Tongues in the EARLY church

.........was simply an orderly part of the whole pattern of spiritual gifts. Tongues were not to overshadow other gifts but were to be kept subdued.....(1 Cor 14v12)......the purpose of tongues and prophecy was to fill the gap during the time the New Testament was being written; until that which is perfect, the Bible, including old & new testaments......had come into completion...(1Cor13;v10)......

1Cor. 13:8 ........ but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;........1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away........THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME...refers to the Bible.....(Paul was saying when it is completed there will be no need for any more prophecy)....It will be finished....the messsage of God to the world.....the gospel of Jesus Christ....the power of God unto salvation......

"THAT WHICH"..... cannot refer to Jesus Christ because the same expression is used twice in the same sentence......it is used again to show ........"THAT WHICH IS" will be done away with.........if Jesus is used in this context.....then the next THAT WHICH phrase must also refer to a person or persons........who will be done away with when he returns????? those that are perfect?

(Reference) MARY PREGNANT......THAT WHICH...... IS THE HOLY GHOST IS REFERING TO THE SEED OF GOD.....NOT THE PERSON OF CHRIST....

You cannot use the phrase "THAT WHICH" as to identify "SOMEONE" in the first part of the sentence & use it again in the same sentence to identify "SOMETHING".

Beside using the term THAT WHICH to refer to the person of Jesus Christ is a bit LOOSE... don't you think???....Jesus is a person.....not a "THAT WHICH".........Paul would have said so plainly.....but the context of all those scriptures was the need of the EARLY church for Gifts.......to keep it going until the GOSPEL OF JESUS WAS COMPLETED..... (THE POWER OF GOD)......

The knowledge that the church needed from God which was given by the gifts of Prophecy and Tongues has stopped. The form which such knowledge came from Prophecy &Tongues, has stopped. (REV 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:)

The writer of Hebrews used the past tense when he ceclared that God had confirmed the apostolic witness with "signs and wonders", "various miracles", and "gifts of the Holy Spirit"

According to the Apostle Paul the written word of God contains everything we need for knowing God and living in a way that pleases him.......... ALL scripture is given by INSPIRATION of GOD, and is profitable for DOCTRINE.... FOR REPROOF... FOR CORRECTION... FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS..... THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE.... THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK (2TIM.3;16-17)

"That which is perfect"(The bible).... gives us doctrinal truth, points out heresy, corrects wrong behavior, and tells us how to live in a way that pleases the Lord...Such truths, Paul said, are sufficient to bring us to SPIRITUAL MATURITY and thoroughly equip us for life......Our real problem is not a lack of information (prophecy) but a lack of reading and obeying the CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS that GOD has already given us........... Yet there continues from time to time throughout history, certain individuals and groups have claimed that they received additional information directly from God....(cults such as "the Faith movement")

perhaps it is easier to have "unusual experiences" rather than have disciplined bible study....

Gifts of tongues & prophicies were for a period of immaturity and incompleteness........ (V9) they prophesied in part because they did not yet have the complete record.......(v11) they understood as children because they were not yet mature....... but all the incompleteness was to come to an end.....when God had given his complete revelation to man....the complete and perfect WORD OF GOD........the gospel...the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.......(John 16:12.......I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.).....Paul clearly marks in this chapter (1Cor 13) these spiritual gifts as being identified with this period of incompleteness & makes equally clear that these temporary supports will be done away with.....it is only the CULTS that need extra biblical revelations.....

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

GIFT OF TONGUES: 1Cor. 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: ......this New Testament gift has primarly to do with DECLARATION, not revelations. The task is one of forth-telling......not foretelling......One must proclaim already revealed truth.......For the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy (Revelations 19 V10) .........For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book (Rev. 22:18) ...........Prophecy was necessary in the early church because that which was perfect (scriptures) had not yet come....(1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. .....1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.)

More Spiritual? many charismatics claim they are more spiritual because they speak in tongues...but that is not biblical.....

1Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, FIRST apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, AFTER THAT..... miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, (LAST)diversities of tongues. ...........................HOW COULD ONE BE MORE SPIRITUAL BY SPEAKING IN TONGUES WHEN THEY WERE THE LAST GIFT TO BE DESIRED (in the Early Church)??

JOHN THE BAPTIST DID NOT SPEAK IN TONGUES OR DO ANY MIRACLES AND YET JESUS SAID HE WAS THE GREATEST PERSON WHO EVER LIVED.......

Selfishness:

1Cor. 14:2 For HE THAT SPEAKETH IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1Cor. 14:3 But HE THAT PROHESIES speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort........1Cor. 14:4 He that speaketh in an UNKNOWN tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. .....1Cor. 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for GREATER is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying......................Paul was not suggesting in this scripture that tongues were a "prayer language" but he was pointing to the futility of speaking in tongues without an interperter, because only God would know if anything was said.......Tongues in those days were never intended to be used for Gods benefit.......

The Corinthians were abusing tongues(in the early church) to build themselves up in a selfish sense......this grew out of a desire to exercise the most spectacular, showy kind of gift in front of other believers.....isn't that the way it is in most pentacostal churches today????

1Cor. 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

1Cor. 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

1Cor. 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

1Cor. 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; .............Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover...........where are these other signs ???

Jesus the same yesterday and today?........Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. .......Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them....... If these are still for today then.............Where are these signs??..........The sound of rushing wind....The cloven tongues of fire ???

UNKNOWN: The word unknown is italizied in the King James Version...... therefore It is not in the original text.....tongues were different languages........not gibberish that people could not understand.......tongues were used once in that period for proving the ministery of Jesus Christ......now with the book of revelations...we do not have any more need of it.....can you add to what Jesus has already spoken......

In Our own Tongue:

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with NEW tongues;

Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man HEARD them speak IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE....

(What languages do you speak when you're speaking in "TONGUES"...WHO is there to interpret.......saying He/she speaks in my language)......

Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our OWN TONGUE, WHEREIN WE WERE BORN?

Acts 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak IN OUR TONGUES the wonderful works of God.

Women Speaking in Tongues:

1Cor. 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

1Cor. 14:34.......Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law..........1Cor. 14:35......And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church..........1Cor...14:37......If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. ..........1Cor...14:38...... But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

There is not a place for women elders in the church. When the apostle Paul said that a woman should not "teach or exercise authority over a man" (1 Timothy 2:12), he did not follow that statement with a cultural argument. He goes the way back to creation to show that women weren't intended to dominate men (vv. 13-14). The reasons he gave are that the woman was created after the man, and that she was deceived when acting independently of his leadership.

Paul goes on to say in 1 Timothy 2:15 that "women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint." That verse is not talking about women's eternal destiny, but means that they are saved from being second-class citizens through the privilege of rearing children. God designed a woman to fulfill a role in the home that no man ever can (Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:4-5).

Our society's current thinking on the woman's role is contrary to the priorities revealed in the Bible. Genesis 3 explains why that conflict exists. After the Fall, God told the woman, "Your desire shall be for your husband, and heshall rule over you" (Genesis 3:16). Genesis 4:7 helps us to understand what that verse means. There God told Cain,"Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." Exactly the same phrase is used in both passages. So in the same way sin tries to dominate us all, fallen women desire to overpower their husbands, and fallen men tend to oppress them in the same way sin oppresses the sinner. The intended balance, of course, is achieved when men and women lead and submit in a godly manner (Ephesians 5:22-33).

1Tim. 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1Tim. 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1Tim. 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

1Tim. 5:11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

1Tim. 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

1Tim. 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1Tim. 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1Tim. 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Tongues and Phrophecy are different:

1Cor. 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

BOOK of Joel:

book of Joel never mentions tongues?(2:28)

What did Peter mean when he quoted Joel 2:28 -32 on the day of Pentecost? (Acts 2;17-21).... Peter was pointing to Pentecost as a fulfillment of Joel 2;28 ?

