The reason they will not understand it is simple, because when a person has deliberately rejected God’s word, or deliberately blinded themselves to the truth and the reality of God’s word. What they have done is to judge themselves unworthy of eternal life in God’s kingdom with God. Eternal life for those who reject God will be in another place where they will never be in the presence of God. That place is called Hell and it is a place of punishment where they will suffer pain and torment for all eternity.                         

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.  Acts 13:46.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.                                                      Then in verse twenty-two, we learn that the gift of tongues or the gift of speaking in a different language that the speaker never learned and could not speak before being saved, and receiving this gift from the Holy Spirit. These signs and miracles were done so that those who witnessed them would recognise the awesome power of God. Then turn from their sinful lives and seek God with all their hearts, and in doing so would repent of their sins and be saved. But prophesying is for believers, prophesying means to read God’s word to the believers and explain it to them in a way that they will not just learn it but will understand it. So that as their knowledge of God's word increases their faith in God will also grow and become stronger. 

23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         In verse twenty-three the situation of what would happen if unbelievers and the uninformed came into the Church and heard all the believers speaking in many different tongues or languages which were not native to the place or the people who were attending the Church. They would say that these people are all mad because nobody could understand that gibberish. Then they would leave totally confused and they would be no closer to God than when they came in.  

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.                                                                                            Then in verse twenty-four, we learn the correct way that true believers should act and speak in Church. If someone is moved by the Holy Spirit to pray or to share a portion of Scripture then they should speak in the native language of the people and the Church which they are in. But if they speak in a foreign language then they should only do so if some other believer can intrepid that foreign language, into the native language of the people in the Church, which they are in. Then if unbelievers or the uninformed come in they will understand what is being said and they will be convinced and convicted by all who speak the true and perfect word of God. 

In verses twenty-three and twenty-four Paul speaks of two different types of people, one is an unbeliever and one is an uninformed person. The question then is, what is the difference between these two different types of people? An unbeliever is a person that has some knowledge of God, but rejects God by claiming not to believe in God. This is done so he or she can continue to live the sinful life that they have chosen to live. An uninformed person is someone who believes in the existence of God, or at least a higher power but has no actual knowledge of God. For example, they do not know, or perhaps have never herd the Gospel, so they are uninformed. I do not know for certain if this is a completely correct definition of the difference between these two different types of people. But what I do know for certain is this, that both of these types of people are not saved and both of these types of people need to be saved. When true believers share God’s word it should be clearly and simply understood by all who hear it. That means that you should always speak in a known language so that those who are listening can clearly understand.

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.                                                         Then in verse twenty-five, we learn that when things are done correctly as is befitting in any true Church of God. Then the unbeliever who comes in and hears the word of God being shared will have the secrets of his heart revealed, that is he will be convicted of his sins and repent and worship God. Then when the service is over and he leaves that Church, he will tell those whom he knows, and those whom he will meet, that the people in that Church are really true believers and that God is truly active in that place.

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In verse twenty-six, Paul makes the point that when the believers come together to worship God, if everyone has something to share whether it be the reading of a Psalm, or a teaching, or somebody speaks in a tongue (Keeping in the correct context of this entire passage this can only mean a foreign language), or a revelation or an interpretation that all things should be done so that they can be clearly understood by everyone for the edification of the whole Church. If no one can understand what is being said then there is no edification for anyone in the Church, and as Paul has already said in verse nine you may as well be speaking into the air for all the good it will do.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, (That is a foreign language) let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.                                                                                                                                                                                              Then in verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight Paul makes it very clear that no more than three people should speak in a tongue (meaning a foreign language) in any one meeting. But if there is no one in the meeting who can intrepid the foreign language of the person wishing to speak, then that person should keep silent and speak only between himself and God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.                                                                                                                                                                                        Again verse twenty-nine points out that no more than three prophets (meaning teachers) should teach in any one meeting. Then the believers who are listening or being taught are to judge or to determine whether the teaching is truly from God or if the person doing the teaching is a false prophet or teacher. 

30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.                                                                                                                                                                  31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.                                                                                                                                             Then in verse thirty and thirty-one, we learn that if a prophet or a teacher is teaching the believers and he becomes aware that another teacher has a better or deeper understanding of the passage of Scripture that he is teaching on. Then he should allow the teacher with a better or deeper understanding to take over and teach the passage of Scripture in question. For all who are prophets or teachers will get an opportunity to teach in turn one by one so that all the believers can learn and be encouraged; 

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.                                                                                                                                                                                        33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.                                                                                                                                             Now verses thirty-two and thirty-three are very important indeed when dealing with the issue of the true interpretation of what it means to speak in tongues. The first thing that we learn is that the spirits of the prophets or the person who is speaking are subject to that person. In other words, the person doing the speaking is always in control of what they are doing and what they are saying. Pentecostalism teaches that a person who speaks in tongues has no control over what they are saying, and has no understanding of what they are saying, and has no control over the length of time they keep doing this for. If somebody speaks in an unknown language with no understanding of what they have just said, how then can they finish with the word Amen, If they have no idea of what it is they have just said. Now as you can clearly see from all five passages of Scripture that deal with the issue of speaking in tongues, that this is in direct and total contradiction with what the Scriptures teach, and there is absolutely no doubt about this. There are only five passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of speaking in tongues, and all five of them fit together perfectly with the understanding, that each time that speaking in a tongue, or speaking in tongues is mentioned it always means a foreign language. As Paul has pointed out many times that everything must be done simply and clearly so that everyone who hears what is being said can understand, because God is not the author of confusion. But God is the author of clarity and understanding, and this clarity and understanding will only be found in the true Churches of the saints. 

I have heard people say in response to this issue of speaking in tongues, that they agree that you should not speak in tongues in public, but it is perfectly ok to speak in tongues in private, or at home. But to these people I would offer this word of caution. Please be very careful, for God tells us in His Holy Word the Bible that we should test the Spirits to see if they are from God, or from the evil one.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1John 4:1.

Please ask yourself this question. If you are in a private place, or at home, then what would be the purpose of speaking in a language that you cannot understand and cannot interpret, when you can simply speak to God in your own native language.

Please remember, that there are many false prophets and false teachers in the world, and they teach false doctrine and make false claims to further their own ends. Remember, any doctrine or practice whatsoever, no matter how big or how small it may be, that is not in perfect union with God’s Word must be rejected, because it is not from God.            Again Please ask yourself this question is it possible that you have been led astray by false teaching and pride will not let you admit it. 

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.                                                                                                                                  14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.                                                                                                                                                              15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.  2Corinthians 11:13-15   

It is my earnest hope that all who read this teaching will clearly see that this Pentecostal doctrine of speaking in tongues is not of God. If you are in a Church that teaches and practises this doctrine then I also hope that you will leave that Church and seek a Church that believes in and teaches the word of God and the word of God only.