Interpretation of tongues

[Humble Pie]

I'm reading a Smith Wigglesworth book called Smith Willglesworth on the Power of the Scripture. In the book he gives a series of talks and at the end of the talks he dedicates a paragraph to the interpretation of tongues. As far as I can see this is Biblical, whether or not Christians believe that tongues was just a sign for unbelievers in the early days or not.
Now this is the bit that concerns me and I'd like an answer that can be backed up with God's word. I've been around and haven't seen anyone call for interpretation. I've also read that tongues is supposed to be done one by one or in small numbers and interpreted or remain silent but this doesn't happen, at least that I've seen.
What's with that?

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

I'm reading a Smith Wigglesworth book called Smith Willglesworth on the Power of the Scripture. In the book he gives a series of talks and at the end of the talks he dedicates a paragraph to the interpretation of tongues. As far as I can see this is Biblical, whether or not Christians believe that tongues was just a sign for unbelievers in the early days or not.
Now this is the bit that concerns me and I'd like an answer that can be backed up with God's word. I've been around and haven't seen anyone call for interpretation. I've also read that tongues is supposed to be done one by one or in small numbers and interpreted or remain silent but this doesn't happen, at least that I've seen.
What's with that?

"Call for interpretation?" I'm not sure what you are referring to here. In all the churches I've attended when people were praying in tongues there generally is not an interpretation for each and every prayer that is prayed. It is a prayer that is between God and that person. Although, I think that when I'm praying in tongues and then go into praying in English (which is my native language) that that is a form of interpretation. Scripture says that "when we don't know how to pray that the Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). I believe there does not need to be an interpretation.

However, in the event that someone interrupts what is going on with an utterance in tongues, if the Spirit does not give the person the interpretation as well then generally HE will give it to someone else.

There are many factors at play here though. If someone is just beginning to move out in this gift they may be too fearful and hold back. Generally a more mature person in the gift will in that event interpret. But not always. God is patient and if another person is always available to step in when we fall short we will never learn to step out and give what the Spirit is giving us. The other person as well would never learn to not let the beginner think that if they can't do it then "so n so" will always take care of it.

I can't give scripture for the instructional learning, however, that's the way I've always seen it go in others as well as myself. I remember the first time I stepped out to interpret. I choked halfway through and my fear took over. My pastor was gracious and he finished the interpretation. Another time, not with me but with someone else, he gently said, "I have the interpretation, but God is telling me not to give it because someone else has it too and they are learning to step out.

I know there are some who think that if it's God doing it, that people will respond perfectly from the get go and they will speak in tongues perfectly, interpret perfectly, prophesy perfectly, etc.....I disagree.

In the event that a meeting is interrupted, then yes they should wait for an interpretation (perhaps that is what is meant as "call for an interpretation".

 

[Humble Pie]

But not always. God is patient and if another person is always available to step in when we fall short we will never learn to step out and give what the Spirit is giving us. The other person as well would never learn to not let the beginner think that if they can't do it then "so n so" will always take care of it.

I can't give scripture for the instructional learning, however, that's the way I've always seen it go in others as well as myself.

So you're saying that interpretation doesn't matter. You know what? Maybe those strugglers don't have the gift and should keep praying for it if they desire to speak in/interpret tongues.
I accept your point about prayer because I've seen the passage that relates. However what I've quoted from your post here is just your opinion, not what God taught Christians in His word. I appreciate that you acknowledged that some of what goes on it isn't scriptural.

 

[Biblicist]

...Now this is the bit that concerns me and I'd like an answer that can be backed up with God's word. I've been around and haven't seen anyone call for interpretation. I've also read that tongues is supposed to be done one by one or in small numbers and interpreted or remain silent but this doesn't happen, at least that I've seen.
What's with that?

What you may be observing is with how it is unfortunately rather common for congregations to allow the masse use of tongues during times of praise and worship. In 1Co 14 Paul goes into some detail explaining why this practice is strictly forbidden and he only permits two or at the most three occassions when we may individualy speak in tongues within the congregational setting.

Paul (or should we say the Spirit) stipulates that we are able to speak in tongues to the Father and up to three prophecies where the Spirit speaks either to the congregation or to an indivudual.

