The Bible in the Language of the People

MEMORY VERSE: “Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” —Acts 2:11

ACTS 2:1-12

THE Holy Spirit was poured out upon the waiting disciples at Pentecost in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. The Holy Spirit is the holy power of God, and to that power there is no limit. In the opening chapter of the Bible it is shown to be a creative power. It is this power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and exalted him in due course to the right hand of the throne of God. It is this power, implementing divine wisdom in designing the human organism, that created the organs of speech; and there was no problem for the Lord to exercise that holy power to enable those first disciples to speak in tongues which ordinarily were not familiar to them.

There is a wise purpose in everything that God does. At the time of Pentecost, Jews were gathered at Jerusalem from essentially all parts of the then known world. Having been away from Palestine, some of them for generations, they no longer spoke the language of their homeland. However, it was in the plan of God that these should receive a witness concerning Jesus—his ministry, his suffering, his death, and his resurrection. The only ones then qualified to give this witness were his disciples, yet these were limited in speech to their own native tongue.

But God’s arm was not shortened by this limitation. His holy power operated and enabled his witnesses to speak in other tongues. Sixteen different nationalities are mentioned as being present, and all of these heard about Jesus and the wonderful works of God, each in his own tongue. We are not to suppose that all those who spoke with tongues on that day gave witness in all sixteen or more languages. Possibly a single disciple was given the ability to speak in only one or two tongues in addition to his own. The point is that all heard the message in their own tongue—a wonderful miracle.

Thus we see that the original speaking in tongues had a real purpose, for a wide witness for the truth concerning Jesus was given in this way, and in a very short period of time. As the Gospel spread as a result of this first witness there would he, in time, believers in the various areas mentioned, and they could give the witness to their friends and neighbors without the necessity of miraculously speaking in other tongues.

The New Testament record indicates that the “gift” of speaking with tongues gradually disappeared. Even in Paul’s day there were those who had lost sight of its real purpose. Paul wrote, “Except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?” And again, “If I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. … Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”—I Cor. 14:9-13

Paul explained further that he had the ability to speak with tongues, but to this he added, “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”—I Cor. 14:18,19

It is clear from Paul’s instructions that speaking in an unknown tongue was an exercise in futility unless there were those present who, through an interpreter, were thereby instructed in the things of God. It was for this reason that Paul, discerning the Lord’s providences in the matter, declared that “tongues” would pass away.—I Cor. 13:8

The modern frenzy of speaking in tongues—“glossolalia”—is something quite different from what was practiced in the Early Church, and especially that which occurred at Pentecost. Now, those who speak in tongues use a gibberish which is not even understood by themselves, much less by others. And to the best of our knowledge no interpreters are used today to give the hearers an understanding of what is purported to be said. It is the result of a high state of frenzy and emotionalism which borders on insanity during the time it is in process. It has no relation to that miraculous “gift” with which the Lord blessed some in the Early Church in order quickly to give a wide witness for the truth.

QUESTIONS

What is the Holy Spirit?

Explain the purpose of the “tongues” employed at Pentecost.

What was Paul’s view of speaking with tongues?

Is “glossolalia” taught in the Bible?

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