But on the day of Pentecost there were no wonders in the heaven and signs in the earth; no blood and fire and vapors of smoke; the sun did not turn to darkness and the moon to blood and the great and terrible day of the Lord did not come.

Facts from the bible: (in the early church)

* The gifts of prophecy was better than tongues because it edified the church (1 Cor. 14:1-4)...(large difference in prophecy and tongues-speaking)

* Preoccupation with tongues was a sign of inmaturity (1 Cor. 14:20)

* Acts and 1 Corinthians are the only New Testament books that refer to tongues-speaking.

* Unregulated speaking in tongues sometimes led to confusion (1 Cor. 14:4)

* There is no evidence of tongues-speaking in most of the salvation accounts of Acts: the 3,000 on the Day of Pentecost (2:41), the Ethiopian eunuch (8:37), Saul (1-9), the "great number" in Antioch (11:21), the "multitude" in Iconium (14:1), Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and their households (16:14, 15, 30-34).

* We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18....the fruit..... kindness, patience, lonsuffering, etc.) but never to be Spirit baptized. And in the early church Paul indicated (1 Cor. 12:30) that not all believers could speak in tongues. But he said that all have been baptized into Christ's body (v13). The two are inseparably linked....so contrary to popular belief....tongues is not evidence of being spirit filled..... the evidence is the disciplined life produce by picking up your cross and following Jesus....

Tongues can promote a false sense of unity with people who hold WIDELY diverse beliefs on the essentials of doctrine whom we are commanded to stay away from (Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. .......Rom. 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.) These considerations should be taken seriously by all who are inclined to believe that a private prayer language is something to be desired......

ERROR:..... TONGUES SPEAKING IS A PRIMARY EVIDENCE OF HOLY SPIRIT FILLING.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: (1) In the book of Acts there are many mentions of Christians being filled with the Spirit, but only one time is tongues speaking mentioned. It is ridiculous, then, to try to make tongues speaking the primary evidence of Holy Spirit filling. A survey of Acts shows the following evidences present when believers were filled with the Spirit: Preaching in foreign languages (Ac. 2:4-11). Witnessing of Christ with boldness (Ac. 4:8-12,31-33). Willingness to serve God's people (Ac. 6:3-5). Christ-like attitude toward's one's enemies (Ac. 7:55-60). Readiness to obey God (Ac. 9:17-20). Winning men to Christ (Ac. 11:24). Resisting false teachers (Ac. 13:8-10). Joy in the Lord (Ac. 13:52). (2) The evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5-6 does not mention tongues at all. The marks of Spirit filling are said to be spiritual relationships (Ep. 5:19,21-33; 6:1-9), worship (Ep. 5:19), resisting Satan (Ep. 6:11-18), and an effective prayer life (Ep. 5:18-20). To connect spiritual gifts with Spirit filling is unscriptural. (3) 1 Co. 12:13 says all have been baptized by the Holy Spirit but the same chapter says not all speak in tongues (1 Co. 12:30).

ERROR:......TONGUES SPEAKING IS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN. In a lot of Charismatic groups every Christian is encouraged to speak in tongues. The pressure to do this varies from group to group, but tongues speaking is definitely upheld as something desirable and important for the Christian life.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES. ......The N.T. says that different gifts are given to different Christians, and no one gift is given to every believer. Paul plainly taught that not every Christian spoke in tongues even in the EARLY CHURCH. (1 Co. 12:4,7-12,28-30).