When it comes to tongues having some supposed sign value to the unbeliever, the only sign that the masse use of tongues has to the unbeliever is one of confusion and this confusion in the end usually ends up pushing the unsaved away from the leading of the Spirit.

When it comes to a "call for an interpretation", this is not usually required when an individual begins to speak loudly in a tongue to the Father as the congregation will appreciate that an interpretation will be required. Many congregations will allow quiet audible tongues to be used (though this is still inappropriate) so when someone begins to speak loudly in tongues the need for an interpretation will be apparent to all.

Paul does not forbid the congregation praising the Father in tongues when we do so to ourselves, say under our breath where it will not unsettle an unsaved or a cessationist visitor.

 

[paul1149]

There are two kinds of tongues – us talking to God and God speaking through us. The interpretation bit concerns God speaking through us through a tongue. That commands the attention of the whole congregation, therefore an interpretation is necessary or the meeting will begin to lose focus and degenerate into chaos. But if you're just using tongues to pray to God, whether it be privately or en-masse as a group – no interpretation is required, and this does not violate Paul's intent in that passage.

 

[Biblicist]

There are two kinds of tongues – us talking to God and God speaking through us....

Even though the view that there are two types of tongues has some populist support it is still something that cannot be demonstrated from within the Scriptures.

With regard to tongues, the Spirit will always without exception direct his words through us to the Father and never to man. Unfortunately over the years we have improperly allowed many to supposedly provide a directive word to an individual or group through tongues which is not a work of the Spirit but generated by over-enthusiastic individuals or simply by those who are trying to push a given agenda.

Paul is adamant that whenever a tongue is given audibly within a congregational setting that an interpretation must always follow.

One of the great failings of the Full Gospel movement as a whole is that it has been unable to squash the notion that the Spirit will speak to individuals through tongues - this is the role of prophecy.

So whenever anyone says "Thus sayeth the Lord...thou shalt go to Albania" then the directive and any others can simply be disregarded.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

So you're saying that interpretation doesn't matter. You know what? Maybe those strugglers don't have the gift and should keep praying for it if they desire to speak in/interpret tongues.
I accept your point about prayer because I've seen the passage that relates. However what I've quoted from your post here is just your opinion, not what God taught Christians in His word. I appreciate that you acknowledged that some of what goes on it isn't scriptural.

I did not say that interpretation does not matter. It does matter but in some situations it is not needed. I clarified which situations it mattered and which it did not. We are not to act shoddily with the gifts neither are we to be so bound up in perfection of them (especially when we are not operating in them ourselves) that we treat our fellow brethren like their useless because they don't perform the gift perfectly from the first time they step out (anyone who operates in the gifts with the love required would not do this either). Where I once struggled with interpreting, it now flows smooth like butter. I know of what I write/speak.

Your "struggler's" comment was exactly my point. Just like anything new it takes getting use to and continuing to step out even though fearful. It is the only way one will overcome their fear. I seriously doubt that Elijah was perfect in prophesying from the get go. Notice he was part of a "school of prophets" (2 Kings 2:1-18). At this point the students were learning from him. He himself was most likely at one time a student though. In the one account of the borrowed axe head that fell into the water, he did not chastise the student who knocked it into the water for not being able to lift it out himself. He did not tell the student "go back to the beginning of your lessons until next time you can do it yourself".

I did not acknowledge that some of what goes on is not scriptural only that I personally could not think of any scripture that backs it up (I have not memorized the whole Bible) ....neither am I aware of any scripture that says it's anti scriptural.

 

[Humble Pie]

Thanks for your responses everyone. Your well thought out answers have helped me. SpiritPsalmist, I'm sorry I misunderstood you.

 

[fathomf5ve]

I've seen it done in Hong Kong at a Vineyard church, and the Vineyard churches in HK are basically outgrowings of Jackie Pullinger's ministry from the times of the Kowloon Walled City and Hang Fook camp to now.

To me it was the closest I've seen to the biblical model. There was a time of worship in music, about three songs. Then silence. In that silence, a person could give a word, a tongue or scripture that God would speak following, or have spoken during, the worship.

