Tongues
I would like to write down a quick recap about the topic of speaking in tongues. I don't intend to initiate a theological debate so don't be surprised if I don't reply to specific criticisms of my explanations, although I hope this proves useful to some people. I will, of course, discuss this further if there are questions.
There are two kinds of tongues:
1) Personal: For our own use. It's okay if someone hears us speaking in personal tongues but they're not meant for anyone else.
Purpose:
a) A sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit, and some (like me) would say that it's a required sign.
b) "Edifying" or building ourselves up. (1 Cor. 14:4)
c) Allowing the Holy Spirit to pray what we don't know, speaking mysteries. (1 Cor. 14:2)
d) We're made of body, soul and spirit. It's easy enough to communicate with God through action or with our minds, but tongues allows our spirits to do so as well.
2) Public: For the sake of giving a message from God to others. Much of 1 Corinthians 14 deals with this in the context of proper use in a group setting. The key is that public tongues are useless unless they're accompanied by an interpretation in plain language. Public tongues should also be tested by others (1 Cor. 14:29)
Purpose:
a) Prophecy to church. Serves the various purposes that prophecy does like revelation, encouragement, conviction, foretelling.
b) Edifying or building the church up. (1 Cor. 14:4)
c) A sign to unbelievers. (1 Cor. 14:24-25)
There are two kinds of languages of tongues and two kinds of interpretation.
1) Tongues can use a heavenly language that we cannot understand by our own skill, or tongues can use another earthly language that the speaker does not know.
2) The interpretation of public tongues can be more of a vague Spirit-led thing or it can be a direct translation because the interpreter speaks the earthly language that is being used.
Two potential problems with public tongues:
1) No interpretation may be given. The person speaking in tongues may be mistaken or there may be a person that was supposed to give an interpretation and they did not.
2) The interpretation that is given could be wrong.
1 comment:
Of course don't forget the passage before "I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell." 1 Corinthans 13:1
I suppose that love is used twofold here, you need love to be open to receiving the gift of tongues & you need love in your heart when speaking tongues to make it meaningful.
Cheers,
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