What is the Gift of Speaking in Tongues? Is it for Today?

TL;DR

• Examines the gift of speaking in tongues from both continualist and cessationist perspectives, referencing biblical foundations.
• Continualist view: Tongues as a present-day gift, supporting personal edification and church growth (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:4).
• Cessationist view: Tongues ceased with the apostolic age, intended for specific historical purposes (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Continualist Perspective on Speaking in Tongues

The continualist perspective asserts that the gift of speaking in tongues, as mentioned in the New Testament, is still active and valid today. This view is primarily based on passages like Acts 2:4, where the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in different languages, and 1 Corinthians 14:4, which speaks to the edification of the individual who speaks in tongues.

Biblical Foundation

Continualists argue that speaking in tongues is a sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity, as seen in Acts 2:4, where the apostles received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. They also refer to Mark 16:17, where Jesus states that speaking in new tongues will be a sign that accompanies believers.

Purpose and Function

The purpose of speaking in tongues is twofold in the continualist view. Firstly, it serves as a personal spiritual gift that edifies the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4). It is seen as a means of private prayer and communication with God, as indicated in 1 Corinthians 14:2. Secondly, it is considered a tool for evangelism and the expansion of the church, as exemplified in Acts 2, where the apostles’ speaking in tongues drew the attention of many and facilitated the spread of the Gospel.

Cessationist Perspective on Speaking in Tongues

Cessationists believe that the gift of speaking in tongues was specific to the early church and ceased with the apostolic age. They argue that tongues were a sign for unbelieving Jews and a tool for the foundational period of the church, which concluded with the death of the last apostle.

Biblical Foundation

Cessationists point to 1 Corinthians 13:8, which states that prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, and knowledge will pass away, interpreting this as indicating a specific period for these gifts. They also view the lack of reference to tongues in the later epistles and early church writings as further evidence of their cessation.

Purpose and Function in the Apostolic Age

The cessationist view holds that tongues in the New Testament served two primary purposes. First, as a sign to unbelieving Jews (1 Corinthians 14:22), fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 28:11-12). Second, as a means for spreading the Gospel during the church’s foundational era. Once the foundation was laid, and the New Testament canon was completed, cessationists argue that the extraordinary gifts, including tongues, were no longer necessary.

The Role of Tongues in Personal Edification

From the continualist perspective, the role of tongues in personal edification is significant. This view is grounded in passages like 1 Corinthians 14:4, which states, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.” Here, the focus is on the internal benefit for the believer, offering a means of spiritual growth and personal communion with God.

Spiritual Growth and Edification

Speaking in tongues is seen as a tool for spiritual enhancement, allowing the believer to engage in intimate communication with God. Romans 8:26-27 discusses how the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, which some continualists interpret as referring to tongues. This spiritual language is believed to bypass the limitations of the human mind, allowing the Spirit to directly communicate with God on behalf of the individual.

Enhancing Personal Prayer Life

Continualists often see the practice of speaking in tongues as a way to enrich one’s prayer life. In Jude 1:20, believers are encouraged to build themselves up in their most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, which can include speaking in tongues. This practice is viewed as a means to deepen one’s relationship with God and to foster a more vibrant and dynamic prayer experience.

The Role of Tongues in Church Context

Cessationists, while acknowledging the historical role of tongues, argue that their purpose in the church context was specifically tied to the apostolic age and the establishment of the early church.

Sign for Unbelievers

In the New Testament, specifically in 1 Corinthians 14:22, tongues are described as a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Cessationists interpret this as an indication that tongues were intended as a sign to validate the message of the apostles to non-believing Jews, as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 28:11-12).

Temporary Role in the Early Church

Cessationists argue that the gift of tongues had a specific, time-bound purpose in the early church. They view it as a tool God used to spread the Gospel across linguistic barriers during the church’s formative years. Once the church was established and the canon of Scripture was completed, cessationists believe that the need for such extraordinary gifts diminished. This perspective is supported by the observation that references to tongues decrease significantly in the later New Testament writings and in the post-apostolic church writings, suggesting a gradual phasing out of this gift.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the discussion on the gift of speaking in tongues presents two main views: the continualist perspective, which sees tongues as a valid and active gift for personal edification and church growth today, and the cessationist perspective, which views tongues as having ceased with the apostolic age, serving specific purposes in the early church. Personally, I align with the cessationist view. This stance is not only supported by scriptural interpretation but is also in line with historic confessional Christianity, as reflected in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the 1689 Baptist Confession. These confessions suggest a cessation of certain miraculous gifts with the close of the apostolic era, emphasizing the sufficiency and finality of the Scriptures for guiding the church.

Read More

For those interested in exploring this topic further, especially from a cessationist perspective, I recommend the following books:

1. “Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship” by John MacArthur – This book provides a thorough examination of the modern charismatic movement, critiquing its practices and theology, particularly the use of tongues, from a cessationist standpoint.
2. “To Be Continued?: Are the Miraculous Gifts for Today?” by Samuel Waldron – Waldron provides an in-depth biblical and theological analysis of the cessationist position, engaging with key scriptural passages and historical viewpoints, including those reflected in the 1689 Baptist Confession.