A couple of times a person did speak in tongues. More silence. The understanding in these churches in HK is that if there is a message in tongues, there will be an interpretation. The first time we waited, and someone else gave a message to interpret.

The second time it happened (the following week), the silence was longer, but eventually someone did get an interpretation. All relatively low key, more intimate in nature, these gatherings.

Granted, this person did try a third time, but was gently nudged to take a seat. Not sure what happened there, but perhaps it was discerned that it was in error. Still orderly though.

The 1 Corinthians passage emphases doing things in love, which was not how the Corinthians were doing it. Love means ensuring these uses of spiritual gifts were done in a way that everyone could benefit, no-one would feel excluded or weirded out by, and in a way that sharers could share without chaos ensuing.

I don't think there's a problem with people giving tongues and it being a mistake. The community should discern whether it was a mistake or not, and an environment where people are encouraged to use their gifts is welcome, in grace. It's only a problem when people feel excluded by the way it's done, or if the expression of those gifts is done out of distorted priorities, no longer being done for the edification of the body and therefore out of love. Paul's guidelines in 1 Cor 14 are an application of love over giftedness.

 

[ARBITER01]

I'm reading a Smith Wigglesworth book called Smith Willglesworth on the Power of the Scripture. In the book he gives a series of talks and at the end of the talks he dedicates a paragraph to the interpretation of tongues. As far as I can see this is Biblical, whether or not Christians believe that tongues was just a sign for unbelievers in the early days or not.
Now this is the bit that concerns me and I'd like an answer that can be backed up with God's word. I've been around and haven't seen anyone call for interpretation. I've also read that tongues is supposed to be done one by one or in small numbers and interpreted or remain silent but this doesn't happen, at least that I've seen.
What's with that?

First, praying in tongues and speaking in tongues are 2 different actions. Praying in tongues is between you and GOD, while speaking in tongues is GOD speaking to the corporate body.

There is no call for interpretation. Interpretation only happens after GOD speaks through a person in tongues.

The inspirational gifts of the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues are manifested to produce Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort to the corporate body. They are to be done decently and in order, meaning 1 at a time until The Holy Spirit stops their operation for that service.

 

[Biblicist]

First, praying in tongues and speaking in tongues are 2 different actions. Praying in tongues is between you and GOD, while speaking in tongues is GOD speaking to the corporate body...

Even though you are presenting a populist perspective on tongues, such a view cannot be supported from the Scriptures. Paul goes to great lengths in explaining that tongues are always directed toward God and never to man; in fact we have no example within the Scriptures where tongues has been used by the Spirit to speak to individuals.

 

[ARBITER01]

Even though you are presenting a populist perspective on tongues, such a view cannot be supported from the Scriptures. Paul goes to great lengths in explaining that tongues are always directed toward God and never to man; in fact we have no example within the Scriptures where tongues has been used by the Spirit to speak to individuals.

Speaking in tongues with interpretation is "equal" to the gift of prophecy in operation, and that gift if defined as such,..

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and comfort, and consolation.

That is why there is interpretation by The Holy Spirit, so that the body of Christ may understand and be edified, exhorted, and feel the peace of The Holy Spirit around them providing comfort during the message.

Biblical understanding is amazing at times.

 

[prodigal brother]

I'm reading a Smith Wigglesworth book called Smith Willglesworth on the Power of the Scripture. In the book he gives a series of talks and at the end of the talks he dedicates a paragraph to the interpretation of tongues. As far as I can see this is Biblical, whether or not Christians believe that tongues was just a sign for unbelievers in the early days or not.
Now this is the bit that concerns me and I'd like an answer that can be backed up with God's word. I've been around and haven't seen anyone call for interpretation. I've also read that tongues is supposed to be done one by one or in small numbers and interpreted or remain silent but this doesn't happen, at least that I've seen.
What's with that?

all I can tell you is I was once a skeptic of tongues and interpretation of tongues, until one day someone broke out loudly in tongues and there are not words to describe the experience I had, I knew exactly what this man was saying, but at the same time It was not like normal interpretation of a language, that is the difference between tongues and interpretation and foriegn language and it being interpreted.

