Tongues - Purpose, Use, & Distribution - Scriptural Truths

[RevKidd]

I had to start this thread. I see a lot of questions regarding tongues, the use of tongues, how to get tongues, why am I not speaking in tongues, tongues, tongues, tongues, tongues… I am not sure where to start with this… I don’t know how many threads I have posted in over the years that shows plainly how tongues are to be used and if all should speak in tongues. Why was tongues given to the early church? Doesn’t Paul speak of other, GREATER gifts? Why do so many mainstream Pentecostal churches and members completely ignore what Paul teaches in Corinthians, and cling to Acts?

I am not going to quote every scripture in Acts showing the gift of tongues to new believers. I am sure that many of us have read them many times. However I want to focus on one particular incident that really seems to be horribly misinterpreted.

Acts 19 is used by many church pastors, laypeople, evangelists as proof that just because you believe you still haven’t been baptized in the Holy Spirit. I fell for this one for years growing up in the UPCI church. I can’t really explain it, but the Holy Spirit explained opened my eyes to what was really going on. Let’s read.

Acts 19:1
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."

Most people who espouse the idea that you can believe and not have the Holy Spirit run right to Acts 19:2. They hold to the idea that the word "believed" equals being saved. Since Luke records these men as being "disciples" it assumes that they were disciples or followers or believers in Jesus Christ. However, that is not the case. Paul asks them if they have received the Holy Spirit since they believed, and they responded by saying they new nothing of a Holy Spirit.

At this point in time you have to ask, "Well why not"? If you are disciples why haven’t you heard about the Holy Spirit? And that is exactly what Paul does next.

3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."

Paul in his great wisdom knew that there was a reason that these men had not received the Holy Spirit. So Paul, asked them, how were you baptized. Or what Faith were you baptized into? Remember our Baptism is an outward sign to the world of our renewing in Christ. However, these 12 men had not been baptized according to the belief and renewing salvation of Jesus Christ. Paul discovers that they were not disciples of Jesus, rather John the Baptist. Since these men were disciples of John and not Christ, they did not believe in Christ the same way as Paul did. Something in their belief kept them from being saved and Luke records what happens next.

4

Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

I am not sure that Luke records everything that Paul says to the men that day. But verse 4 shows that Paul indeed taught the men the difference of being a disciple of John and being a disciple of Christ. That John prepared the way for Christ, the true Messiah. There is a good chance, that these men thought that John was the Messiah. Whatever the circumstance were, Paul knew that something was not correct in doctrine or teaching. I believe that through the Holy Spirit Paul was given wisdom to discern the truth from these men.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

After Paul taught them the Gospel truth, the men were then Baptized into the name of Jesus Christ and then Paul laid his hands on them and they began to speak in tongues and according to scripture they also Prophesied. Those of you who feel that tongues is necessary for salvation need to explain why your doctrine does not include prophesy as one of the gifts necessary for Salvation?

Acts 19 is not proof that one can believe and not receive. In fact it points to the idea that when we believe, we do receive the Holy Spirit at Salvation. We are saved by faith. At that point the spirit of God enters us to start a transformation within us. It is up to us whether or not we want to use the tools that God wants to give us. That’s why we have denominations today that deny the gifts. They suppress the power of the Holy Spirit because they are afraid, ashamed of what other might think. They remember how many times they used to scoff and mock Pentecostal churches for being charismatic and don’t want to suffer the same persecution. They are no less saved than anyone else is. However, do believe, based on Corinthians, that many do operate in the gifts, they just don’t know it. You have to remember that there are more gifts that just Tongues and one can be "filled with the spirit" and not operate in tongues. I will hit on this more, later in Corinthians.

Why do we see tongues so prevalent in Acts and at the conversion of new believers? Doesn’t that prove that tongues are for everyone? The answer is both in scripture and in context of the time and place in which the new Christian church was to grow. Let me explain. Most people forget that in a few short years, the first century church was going to have to face the worst tribulation that the Christian church has faced to this day. Thousands and thousands were going to be martyred at the hands of the Roman Empire. In order for the church to survive this coming persecution, they had to grow. However, the growth needed to survive could not have been obtained by using human resources. However, God in his great wisdom knew what the church needed. The Comforter, who would bestow to the believers those, gifts which would empower the church to spread like wildfire. And it did.

Acts 2
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
14 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

These verses are the greatest example in all of scripture of the use and power of tongues. As I said earlier God knew that the church was going to need supernatural tools to grow. And what better gift to give the believers than that of the ability to speak in other languages in order to evangelize Jesus Christ. Verse 41 shows the effect of tongues and a great sermon. Now I firmly believe that tongues was used to communicate to others in known languages and I also believe (based on scripture that we will get too later) that we do utter mysteries, or a language that we might not know when we pray.

