† John, How are you my good man?
I don't know how the subject of tongues came up, or who first initiated it, but since it has I would like to speak on the subject also.
There are two kinds of tongues:
1. The kind spoken of on the day of Pentacost, also know as "cloven tongues", which means to go out in many directions, and so it did.
This tongue spoken of by Paul was in-fact a miracle of God given to them by the Holy Spirit for a very specific reason. This was not an "unknown" tongue. Every man heard and "understood" them in their own native "language" Acts 2 6-11.
Peter teaches in Acts 2 14-18, that this is that which was spoken of by Joel the prophet. So we must look to what Joel taught. Joel 2 28-32
We see very clearly that Joel was speaking of the last days. The miracle occurrence which did happen on the day of Pentacost was for a very specific reason and to show us what Joel was speaking of. The day of Pentacost was an example of what is to come.
2.The kind of tongue spoken of in 1 Cor.12, 13, 14, "different languages"-"foreign languages"
In 1 Cor.14 2, Paul teache us that although you may speak in a foreign language, it it of no use to the group which you speak unless they understand that "foreign language".... Only God will understand him, for God knows all languages! That is why when preachers go into a foreign audience he always takes an "interpreter" if he himself cannot speak the language of the people to which he will preach.For "interpreting" is a gift when the "interpretator" delivers the sermon in the way the preacher intended.
Uninterpretated languages is of no benefit. 1 Cor.14 13-19.
There may be very rare cases in which the miracle of "cloven tongues" is manifested today as per design by God.
John, are you aware of how closely linked the "Unforgivable Sin" is with "Cloven Tongues"? Our Lord Jesus teaches it himself very clearly, Luke 12:10-12.
If you would like to discuss this more I would be more than glad to do so. If you would prefer to do it by e mail let me know.
2 Cor. 13:14
Shalom † |
