A well-known phenomenon in the charismatic world is "tongues" sometimes called "glossolalia. It is the production of incomprehensible sounds1, which no one understands, including the speaker himself.
The explanation for this is usually that people think this is a language that God actually does understand - a kind of heavenly language, in other words - through which you also experience an "intimate relationship with God.
Tongue language has been the "trademark" of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement from the beginning, and it continues to be promoted around the world and in all denominations and communities. It seems like nothing can stop it. Some call it a special gift or a gift from God.
While we should ask some serious questions about it.
Is tongues recommended in the Bible?
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
There are a number of times in the Bible when people hear the gospel of God in their own native language, even though the one speaking has not learned that language. It occurred in the early days of Christianity and is mentioned three times in the book of Acts (Acts 2:2-13; 10:46; 19:6). The first time is referred to as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and it is proof to the Jews that God's Spirit also goes out to the Gentiles, the nations who did not believe in God (see 1 Corinthians 14:22). They too receive the Holy Spirit when they come to faith in Jesus Christ.
In the church, every foreign language must be translated
The gospel goes out into the world and people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This also means that several languages can be spoken in the church of God. Even in those days, the apostles and others were already traveling between churches. For this reason, Paul taught the congregation in Corinth that only the native (mother) language should be spoken in the congregation unless the foreign language could be translated for the congregation. The purpose of this is that everything that happens in the congregation should be understandable to everyone (see 1 Corinthians 14:9,28).
About the use of foreign languages and their translation, the Bible is very clear, and there is no disagreement on that either [between charismatic and non-charismatic Christians].
But then, is it a particularly intimate language?
What remains then is the idea that tongues would be an intimate language by which you can communicate with God. A gift from God some call it. As "proof" one then argues that
- Paul is said to have spoken in tongues more than anyone else and that he calls this angelic language (1 Corinthians 14:18 and 13:1)
- You in tongues pray with your spirit and not with your mind; so it says in 1 Corinthians 14:14. After all, you do not understand what you yourself are saying.
That Paul would have spoken in tongues he nowhere says. He says in 1 Corinthians 14:18 that he spoke more foreign languages than the Corinthians.
Read more about the languages Paul likely spoke here.
The apostle Paul was a highly educated and well-traveled figure, and it is plausible that he spoke several languages. Although the Bible itself does not specifically state which languages Paul mastered, we can make an educated guess based on his background and the context in which he lived and worked. The following is a list of the languages Paul may have spoken, with a rationale for each:
1. Aramaic
Aramaic was the everyday colloquial language in Judea and the broader Middle East in the first century. Paul, as a Jew from Tarsus and with a background in Jerusalem, probably would have spoken Aramaic. This was the language commonly used in Jewish religious communities, and Jesus also spoke Aramaic.
2. Hebrew
Paul was a well-educated Pharisee and received his education under Gamaliah, a respected rabbi. Hebrew was the language of the Holy Scriptures (the Old Testament) and was used in liturgical and religious contexts. Paul frequently quotes from the Hebrew scriptures and thus would certainly have known Hebrew.
3. Greek
Greek was the lingua franca of the eastern part of the Roman Empire, where Paul made many of his missionary journeys. Paul wrote his letters in Greek, indicating that he had a good command of this language. Moreover, he was from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia (present-day Turkey), where Greek was the language of instruction.
4. Latin
Although there is less direct evidence that Paul spoke Latin, it was the official language of the Roman Empire, especially in legal and administrative contexts. Paul had dealings with Roman authorities and was eventually brought to Rome. It is possible that he had at least a working knowledge of Latin.
5. Lycian and other local languages
Paul traveled through many areas in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) where local languages such as Lycian were spoken. While it is unlikely that he spoke all of these languages fluently, it is possible that he knew some words or phrases in these languages to communicate with the local people.
6. Phrygian
In his travels through Asia Minor, Paul also passed through regions where Phrygian was spoken. Although less likely than the above languages, he would possibly have had some knowledge of this language.
Conclusion:
The languages Paul likely spoke included Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, and possibly Latin. In addition, it is possible that he had some knowledge of local languages in the areas where he brought the Gospel. The knowledge of these languages would have enabled Paul to effectively communicate and spread his message in the various cultural and linguistic contexts in which he found himself.
That he calls this a language of angels (in 1 Corinthians 13:1) is also sophistry. You let the text say what you want it to say so that it fits your views.
This is simply a matter of reading the Bible language and understanding it properly. Click here if you want to know what ChatGPT thinks about this,
Question 1: In the 1st letter to Corinth, there is writing about tongues. On this basis, what arguments are used to reject tongues (in the sense of incomprehensible gibberish)?