Tongues were used in the first century church as a tool of evangelism. It was used to spread the gospel. Its purpose was to the lost, not the saved. Tongues were a very much-needed tool of God so that the church could grow and later survive. That’s why you see tongues presented so much in Acts, it was the catalyst for church growth and also provided supernatural proof of what the disciples where preaching about, and that was Jesus Christ.

As the church grew and the gifts of the spirit were being poured out, improper use of the gifts started to happen. I would imagine to the same extent that we see it today. This was happening in the Corinthian, church a body of believers. So Paul in his letter to Corinth outlines the proper use of the gifts, especially that of tongues.

I will start in 1 Corinthians 12:1

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

Up to this point I think it is very clear how important it is to have the Holy Spirit. That the DIVERSITY of the gifts come from the same Spirit, that all the ministries in the body of Christ come from the same Lord/Holy Spirit. But pay attention to verse 7. Paul says that the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. That also says to me that we are all given the Holy Spirit at conversion. The benefit of that is to the profit of the entire body of Christ. Paul not one time mentions, along with his teachings of the gifts, which the gifts are obtained at some second event after conversion. The only evidence that I find of that is in Act 19, which I already explained.

To be continued

 

[RevKidd]

Some of the questions that I read over and over again start something like this…

Why don’t I speak in tongues? I want to speak in tongues, but can’t, why? How do I speak in tongues? My dog spoke in tongues, but I can’t, HELP…

For some reason many of these people are under the assumption that tongues is a necessity for them to continue life as a Christian. They feel, for some reason, that if they speak in tongues, they will have "arrived" spiritual, and the scales will be removed from their eyes and will soon be able to see in the spiritual world with new spiritual eyes or at least something along those lines. People today are taught that if they are without tongues that they are spiritually handicapped in some way. They then are taught many different ways to obtain this spiritual right of passage. However, when we go to 1 Corinthians 1:8-11 we read something that goes against 90% of all beliefs that fall under tongues. In verses 8-10 Paul teaches about the many different gifts that are distributed. Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, tongues, Interpretation. Nine Gifts of the Spirit. However, we come to verse 11 and we see a verse that is almost entirely forgotten in the world of Spiritual Gifts.

11

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

I get very frustrated when people say that all you have to do to speak in tongues is ask, especially when Paul teaches clearly that the Holy Spirit distributes all nine gifts, not just tongues, as He wills. That should clearly indicate to someone that tongues might not be something that the God wants me to have. So in reality, we should be asking the spirit to give to us the Gift that will be the biggest help to the body of believers (1 Corinthians 1:7), not what we want because we see others doing it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Paul is basically teaching that we cannot all have the same function in the body of Christ. And Paul illustrates that by comparing the Body to Christ to our Physical bodies. Paul says that we can’t all be eyes, feet, and hands. Paul says that God has placed in the body as HE chooses and that He is pleased with that. These are important verses to understand. They go hand in hand with what Paul in teaching and trying to convey. How healthy do you think a church is if everyone were to speak in tongues and there were no other gifts being taught and administered and being used? Think of our bodies in the same way. What if our heart says, I’d rather be a liver. We wouldn’t live 1 min. The same goes for the body of Christ. However, this is not taught. Rather people are being taught that Tongues is dependent wholly upon the seeker and that the gifts are benefit for us rather than what Paul teaches which is a benefit or profit for all.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Based on the above scripture and the pretext of the chapter, how can anyone say that 1) Tongues are a necessity for salvation? 2) That tongue’s is for everyone? The Pentecostal/Charismatic churches need to start teach sound biblically doctrinal teachings regarding the charismatic gifts. In fact, because of the misleading ideas that tongues is the pinnacle of spirituality, we now have churches that are week spiritually because people are not seeking what the Holy Spirit would them to use.

31

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

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First of all, don’t think that verse 31 give us the right to ask for the gifts we want. Paul is speaking corporately to the church body and exhorting everyone in the church to seek the best gift for the body. But what I like is the fact that Paul says desire the best gifts and I will show you a more excellent way and that is outlined in 1 Corinthians 13. The Love Chapter. It does us, as a body and as an individual leader to be able to do all of the gifts and yet show no love. I won’t go into detail in regards to Ch. 13 but please read it. There is a reason why Paul places such an emphasis on in it.

Now onto 1 Corinthians 14.

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

I am so amazed why tongues is pushed so hard in light of this scripture. Why is that?

