The Upper Room - Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Speaking in Tongues Hello Ken, I find it intersting that you "don't buy" the speaking in tongues and a sign of receiving the Holy Ghost. I agree with you about the baptism, It needs to be done in the name of Jesus, but I don't think that is it. In the book of Act's when the believer or believer's were filled with the Holy Spirit, 4 out of the five times we see that the spoke in tongues. On the day of Pentecost the 120 in the upper room were to wait for the promise of the Father, how did they know what the promise was? Should there be any reason why we should not receive the promise?Carl
Thanks Carl,I have discovered that within any collection of people, fellowship can happen only on a "topical basis." And disfellowship can happen at the snap of a word or phrase. Therefore, while we disagree on some things we can have fellowship in the most important "Creedal Tenet": that is, the love for the truth. This is the only thing which will keep God from sending us a strong delusion that we believe a lie.
Because it is impossible to evaluate a personal experience I will not address that which I do not understand. We all have our views but the Greeks recognized 5 languages and 70 tongues. At Pentecost, if you came for Tennessee you would hear one of the speakers in a group of Tennesseans and would speak pure anglo saxon prostestant. NONE of the Biblical examples involve the charismatic madness condemned by Paul to the Corinthians. One from an outlying district might speak Tracian in the assembly because those conditioned by the threskia form of worship would have their own magical songs and prayers and often in a book. However, most at Corinth (probably met at Cenchrea) could understand Koine or they probably would not be travelling. Paul is saying that we can speak with our spirit in a Thracian dialect but we can also pray SO THAT we ourselves can translate into Koine.
Music, rituals or acts and especially speaking in a magical dialect were NOT Christian because Jesus promised to build an ekklesia which is a synagogue. A synagogue does not have rituals other than reading the Bible and explaining or translating where needed: this is what Paul commanded Timothy to do. Conclusion: those who are pulling your string to get you to PLEASURE them by being subordinate are dangerous people. See that there is no exception: music, charismatic and tongues are derived from the sexual pleasuring of Orpheus or other pagan "gods."
The highest form of worship to a Jew was Bible study. If you believe that the Bible is inspired of God how could you look for magical forms like witchcraft to be validated by your own experience with it. The only "worship word" by Paul is to give heed to the word when one assembled which was a form of the Greek Synagogue. Even the Lord's Supper is a showing forth or preaching the Death of Christ.
There are no magical rituals in Christianity: it is 100% derived from Catholicism whic is derived from Paganism. Don't get fooled: neither is there a law of tithing or a Law of Giving. People will USE you and ride you to death so that you have neither time nor money to take care of your family as your first duty.
My approach will be to, within my ability, tell you what I believe Paul says as he speaks an easily-perverted message. However, it is important to begin by looking at who, where and why tongues were given by a direct action of Christ and only in the presence of an apostle. There is only conjecture that the total 120 were in the upper room. Therefore, I will look at some of the overwhelming evidence that only the 12 apostles were the targets of the work of Christ and the outpouring of supernatural power. That influence never extended beyond arms reach of an apostle. Like a giant spiritual pyramid of power replacing the pagan and Jewish system, One God would influence 12 Apostles who worked closely with 120 disciples, 3000 and then 5000 converts and then into all the world. The Apostles believed that they had the supernatural power to convey the message in words.
One Present Spirit
- 12 Apostles -
- - 120 Disciples - -
- - - - 3000 then 5000 - - -
- - - - Whole World - - - - In practice, no person ever spoke in tongues outside of the actual presence and arm's reach of one of the apostles. Only the apostles exercised some of the other gifts promised in connection with Mark 16. These "signs following" were not performed by the converts but by the Apostles or men like Philip who had been empowered by the hands of the apostles.With the exception of the women, uncovered prophesiers in Corinth, no one ever spoke in gibberis. "Unknown tounges" or barbarian tongues were always languages or DIALECTS just as they were at Pentecost.
However, Philip could not convey the power to speak in tongues because they were signs only of apostolic authority.
Writers have noted that if women ceased speaking in tongues then the practice would certainly cease. However, no woman ever spoke in tongues in the Scripture record. We can infer that they performed the "uncovered prophesying" (1 Cor 11:5) of the pagan, musical performers, and if they spoke in tongues in Corinth Paul said: "Stop it." Again, look at the pyramid of power which, according to Paul, had a stopping place when the church was set in order and the inspired record delivered to the world and to evangelists who could take the once-validated message into all of the world. We live by the Constitution of the United States based almost totally upon the fact that certain people validated or put life into it at the risk of their own lives. Look at how this worked:
One Present Spirit
- Power Only to 12 Apostles -
- - Tongues only within Apostles' Arm Reach. Only they exercised some of the other powers. - -
- - - - Scripture Finished - Church Set in Order. Tongues not for the church - - -
- - - - Tongues Ceased as Prophesied by Joel and Paul - - - - "Giving heed" Heb 2:1 (prosecho) to the once-for-all written, sung and preached Words of Christ is an act of worship. If we neglect that, no other restoration makes the slightest difference. If we don't trust eyewitnesses then we wouldn't trust Jesus if He came down to us.Therefore, love for the truth is one indispensible article of faith. Those who do not love the truth are antichrists. While some believe that they can speak in tongues and claim the authority of Christ others can compose loud, abbrasive sermons or songs and also claim the authority of Christ for doing so. Both "low level" and "high level" forms of speaking in tongues were forbidden for the assembled church.