Reply ChatGPT:
In the first letter to the Corinthians, specifically in chapter 14, Paul discusses the use of tongues in the context of Christian meetings. In doing so, he gives several arguments used by some people to reject "tongues" in the sense of incomprehensible gibberish.
1. Understanding for the congregation:
Paul emphasizes that during the meeting it is important that what is said can be understood by others. In 1 Corinthians 14:9 he states, "If you do not speak intelligibly with your tongue, how will people know what is being said? Then you speak in the air." Tongue language that is not understood by those present does not contribute to the building up of the congregation. Paul emphasizes that prophecy, because it is intelligible, is worth more than incomprehensible gibberish.
2. Building the congregation:
Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 14:12-19 that the gift of tongues should be aimed at building up the church. He says that he would rather speak five words that are understood by others than ten thousand words in a language that no one understands (verse 19). Tongues can only be useful if there is someone who can explain the language (verse 13), so that the whole congregation is built up by it.
3. Interpretation or explanation required:
Paul makes it clear that when tongues are spoken in a congregation, there must also be someone who can explain what is being said. Without an explanation, speaking in tongues does not contribute to the spiritual edification of others. In 1 Corinthians 14:28 he says, "If there is no explainer, one must be silent in the congregation and speak for himself and for God." This implies that without an explanation, tongues are not helpful to the congregation.
4. Outsiders and unbelievers:
Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 14:23 that if an outsider or unbeliever comes in while everyone is speaking in unintelligible tongues, they might think those present are crazy. This means that using unintelligible tongues can have a negative effect on the testimony to outsiders.
Conclusion:
The arguments against using tongues as incomprehensible gibberish in the meeting are based on the importance of understandability, the need for edification for the congregation, the requirement of interpretation and the impact on outsiders. Tongue language without explanation does not contribute to the edification of the congregation and may even cause confusion. Paul therefore seems to prefer communication that is intelligible and edifying to all.
Question 2: Is it possible to conclude from the Bible texts that tongues (in the sense of incomprehensible gibberish) would be a heavenly language or angelic language? So simple on the text of the written Word.
Reply ChatGPT:
The question of whether tongues, as described in the Bible, is a heavenly language or angelic language cannot be easily answered based on the texts themselves. However, there are some passages that are often cited in this discussion, but there is no explicit text that states unequivocally that tongues are a heavenly or angelic language. Let's look at some relevant texts:
1 Corinthians 13:1: "Though I spoke the languages of men and angels, but I had not love, I would be a reverberating cymbal or a shrill cymbal."
- Interpretation: Paul uses hyperbole (exaggeration) here to emphasize the superiority of love. He does not necessarily suggest that he actually speaks the language of angels, but states that even if he could, it would be worthless without love. This verse is sometimes interpreted as a reference to a possible angelic language, but the context indicates that Paul is rather making a hypothetical and rhetorical point.
2. Acts 2:4-11: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
- Interpretation: During Pentecost, the disciples speak in various languages understood by the hearers. This is commonly seen as a manifestation of the gift of tongues, but specifically involves intelligible human languages recognized by those present.
1 Corinthians 14:2: "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries."
- Interpretation: This verse could be read as supporting the idea that tongues are a language not understood by humans, and possibly only by God. This could imply that it is a heavenly language. However, the use of the word "mysteries" could also mean that the language is unknown or mysterious, without specifically implying that it is an angelic or heavenly language.
Conclusion:
While there are texts that leave open the possibility that tongues are something other than ordinary human languages, there is no explicit text that states unequivocally that it is a heavenly or angelic language. The context of most texts that discuss tongues suggests that the emphasis is on communication and edification of the congregation, suggesting that intelligibility is important.
In short, based on the Bible texts, one cannot conclude with certainty that tongues are a heavenly or angelic language. This remains a matter of interpretation that depends on how one interprets the passages in question.
The explanation of 1 Corinthians 14:14 is not that we are to pray in the spirit, without reason. What is really meant is right behind it in verse 15, where it says that in everything we say or sing to God, the mind must be included and active. So that we understand what we are saying or singing.
It is precisely in these texts that Paul condemns and clearly rejects unintelligible tongues.
Why he does so, we discuss below.
God is the Word and He speaks
If tongues (in the sense of incomprehensible gibberish) were from God, one might ask how that could be. Is it consistent with Who God is? God is a God who speaks clear language.
This is how He speaks in creation to begin with. Heaven and earth and everything that lives in them and on them He made. All life comes from Him!