I also would disagree with those that say that there are two different types of tongues. First Paul does not state that anywhere in his description of the nine gifts. Rather there is one gift of tongue. That gift is either interpreted or not interpreted. And that is clearly defined by Paul. When tongues is not interpreted it benefits not the church, but rather the believer. One thing that we have to remember is that the ultimate profit for the gifts has always been for the body of believers, the church, and not the individual. That’s why you see tongues used as a tool for evangelism in the early church, it was as Paul put in Chapter 12, a profit for the church. However, when we come to Corinthians, we get the idea that the gifts, much like today are being misused. And that is why Paul in Corinthians has to set the record straight on the gifts.

In verses 1-5 in chapter 12 Paul says that he would rather people prophesy, why, because it benefits the church. Paul says, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification". This again is proof text that the gifts are to be used as a benefit for the church. Tongues, with no interpretation, have its benefit for it edifies the person speaking, but not the congregation. Remember that the emphasis for the gifts is for the church, not the believer. Also, Paul states that the only reason that he would rather people speak in tongues vs. prophecy is that if the tongues were interpreted. So why do so many people push tongues when clearly Paul says that he would rather people prophesy? I never see people asking for the gift of interpretation, or prophecy, it’s always tongues. Do we the church want to be empowered believers, or just copy cats of what we see on TV or what other tell us is correct without examining Scripture.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

I hope that if you read the previous scripture that you especially pay attention to verses 12 & 13. They go along with everything that I have being writing and what Paul is preaching. The following verses speak to the same fact.

15

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,"

says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
Hear again is my point. Why does the Charismatic church try and push a Spiritual Gift onto people that is not for them but for unbelievers. Paul plainly points this out.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

I typed this whole discourse, if you want to call it that in a hurry…. But I hope that I have shed some light on several areas concerning the Gifts of the Spirit especially concerning these ideas…

1. Gifts are something that we seek after, not ask for.
2. Gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit and He gives according to His Will, NOT ours.
3. Tongues is not a necessity for salvation.
4. Holy Spirit is given to all believers at conversion, thus enabling the ability of the gifts by the Holy Spirit.
5. The purpose of the gifts – They are to believers for the purpose and profit of the church
6. Why tongues was so apparent during ACTS and the purpose of tongues to spread the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[TheDag]

It is refreshing to hear someone else say this. I am a firm believer that when scripture tells us that if someone speaks in tongues there should be an intepretation. If there isn't then the person who spoke in tongues should not speak again to the whole congregation during that service. I also believe in ordered worship. If there is a time in that ordered worship for people to praise or pray however they feel led then I would have no problem with people speaking in tongues without interpretation. I think sometimes when we here ordered we think no freedom for the spirit.

 

[Addict4JC]

Just a notice. The reason you disagree with the idea that there IS two different types of tongues is because you have not considered the wholeness of what the truth is.

HOWEVER, I'm not here to accuse or put down, just to stand firm on that issue.

Here are some scriptures relating to the tongues of prayer and praise, which is quickened in our spirits by the Spirit of God. Not saying it's a gift, but it's something that every Christian can be able to do. Look, even Christ said it Himself:

[BIBLE]Mark 16:17[/BIBLE]

Now, Paul did say something about tongues in a different aspect than what you are talking about, which is the Gift of Tongues.

[BIBLE]Ephesians 6:18[/BIBLE]

In the verse above, there can be a interpretation given by the Spirit, but that usually comes when the tongues are given as a message unto the church. However, notice that sometimes the tongues can be uttered yet no interpretation comes. That can be from 4 causes:

1 - The lack of spiritual understanding within that church.
2 - The stifling of the Holy Spirit.
3 - The believer speaking in their praise/prayer tongue (personal spirit language), which does not need an interpretation because only God can understand it because we are speaking to Him.
4 - Presences within the service that are not of God that can cause oppression and even attack or try to attack believers (ie. no one being able to sing for the Lord, preaching becomes tense, etc.)

Now, lastly, what did Paul say about the structure of tongues involving the spirit (his renewed, OUR renewed, spirits):

[BIBLE]1 Corinthians 14:14-16[/BIBLE]

Yes, Paul did say to seek the better gifts to edify the church, but we are able to edify ourselves as well.

Therefore, there is another tongue, which are spiritual tongues that may or may not be real. However, God knows what is being said, but we can pray in the spirit when needed or desired.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

You cannot understand tongues and prophesying without seeing that there are two kinds.One is spiritual tongues... which all believers can do and which originates from the born again spirit of the believer.
The other is supernatural tongues... which is only given to certain believers and is a the gift of the Holy Spirit "diversities of tongues".