While we agree on some things we disagree about tongues. That doesn't make me right but it requires that I present some of my ideas for your consideration. The Upper Room is a good place to begin because that is where Christ as Spirit began it.
I believe in the universal command to be baptized as the way to "justify God" and to "accept His counsel for our lives." However, I believe that the promise and fulfillment of the outpouring of the supernatural gift of tongues was a promise only to those whom Christ would select to bear witness to His Words. And these were all eyewitnesses after they saw Jesus Dead and the resurrected. This is the indispensable way to be qualified to speak from the Living God to those who were not chosen to be infused directly by God's Spirit in the presence of Jesus Christ.
The gift of John Doe is not John Doe as a gift -- we don't give away God. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the gifts given by Christ as Full Deity (Col 2:9). Paul wrote of the Apostles who were chosen to reveal His Word with gifts:
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ephesians 4:7
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Ph 1:11
The command was to be baptized but the signs which would follow would "tag along" with the Apostles, as the believers Whom Christ selected to be witnesses of His verbal teaching. The younger generation, Philip, could not bestow any gift even to baptized believers.
The command was for everyone who would respond to Christ's call through the gospel. However, the promise by both Joel and Peter spanned only the present generation and their children.
No person in the New Testament record ever spoke in tongues who was not in the presence of and/or had been touched by an apostle. Philip could perform the "signs following" but neither his presence nor his hands could cause anyone to speak in tongues.
This agrees with Joel's prophecy and Peter's restatement that the sign gifts were to the adults and their children. It did not extend to grandchildren. The sign gifts were to be -- and were used only for -- supernatural signs of the authority of the spoken and written words of the apostles which would be the very Spirit of Christ (John 6:63).
Again, no woman ever spoke in tongues if we accept the Scriptures from the Holy Spirit as complete. No. Not even in the upper room. The promise before the "upper room" was the promise to guide the apostlesinto all truth. We have no written record of any women being guided into or revealing Scripture. Therefore, this promise was not to them. She was not "left out" because these eye-witnesses would have to go into all of the "male dominant" world and sacrifice their lives -- experience their baptism of fire.
On the other hand, teaching the once-validated Word extended down through all generations. This also agrees with the command of Joel.
It seems clear that the 120 disciples were not chosen as witnesses and we have no hint that any of them every spoke in tongues. The following, I believe, is a trail through the evidence which shows that only the Apostles were baptized or overwhelmed with the Spirit of Christ. The 120 were disciples but only spectators in the great outpouring of the message of Christ to all the world with "signs following" them. So let's begin the careful search. The 120 chose to follow Jesus but Jesus only chose twelve to be His eye-witnesses.
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John 6:70
He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. John 6:71
After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to many but eventually just the two on the road to Emmaus and they went and told it to the residue.
However, the eleven apostles lived in their private upper room or guest chamber and were not in the believing mood:
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Mark 16:14
Notice that the antecedant from here to the end of Mark is the eleven. Over and over, them. There is no way to insert anyone else to refer back to them: the eleven. The last them refers back to verses 12-13.
The eleven were the primary unbelievers. Signs don't happen for unbelievers. Only when they became believers would they be able to perform the signs.
Next, the fundamental authority for supernatural signs is embedded within the Great Commission:. Mark shifts to singular pronouns and speaks to them and ye. Mark is also careful not to use any plural words after this to prevent anyone from claiming the power of the twelve apostles:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
The later evangelists were to go and preach after the church had been established in a pattern radiating out from Jerusalem However, they were not promised the same power as eye-witnesses.
Then the promise of supernatural powers is given to them that believe:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17
Mark did not write: "These signs shall follow them that are saved." Or: "These signs shall be performed by those who are saved." Rather, the signs would accompany the Apostle as they taught and baptized believers. We know that this is the true interpretation because this is exactly what happened.
What is the context? What has Jesus just scolded the eleven for? It was because they did not believe the report of His resurrection. This belief was fundamental to being an apostle able to prove with signs. The word follow is from the Greek:
Parakoloutheo (g3877) par-ak-ol-oo- theh'-o; from 3844 and 190; to follow near, i.e. (fig.) attend (as a result), trace out, conform to: - attain, follow, fully know, have understanding. (g190 literally means to be on the same road)
Wherever the apostles preach and people are baptized, the signs will follow along with them. The signs would "go along with the Apostles on their go into the world journey." The signs don't take up residence in great halls of charismatic breakdown. The signs, like the preachers or evangelist, must be on the road or they are false, phoney, counterfeit. This, too, is proven because they lack spiritual power.
Therefore, them that believe are them that not yet believe but when they believe the signs will follow them, the apostles.
First, look again at speaking in tongues:
No one ever spoke in tongues except in the presence and/or upon the physical touch of an apostle. No woman ever spoke in tongues except perhaps in Corinth where she would have been silenced by Paul's harsh command. When there was no evangelism by the Apostles going on, no tongues were being spoken.
Philip's daughters prophesied as a sign that the prophecy of Messiah was being fulfilled. However, we don't know a word they said. Furthermore, Christ used this as a supernatural sign that women were not to be teaching or prophesying agents. This is proven when He sent a true prophet to deliver His message.