If you interpret a foriegn language you are interpreting word after word, you have to know the foreign words to interpret them, you would also be able to speak the foreign language as I have never heard of an interpreter who could not speak the language they were able to interpret

But the Holy Spirit gift of tongues and interpretation are so above our ways, whole paragraphs are dropped right into your mind, it stands the hair on your neck straight up, because you know you are experiencing something very supernatural, you are given the interpretation you don't interpret it yourself.

since this was completely new to me, and quite honestly I was to shocked to speak up, someone eles stood up and spoke the very exact words that had been fully laid out clearly in my mind.

I know now what this gift is like, and it is very much for the church today.........sadly so much of the gifts are abused on TV and such that even good Christians tend to rather go with out them

 

[paul1149]

I have to agree with my brothers. I have at times experienced tongues and interpretation from both sides – as speaker or interpreter, or both, and regarding interpretation, it is amazing to see the meaning of an utterance "come into focus" in the mind. I liken it to the psalms, where the writer will be bearing his own soul, when suddenly without warning the speaker obviously shifts upward to God Himself. At some point the Spirit of God has alighted on the human communication, and spoken the direct words of God.

I also have heard the tongues of a score or so people speaking simultaneously come into unison in a breakthrough worship service (Times Square Church, many years ago), which is an astronomical mathematical impossibility in the natural. But it is what it is. I believe I was experiencing a miracle of hearing, and that this is similar to what occurred on Pentecost.

The argument can well be made that the prophecy Paul speaks of in 1Cor 14, which has the ability to cause the outsider to exclaim that "God is surely among you", includes the gift of tongues with interpretation, because that is what interpretation surely is.

 

[K2K]

1 Cor 14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my mind is unfruitful.

Tongues is primarily for the person with the gift!!

Our mind doesn't know how to pray like we should, so it is valuable to have the Spirit help us with our prayers. Still it seems pretty obvious that I might get some benifit from knowing what I am saying - right.

Getting and interpretation is as simple as asking the Lord what it is you are praying and listening to His small voice for the answer!!!

He sometimes tells me generalization - like "You are praying for this person", sometimes He gives me a word for word translation as if I had an interpreter, and sometimes I get a download like an awareness of the overall meaning.

Now I can pray tongues quitely inside, just like I can talk to God quitely inside. What purpose is there for interupting a service with a bunch of people all talking at the same time? Even if they were all speaking in english at the same time it would be silly. Paul discusses the obvious confusion that can come from that. They are simply going to think we are all crazy. We want unbelievers showing up at our churches, so that they might become believers, so it seems pretty obvious that churches shouldn't just have everybody start praying in tongues.

Still there are times when a group, even a larger group, of believers get together, and it becomes obvious that the Spirit is moving the group. Maybe its a conference or retreat, where the purpose is not about bringing in new believers, but rather its more about a refreshing of the body.Then perhaps you get singing in tongues and other wonderful manifestations of the Spirit.

And certainly if I am with a small intimate group of intercessors, I expect the others to be praying in tongues, and even when someone else might be praying in english. In the same way, I might be talking to the Lord (agreeing, adding to, or trying to get other information like instructions for my prayer) while someone else is praying. It doesn't bother me that others pray in tongues. It's good not bad so long as it does not interrupt, or drive away unbelievers.

Paul was just reviewing the obvious in the Scriptures. Somes seem to get so legalistic that they miss the whole point. Tonges is a gift the Spirit gives to help the individual pray better!

Perhaps there is some little variation that the Spirit might use. For the sake of a unbeliever, He might want to have one person pray in tongues and have another give the interpretation. Perhaps the Spirit might want to give a person words in another spoken language in the world which another person might know but not the person speaking it. Those type of things are wonderful sign that God exists, but are not the prime uses of tongues.

The prime use for me is to help me pray better, and remind me to listen to His small voice. Which happens when I ask for an interpretation whenever I pray in tongues.

1 Cor 14:21 "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me," says the Lord

So if you are speaking in tongues, but are not seeking His voice (praying for an interpretation), doesn't that verse apply to you? Shouldn't the person speaking in tongues be the first to realize that they themselves are not listening to the small voice of our Lord?

So when I need help praying, it's good that I have the gift of tongues to help me pray as I should, but when I am around others that need to be ministered to it is better that I hear what the Spirit has to say in words I can tell them.

