Can Men Speak in Tongues Today?

by Harley Pinon

    Today, many people are fascinated with the miraculous gifts of the New Testament.  The one that seems to receive the most attention is that of speaking in tongues.  I think there are several things that need to said about speaking in tongues.  Perhaps one of the most concentrated discussion of tongues is found in I Corinthians 12 - 14.  I am not going to discuss these three chapters here, but let us look at a few verses from this passage:

 

(1 Cor 12:7-11 NKJV) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: {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.

 

"For the profit of all"

 

    The passage we just cited begins with these words:  "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:"  I think there are two very important ideas which Paul explains in this passage.  First of all, the gifts are "for the profit of all."  I know that we must be very when we begin making judgment calls, but it appears to me that many in "speaking in tongues" fellowship, take it as a status symbol for themselves.  Jesus really made it very clear that He was very much opposed to status seeking among His followers.  How could He make it more clear than when He said, "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren."  (Mat 23:8 NKJV)  We don't have to have a title.  If we can say, or just think, "But I can speak in tongues!"  As if that makes us special.  What is the purpose of a spiritual gift?  It is "for the profit of all:"  It should be clear that the intended beneficiary is not the one speaking in tongues, but rather it is those who hear.

 

"Distributing to each one individually as He wills."

 

    The distribution is made according to God's will, not according to individual's will or wishes.  Again, the purpose of miracles was to confirm the word.  New Testament Christianity is a reality because of the truths of  John 3:16 and other passages.  (John 3:16 NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

    God loved, and God gave.  This is an essential part of Christianity.  So many seem to want the spot light turned on them rather than on God and Hid Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  The church at Corinth had a real problem with the importance of tongues.  Paul put it this way:  "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 Cor 14:19 NKJV)   Do the math!  If Paul was speaking at 125 words per minute, a 10,000 word speech would take 80 minutes to deliver.  I'm sometimes long winded, but rarely if ever have I spoken more than 45 minutes at one time, and I try to keep my sermons to about 30 minutes.  I've never done a word count, but 80 minutes would be the length of two sermons and more.  By contrast, five words is shorter than most of my sentences.   I think Paul was trying to make a point of the fact that the main purpose of speaking in tongues was to convince and convict people of the truths of God's word.  Properly understood, speaking in tongues is a miracle.

 

What does the Bible Say about Miracles?

 

    In various ways, I have been asked if I believe in miracles.  That sounds like an easy question, but let's be sure we are "on the same page."  If you are asking if I think men today can raise the dead, restore hearing to the deaf, and sight to the blind, or cause the paralyzed to walk, my answer is no.

  

    What does the Bible say about miracles?  I think Acts 8 is a great starting point.  (Acts 8:5-8 NKJV) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. {6} And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. {7} For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. {8} And there was great joy in that city.

 

    In few words, these verses tell the story very well.  Philip preached the word, and the people listened.  Here is the statement: "hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."  That was the reason for miracles.  Miracles were to confirm the word.  The Hebrew writer says, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, {4} God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"   (Heb 2:3-4 NKJV)  What does this passage say?  It says basically that "signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit,"  were for the purpose of confirming the word.  

 

    John, in his gospel, used the word "sign" for miracles in numerous cases.  Near the end of the gospel he recorded, he said, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; {31} but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31 NKJV)

 

    A very similar thought is expressed here in John as was expressed by the Hebrew writer.  The purpose was to confirm the word, or the teachings of Jesus as the New Testament age began.  Now the question is, when did miracles end?  Before we answer that question, we need to know how one came to possess the gift of miracles to begin with.  I only know of two ways.  (1)  A direct act of God through His Holy Spirit.  Examples of this are the apostles on the Day of Pentecost, and on Cornelius in Acts chapter 10.  and (2) The apostles could lay their hands on someone and impart the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit to others.

 

    Returning to Acts 8, we see Simon the sorcerer wanted to buy this power.  There are several important points in this story, but two that we want to point out especially.  Here is the story:  (Acts 8:14-21 NKJV) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, {15} who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. {18} And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, {19} saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." {20} But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! {21} "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God."

 

    What are the two points?  First:  The miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit could be passed on only by laying on of the apostles hands.  Notice two points in this regard.  (1) Highlighted in verse 17 is the statement that Peter and John were sent to Samaria.  Why?  "that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For as yet He had fallen upon none of them"  [How did it happen?]  {17} 'Then they laid hands on them, and they  received the Holy Spirit."  [What follows?] "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, {19} saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." So what is the first point?  It took the laying on of the apostles hands to pass on the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit.  What is the second point?  We know of no case where anyone besides the apostles was ever given the power to pass this gift on to others.  There were only two groups that had miraculous power so as to be able to perform miracles:  (1) the apostles, and (2) those on whom the apostles had laid their hands.  When these died, that was the last of those who could perform miracles.  It was in fact, the end of the age of miracles.

 

    One other thought should be added.  Paul said, "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds." (2 Cor 12:12 NKJV) Very clearly, "signs and wonders and mighty deeds" were the "signs of an apostle."  The apostles are dead.  Those on whom they laid their hands are dead, so miracles have ceased. 
 

    The miracles were "signs" to confirm the word and the the teaching of Christ.  That was accomplished early in the history of the church.  Miracles have ceased because those who had this power all died a long time ago.  As much as we might like it to be otherwise, I find no evidence to give us any hope that there is a single exception to the rules I have just outlined above; therefore, it is my conclusions that there are no genuine miracles today.

 

But What Are Tongues?

 

    The expression "Tongues" has taken on a meaning all it's own among certain charismatic, or Pentecostal people today.  What the refer to as tongues is usually nothing more than unintelligible utterances that are passed off as tongues.  This is not what the New Testament speaks of when it speaks of "tongues."  We need to remember that most of us do not use the original New Testament.  The New Testament was written in Greek and then translated into English.  In fact,  there are a few words in our Bible which were not really translated, they were just transliterated.  That is, the Greek letters were changed into our English letters, and a few modifications may have been made, but if you are interested in some of these, I refer you to my article, "Are there Greek Words in Your English Bible."   "Tongues" is not a transliteration of the Greek word.  The original word is διάλεκτος, or dialektos  Thayer Definition: 1) conversation, speech, discourse, language  2) the tongue or language peculiar to any people.  Stong's Definition is that is word is from a related word which means: "discourse, that is, “dialect”: - language, tongue."

 

    Thankfully, the New King James doesn't use the word tongue, or does the New American Standard.  for your consideration, here is the way those two translate this verse: (Acts 2:8 NKJV) "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  (Acts 2:8 NASB) "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

    And there is the miracle, and there is the purpose of the original "speaking in tongues."  It had nothing to do with the gibberish of  today which is called "speaking in tongues."  What does the passage say?

(Acts 2:8-11 NKJV) "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."
 

    That was the miracle of Pentecost!  Everyone could hear in their own language, and what did it do?  It caused them to ask, "What is going on here?"  "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?"  Oh yes, this is of God!  This was God's plan to get the attention of all the people, and it did!  It worked!  It wasn't a bunch of gibberish which no one understood, it enabled all of those present to hear in their native language.  These were real languages, not the unintelligible sounds of today's tongues.  There is no glory in today's tongues because they are not real languages.

 

 

Part of this article was taken from my Article, Can Men perform Miracles today?.  If you would like to read that article, feel free to click on this link.

 

Bible Study with Harley