Do All Believers Speak in Tongues?

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INTRODUCTION

In this assignment the presenter will discussed on ‘speaking in tongues’ on how different scholars with the different denomination of the churches has view, with the agreement and disagreement of the ‘speaking in tongue by all believers’. The coming points are the discussion and view of the followings:

1. Definition of tongues

In the New Testament, "tongues" means languages.[1] According to Wayne Grudem speaking in tongues is prayer or praise spoken in syllables not understood by speaker.[2]

2. Two types of speaking in tongue

2.1 Speaking to God in tongues

All those who have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit can speak in tongue. It will find explanation for prayer speaking and praying to God in tongues in 1 Cor. 14:2, 14. 1 Cor 14:2 states ‘For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understand him; however in the spirit he speaks mysteries’ for God understands all languages. All who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues in prayer to God.[3] God can understand all languages, no need of interpretation (1 Cor. 14:2).[4]

2. 2. Speaking to men in foreign tongues

Sometime, the Lord gives certain message through one person in unknown tongues. This may be translated into the language of the listeners by the same person or by another person as God enables to do so. This is speaking to man in tongue and interpreting tongues. Speaking to men in tongues is a gift. When a person speak, either they themselves or other ought to translate it. If not, it is not the right to use the gift. When Paul question “Do all speak with tongues” (1 cor. 12:30) he means, “Have all of you received this gift of speaking to men in tongue?” Not all have the gift of speaking to men in tongues. But all those who are baptized with the Holy Spirit can speak to God in tongues (1 cor 14:2).[5]

3. The purpose of tongue

The sign is the ‘speaking in tongue’ it was manifested in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-46).[6] Scripture reveals that speaking in tongue is one first manifestation to occur when a person receive baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). Paul ministered to Apollos’. When Paul laid his hand upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and speaks in tongue and prophesied (Acts 19:6). Speaking in tongue come with the baptism in the Holy Spirit.[7] In first Corinthians: 14. There are three main purposes: building up the church, an aid to private prayer and a sign to unbeliever. The scholars and the church leaders also argued that the main purpose of tongue is evangelist.[8]  Where the other says tongue is the sign to unbeliever but not a sign which will convince them of unbelief to bring about conversion.[9] There are different views on the purpose of tongue but generally purpose of tongues is, “is to edify the individual believer”. Though those who speak in tongue are edified in this exercise, yet it does not follow that such edification is possible only through speaking in tongues.[10]

4. VIEWPOINTS REGARDING SPEAKING IN TONGUES

            4.1 Cessationism

This viewpoint argues that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit including tongues have ceased and that there are no such gifts today.[11] The two authors below are the exponents of this viewpoint.

4.1.1 John Macarthur

1 Corinthians 13:8 (ESV) says “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

According to MacArthur he believes that the above verse teach that speaking in tongues ceases in the apostolic age. He stated that the Greek verb used in 1 Corinthians 13:8 means “to cease permanently.” It implies that when tongue ceased, they would never start up again. MacArthur even confesses “I am convinced by history, theology, and the bible that tongues ceased in the apostolic age.”[12] In fact MacArthur even alleged that Speak in tongue may be demonic or satanic in nature.[13] Far from believing that all believer need to speak in tongue today. It seems MacArthur contended that none of the believers will speak in tongue today.

            4.1.2 Richard B. Graffin

According to Graffin all the gifts of the Holy Spirit describes in 1 Corinthians 12:9-10 have ceased.[14] Which mean he believes that all those gifts of the Spirit describe in this passage which includes tongues have ceased and is not for the Church today. In fact Wayne Grudem stated “Graffin is not sure but believes this activity is probably just an ordinary human ability to speak in Nonsense syllables,”[15] this is when Graffin was asked what about those who claim to speak in tongues today.[16] Hence it can be said that according to this Cessionist author there is not even a question whether all Christian should speak in tongues. It seems that he contents with the view that none of the Christians today can speak in tongues.               

            4.2 Continuationism

The belief that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit including Speaking in tongue have not ceased and is still for today. It is the opposite of Cessationism.[17]

4.2.1 Not All Believers Speak in Tongue

Below are the two exponents of Continuationism but the two don’t believe that all believer need to speak in tongue.

4.2.1.1 C. Samuel Storms

Storms argue that the gifts of the spirit including speaking in tongues have not ceased and that it is for the Church today.[18] Regarding the gifts of the spirit including Speak in tongues, Storm stated “I believe that these gifts have been design by God to characterize the life of the church today.”[19] In fact he even confess “I have found this gift [Speaking in tongue] to be profoundly helpful in my prayer life.”[20]  However Storms would not argue that all believers should speak in tongues or that believer who didn’t speak in tongues don’t have the Holy Spirit.[21] This shows that storm believes that Speak in tongues is for the Church today but not that all believers should speak in tongues.

