Order in the Court of the King! (Tongues-1)

Grace Thoughts

Order in the Court of the King! (Tongues-1)

Welcome to Volume IV of our special series, Order in the Court of the King! You can read previous volumes through these free eBooks that are part of the GraceLife Library –

Volume I

Volume II

Volume III

Why Begin With Tongues?

There are so many divisions and problems in the Church today, why begin with ‘tongues’? Good question.

Here’s how I started this series almost two years ago –

I believe the answer to the Christian Church’s vast differences about beliefs and practice may be fairly easy to solve. Here’s why I say that.

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

Paul’s apostolic command to the Corinthian Christians to resolve its differences “decently and in order” is as needed today as it was almost two-thousand years ago. The modern Church is definitely ‘out of order’ and needs help to get back in line to doing God’s will.

Jesus Christ prayed a simple prayer the night before He died. Jesus told His Heavenly Father that He accomplished what He was sent to do.

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. John 17:4

That’s a bold and true statement. Jesus did glorify God on the earth and He did finish the work God had given Him to do. That’s the pattern we should follow as well. Why? Because it’s what God ordered.

How’s the modern Church doing with that? Not so well. How do I know that? Simple. First, read the Bible through carefully and intently. Take notes as you read. Second, take a close look at the modern Church across the world. What do you see? God-glorification or self-glorification? Finished work or incomplete work? Decency or indecency? Order or disorder?

Decently and In Order

The Apostle Paul’s declaration that all things should ‘be done decently and in order’ was in the context of spiritual gifts – specifically about ‘tongues’ and ‘prophecy.’

Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

When you read those verses in a partial context, you have to go back to 1 Corinthians 14 –

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 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. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 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 … I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 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.1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 18-19

If you want to understand the full context of 1 Corinthians 14, you have to go back to the first verse of chapter 12 –

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

To understand the context of the ignorance about spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church, you have to go back to Chapter 1 –

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

The Corinthian church had ‘a lot of divisions.’ In fact, that’s a primary purpose for Paul’s letter to the church he had planted. The issue of ‘tongues’ was just one of the ‘divisions’ that he learned about from some of the church leaders he trusted. However, it’s the one that Paul tied to the idea of ‘all things be done decently and in order,’ which is the theme of this series.

Our God is a God of ‘order,’ even in a world filled with ‘dis-order.’ God expects order in Christian churches. Jesus Christ made that abundantly clear when He dictated letters to the ‘seven churches which are in Asia’ (Revelation 1). Jesus made it clear when He told His disciples that He expected ‘order’ in the Church in Matthew 18. The Lord was quite specific about how to deal with ‘dis-order’ and bring about ‘order’ in a church. The apostles made it clear in their preaching, teaching, and epistles that God expected ‘decency and order’ among Christians and within the Church.

Order is the Church is not a ‘discussion’ we can have with God. It’s His ‘command.’ We can either obey God or disobey God – that’s our choice as His children. However, there are serious consequences to disobeying God’s direction. Church leaders and members have experienced some of those consequences for many centuries.

Is Speaking In Tongues A Sign Of Salvation?

Another reason I want to begin this next volume with the issue of ‘tongues’ is because it was one of the first ‘challenges’ I had as a new Christian. As an atheist I knew nothing about ‘tongues,’ only what I remember coming across while investigating the truth claims of Christianity. One of the first of many challenges I faced as a new Christian was the issue of ‘speaking in tongues.’

Some Christians I met asked me if I spoke in tongues. I didn’t understand what they meant at the time, so I asked them to explain. They told me about Mark 16, Acts 2, 10 and 19, and 1 Corinthians 12 – 14. I asked them to demonstrate speaking in ‘tongues’ for me. As best as I can remember none of them did. However, they did say that ‘tongues’ was a spiritual gift that would prove whether I was saved. They said God gave the gift of ‘tongues’ to every saved person. If I didn’t speak in tongues, I wasn’t saved. That caught my attention. If ‘tongues’ was a ‘sign’ of my salvation, I thought I’d better learn about ‘tongues’ right away and see if I couldn’t ‘get the gift of tongues.’