Second, look at the other supernatural signs:
Only the apostles performed some of the other signs. While many claim to speak in tongues because there is no way to judge its value but not many take up serpents. Whey they do they often die. Not many drink deadly poison or they die. Not many heal the sick. Whey then pull speaking in tongues out of this without proving yourself by drinking poison, handling snakes (after they are warned up or straight from under a log) or raising up the sick?
These signs "follow" because (1) either the Apostles perform them or (2) the apostle bestows tongues by his presence or hands:
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:18
So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them (apostles), and
confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20
Where speaking in tongues was the confirming-the-word sign, they "followed" among sample baptized believers only by the hands of an apostle. The other signs were performed only by the apostles. Therefore, they confirmed the Word by confirming the Apostle delivering the Word.
While verse 20 jumps forward to Pentecost it shows that the apostles were now believers in the resurrection. Therefore, the signs followed them that believed. There were performed after others believed but speaking in tongues was only done by representative sign examples and in the presence of the apostles. When the church had been set in order the signs ceased. Thereafter, one claiming to be an apostle or prophet was allowed to remain for two or at most three days. If they demanded pay they were crooks; if they remained they found him a job.
Now, let's back up a bit and look at the apostles as unbelievers again:
Covering the same period, Luke and John wrote:
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:18
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. Luke 24:10
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Luke 24:11
The apostles were in a pitiful shape: they had been chosen, taught and saw Jesus work miracles. They had even done so themselves. Yet, the crucifixion was such a blow to faith that the apostles are now "gone fishing" and were not believers.
Look again as two of the group left Jerusalem and headed toward Emmaus. Jesus joined the two but he was not recognized because, in their mind, He was still dead. They were not "them that believe." They told Jesus what the women reported.
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Luke 24:25
The men invited Jesus to eat with them and during the meal their eyes were opened and they knew that it was Him. Then He vanished out of their sight. The two returned to Jerusalem:
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the
eleven gathered together, and
them that were with them, Luke 24:33
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. Luke 24:36
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Luke 24:37
We have a few present whereever the eleven were gathered but in a small room we cannot exclude everyone but the men who become apostles. For instance, we noted that some of the family, women and friends would come and go:
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. Luke 24:10
However, as Luke 24:33 notes, the emphasis is always upon the eleven:
In John, the context shows that the word "disciple" at this time was equivalent to the word Apostle. I believe that the context shows that only the eleven disciples (who would become twelve) who would become apostles are given the promise of power. Later, we will see that the Apostles (disciples) had an upper room which was their apartment in Jerusalem as they had all left their homes to follow Jesus:
Jesus rose on the first day of the week and gave His commission on the first day:
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. John 20:19
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. John 20:21
Again, we have no evidence that women were sent out into the hostile world with the promise that they would experience a "baptism" of fire and die for their faith.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. John 20:20
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: John 20:22
Or in Acts: Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Acts 1:2
Then, Jesus gave them the power to remit or retain sins:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:23
Not all eleven were present. Thomas, one of the original twelve, was not there:
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. John 20:25
Peter makes sure that we understand that the 120 were not witnesses and therefore did not receive the Holy Spirit. He wrote:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Acts 10:40
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. Acts 10:41
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. Acts 10:42
This first-order testifying was an act of God in which His entire revelation about the mission of God as Jesus Christ was vested in twelve Apostles who would be eye-witnesses of what they had seen or heard. I cannot be that kind of witness.
The next week (Beginning with today as the first day of the week and counting to the 8th day it is again the first day of our week), all of the disciples were present including Thomas:
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them (the twelve): then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. John 20:26
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. John 20:27
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 20:28
Jesus takes no notice of a group of 120 disciples in His commission of the twelve apostles.
Luke wrote to Theophilus that the initial preaching was begun by eyewitnesses. These were the apostles.
FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Luke 1:1
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; Luke 1:2
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets (through the Spirit of Christ, 1 Peter 1:11), and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 2 Peter 3:2
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, Luke 1:3
The other disciples actually choose Jesus. However, only the Apostles were chosen by Christ, promised power and given power to be eyewitnesses of His resurrection.
At the Sea of Tiberias only key people were present
AFTER these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. John 21:1
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. John 21:2
After the fishing trip:
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. John 21:14
This shows that Jesus has specificially chosen twelve men, has taught them, made promises and "breathed" on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit's power. Only the apostles were primary witnesses (eye witnesses) and only they had the power to transmit power such as tongues. They were singled out for Christ's post-resurrection appearance.
Luke continues his record in Acts of what happened between Jesus and the Apostles:
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Acts 1:2
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion
by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3
Having deep symbolic meaning, the apostles are singled out by Jesus and given infallible proofs of His resurrection. This was required for those who would be His witnesses. God doesn't swoop down upon one deeply involved with a kind of mental breakdown and suddenly deliver revelation in the string of monosyllables which are never interpreted to have any mature meaning. For instance, God picked Moses and instructed him for many years before he was allowed to bring revealed knowledge with himself into a "new creation" on this side of the flood. He trained Moses for forty years.
These apostles would have the power of miracles and tongues and they controlled that power utterly. It would be flattering to have legalistic "sight" so that we would not have to walk by faith but it is unnatural to want to be placed alongside of the apostles.
While some of the family members might be present, Christ's emphasis was upon bearing witness to His own resurrection and teaching the apostles only.