ERROR: ........TONGUES SHOULD BE SOUGHT BY THE CHRISTIAN. Though there are exceptions, some charismatic churches teach that the Christian should seek to speak in tongues. In fact, the pressure to do so can be intense. Countless books have been written purporting to teach people how to speak in tongues.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES. IMPORTANCE OF TONGUES:
(1) Paul told the Corinthian believers that they should covet the 'best gifts' (1 Co. 12:31). He listed the gifts in order of importance in verses 28-30 and tongues was at the bottom! It is strange that a gift which the Apostles considered the lest important has become so exalted in the modern CHARISMATIC movement.
(2) The disciples did not seek to speak in tongues. In every instance in which Christians spoke in tongues in the N.T. the tongues were sovereignly given. In no instance were the recipients trying to speak in tongues.
(3) The Bible never tells the Christian to seek to speak in tongues. Not once is there such instruction given by the Apostles.
(4) There is no instruction in the Bible about HOW to speak in tongues. If tongues speaking was important for the Christian life and if it was a good thing for every Christian to speak in tongues, surely God would have plainly instructed us in how to do such a thing!
(5) The Pentecostal/Charismatic method of speaking in tongues is unscriptural and dangerous. When a person accepts the idea that tongues speaking is a needed and helpful thing for the spiritual life, he then asks how tongues can be received. The Pentecostal and Charismatic preacher instructs such a one simply to open his mouth and start muttering words but without using normal language. God is supposed to take control of the tongue. There is not a hint of such a practice in the N.T. The Bible warns Christians that there are deceiving spirits which attempt to influence Christians and that can appear as angels of light and ministers of God (2 Co. 11:13-15; Mt. 24:24).

Paul warned the Corinthians that they were in danger of receiving false spirits because of their carnal, undiscerning condition (2 Co. 11:3,4). 2CO 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2CO 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The Christian cannot be possessed by evil spirits, but we can certainly be influenced by them. Thus the Bible warns us to be sober and vigilant (1 Pe. 4:7; 5:8).

ERROR:.....TONGUES IS A HEAVENLY PRAYER LANGUAGE. When it is noted by outsiders that the modern tongues spoken commonly in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles is not a known earthly language, it is replied that they are speaking in a heavenly prayer language.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES:.... The tongues spoken in the early churches were real earthly languages CHES.(Ac. 2:6-10). According to 1 Co. 14:2, tongues speaking was the giving forth of mysteries, which refers to revelation. The term 'mysteries' in the N.T. refers to things that were hidden in O.T. times but are now brought to light (Ro. 16:25,26; 1 Co. 2:7,10; Ep. 3:3-5; Col. 1:26). This is what we see on the day of Pentecost. Those that heard the disciples speak in tongues on that day said, 'we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God' (Ac. 2:11). Biblical tongues were languages, not some sort of unintelligible mutters. When Paul said they were speaking to God, he was saying, unless someone was there to interpret, the person would be speaking in a language that only God could understand. Again, in the ealy church tongues were languages.

ERROR:..... TONGUES IS FOR PERSONAL EDIFICATION. Tongues speaking in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is said to be something the Christian can do privately to edify himself.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES. God plainly tells us the purpose for tongues. It was to give a sign to the nation Israel regarding the fact that God was doing this new thing in starting the church (1 Co. 14:20-22). Paul tells us that tongues was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 28:11,12.

In conclusion, the following are the reasons why I know that modern tongues are not biblical tongues:
1. Biblical tongues were a sign to Israel regarding the founding of the church and ceased when the foundation of the church was completed (1 Co. 13:8,9; 14:20-22; Ep. 2:20).
2. Biblical tongues were bound by apostolic direction (no women speaking, by course, interpretation, no confusion, etc.) (1 Co. 14). The practice of 'tongues' in modern times is not restrained in this way.

3. Biblical tongues were real earthly languages (Ac. 2:6-10).

4. Biblical tongues were revelatory messages (1 Co. 14:2; 2:7,10; Ep. 3:3-5).

5. Biblical tongues were not sought but were sovereignly given by God (1 Co. 12:11).
6. Biblical tongues were the least important spiritual gift (1 Co. 12:28-30).

7. Biblical tongues were not spoken by all Christians (1 Co. 12:30).

8. Biblical tongues were not received in a passive state (1 Pe. 5:8).

Tongues are simply of the flesh....pray for those who think it is otherwise....

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