The Tongues That Many Christians Speak Today Without Meaning, Was That What Obtained in the Early Church in the Bible?
1) Direct answer
No. Tongues that have no meaning and no interpretation in the assembly are not what the early church practiced. The Bible gift of tongues had meaning, purpose, and order.
2) Scriptural explanation
- At Pentecost, “every man heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2). That was not meaningless sound; the hearers recognized the languages and the mighty works of God.
- In the church, Paul said an “unknown tongue” (unknown to the hearers) must be interpreted: “If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:28). He also said, “by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret” (v. 27).
- “God is not the author of confusion” (v. 33). If all speak out at once with no interpretation, “will they not say that ye are mad?” (v. 23).
- Praying in a tongue can edify the individual—“he that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself” (v. 4)—but in the congregation it must edify the church, which requires interpretation (vv. 5, 12–13).
- Paul’s balance: “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all,” yet “in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding… that I might teach others also” (vv. 18–19).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- God doesn’t speak nonsense. When the Spirit gives utterance, there is a message with meaning. If people cannot understand, God provides interpretation; if no interpreter is present, the speaker is to be quiet in the service and speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:28).
- The same Spirit who inspired the Word will never lead contrary to the Word. So disorderly, uninterpreted tongues in a meeting are out of line with Scripture.
- Tongues are real and still a gift, but they are a sign with purpose, not a display without understanding (1 Corinthians 14:22).
4) Reinforcing statement
You see, the Bible standard is simple: tongues with interpretation in the assembly for edification; otherwise, keep silence. Seek that the church may receive edifying, and let everything be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). The true evidence of the Spirit is a life that agrees with the Word.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Presuming
62-0610M §97
Without scriptural authority, they take it by a creed. "Say this creed." They presume that's all right. They go on, take it by sensations. "Oh, glory to God! I spoke in tongues all night." I've seen devils do the same thing. Sure. "You don't believe then in speaking in tongues?" Sure, I believe it. That's not it. I'm a missionary. I've seen them drink blood out of a human skull, and speak in tongues, and call on the devil. Certainly. Oh, yeah. My mother ... we just buried her recently. She was a half Indian. I've b...
Questions and Answers
61-0112 §92
Paul spoke over here also in the Corinthians, where you was asking here, and he said, "There are tongues of angels and there is tongues of men." Now, tongues of angels is when a man's praying to... him and God, alone. But when he's speaking a language, it's to be interpreted in the church, for edification of the church. "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that speaks... he that prophesies edifies the church." So he said, "I'd rather speak five words with understanding than ten thousand in...
Identified with Christ
59-1220E §19
Now, many of my most precious people... I've told you I'm Pentecost. Now, most of my people believe that when they receive the Holy Ghost they just get up and speak in an unknown tongue. That's exactly contrary to the Scripture; then the people don't know what they're saying. But on the day of Pentecost, every one knew what they were saying; that was a going forth to every nation, see. Jesus said the Gospel must be preached to all the world, beginning at Jerusalem. There's where it had to be that way. Now notice. P...
Questions and Answers (God being misunderstood)
61-0723E §59
Now, this person here, I know in speaking in tongues, it's supposed to be by courses---two, or not more than three. That is correct, but if you'll notice here, if it was... Just like someone give ... up, up there, like Brother Sothmann raised up and give a message in prophecy or speaking in tongues. Interpretation of tongues is prophecy, see, spirit of prophecy. Now, if you just speak in an unknown tongues, there be no interpreter, that person's blessed of the Spirit; but he doesn't hurt the church. Now, what Paul...
Debate on tongues
60-0807 §3
Now, when I first began in this debate that Brother Leo was anxious to get on tape here, I suppose... I see it flickering; I guess he's got it running now. I would not want you, Brother Leo, to use this to hurt or anything, but just ... I know you wouldn't. And I wouldn't say to you, brethren, if a man speaks with tongues, all right; if he doesn't speak with tongues, that still is no sign he hasn't got it. I've seen people speak with tongues like pouring peas on a dry cowhide, just as hard as they could go, and liv...