Throughout the Old Testament, there is a promise that the unfaithful Jews would be burned up like chaff in a "baptism of fire" or death. The promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was also given to the Apostles because there is no change of antecedent:
And, being assembled together with them (Apostles), commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Acts 1:4
What was the promise?
For John truly baptized with water; but ye (Apostles, v. 2) shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:5
(Note: Cornelius would receive a like gift)
Who and why were they to receive special power? We repeat for emphasis:
When they (The antecedent is "Apostles") therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:7
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
Baptized believers would have the "gift" of the Spirit in their heart or mind. However, not a single one of those 5000 baptized in Jerusalem were ever said to have spoken in tongues or had the literaly God living inside of them. Jesus promised that He would return as the "Comforter" (John 14:16-18) and both Father and Son would live with and walk among baptized believers.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing (victory) shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19
Now, back up and look at the promise and to whom it was made:
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Mark 16:14
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17
Follow is a road. When the Apostles believed and began to be witnesses (eye-witnesses) and got on the "road" to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth, these supernatural signs would follow closely upon the same "road." This is what happened: no apostles present no signs tagging along with them.
Casting out devils was just as much a promise as speaking in tongues. Only the apostles ever cast out devils or survived snake bite.
Only the Apostles or evangelists upon whom the apostles had laid hands went out as evangelists into all of these areas. If women were promised this power we have no evidence that they every exercised it. Therefore, if women spoke in tongues we can say that they were not promised the power.
Jesus then ascended into the heavens:
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:9
When Jesus ascended, two men stood by the Apostles who were men and Galileans:
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Acts 1:10
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath days journey. Acts 1:12
Remember that the nearest antecedant is "the twelve apostles." There are no women involved in being witnesses nor are they promised power. The return would be like the going: Jesus would returned in a transfigured form vizualized as a dove or "rock pigeon" symbolic of a peaceful message. As the ascent was not public, the return would not be public.
The apostles (men, galileans) returned to Jerusalem to an upper room which was the place where the apostles lived. Only eleven lived there:
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. Acts 1:13
The "abode" is not a public meeting place but:
Katameno (g2650) kat-am-en'-o; from 2596 and 3306; to stay fully, i.e. reside: - abide.
Even the guest chamber of the Lord's Supper was larger than usual but not suitable for 120 people:
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? Mark 14:14
And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. Mark 14:15
It takes a very large room to accomodate 120 people and the evidence is that this was a bed room large enough for eleven men and this would still be crowded. Therefore, we do not have the 120 involved in the key roles of being supernaturally overpowered with the Spirit.
Next: Not in the upper room but in the temple courts:
Luke records the history of these events in a linear narrative. However, time and place elapses between these events. We cannot assume that the prayer meeting for all of the disciples was held immediately in the bedroom of the apostles into which a few family and other disciples entered:
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14
The temple was the place for accustomed prayer:
NOW Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Acts 3:1
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house (small groups as guests - not 5000), did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart Acts 2:46
Sometimes later during one of these meetings when about 120 were meeting and praying Peter consulted with the other ten disciples:
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Acts 1:15
The Living Bible translates verse 15 as:
This prayer meeting went on for several days. During this time, on a day when about 120 people were present, Peter stood up and addressed them as follows: Acts 1:15LIV
Wherefore of these men
1). which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Acts 1:21
2). Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us,
3). must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. Acts 1:22
Paul confirmed this later:
And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. Acts 13:31
Remember, that those who received the power of the Holy Spirit were to be witnesses:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
The baptized believers were not to be the primary witnesses and revealers of the inspired account of the life of Christ. Therefore, they never had the Holy Spirit come upon them except as proof that one or more of the apostles were the witnesses chosen and empowered by Christ to deliver inspired truth directly from God.
This is why we can say with confidence that no man or no woman ever spoke in tongues in the inspired record except in the immediate hand's reach of an apostle!
Now, you may choose to put your faith in "it might have been but we just don't have the record if you wish. However, to speak in tongues is to lay claim to a direct communication for Christ the Holy Spirit. If you are correct the woe unto me: if you are just under the strong influence of music and a mind-manipulating preacher then woe unto your and the soothsayer!
This shows that the Holy Spirit was given only to witnesses and the witnesses were only the Apostles. In verification of this, only the Apostles stood up to be witnesses on the day of Pentecost. Paul was an exception because he was "born out of due season." This means that he was born as an apostle after "apostle season." Even so, Jesus personally appeared to him after the resurrection and gave him the same promise of divine revelation and divine memory as the other Apostles.
As the apostles were receiving the choice of another apostle from Christ the Spirit there with them:
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:26
When the day of Pentecost came the Apostles would have been in their apartment which, we noted, would not hold 120 people. The closest antecedant is the "eleven apostles":
AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (Apostles) were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1
The "day" part of the first day began when the Sun was almost up but you could still see some stars (Job 3:9). For instance:
IN the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Matthew 28:1
However, we have already noted that the new disciples still observed prayer at the ninth hour or about three hours after sunrise:
NOW Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Acts 3:1
Therefore, the Holy Spirit was not made known during the prayer sessions probably in the temple.