" For the things of Him that are invisible are known and seen through His works since the creation of the world, namely, both His eternal power and His divinity, so that they are inexcusable." (Romans 1:20)
Every person knows that there is a God who created everything; it is knowledge that has been put into every person. When you cast aside that truth - for that is what it is about: truth or lie - , you are inexcusable according to the Word of God. For that is what He says in the preceding verse:
" (...) people, who suppress the truth in iniquity, because what can be known of God is known to them. For God Himself has revealed it to them." (Romans 1:18,19)
He is the God who speaks in language understood by everyone who wants to hear Him. This is how it has always been, and this is how creation came to be: "For He speaks and it is there, He commands and it is there." (Psalm 33:9). God always speaks with a purpose and therefore His words are not ambiguous. This is also what the following text says:
" so shall My word be that proceeds out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me fruitless, but it shall do that which pleases Me, and it shall prosper in that to which I send it." (Isaiah 55:11)
God not only speaks His Word, He is also the Word. This is also how the gospel to John begins:
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God2. This was in the beginning with God. All things were made by the Word, and without this Word no thing was made that was made. In the Word was life, and life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)
He is the Word made flesh; Christ Jesus, sent by God. He was the living Word. This is how God spoke in the Son.
"After God had previously spoken to the fathers many times and in many ways through the prophets, in these last days He has spoken to us through the Son, Whom He has made Heir of all things, through Whom He also made the world." (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Our God, the God who created heaven and earth, is a God who speaks clearly3, with a clear purpose, which is to preserve, to save people. He wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and therefore he does not speak unclearly and incomprehensibly.
charismatic tongues are completely contrary
With the being of a god who speaks.
Now when God makes Himself known in this way in His Word, the Bible, it is inconceivable and impossible that tongues (incomprehensible gibberish) is something that God invented and would want to give to people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it is completely contrary to Who the God of the Bible is.
Tongue language also occurs in other religions
But if tongues do not come from God, where does it come from? It is extraordinary that the phenomenon of tongues - called glossolalia - also occurs in other religions. The main examples are these:
- From the ancient Greek religion we know the oracle of Delphi. there, in ecstasy, incomprehensible expressions arose, which were translated by the priests. They were believed to be messages from the god Apollo.
- In Hinduism, ecstasy with incomprehensible language also occurs. Glossolalia may also occur in tantric rituals. These expressions are seen as a result of contact with divine forces.
- Within Islam, tongues have a limited occurrence among Sufi mystics, for example.
- In shamanic cultures around the world, glossolalia occurs in rituals or in trance states. Again, it is seen as manifestations of communication with spirits or divine beings.
Click here for more info on tongues from ChatGPT
Question : Is it true that tongues occurred and occur in other religions as well? Can you cite examples and/or sources of this?
Reply ChatGPT:
Yes, tongues, often referred to as "glossolalia," occurs not only in Christianity, but also in several other religious traditions, both historically and in the present. Here are some examples of glossolalia in other religions:
1. Ancient Greek Religion:
- Delphic Oracle: In ancient times, the Pythia, priestesses of the Delphic Oracle, were known for speaking in ecstatic, often incomprehensible expressions. These expressions were interpreted by priests and considered messages from the god Apollo. While not exactly the same as Christian glossolalia, they share similarities in terms of spiritual ecstasy and the use of incomprehensible language.
2. Hinduism:
- Bhakti movement: In some sections of Hinduism, especially within the Bhakti movement, there are traditions in which believers may become ecstatic during intensive devotional practices and begin to speak in incomprehensible or unknown languages. This is seen as an expression of intense spiritual connection with the divine.
- Tantra: In certain tantric rituals, glossolalia may occur as an expression of contact with higher levels of consciousness or divine forces.
3. Islam:
- Sufi Mysticism: Although glossolalia is not common in the Islamic tradition, there are reports of some Sufi mystics who began speaking spontaneously in foreign or unfamiliar languages during trance-like rituals (such as the Dhikr). However, this is not widely recognized and is less common than in other religious traditions.
4. Indigenous Religions:
- Shamanism: Glossolalia occurs in many shamanic cultures around the world, from Siberia to the Amazon. Shamans may speak during rituals or in trance states in unfamiliar languages or sounds, which are believed to be manifestations of communication with spirits or divine beings.
5. Modern New Religious Movements:
- Pentecostal Movement (Charismatic Movements): In addition to Christianity, glossolalia also occurs in some new religious movements, such as certain branches of modern New Age movements and syncretic religions such as Brazilian Candomblé or Haitian Voodoo, where spiritual mediums can go into a trance during rituals and speak in unknown languages.
