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How about tongue speaking?


Introduction. A number of years ago a phenomenon known as glossolalia or tongue speaking swept the nation. The act of tongue speaking varies among its advocates. Many claim you must speak in a tongue in order to be saved, while others claim speaking in a tongue is a sign of a greater degree of salvation. Tongue speaking, many explain, is not a language, but an unintelligible utterance, only known to an interpreter. Glossolalia, for the most part, is practiced in an emotional atmosphere.

Speaking in tongues involved speaking a language not previously known by the speaker. The writer of Acts tells us that tongues appeared to the apostles ("apostles" is the antecedent of "them," 1: 21, ff. and 2: 7 ff.) and that the spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2: 4). This mightily impressed the people. The writer further tells us: "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language" (2: 6). Again, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (2: 8.) "Unknown" in 1 Corinthians 14: 2 is italicized, meaning the translators supplied it. The language was unknown to the hearers, thus, the need of interpreter (1 Cor. 14). Being able to miraculously speak a language greatly assisted the apostles (and others) in teaching and convincing the lost (Acts 2).

Tongues were never required in order to have salvation. The scriptures teach the essentiality of belief, repentance, confession, baptism, and holiness (John 8: 24, Acts 17: 30, 31, Rom. 10: 9, 10, Mk. 16: 16, Heb. 12: 14), but no where are tongues required. Tongues were spoken by the saved (Acts 2) and the unsaved (Acts 10: 46). Tongues were primarily used for a sign "to them that believe not" (1 Cor. 14: 22). Miraculous ability, including tongues, has ceased (I Cor. 13: 8-12).

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