Not at the prayer meeting where the 120 had once attended, but at "getting up time" while the Apostles were still in their abode:
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2 (This was Christ's Big breath or Spirit)
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
Pentecost was a national Jewish festival. Women and children were not required to travel from other countries or even from Jerusalem. The festivals were a requirement for the men only. However, we know that often families came together so there would be some women. Therefore,
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men (aner = mature male), out of every nation under heaven. Acts 2:5
Rumor flies pretty fast and when this was rumored around, a great crowd gathered after the Apostles were outside speaking to the people probably back at the temple area:
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6LIV
Then, as now, the apostles were not considered drunk because of some supernatural sign: they were considered drunk or crazy because they were "street preachers" rather than synagogue readers of the Word.
Again, all of the men speaking in tongues were Galileans:
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? Acts 2:7
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts 2:8
Paul confirms this fact:
And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. Acts 13:31
While both men and women were baptized and added to the church there is no record of any woman speaking in tongues at any place. If Corinth is the exception the Paul stops it. This did not make women inferior but
speaking in tongues was a sign among men of a practice common to women in paganism and among many Jewish clergy in Jerusalem.
After wondering about these men speaking in tongues, only the eleven Apostles plus Peter were actually speaking as witnesses because they were the only ones who had the promised power:
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: Acts 2:14
Peter equated this to the prophecy of Joel 2 but we know that not all of this prophecy happened that day. After preaching Jesus the people wanted to know what to do:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
You will notice that Peter gave the believers both a command and a promise. They could obey the command but the promise was a future tense gift from the Holy Spirit:
Then Peter said unto them,
Command: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
Promise: and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
The word repent is a complete sentence. I shout at my beagle, Annie: "Stop." I mean: "Annie, you are simply barking at the echo of your own bark bouncing off the rocky clif. So I want you to STOP." And she doesn't.
The command to baptize was universal: "Go into all the world." However, the promise of supernatural gifts was limited to two generations:
For the promise is unto you, and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:39
Afar does not include grandchildren. Rather, it has to do with those who are far off in terms of distance or far off from the kingdom. This is taken to include Gentiles:
Makran (g3112) mak-ran'; fem. acc. sing. of 3117 (3598 being implied); at a distance (lit. or fig.): - (a-) far (off), good (great) way off.
John and Peter baptized with water but only Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He would decide who would be totally overwhelmed with His presence.
Peter agrees and said that the gift of the Holy Spirit would be given to those whom God (Christ) would invite.
In practice, the gift was given by the hands or presence of the Apostles and no one else could bestow this gift. Even Cornelius was "lifted up" or touched by Peter and Peter held normal conversation with all of the Gentiles. By the time the Apostles died, the "children" would be dead and grandchildren were not guaranteed the promise of power.
According to history, this was the case. Later epistles are silent on tongues and so is church history except by pretend prophets who wanted to get on the payroll.
What Joel Promised Teaching or calling or inviting people to understand the will of God never ends:
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Joel 1:3
However, the pouring out of God's Spirit was a promise to all classes -- but not each individual -- of people as a sign to the clergy Jews that they had lost their rights. Non-clergy older people and their sons and daughters would be overwhelmed with the Word of God. Neither in Joel or in Acts does this promise extend to grandchildren:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joel 2:28
This would not be a charismatic fit of singing and dancing. Rather, this Spirit which would rest upon Messiah would be the spirit or mental disposition of knowledge:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2
Again, as Peter faithfully fulfilled Joel, the promise of supernatural power was given to two generations. However, the command was for all people whom the Lord would invite through preaching. This was future-tense to the first outpouring:
And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said,
and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call (proclaim, publish, preach). Joel 2:32
When God pours out His spirit as bodily experiences it is most often the spirit of burning, judgment and purging away the chaff.
Now, there is no evidence that any of the converts on the day of Pentecost spoke in tongues. We have the church growing to 5,000 men (plus women and children) and not a one of them spoke in tongues.Why not? There simply was no need. There were twelve apostles who continued to teach the group and the supernatural sign had been, once for all for that group, demonstrated as "signs following only" the now-believing Apostles. The sign was never repeated to any group after it had once been performed. This is because it was a sign and not a universal gift.
Those such as Philip were given power to verify their message but they could not lay hands on people to cause them to speak in tongues. Philip had been selected to look out for the Greek-speaking Jews because He was one of them:
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. Acts 6:6
Only much later did the other representative groups speak in tongues as a sign. So the sign was given to the Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans and those "far away" in Ephesus. While the Corinthians claimed to speak in tongues the evidence is that they were still engaged in pagan gibberish and there is no evidence that any of them had any supernatural gift.
Corinth While many Corinthians claimed spiritual gifts, Paul tells them that they don't have the smallest gift. Furthermore, these gifts were to validate the apostles and not to prove that the people were saved. The church was filled with "super-apostles" or those trained in the Greek theater. They claimed to be apostles and to prove it spoke in tongues. Because they did not know the meaning of tongues, what came out was pagan gibberish which could not be understood even by themselves. However, they didn't understand that tongues were signs which were never performed except in the presence of an apostle. Anyone could fake "tongue speaking" but, Paul says, "I wouldn't speak in tongues in church" but I proved to you by other signs that I am a true apostle:Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 2 Corinthians 12:12
Cassandra (naked) in Aeschylus' Agamemnon is instructive of the pagan practice of hiding their words in riddles. Like the presumptious women of Corinth (Chapter one Verse 15) proclaimed:
"And now, no more shall my prophecy peer forth from behind a veil like a new-wedded bride; but it will rush upon me clear as a fresh wind blowing against the sun's uprising so as to dash against its rays, like a wave, a woe far mightier than mine.
