Jesus commanded the gospel be preached to all creation (Mark 16:15). Though this commission is for all disciples of Jesus through the centuries (Matt. 28:18-20), it was originally given to the eleven apostles to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection (Matt. 28:16; Mark 16:14). One of the signs that accompanied the apostles who went forth preaching the gospel to the world for the first time was the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak with “new tongues” (Mark 16:17, 20). This promise came to fruition on the day of Pentecost when the twelve (after Matthias had been added) received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:26; 2:4).
These tongues were human languages. They were new to the apostles. They were not “new” in the sense that they had never been spoken before or introduced to mankind. Acts 2 makes it clear that when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the audience noticed that “…every man heard them speak in his own language” (v. 6). Though several of the apostles were uneducated Galilean fishermen, they were able to speak other languages they had never studied. One of the most arduous tasks involved in doing mission work today is learning a new language to effectively communicate to the receptor. The multitude gathered on Pentecost day included around fifteen different nations (Acts 2:9-11). They marveled when they heard the apostles speak, and asked, “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8.) If the gospel was going to go to all the world in the first century (Col. 1:6, 23), then this miraculous gift would be essential. The apostles did not have time to learn other languages nor teach others to communicate in them. The Holy Spirit gave this ability as the gospel initially went forth to the world.
The gift of tongues was given for a sign (1 Cor. 14:22). The exercise of this gift arrested the attention of the crowd on Pentecost day so they would listen to the gospel. Peter pointed to what the crowd saw and heard as a sign of the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostles (Acts 2:33). Tongues also confirmed that the Gentiles could be saved through the gospel without the prerequisite of circumcision (Acts 10-11). Peter went to preach the gospel to Gentiles for the first time. Cornelius’ family and friends gathered to hear words whereby they could be saved (Acts 11:4). As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them (Acts 11:15) enabling them to speak in tongues (Acts 10:46) as a sign that God opened the door to the Gentiles to receive the gospel. This miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit served as confirmation in Acts 19:1-6 as well. When the men who had been baptized under John’s baptism learned from Paul that it was no longer valid, they were baptized into the name of the Lord. Then, Paul laid his hands upon them, and they spoke with tongues (Acts 19:6).
The ability to speak in another language is impressive, and the temptation has always existed to make oneself the center of attention with it. The congregation of the Lord’s church at Corinth was started by Paul (Acts 18). The apostle had imparted miraculous gifts to them (1 Cor. 12:8-10; 2 Cor. 12:12). But a problem arose in Corinth with those who—motivated by selfishness instead of love—wanted the attention the gift of tongues could bring rather than using it for the benefit of others. Some today, in their desire to show off, have not only claimed to possess this gift, but also have redefined the entire notion of it to something foreign to the Bible. They claim a gift of tongues characterized by ecstatic utterances involving no known human language.
In his admonition in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul began his emphasis on love by stating, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels;” however, the reference to angels does not mean that there was an actual angelic language Paul spoke. Rather, the context bears out that Paul is employing hyperbole just as he does when he mentions knowing all mysteries (which none but God knows) and faith that moves mountains (1 Cor. 13:2). Paul spoke in tongues (human languages) more than any of the brethren at Corinth (1 Cor. 14:18), but he said even if, hypothetically, he could speak with the tongues of angels, it would be no good without charity (1 Cor. 13:1). Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and faith in this chapter refer to miraculous gifts that gave revelation in parts, which ceased when the completed (perfect) revelation came (1 Cor. 13:8-11).
The purpose of the miraculous gifts of the first-century church has been fulfilled. Speaking in tongues was one of several gifts listed in the closing verses of Mark as having the purpose of confirming the word (Mark 16:20). New revelation from God is always accompanied with miraculous signs to show His approval of the message (Heb. 2:3-4). When the revelation of the New Testament was complete, the purpose of the miraculous gifts had been fulfilled. The New Testament predicts the cessation of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, including tongues, saying, “…tongues, they shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8). The New Testament is complete, lacking nothing as it is called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). The faith has been delivered once and for all (Jude 3). We have all we need for life and godliness revealed in the word of God (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). The gift of tongues, as recorded in the New Testament, does not exist today. Those today who utter gibberish in ecstatic frenzies of emotional excitement are not displaying the gift of tongues as the New Testament defines it. It is an error to confuse these dramatic displays going on today in religious meetings with the miraculous ability to speak actual languages recorded in the New Testament.
Moreover, the exercise of the gift of tongues was done in an orderly manner with the speaker maintaining control over himself to keep silent if necessary (1 Cor. 14:27-33). Are those who claim to have it following the commandments of the Lord written by Paul (1 Cor. 14:37) regarding its proper use? If one in the church assembly does not understand the spoken message, prayer, or words of the song, then no spiritual benefit is derived (1 Cor. 14:15-20, 23). It would be better to speak five words the assembly understood than ten thousand words in a foreign language they cannot understand
(1 Cor. 14:19).
Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11 in this discussion on tongues (1 Cor. 14:21). The stammering lips and strange (foreign) tongue of Isaiah 28:11 does not refer to ecstatic gibberish unknown to anyone on earth. It was the Assyrian language. As a punishment for rebellion, the Assyrians conquered the Israelites removing them to a foreign land with a foreign language; yet they still did not heed the word of the Lord.
Satan does not want people to understand the word of God, lest, perhaps, they believe it and bring forth fruit (Matt. 13:19, 23). The word of God produces faith in the heart (Rom. 10:17) and builds up the faithful to possess their eternal inheritance (Acts 20:32). Let us be thankful that the word of God has been made available in our own language so we can understand. That we can so easily access the words of eternal life is a tremendous blessing not to be taken for granted.