Topical Encyclopedia The phenomenon of speaking in different languages, often referred to as "tongues," is a significant topic within the New Testament, particularly in the context of the early Christian church. This ability is first prominently displayed during the event of Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts. The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak in various languages, enabling them to communicate the gospel to people from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Acts 2:4 states, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."The purpose of this miraculous gift was multifaceted. Primarily, it served as a sign to unbelievers, demonstrating the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. It also facilitated the rapid spread of the gospel across linguistic and cultural barriers, fulfilling Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Apostle Paul addresses the use of tongues in the church in his first letter to the Corinthians. He emphasizes that while speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit, it should be exercised in an orderly and edifying manner within the church assembly. In 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 , Paul instructs, "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God." From a conservative theological perspective, the cessation of the gift of tongues is often linked to the completion of the biblical canon. This view, known as cessationism, posits that certain miraculous gifts, including tongues, were temporary and served a foundational role in the establishment of the early church. Once the New Testament writings were completed and the apostolic age concluded, these gifts were no longer necessary. Supporters of this view often cite 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 , which states, "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away." The "perfect" is interpreted by cessationists as the completed canon of Scripture, suggesting that the partial, including tongues, would cease with its arrival. Additionally, the sufficiency of Scripture is a key tenet in this perspective. With the Bible as the complete and final revelation of God's will, the need for additional revelatory gifts is seen as unnecessary. The written Word provides all that is needed for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In summary, the power of speaking in different languages, as a miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit, played a crucial role in the early church. However, from a conservative viewpoint, this gift ceased with the completion of the New Testament, as the written Word became the primary means through which God communicates with His people. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Corinthians 13:8-10Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal The Singer of Pietism The Historical Books. Miscellaneous Subjects. The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close. The Middle Colonies: the Jerseys, Delaware, and Pennsylvania --The ... Sanctification. Egypt The Church in Theology and Literature. Resources Should Bible translations use gender-inclusive language? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the five love languages? | GotQuestions.org What is Biblical Hebrew? Why was the Old Testament written in Hebrew? | GotQuestions.org Language: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Language of all Mankind One at First Language of some Nations Difficult Language: Ancient Kingdoms often Comprehended Nations of Different Language: Confusion of a Punishment for Presumption Language: Confusion of Divided Men Into Separated Nations Language: Confusion of Originated the Varieties In Language: Confusion of Scattered Men Over the Earth Language: Dialects of the Jews Language: Great Variety of, Spoken by Men Language: Interpretation of a Gift of the Holy Spirit Language: Interpretation of Antiquity of Engaging Persons For Language: Interpretation of Most Important in the Early Church Language: Interpretation of The Jews Punished by Being Given up to People of a Strange Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Arabic Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Chaldea Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Egyptian Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Greek Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Hebrew Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Latin Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Lycaonian Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Syriack Language: Many Spoken at Jerusalem Language: Parthian and Other Lands Language: Power of Speaking Different: A Gift of the Holy Spirit Language: Power of Speaking Different: A Sign to Unbelievers Language: Power of Speaking Different: Ceased when the Written Bible Completed Language: Power of Speaking Different: Conferred by Laying on of the Apostles' Hands Language: Power of Speaking Different: Followed Receiving the Gospel Language: Power of Speaking Different: Given on the Day of Pentecost Language: Power of Speaking Different: Necessary to Spread of the Gospel Language: Power of Speaking Different: Promised Language: Power of Speaking Different: Sometimes Abused Language: Speaking in Inspired "Tongues" Forbidden Language: The Term Barbarian Applied to Those Who Spoke a Strange Related Terms |
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