"No more by riddles will I instruct you. And bear me witness, as, running close behind, I scent the track of crimes done long ago.
"For from this roof never departs a choir chanting in unison, but singing no harmonious tune; for it tells not of good. And so, gorged on human blood, so as to be the more emboldened, a revel-rout of kindred Furies haunts the house, hard to be drive away.
"Lodged within its halls they chant their chant, the primal sin; and, each in turn, they spurn with loathing a brother's bed, for they bitterly spurn the one who defiled it. Have I missed the mark, or, like a true archer, do I strike my quarry?
Or am I prophet of lies, a door-to-door babbler? Bear witness upon your oath that I know the deeds of sin, ancient in story, of this house."
Tongues can be counterfeited but how about performing some of the other miracles which Jesus promised would follow the apostles?
Because God has the Word (God personified as logical language) to speak to us, when the fake preachers were "speaking to god" (14:2), they probably felt good about it. However, they were reversing the Divine flow of information. They could speak but they were disturbing the church and just "speaking into the air" (14:9).
The word "God" is used of the True God as well as pagan gods. And we know that "clangs and booms" is related to pagan Chaldean worship while "giving my body to be burned" in chapter 13 alludes to the worship of Molech or Satan. In 11:17 their assemblies were doing more harm than good and speaking in tongues caused them to miss the meaning of the Lord's Supper. Therefore, Paul said of such tongue speaking:
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 1 Corinthians 14:9
Speaking to God (or god)
Now, Paul says, "I wouldn't speak tongues in church. Let those other guys prove that they are apostles by delivering the Word of God to you in language which you can understand and work some other miracles."
"It is a great mistake to imagine that back of their idolatry and their idol sacrifices there is nothing but an empty vacuity. True enough, as 1 Cor 8:4 makes plain, the gods of the idols have no existence whatever; no being by the name of Jupiter exists, and this is true with respect to all other gods. But something does exist, something that is far more terrible than these pseudo-gods, namely an entire kingdom of darkness which is hostile to God, a host of demons or fallen angels who are ruled by the greatest of their number, namely Satan, Eph. 2:3; 6:12. (Lenski)
"Lucifer and the powers of the air hovering around it... try in vain to tear down the cross and to silence the importunate clangour of the bells... baffled demons leave the Cathedral unharmed and... through the gloom the Archangel Michael with drawn sword is seen flaming in gold and crimson on the panes of the lighted windows, while, as they recede into the distance, they are pursued in their flight by the pealing music of the organ and the voices of the choir chanting." (Frazer, James George, Folk-Lore in the Old Testament, Macmillian, p. 419, 1923)
"Throughtout the Middle Ages and down to modern times the sound of church bells was also in great request for the purpose of routing witches and wizards, who gathered unseen in the air to play their wicked pranks on man and beast." (Frazer, James George, Folk-Lore in the Old Testament, p. 422-423, Macmillian, 1923)
Paul didn't say: "You are just blowing hot air." He meant that they were speaking to the wrong god by the use of the spirit of that god. Speaking of the same form of pagan worship in Babylon and Tyre, Theodoret wrote:
"Applying the text to the devil, we will not perceive these things in this fashion, but the text "You are a seal of likeness" we will refer to the rule and authority formerly given to him. For the divine apostle says: " according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit which now operates in the sons of disobedience." (Eph. 2:2) So that it is clear to say that he was entrusted formerly with the management of this air, but after having fallen from (this) authority through pretentiousness,
"he demonstrates his own activity among those who do not believe the word of proclamation. (Theodoret: Commentary on Ezekiel 28)
Paul had to especially warn Corinth and Ephesus that they were clinging to their old pagan practices. While speaking in unlearned languages as a sign or aid of evangelism was a very limited gift, ecstatic speech was common to all pagan religions. It is the natural outflow of certain external acts of worship. For instance, Paul warned the Ephesians:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2:3
Even with God, there is an equality between His Mind and Spirit (1 Corinthians 2).
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Mind = Dianoa (g1271) dee-an'-oy-ah; from 1223 and 3563; deep thought, prop. the faculty (mind or its disposition), by impl. its exercise: - imagination, mind, understanding.
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Spirit = Pneuma (g4141) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc....
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While the Corinthians were speaking to god (1 Corinthians 14:2 and perhaps edifying themselves can't tell which god: perhaps Juno the goddes of the air) Paul gives us a clue by saying that they were "just speaking into the air." (1 Corinthians 14:9). And while Paul regulates the true spiritual gifts in chapter 12, there is not a clue that any Corinthian had even the smallest one.Juno: Goddes of the Air "In the account, De Dea Syria, Lucian of Samosata (120-198 A.D.) described a clear case of glossolalia uttered by the itinerant devotees of the Syrian goddess, Juno, stationed at Bambyce or Hieropolis in Syria."
The Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 429 to 347 B.C., studied the effects of intense religious worship by the Greeks on the minds of the adherents. In his works entitled Phaedrus and Timaeus, he wrote about certain people that were engaged in prayers, rites, and utterances. According to Plato, they were possessed and out of their minds during these so-called inspired sessions.