As I usually did as a journalist, I started researching. I studied all the references to ‘tongues’ in the Bible. That research led me to some interesting conclusions. You may or may not agree with my conclusions, but I hope you’ll stay with me to the end of this article to see if we can find some agreement.

‘Tongues’ and Jews

The first time the word ‘tongues’ is used in the New Testament is Mark 16 –

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 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 16:17-18

I found that verse interesting. The ‘signs’ that would follow people who believed in Jesus included casting out ‘demons,’ speaking with ‘new tongues,’ taking up ‘serpents, not being hurt if they drank ‘anything deadly,’ and sick people would ‘recover’ when believer laid their ‘hands on the sick.’ I later learned that some scholars questioned the authenticity of that part of Mark 16, but I didn’t know that as a young Christian. I wondered why Christians said I had to speak in ‘tongues,’ but didn’t say anything about also having to cast out demons, take up serpents, and heal sick people as signs of my salvation. Tongues seemed to be the ‘acid test.’

I also noted the term ‘new’ attached to ‘tongues.’ I was fortunate to have some Christian friends who read Greek, so I asked them about the words – glōssais lalēsousin kainais. The word ‘glōssais‘ means ‘language,’ often based off a nationality. That reminded me of what happened in Genesis 11 when God confused their ‘language’ (Hebrew – saphah, ‘lip’). God took the one language that Noah’s family spoke and confused (balal – confound, mix, mingle) it so people couldn’t understand each other’s ‘speech’ (saphah, lip).

Back to Mark 16, the word ‘new’ (kainais) meant ‘fresh, novel, unused.’ I found that interesting that Jesus was promising that people who ‘believed’ in Him would speak in ‘fresh, novel, unused’ languages.

The next verse I found about ‘tongues’ was Acts 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. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4

That, I was told, was more proof that every real believer would speak in ‘tongues.’ Since Pentecost would have been only days after Jesus spoke in Mark 16, I wondered if the ‘divided tongues’ that sat upon each believer might be the ‘fresh, novel, unused’ tongues Jesus promised. I also noticed that when the Holy Spirit ‘filled’ them they ‘began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ What were ‘other tongues?’

The words heterais glōssais simply meant languages of ‘different kinds.’ The believers spoke with ‘other tongues’ as the ‘Spirit gave them utterance.’ Utterance is apophtheggomai and simply means ‘declaring, speaking out.’ An important observation is that the Holy Spirit ‘gave them’ utterance. My sense at the time was that the ‘utterance’ of ‘different kinds’ of languages was probably the promise of ‘new tongues’ that Jesus had made to the disciples.

I kept reading in Acts 2 –

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we here, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean? Acts 2:5-12

I noticed the audience – Jews ‘from every nation under heaven.’ It happened during a Jewish festival (Pentecost). The people attending the festival heard the ‘sound’ of the ‘tongues’ being spoken by followers of Christ and were confused by what they heard. They were ‘all amazed and marveled.’ Why were they amazed? Because even though the majority of Christ’s followers were ‘Galileans,’ everyone heard what the disciples declared in their ‘own tongues,’ meaning ‘each in our own language.’ What the people heard were words, in their own language, of ‘the wonderful works of God.’ That was truly a miraculous event – promised by Jesus and caused by the Holy Spirit. No surprise there. When Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit speak, they glorify God. Giving followers of Christ the supernatural ability to declare the wonderful works of God so that everyone heard the same thing in their own language makes sense as we look at the totality of Scripture.

Some of the Jews at the festival thought the disciples of Christ were drunk –

So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean? ‘ Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’

Remember that God brings ‘order’ out of ‘disorder.’ The Apostle Peter set everyone straight –

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. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘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. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:14-21

Peter set the record straight quickly and decisively. What the Jews witnessed on the Day of Pentecost was fulfillment of prophecy. God was bringing order out of disorder through ‘tongues’ declaring the ‘wonderful works of God.’ Peter went on to preach about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and about three-thousand people repented and were saved that day. In fact, people continued to repent and be saved for many days following.