IMO, the Acts two event was not even tongues as described by Paul in 1 Corin.
First of all, what happened in Acts two was certainly not spiritual tongues because spiritual tongues cannot be understood by anyone. They are directed at God and not man. (1 Cor 14:2)
Second, all tongues need to be interpeted. The Acts two event did not need to be interpreted since people present understood them.
Third, unknown tongues are directed at God, not at men. Yet the event in Acts two was clearly directed to men and spoke about "the wonderful works of God".
Forth, it could not have been "diversities of tongues" for the same reasons, plus Paul tells us that not everyone will have this manifestation of the Spirit... yet in Acts two they ALL spoke with "languages". But the languages were not unknown, did not need to be interpreted.
If we must label the Acts two event as something..then it was actually prophecy. It was speaking the mind of God in a known language, hence prophecy. Even Peter quoted Joel and said "this is that" (the speaking) that was spoken by Joel. The only thing in the quote from Joel that even resembled what was happening was "your sons and daughters shall prophesy". Therefore, if we are to take the Acts two event as a fulfillment of Joel two... then what they were doing was actually closer to prohesying... not speaking in unknown tongues. There was nothing unknown about them.
The Acts 19 event further clarifies what was happening in Acts two... there it says they spoke in tongues AND prophesied. Hence the event was more than merely tongues as described in 1 Corin 12-14.

 

[womanofgodwcci]

1. divers kinds of tongues
2. interpretation of tongues
3. speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself or builds himself up. We must be edified before we can edify the church. God has ordained this speaking in an unknown tongue unto Himself as a wonderful, supernatural means of communication in the Spirit.

 

[RevKidd]

Just a notice. The reason you disagree with the idea that there IS two different types of tongues is because you have not considered the wholeness of what the truth is.

HOWEVER, I'm not here to accuse or put down, just to stand firm on that issue.

Here are some scriptures relating to the tongues of prayer and praise, which is quickened in our spirits by the Spirit of God. Not saying it's a gift, but it's something that every Christian can be able to do. Look, even Christ said it Himself:

Mark 16:17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Now, Paul did say something about tongues in a different aspect than what you are talking about, which is the Gift of Tongues.

Ephesians 6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

In the verse above, there can be a interpretation given by the Spirit, but that usually comes when the tongues are given as a message unto the church. However, notice that sometimes the tongues can be uttered yet no interpretation comes. That can be from 4 causes:

1 - The lack of spiritual understanding within that church.
2 - The stifling of the Holy Spirit.
3 - The believer speaking in their praise/prayer tongue (personal spirit language), which does not need an interpretation because only God can understand it because we are speaking to Him.
4 - Presences within the service that are not of God that can cause oppression and even attack or try to attack believers (ie. no one being able to sing for the Lord, preaching becomes tense, etc.)

Now, lastly, what did Paul say about the structure of tongues involving the spirit (his renewed, OUR renewed, spirits):

1 Corinthians 14:14-1614 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

Yes, Paul did say to seek the better gifts to edify the church, but we are able to edify ourselves as well.

Therefore, there is another tongue, which are spiritual tongues that may or may not be real. However, God knows what is being said, but we can pray in the spirit when needed or desired.

I am sorry, but you have not proven your point. Paul outlines the nine spiritual gifts. Tongues is mentioned one time by Paul. Those tongues are either interpreted or not interpreted. Interpreted they are for the church, uninterpreted is for the believers own edification. Any thing else is extra biblical and if I were I would not touch it with a 10 foot poll.

 

[Addict4JC]

Actually it seems that you're not really willing for revelation of the Holy Spirit... there's a lot of things about edification in tongues proven in scriptures, you're just not opening yourself to that realization.

Read didaskalos post.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I am sorry, but you have not proven your point. Paul outlines the nine spiritual gifts. Tongues is mentioned one time by Paul. Those tongues are either interpreted or not interpreted. Interpreted they are for the church, uninterpreted is for the believers own edification. Any thing else is extra biblical and if I were I would not touch it with a 10 foot poll.

Well... I think you are just closing yourself to obvious things clearly found in scripture.
1 Cor 14:2 clearly and without a doubt says point blank that no man understands tongues. It clearly says tongues are for God and not for men. Later in the chapter it clearly says that tongues must alway be interpreted... which would clearly be true if as verse 2 said, NOBODY understands them.
This NOT what happened in Acts 2. Not even close.
What you have offered does not make sense... spiritual or otherwise.

 

[RevKidd]

1. divers kinds of tongues
2. interpretation of tongues
3. speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself or builds himself up. We must be edified before we can edify the church. God has ordained this speaking in an unknown tongue unto Himself as a wonderful, supernatural means of communication in the Spirit.