These examples and sources show that glossolalia is a phenomenon that is not exclusive to Christianity, but occurs in various forms and contexts in other religious traditions.
Resources:
- Yong, Amos. "The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh: Pentecostalism and the Possibility of Global Theology. This book discusses the phenomena of glossolalia in various religions, including historical and modern examples.
- Goodman, Felicitas D. 'Speaking in Tongues: A Cross-Cultural Study of Glossolalia'. ** This book offers an anthropological study of glossolalia in different cultures and religions.
- Samarin, William J. 'Tongues of Men and Angels: The Religious Language of Pentecostalism'. This book examines glossolalia within and beyond Christianity, with attention to other religious traditions.
So the observation is that tongues are a phenomenon that is also found in pagan religions and not only in Christianity. Now I once heard a well-known bible teacher - proponent of tongues - hear him say that the devil is the imitator of God. But according to him, there are pagan tongues and Christian tongues; so what is really the problem?
I think it is very simple: the devil does it in all religions and allows people to contact beings in the invisible world in this way. These are beautiful, supernatural experiences. But the devil is clever and also knows how to deceive Christians and get them into "Christian tongues. This is then wrapped up with Bible texts and Christians then think this is a "gift from their God.
But then you enter very dangerous territory, which is precisely what the entire Bible seriously warns against. To his people Israel, God said 'that they should not approach Him in the way the pagans approach their gods'.
"Be on your guard (...) that you do not ask about their gods, by saying:
As these nations have served their gods, so will I.
You must not in regard to the Lord your God do as they do!"
(Deuteronomy 12:30-31)
The nations have their gods and all kinds of ways to have contact with them. But the people of Israel were the people of the supreme God, who had His own conception of how the people were to deal with Him and how they were to approach Him. In everything it had to be clear that the true God was completely different from the gods of the nations. God had chosen Israel and they had to show who their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was. For that, God had also given them His laws, so that in their lives and in their relationship with the Lord God, it was visible who God is: in everything different from the nations around them.
For the people of Israel, this was the biggest pitfall: serving the Lord God in a pagan way. They thought their experiences were from the Lord, when in reality they were serving the demons. Constantly it was a problem and they underwent the discipline for it.
Thus God also has a people today, every one who calls himself after Christ. In our lives and in our dealings with the Lord, too, it must be visible that we are different.
But with both Israel and Christians today, this is the main problem: that we do not know how the Lord God wants to be served. We do not discern what comes from other gods, so we are easily tempted to follow pagan practices. The consequences are disastrous, just as with the people of Israel. "My people are exterminated because they are without knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
God's people may not approach Him in a way4 which the pagans also use.
Therefore, you must say that the origin of so-called "Christian tongues" is
is demonic, as in other religions.
On idolatry in the 1st letter to Corinth
Christians in a pagan world
The people of Israel were not to serve the gods of the nations, for the Lord wanted to be served in a different way. If they tried to make contact with the Lord in a pagan way they would come into contact with the demons and come under their influence. The Bible calls it that they would then serve the (apostate) gods and fall away from the Lord.
But the same applies to Christians; the same prohibition applies to them. In the letter that the joint apostles sent from Jerusalem to the congregation in Antioch at that time, they stated "That they should abstain from the things tainted by idols, from fornication, from the stifled and from blood." (Acts 15:20). In other words, Christians should keep away from idolatry and what is related to it and show a Christian walk of life, which in many ways is different from the lives of unbelievers. So that even the world may see which God they serve.
In the first letter to Corinth we find a great exposition by Paul of the Christian life versus the principles of pagan life without God and Christ. Corinth is pre-eminently a pagan city where everything pagan was to be found. Now we cannot go through the whole letter at this place, but we want to take out a few salient points that relate to the issue of tongues.
The letter was sent to Corinth but also intended for us and all Christians "in all places" (1 Corinthians 1:2). We can safely say that our Western world today is also a pagan world. Therefore, like the Corinthians at that time, we also undergo all the influences of the world in Christian communities. This is why Paul's first letter to the believers in Corinth is also of great importance to us.
Unfortunately, I currently lack the time to create a new overview of the 1st letter to Corinth. In its place, for now, a few links to a page and article.
Click here for a summary of relevant Corinthian texts
2:12 "And we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit coming from God is, That we might know the things graciously given to us by God.
- the world is controlled/directed from a spiritual reality, the spirit of the world. In contrast, the believer has the Spirit that is from God.