Interestingly, Acts 2 doesn’t say that any of those new believers ‘spoke in tongues.’ It says they ‘continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ The new disciples ‘were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.’ The disciples continued daily ‘with one accord in the temple.’ They broke bread ‘from house to house.’ They ate their food ‘with gladness and simplicity of heart.’ They praised God and had favor ‘with all the people.’ However, not a word about ‘speaking in tongues.’ Why not? If that was a ‘sign of salvation,’ why was tongues not mentioned once? Just making an observation. That comes before making any interpretations.

‘Tongues’ and God-Fearing Gentiles

The next time I found the word ‘tongues’ in the New Testament was Acts 10. That’s where God sent the Apostle Peter to preach to a ‘God fearing’ Roman centurion who had ‘a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews.’ Peter didn’t want to go at first because it was ‘unlawful’ for a Jewish man ‘to keep company with or go to one of another nation.’ However, Peter obeyed God and went to speak to Cornelius and his family. That’s when something unexpected happened –

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46

This was similar to what happened at Pentecost, except the Holy Spirit ‘fell upon’ God-fearing Gentiles, rather than Jews. Peter and the Jews who were with him heard the Gentiles ‘speak with tongues and magnify God.’ Notice that Acts refers to it as ‘the gift of the Holy Spirit’ being poured out on the Gentiles. The word ‘gift’ is dōrea, which means ‘a free gift, a gift freely given.’

Peter asked his fellow Jews, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?‘ Obviously not, so Peter commanded that the Gentiles be baptized in the name of the Lord. Peter also stayed with Cornelius for a few more days after that.

‘Tongues’ and John’s Baptism

The next time we see ‘tongues’ mentioned is in Acts 19. That’s when Paul came to Ephesus and found some disciples who were not aware of the Holy Spirit. They had experienced the baptism of John the Baptist, but not that of the Holy Spirit. Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came ‘upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.’ We don’t know what ‘languages’ they spoke, though it was probably languages they didn’t know and Paul did (maybe Hebrew or Aramaic?). The disciples also ‘prophesied,’ which is interesting to note. Another thing to note is that this event would have been many years after the original ‘tongues’ at Pentecost.

If Jesus died and rose about 30 AD, and Paul met John the Baptist’s disciples in Ephesus about 53 AD, that’s more than 20 years. Why didn’t they know about the Holy Spirit? They were ‘disciples’ living in Ephesus, so why didn’t they know more than they did? They may have received John’s baptism in Judea and returned home before Jesus’ earthly ministry fully developed. John the Baptist clearly presented the fact that He was the ‘preparing the way’ for Messiah, but these ‘disciples’ may not have known that Jesus was the Messiah.

Keep in mind that Acts 18 tells us that Apollos had been in Ephesus and ‘spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord.’ Apollos had also known ‘only the baptism of John.’ Whether Apollos and these twelve disciples is not revealed, but it may have been that many people living in Ephesus had experienced John’s baptism.

You might remember that Aquila and Priscilla had to take Apollos aside and explain to him ‘the way of God more accurately.’ They may have baptized Apollos in the name of Jesus, though we’re not told. We’re also not told that Apollos ever spoke in tongues.

Paul did something similar with the twelve disciples he met in Ephesus, but did baptize them in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit did come upon them, and they did speak in tongues and prophesied. Some similarities? Yes, but some differences as well.

[Listen to Podcast of this article on Spotify here.]

Next Time

We are now ready to look at the issue of ‘tongues’ among believers in the church at Corinth. Nothing I studied in Acts had convinced me that ‘tongues’ were a ‘sign of salvation,’ but maybe 1 Corinthians would give me more insight. Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth contained more uses of the word ‘tongues’ than any other Writing in the New Testament. We’ll look into that in the next part of our special series, Order in the Court of the King!

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Order in the Court of the King! (Tongues-1)