1 Cor 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather that ten thousand words in a tongue.

Now let me ask a question. If somebody speaks in tongues at the general assembly at church, who should interpret since it is written "let one who speaks in a tongue pray the he may interpret"?

1 Cor 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret.

So many people seem to think that one person should speak in tongues and a different person should interpret. Yet if the one who speaks in tongue is supposed to pray for the interpretation, then it is the one who speaks in tongues who should more than likely have the interpretation.

And consider this: Since you can pray silently, you can pray silently in tongues, get the interpretation, and then just give the interpretation (word) out loud. Still ask the Lord, listen to Him, and do it how He wants it done!

1 Cor 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment... (14:31) for you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn...

His sheep hear His voice, so all His sheep can get a word from Him and give it in turn.

 

[Biblicist]

Biblical understanding is amazing at times.

Very true, but we need to be sure that we quote Scripture which actually relates to a given question!

Remember... I mentioned that we need to find Scriptural evidence where we find the Spirit speaking to someone or a group through a tongue. All that you have done is to simply quote a passage which makes reference to prophecy – which for goodness sake is not tongues, at least you quoted a Scripture that was on the same physical page as Paul’s discussion on tongues.

Now to return to my earlier point, we need to find Scriptural evidence for where we are told that the Spirit speaks to individuals or a congregation through tongues.

Prophecy is prophecy and not tongues - just as tongues is tongues and not prophecy.

 

[Biblicist]

Paul was just reviewing the obvious in the Scriptures. Somes seem to get so legalistic that they miss the whole point. Tonges is a gift the Spirit gives to help the individual pray better!

Yes, there are certainly those amongst us who tend to accept that the words that the Spirit had Paul write for us, that they have purpose and meaning and that they are to be obeyed.

One of the boundaries of understanding that Paul was no fool and that when he wrote a letter to any Church that he knew very well what he meant, is that we do not have the luxury of treating God’s Word as a collection of esoteric writings whereby we can simply change its meaning to suit our emotions and circumstances.

With this in mind, I found myself in agreement with many of your statements.

 

[fathomf5ve]

I'm inclined to think differently, though. How would someone interpret these verses?

1 Corinthians 14


18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.



26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

vv18-19 - Paul contrasts speaking tongues himself with speaking tongues in church. This indicates there is a speaking of tongues outside of the church context, therefore by oneself or to God.

vv26-28 - speak to himself and to God in context would indicate speak in tongues to oneself and to God.

 

[Biblicist]

I'm inclined to think differently, though. How would someone interpret these verses?

1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Within the congregational setting where Paul only permits two or three tongues to be given, these tongues are always directed toward God in praise of him and may include reference to his majestic power and wonders. As the Spirit will always direct the content of these tongues to the Father, they have no teaching value to the congregation – which is the function of prophecy which is always intelligible and given in the local dialect.

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

vv18-19 - Paul contrasts speaking tongues himself with speaking tongues in church. This indicates there is a speaking of tongues outside of the church context, therefore by oneself or to God.

Paul greatly values praying in tongues for private devotions and he develops this theme further in Rom 8:26; Eph 6:18 and there is also a reference to praying in tongues in Jude 1:20.

vv26-28 - speak to himself and to God in context would indicate speak in tongues to oneself and to God.

Even though Paul forbids the masse speaking of tongues within the congregational setting, he still allows us to sing quietly to ourselves in the Spirit so that no one else can hear.

 

[ARBITER01]

Very true, but we need to be sure that we quote Scripture which actually relates to a given question!

Remember... I mentioned that we need to find Scriptural evidence where we find the Spirit speaking to someone or a group through a tongue. All that you have done is to simply quote a passage which makes reference to prophecy – which for goodness sake is not tongues, at least you quoted a Scripture that was on the same physical page as Paul’s discussion on tongues.

Now to return to my earlier point, we need to find Scriptural evidence for where we are told that the Spirit speaks to individuals or a congregation through tongues.

Prophecy is prophecy and not tongues - just as tongues is tongues and not prophecy.

My scripture quote is just fine. Interpretation of tongues is equal to prophecy that the church may receive edifying.

If you are just looking for another one of your scripture fights with folks on here, just go away.