4.2.1.1 Craig keener

According to Keener (a New Testament Scholar), he believes that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have not ceased in the apostolic age, this includes even Speak in tongue. In fact he even stated, “I believe the position that supernatural gifts have ceased is one that no Bible reader would hold if not previously taught to do so.”[22] However Keener contended that Speak in tongue is not necessary for salvation,[23] this means that it is required for all believers to speak in tongue. So according to Keener, Speak in tongue is for the church today but not necessarily that all should speak in tongue.

4.2.2 All believers will speak in tongue

There are few who believe that speaking in tongue is required for all believers and one of such is United Pentecostal Church. The United Pentecostal Church believes that Speaking in tongue is necessary for salvation as Craig Keener suggested.[24] This means that all those who have receive salvation or believes in Christ will all speak in tongues, since they believe that it is necessary for salvation. This implies that this denomination believes that all believers speak in tongue.

5. EVALUATION: NOT ALL BELIEVER CAN SPEAK IN TONGUE  

MacArthur who said the speaking in tongue has ceased during the time of apostolic age and Graffin also said the speaking in tongues is not for today. Which I disagree their views of ceasing of tongues. Though 1 Cor. 13:8 said the tongues will cease, but in my opinion this doesn’t mean it ceased in the apostolic age, but it will cease in the second coming of Christ take place.

However, another controversy, the united Pentecostal belief and said to obtain salvation, need all the believer should speaks in tongue which I strongly disagree. If it so all the believer will not obtain salvation who doesn’t speak. Which seems all the believer are force to speak, force to obtain salvation, which is not biblical, God didn’t force us to all the believer should come to Christ. The choice has been given. As the speaking in tongue is also a spiritual gift, and it is given by God according to grace given to us (Rom.12:6)

 Storms said that speaking in tongue is not for all the believers it is belief and needed for the church today. Keener said Speaking in tongue is for the church today but not necessarily that all should speak in tongue which is very true. Therefore, to speak in tongue is not necessary to obtain salvation. As speak in tongue edified oneself in prayer life. Even Storms said “speak in tongues help me to be more prayerful” here we see the edification of one self.

CONCLUSION

This assignment on Speaking in tongues found very critical as I go through their argument and made more confuse. Because, of different views and suggestion from the scholars. But I have conclude this argument with my belief that, Not all believer can speak in tongue, but doesn’t mean it has cease, it still continue. As the purpose of speaking in tongue, is to edify one another.

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Alfred Devadason, A. lionel, The Anointing Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit: A Study based     on the Bible (Chennai: Word of Christ, 2012), 18.

2. Andrew Wommack, the New you and the Holy Spirit (England: Andrew Wommack             Ministries, 2008), 57-58.

3. Craig S. Keener, Gift Giver:  the Holy Spirit for Today? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 1973), 92.

4. Gerald Hovenden, Speaking in Tongue: the New Testament in Context (New York: Sheffield         Academic Press, 2002), 130-131.

5. Russell R. Byrum, Christian Theology: A Systematic Statement of Christian Doctrine for the Use of Theology Students (Anderson, Indiana: Warner Press, 1925), 397-398.

6. Walter JChantry, Signs of the Apostles: Observation Pentecostalism Old and New (Edinburgh:     The Banner of Truth   Trust, 1973), 58.

7. Wayne Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today (Leicester: IVP, 1996), 10.

8. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids,            Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 1070.

SOURCE   

http://hbc-boise.org/docs/Tongues.pdf. (Accessed in, 9 12 2018).

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[1] http://hbc-boise.org/docs/Tongues.pdf. (Accessed in, 9 12 2018).

[2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 1070.

[3] Alfred Devadason, A. lionel, The Anointing Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit: A Study based on the Bible (Chennai: Word of Christ, 2012), 18.

[4] Devadason and lionel, The Anointing Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit, 18.

[5] Devadason and lionel, The Anointing Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit, 18-19.

[6] Devadason and lionel, The Anointing Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit, 16.

[7] Andrew Wommack, the New you and the Holy Spirit (England: Andrew Wommack Ministries, 2008), 57-58.

[8] Gerald Hovenden, Speaking in Tongue: the New Testament in Context (New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002), 130-131.

[9] Walter JChantry, Signs of the Apostles: Observation Pentecostalism Old and New (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1973), 58.

[10] Russell R. Byrum, Christian Theology: A Systematic Statement of Christian Doctrine for the Use of Theology Students (Anderson, Indiana: Warner Press, 1925), 397-398.

[11] Wayne Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today (Leicester: IVP, 1996), 10.

[12] Macarthur, Charismatic Chaos, 232.

[13] MacArthur, 239.

[14] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 42.

[15] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 344.

[16] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 344.

[17] Grudem, 10.

[18] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 206.                                      .

[19] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 206.

[20] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 222.

[21] Grudem (ed.), Are Miraculous Gifts for Today, 18.

[22]Craig S. Keener, Gift Giver:  the Holy Spirit for Today? (Grand Rapids, Michagan: Baker Academic, 1973), 92.

[23] Keener, 91.

[24] Keener, Keener, Gifts and Giver, 92.