Introduction
Speaking in tongues is an interesting phenomenon with Christianity. In many occasion, people who witness this phenomenon for the very first time would find it funny, amusing, or even annoying. Such a reaction can be understood easily since this matter has also proven to be complex even to Christians and Theologians.
It seems to be an issue that is beyond the natural means of human understanding. Besides this mystical understanding of the phenomenon, there are various cultic Christian groups that strongly use this phenomenon to pray. The phenomenon is commonly used during prayers and it is evident with particular denominations in the Christian religion.
Considering all the confusing circumstances that surrounds the idea, it is necessary to have an in depth look at the topic with regards to what the Bible says about it. The topic can be found in the books of Acts of the Apostle and the book of 1st Corinthians. In this paper, the understanding of this topic in a biblical perspective will be based from the book of Acts of the Apostle.
The book of Acts of the Apostle was authored by Luke and he is the first one to account on this issue in the Bible. During Pentecost after the ascension of Jesus Christ, speaking in tongues was first experienced by the disciples of Jesus when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This happened seven weeks after Jesus’ Crucifixion1. Before leaving, Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the helper. This was a promise to bring a helper to mankind who is the Holy Spirit. This was the beginning of the first church.
This instant and another occasion in the book of Acts do we see people speaking in tongues. The other place in the Bible where this topic is touched is the letter that Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. In Acts this was a symbol that God used to prove that the Helper, Holy Spirit has arrived. During this day, everyone in the room in which they were praying received the Holy Spirit and began to pray in incomprehensible tongue.
Some churches and believers believe that this sign has to occur in somebody in order for them to be sure of the full filling of the Holy Spirit. Just like in the book of Acts, they emphasize on an evident to show that true baptism has occurred. At the same time, there are other churches that though it is permissible to exercise the practice, they never lay so much emphasis on the phenomenon. Other churches on their part, do not allow this.
One of the major questions that come into our minds whenever we hear of this topic as Christians is that is that, should every person who claims to be a Christian speak in tongues during baptism of the Holy Spirit?2 There are so many people who just find it difficult to practice the phenomenon.
And at the same time, there are people who equally find it easy to speak in tongue. The other issue of concern is whether speaking in tongues is the proof that the Holy Spirit has descended upon somebody. Thirdly, there has been this issue of linking spirituality to tongue speaking and people have always wondered whether practicing this phenomenon makes someone closer to God.
Acts 2: 1- 4
Speaking in tongues has a purpose in the church and in the book of Acts of the Apostle it says that tongues of fire rested upon each of them “…a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”3.
From this passage in the bible, a few things could be noticed. First of all this was the beginning of the first church and they needed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just as Christ had promised them that He would send them a helper, they could not begin anything without the arrival of the helper. The evidence that the helper had come, had to be something sensible. People could see the actual tongues of fire as they descended upon everyone in the room. This was after a violent wind sounded like coming from heaven and filled the whole room.
It is also clear that the different tongues were the enablement of the Holy Spirit4. Nobody spoke something that the other was speaking. Each tongue was different. This is not a common thing nowadays because the congregation normally tries to emulate the tongue that their pastor uses during prayer.
The tongues were different foreign languages. It is argued that the Jews in that room represented the different native languages of the world. And when the Spirit came upon them it gave them the ability to speak in these foreign languages. The people who came by to watch them were amazed to see fellow Jews from Galilee speaking in their own native language.
This whole scenario then became misinterpreted by the on lookers. They thought that these people were drunk because they spoke in strange tongues that no one could understand. This made Peter to come out explaining what was happening. Peter had never had confidence to speak in public with such authority as he did on that day.
This authority is also part of the evidence that the Holy Spirit had filled him. The Holy Spirit gives confidence once it fills a human soul. It may be unnecessary to use the evidence of speaking in tongues to prove that the Holy Spirit has come upon you but once a person shows confidence in the gospel of Christ and speaks without fear or shame.
During the day of Pentecost, there were three events that took place sequentially. The first one was the sound like a wind which was followed by something that looked liked fire that settled on each one of them. Lastly there was the speaking of tongues.
Peter rose to speak, he did not use tongues to address the people; he only preached and called for baptism of the Holy Spirit and repentance. Also from the passage it is unclear whether the Peter advised the people to be baptized and speak in tongues or just to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It was unclear whether the manifestation is the Holy Spirit filling people’s hearts or the speaking in tongues.
Acts 10: 44- 46
Other passage in the book of Acts where this phenomenon is displayed is Acts 10: 44 – 46. In this passage there is introduction of a non Jew5. Ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, the church has been composed of Jews only. Peter had gone to the house of a gentile on invitation.
Then Peter began to speak and preach to the entire crowd that was gathered there. He spoke about Jesus Christ and forgiveness. Just as he was speaking the Spirit of God came down on everyone who was under his voice and they all began to speak in tongues, both Jews and non Jews.
This was an amazing phenomenon to the entire Jewish community that was there because to them they had never witnessed Gentile speaking in tongues. In this context, it can be understood that the miraculous power of God which was manifested by the Holy Spirit coming down on the entire non Jew group, was not only meant for the Jews6. This power was extended to the whole world and the entirety of humanity. He used this miraculous sing to make it clear to the Jews the love of God and his acceptance to the whole world.
Lastly, in the chapter 19 verses 1 to 6, the final passage on this topic is displayed. In this passage Paul is in Ephesus, and he meets some disciples of John the Baptist. They had no idea about the gift of the Holy Spirit. So Paul taught them about the Holy Spirit. In the process of preaching, the Holy Spirit filled each one of them leading to the manifestation of speaking in tongues7.
In conclusion, this topic of speaking in tongues is not a requirement for one to be filled with the Holy Spirit. These circumstances told in the book of Acts, had special significance. The first case was the beginning and expansion of the church to the entire world. The second case had the significance of God showing his love to the entire world; meaning that everyone is accepted by God.
Bibliography
Brawley, Robert L. Luke-Acts and the Jews: Conflict, Apology, and Conciliation. Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, 1987.
Barrett, C. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. ICC. New York, NY: T & T Clark, 1994.
Catchpole, David R. “Paul, James and the Apostolic Decree.” New Testament Studies 23 (1977): 428–44.
Fernando, Ajith. Acts. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
Goulder, Michael D. “Did Luke Know Any of the Pauline Letters?” Perspectives in Religious Studies 13 (1986): 97–112.
Hagner, Donald A., and Murray J. Harris, eds. Pauline Studies: Essays Presented to Professor F. F. Bruce on His 70th Birthday. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980.
Footnotes
1 Brawley, Robert L. Luke-Acts and the Jews: Conflict, Apology, and Conciliation. Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, 1987.
2 Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1998.
3 Barrett, C. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. ICC. New York, NY: T & T Clark, 1994.
4 Fernando, Ajith. Acts. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
5 Goulder, Michael D. “Did Luke Know Any of the Pauline Letters?” Perspectives in Religious Studies 13 (1986): 97–112.
6 Hagner, Donald A., and Murray J. Harris, eds. Pauline Studies: Essays Presented to F. F. Bruce on His 70th Birthday. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980.
7 Catchpole, David R. “Paul, James and the Apostolic Decree.” New Testament Studies 23 (1977): 428–44.