Chrysostom wrote of the Pythoness of Delphi:
"The same Pythoness then is said , being a female, to sit at times upon the tripod of Apollo astride, and thus the evil spirit ascending from beneath and entering the lower part of her body, fills the woman with madness, and she with dishevelled hair begins to play the bacchanal and to foam at the mouth, and thus being in a frenzy to utter the words of her madness."
"In the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament , Gerhard Kittell writes about the worship practices of the Phrygia, Bacides, and the Sybils: "The unintelligible lists of magical names and letters in the magic pap (voces mystical), which were used in the invoking and conjuring of gods and spirits, may also be analogous to this obscure and meaningless speaking with tongues. With these mystical divine names, etc., in which there are echoes of all the various oriental languages, we may certainly couple the view that they derive from supraterrestrial tongues used by the gods and spirits in heaven (the air), each class having its peculiar phone or dialektos."
"We quote again from the book The Modern Tongues Movement : "In the account, De Dea Syria, Lucian of Samosata (120-198 A.D.) described a clear case of glossolalia uttered by the itinerant devotees of the Syrian goddess, Juno, stationed at Bambyce or Hieropolis in Syria...H.J. Stolee (in his book Speaking in Tongues) reported that ecstatic speech is found in Mohammedanism. The dervishes of Persia constantly utter the name of Allah, accompanied by violent shaking of the body and trances which issue in foaming at the mouth. These violent motions lead to physical exhaustion and partial unconsciousness. During this period of ecstasy, they preach moral sermons... Occurrences of glossolalia among non-Christians have been reported by both pagan and Christian writers. The similarities of these instances to biblical glossolalia are quite apparent. The person was engaged in religious worship; he was controlled by a divine being; he lost control of his mental faculties; he spoke in a different language; and there was need for interpretation." Noah W. Hutchings
The spirit of the air and the mind of mental excitement and expectations which brings on ecstatic speech are the same. Dionysus was a common god worshipped and warned against both in Corinth and in Ephesus where Paul said: "Don't get drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit which is the words of the Personified Word God."
A child of the prince of the air simply means that their actions were the result of their own desire and the excitement of the mind. Wrath is:
Wrath: Orge (g3709) or-gay'; from 3713 (to covet) ; prop. desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind ... wrath.
Oregomai (g3713) or-eg'-om-ahee' mid. of appar. a prol. form of an obsol. prim. [comp. 3735]; to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for): - covet after, desire.
Webster Orgy: Secret rites, akin to ergon, WORK).
1. Usually in ancient Greece and Rome, feasting and wild celebration in worship of certain gods, especially, Dionysus.
2. Any wild, riotous, licentious merry-making; debauchery.
3. Unrestrained indulgence in any activity.
What went on in Corinth is quite identical to the practices of the women involved in the rites of Dionysus or Bacchus. The speaking in tongues in Greek worship was brought on by singing, clapping, playing music and dancing. The message from the "god" was, for instance at Delphi, from a goat or a woman sitting over a hole in the ground and getting intoxicated on the gas blowing forth. Then their hallucinations and strange speach was interpreted by another person, you paid the money and left with "advice." They believed but Paul warned: "The truth did not originate with you." Paul said that the tongue speakers would be seen as mad or insane -- in an orgy:
Manteuomai (g3132) mant-yoo'-om-ahee; from a der. of 3105 (mean. a prophet, as supposed to rave through inspiration); to divine, i.e. utter spells under pretence of foretelling: - by soothsaying.
"From mantis, a seer, diviner. The word is allied to mainomai, "To rave," and mania, "fury" displayed by those who were possessed by an evil spirit represented by the pagan god or goddess while delivering their oracular message." Vine
Mainomai (mainoåmai) (g3105) mah'ee-nom-ahee; mid. from a prim. maoÑ , (to long for; through the idea of insensate craving); to rave as a "maniac": - be beside self (mad)
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. Acts 26:25
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 1 Corinthians 14:23
When you allow a man to deceive you with empty words, God permits His wrath to come upon you because you didn't love the truth (Eph. 5:6) and you fall into a preaching or singing orgy. This is why Paul demanded that we fill up with the Words of Christ (Spirit, John 6:63) and then speak to ourselves using the Biblical text or use it to teach one another. Secular (self-composed) "gospel" songs brings on this wrath.
Paul continued to show that when we open our minds and mouth to speak out of the excitement of the body (wrath) we are really worshipping the powers of the air:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Again, when we open our mouths, the "god of the air" just automatically spills forth words out of our own spirit or mind. This is why the only way to defeat the air god is with our mouth shut:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Silently in the Mind) , and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Romans 1:9
Tongues a Sign of Madness to Unbelievers
Paul explained what was happening to the attack upon Jerusalem in Isaiah 28 when those "speaking in tongues" were Assyrians trying to fool God's people and break down the walls. The tongue speakers were unbelievers and Paul said:
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:21
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22
This sign to unbelievers was: will they not say that ye are mad? 1 Corinthians 14:23
Paul quotes Isaiah where God warned that when people would not learn His will:
For with stammering lips and another tongue (can mean "fork of flame") will he speak to this people. Isaiah 28:11
God sent outsiders speaking in tongues as a sign to the Jews but they mocked Christ and Peter to scorn and would not hear.