It's still one tongue, one gift. Just becase WE, may use it differently doesn't change the fact that there is one gift of Tongues.

 

[RevKidd]

Actually it seems that you're not really willing for revelation of the Holy Spirit... there's a lot of things about edification in tongues proven in scriptures, you're just not opening yourself to that realization.

Read didaskalos post.

Any thing else is extra-biblical. Where is your scripture?

 

[RevKidd]

Well... I think you are just closing yourself to obvious things clearly found in scripture.
1 Cor 14:2 clearly and without a doubt says point blank that no man understands tongues. It clearly says tongues are for God and not for men. Later in the chapter it clearly says that tongues must alway be interpreted... which would clearly be true if as verse 2 said, NOBODY understands them.
This NOT what happened in Acts 2. Not even close.
What you have offered does not make sense... spiritual or otherwise.

What are you talking about Dids. I agree that no man can understand tongues, unless they are interpreted or used according to Acts where people heard there tongues spoken in their native language. Paul says that tongues is for the unbeliever not the beliver. It doesn't say anything about tongues being for God. The Gift of tonues is for the profit of the church and evagelism it is a tool of God.

Acts 2
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
14 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

[Addict4JC]

Actually if it was just ONE tongue then everyone would speak the same thing.

Better yet... if we have not love and speak in our tongues, whether it's the Gift endowed by the Holy Spirit or just the tongues given to our new being/spirit, then it's that of a crashing cymbal.

 

[RevKidd]

What are you talking about Dids. I agree that no man can understand tongues, unless they are interpreted or used according to Acts where people heard there tongues spoken in their native language. Paul says that tongues is for the unbeliever not the beliver. It doesn't say anything about tongues being for God. The Gift of tonues is for the profit of the church and evagelism it is a tool of God.

Acts 2
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
14 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

What are the obvious things found in scripture that I am so missing...?

 

[RevKidd]

Actually if it was just ONE tongue then everyone would speak the same thing.

Better yet... if we have not love and speak in our tongues, whether it's the Gift endowed by the Holy Spirit or just the tongues given to our new being/spirit, then it's that of a crashing cymbal.

Did you read Acts 2. According to you then there would be a different gift of tongues for every spoken language inlcuding those mysteries that we speak...

Acts 2
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
14 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

[Addict4JC]

You're not allowing the Holy Spirit to take you in-depth in the scriptures.

The Bible says study to shew thyself approved.

It seems that you still have to have the milk, you're not really seeking the meat.

 

[womanofgodwcci]

It's still one tongue, one gift. Just becase WE, may use it differently doesn't change the fact that there is one gift of Tongues.

You are not allowing the Holy Ghost to really minister to you.

1 Corinthians 12 mentions two of the gifts as divers tongues and interpretation of tongues. Then there is your own spiritual language by your baptism in the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14. They are all different. They are all gifts and there are 3 of them, because each has a different function ACCORDING TO THE WORD, not an opinion.

 

[womanofgodwcci]

(1) Praying in tongues. Tongues from man to God, for private edification, prayer and praise to God, and messages in tongues from God to man. Obviously tongues to God (1 Corinthians 14:2) require no interpretation, since God understands all languages.

(2) Prophecies in tongues (with interpretation) (1 Corinthians 14:5- 9). There are also messages in tongues from God to man. Tongues which form a message to people require interpretation in most cases. This kind of tongues is a spiritual gift for the edification of others. It was of this gift and ministry that Paul was speaking of when he taught that not all speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). In those verses it is talking about ministries in the church - not about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. According to Mark 16:17 all can speak in tongues in the sense mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:2 - prayer in tongues to God. But not all those baptised in the Holy Spirit will prophesy or give messages in tongues.

(3) However, in the case where a speaker is speaking by the spirit words in a human language understood by the hearers but not necessarily by the one giving the prophecy in tongues, it can be said that tongues are a sign for the unbelieving (Acts 2:8; 1 Corinthains 14:22). This kind of sign is happening even in this day.

 

[RevKidd]

You're not allowing the Holy Spirit to take you in-depth in the scriptures.

The Bible says study to shew thyself approved.

It seems that you still have to have the milk, you're not really seeking the meat.

Scripture and Verse please...

Than you can tell me who has the milk vs meat...

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Thanks RevKidd,
This is your thread and I am not going to disrupt it. I understand what you saying.. but just to many issues arise if we try and fit these different things into the same mold.
Thanks for the thread and thanks for your continued Love for the Lord and His Word.
Blessings
Dids