- we have received the Spirit of God, That we might know. . . God wants us to include our minds so that we know His things.
3:19 "For the wisdom of the world is folly with God (...) The Lord knows the considerations of the wise, that they are useless are".
- The wisdom of the world is foolishness in God's eye; it is meaningless. It is without meaning and purpose.
5:1 '...fornication of which even among the pagans no question
5:11 '.... one idolater ...'
There were practices accepted in the church that were not common even in the world - among the pagans. It shows that pagan thinking and behavior had become quite prevalent. It could even happen that there were those who still served idols.
6:10 "Do not err! Fornicators, idolaters, (...) will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- All the practices mentioned here result in these people not entering the kingdom of God. If you think that is not the case, then you are erring.
6:17,18 "Whoever however united to the Lord is one spirit [with Him]. Flee from whoredom.
- Fellowship with the Lord is spiritual by its very nature. It has to do with thinking and the mind. This whole section (6:12-20) also makes it clear that this fellowship cannot be experienced physically. This is in contrast to demonic influences, which is also called whoredom here and is "fellowship with demons" (see later in 10:20).
8:1 "And what the idol sacrifices concerning: we know that we all possess knowledge.
- Here begins the second theme the Corinthians had questions about; the first theme is in 7:1. What about idol sacrifices? Are you allowed to eat them or not? Then comes an extended discourse, with "excursions" here and there, until 12:1 where the next theme (the spiritual gifts) begins.
8:4-6 '(...) that there is no other God but One. For though there are also those who gods be called either in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords are), yet for us there is only one God: the Father, from Whom are all things, and we for Him, and one Lord: Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we through Him
- Paul holds an extended discourse with this beginning in verses 4-6 in which he makes it clear that we must be well aware that there is one God whom we love and who knows our hearts (8:3). But that there are also other spiritual beings, gods, who will exercise their influence in heaven and on earth and seek dominion. And they are many! But our God, from whom all things are and our Lord Jesus Christ, is the only God with whom we have to deal.
8 : 8 "Food now does not bring us closer to God, for whether we eat, we are no more with God because of it; and whether we do not eat, we are no less with God because of it.
- A special text that makes it clear that bringing idol sacrifices (food) or eating them ourselves does not bring us closer to God. It makes clear that idolatry is about getting "closer to God" and would even experience oneness with Him (see above also 6:17). No one can see God: 'Him no man has seen, nor can anyone see Him.' (1 Timothy 6:16). No man can see or experience God with his senses. See also here.
8:7, 10, 12 "in conscience not separate from the idol (...) their conscience which is weak (...) will then strike his conscience (...) and them in their conscience which is weak (...)
- The consciousness (conscience) of a believer can be weak. Sensitive and easily influenced by the unseen world. Such a person can easily fall back into idolatry because of our behavior.
10 : 7, 14 'And do not become idolaters (...) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
- In chapter 10, Paul takes the people of Israel as an example and warning for Christians in Corinth. Therefore, God had no pleasure in most of them and they were cast down in the wilderness (10:5). Every believer will face temptations to lead him to idolatry. But we must continue to trust God; that is: believe that He is faithful. "And God is faithful: He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Incidentally, it is noteworthy that the example of Israel perishing in the desert is mentioned in two other places in the New Testament. See Hebrews 3: 7-19 and Jude verse 5-6. In each case it is idolatry, the mixing of demons with men. Or as Paul calls it, "fellowship with demons.
10 : 20 'And I do not want you with the demons intercourse. (...) the drinking cup of the demons (...) the table of the demons.'
- Fellowship with God, the Father and the Lord Jesus does not go together with fellowship with demons. Then our God is also a jealous God against whom we cannot stand (10:22), any more than the people of Israel could.
12 : 1,2 'Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant are. You know that you were pagans, drawn away to the dumb idols. Thus, you allowed yourself carry.'
- At the beginning of the account of the spiritual (gifts), Pauls refers to their old life and their own experiences of idolatry. He adds in verse 1 that he does not want us to be ignorant about it, before moving on to the next chapters and addressing the spiritual [gifts].
Footnotes
- Some therefore call it "sound language," such as e.g. Wim Grandia ↩︎
- The EBV24 translation has, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and God was the Word. ↩︎
- That's not even mentioning God's reliable written Word, the Bible. ↩︎
- This principle applies to all ways of getting closer to "the divine. Many of these ways in religions also have a Christian version. When Christians use the Christian version they also come to the demons. For example, the meditation techniques in the religions are also used by Christians; then you don't end up with God but with the demons. For example, mindfullness becomes -> 'christfullness'. ↩︎
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