When God sends tongue speakers, the Hebrew means:
Laeg (h3934) law-ayg'; from 3932; a buffoon; also a foreigner: - mocker, stammering.
Leag (h3932) law-ag'; a prim. root; to deride; by impl. (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly: - have in derision, laugh to scorn, mock (on), stammering.
All they that see me (Jesus) laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, Psalms 22:7
God wanted to give the people rest but they mocked and didn't listen:
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12
Therefore, God would instruct them like one instructs a tiny child: but it wouldn't (didn't) do any good:
But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:13
And that is what happened to the Jews. This is why Paul warned the Corinthian church that tongue speaking would be a sign of madness and would convince no one. It was, in fact, God sending a sign to people that they had lost the Word and He had sent them strong delusions in the person of strong deluders just mocking and acting crazy to cause the true believers to run for cover.
Tongue speaking is not to convince unbelievers that you are God inspired. Instead:
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 1 Corinthians 14:23
Paul said that he would not speak in tongues "in church." And there is no evidence that speaking in tongues was in any of the other established churches once the "sign" had been given to the four representative groups of humanity.
Speaking in tongues only happened when the Apostles laid their hands on the converts in Samaria and Ephesus. And no one ever spoke in true tongues except in the presence of an Apostle. In fact, Peter had touched Cornelius by lifting him up and perhaps touched all of those who spoke in tongues.
Cornelius and his band spoke in tongues but Peter said that it was like what had happened to the Apostles.
He had to reach back 8 years even past the day of Pentecost to find any event even similar to the Upper Room experience of the Apostles.
This is additional proof that the thousands of people who were baptized during this 8 years did not receive any miraculous gift other than tongues by the hands of an apostle. Clich Here for my comments on Cornelius.
Paul warned the Corinthians that supernatural gifts were temporaty signs and therefore given to Whom Christ wanted to have the gift:
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:30
No, of course not. Therefore, speaking in tongues was not part of the command of Joel or Peter but part of the promise and as a supernatural sign bestowed to certain people. By regulating the speaking in tongues he effectively silenced the ecstatic speech which could not be governed.
Paul also warned that the Scripture was the supernatural product of the Spirit's outpouring of intellectual gifts (Isaiah 11:1-3). If we demand that Christ prove His Word over and over don't we crucify Him over and over for our personal benefit?
THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Hebrews 2:1
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Hebrews 2:2
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which
at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed (stabilized) unto us
by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:3
God also bearing them witness,
both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,
according to his own will? (or as He choose) Hebrews 2:4
As believers in Christ and the inspiration and preservation of His message, we are thrilled that this is exactly what Jesus said:
Command: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 6:16
1 X 1 = 1 or belief plus baptism causes Christ to save us because we have "not rejected the will of God for our life."
1 X 0 = 0 or belief without baptism means nothing: even the demons believe and quake.
0 X 1 = 0 or without faith and then with or without baptism Christ does not save because baptism is just getting wet without faith which is not belief. Rather, faith is "putting ones trust fully in Lord Jesus Christ." You don't have faith if you don't get out of the way of an oncomming train - unless you are committing suicide.
Promise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17
The signs "followed" around with the apostles, even in the Cornelius event as Peter touched him to lift him up and preached the gospel to him. We have no reason to believe that Cornelius and his band would have spoken in tongues without the presence of Peter. The Samaritand did not do so in the presence of a Spirit powerd evangelist but only when the apostles came down. Therefore, the power resided solely in Christ administered through the hands of the Apostles. Look at the facts again:
No one in the New Testament spoke in tongues without the presence or touch of an Apostle. Even Cornelius was touched by Peter and because all were together they all probably touched as they greeted one another.
If one person spoke in a foreign language (even though strange) and another inspired person interpreted the message then Corinth would have some evidence of a supernatural gift (even though Paul knew that he would have to instruct them). Because everyone was speaking when everyone could not possible have the gift, any outsider would identify this as madness or insanity or wrath (orgy) and therefore not Christianity but just their old pagan practices.
They could "speak to god" (14:2 reversing the Divine flow of information) if they really wanted to but they were disturbing the church and were just "speaking into the air" (14:9). The word "God" is used of the True God and pagan gods and speaking into the air is more than a hint of a common pagan practice.
Paul spoke in true languages but he would not do so in church but out where the signs needed to be performed or as a utilitarian gift of translation.
If he did speak in tongues in the assembly (and he would not) he put a value of 5 on a foreign language to 10,000 in the language of the audience. Symbolically that equates to ZERO for speaking in tongues. The best way a foreigner can insult you is to speak say French and giggle as they look at you! God does not empower people to insult others.
I don't get into personal experiences. However, it is fair to try to understand Scripture as it has been delivered, once for all times; and to warn that evil manipulators know how fragile the human soul is and know that they can force people to do things ordinarily interpreted as madness (re Paul) or insanity. Indeed, insantiy brought on by singing, playing, clapping and dancing (and even new wine from a new wineskin) was believed by even men like David to prove that God was not lost to him.
I would recommend that you read some of the historical evidence which, until recently, identified these experiences as insanity, witchcraft or demon possession. Check Out This Page. We might add that it may also be an example of an extreme lack of confidence in God's grace.
I will add to this as I study and as you challenge me.
Thanks,
Ken Sublett
Click Here For Questions and Answers
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