Tongues

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-29-2026

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

 

Introduction:

A. To properly explain spiritual gifts, both passing and permanent, one must understand that the New Testament began as transitional, from the Old Testament Covenant of Atonement as they awaited the coming of the Messiah, to the New Testament Covenant of the finished Gospel through the Messiah who had come.

 

1. The Jewish nation rejected their Messiah.

 

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

2. But individuals (both Jew and Gentile) did receive Him.

 

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

B. During this transitional time, we see the giving of spiritual gifts to the Church, the body of Christ, along with the local church, the assembling of the body of Christ. Both sign gifts that were temporary until the completion of the Scriptures and service gifts that would remain for the duration of the Church Age were available to the churches until the completion of “that which is perfect,” after which the completed canon of Scriptures was made available to replace them.

 

C. The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts in three doctrinal books, along with one of the Gospels, the Book of Mark:

 

1. Mark 16:17-18, the Apostolic Gifts. Notice that they are referred to as “signs.” Though these signs were mentioned here were a rebuke to these unbelieving apostles. Thus, meant for the unbelieving Jews. None of these sign gifts were permanent.

 

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

 

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

 

2. Romans 12:6-8 (ministry gifts, which were permanent)

 

Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy (forth telling) according to the proportion of faith; (7) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

3. Ephesians (both passing gifts of administration, apostles, and prophets, along with permanent administration gifts, the evangelist or missionary, and the pastor/teacher).

 

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

4. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 (service gifts, which are permanent, and sign gifts, which were passing).

 

1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

 

D. 1 Corinthians 13:8 speaks of three of the passing gifts.

 

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

E. Why just these three? Because these three would be a source of confusion long after the sign gifts were ended!

 

1. Prophecies, they shall fail. Προφητεία prophēteia prof-ay-ti'-ah From G4396 (“prophecy”); prediction (scriptural or other): - prophecy, prophesying.

 

James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

2. Tongues, they shall cease. γλῶσσα glōssa gloce'-sah the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.

 

I will deal with “tongues” later in chapters 12-14.

 

3. Knowledge, it shall vanish away. γνῶσις gnōsis gno'-sis From G1097; knowing (the act), that is, (by implication) knowledge: - knowledge, science. From a root work meaning to be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

 

Though knowledge or learning in general is still viable, the knowledge that births the inspiration and writing of Scriptures is no longer given by God, i.e., dreams, visions, and inspiration. We need no extra-biblical revelation outside the Bible. The Bible is both completed and perfect, needing no present of future revelations added.

 

F. The main problem the Corinthian church dealt with was the sign gift of tongues.

 

1. Let me say this by way of introduction to the gift of tongues that the following problems were not mentioned in any other epistles written to the churches of Jerusalem, Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Philadelphia, or Laodicea.

 

2. Why only Corinth? Because they were a carnal, divided, ignorant church that misused this sign gift!

 

G. Biblical Tongues. What biblical tongues are, what they are not, and how they are used.

 

1. The biblical mentions of “tongue” or “tongues.”

 

a. The physical tongue is mentioned 15 times in your Bible.

 

b. “Tongue” or “tongues” are mentioned 151 times in your Bible.

 

c. 4,000 BC. First Mention: Genesis 3:8-10 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 

Voice: qôl   qôl kole, kole To speak and communicate.

 

1) For approximately 1,656 plus years, the world spoke this one language. In Genesis chapter 6, Noah’s Day, it is biblically simple to calculate the time from the beginning because of Genesis chapter 5. It was now app. 2344 B.C., 1,656 years after creation. The world had one language until Genesis chapter 11, when we find the confounding of that language as the world began building a tower up to heaven.

 

Genesis 11:7-9 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. (9) Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 

Here, language and speech come from the same Hebrew word: śâphâh    śepheth saw-faw', sef-eth' manner of talk, words, communication.

 

2) The First Mention of “tongue.” Genesis 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

 

d. The First Mention and the Last Mention are always consistent with each and all mentions between are in agreement: Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

 

e. The tongues found in Acts chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12 speak of various languages, not some heavenly or angelic language.

 

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

 

f. Not one mention is found in the Bible of an ecstatic, unintelligible tongue being spoken. In every instance, tongues were used for communication in a specific language spoken by the hearer.

 

2. The sign gift of tongues was meant for the Jewish nation to hear because of their unbelief and rejection of their Messiah.

 

a. God used “tongues” and “miracles" to show the approval and power of God upon the message, not the tongues. “Will he speak?” is a direct reference to God speaking to the Jewish Nation.

 

Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

 

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. (22) Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

 

b. This was fulfilled in Acts chapter 2.

 

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

c. Every tongue spoken was a language understood (interpreted) by the individual hearer.

 

Acts 2:6-11 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

 

d. The only recorded “other tongues” used in the Bible are found in the Book of Acts, chapters 2, 10, and 19. Each time tongues were spoken, they were in the presence of unbelieving Jews.

 

1) Acts chapter 2. The Feast of Pentecost, one of the Jewish High Days or Sabbaths, where all males were to be present, both Jews and Jewish Proselytes.

 

Acts 2:6-11 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

 

Acts 2:11-13 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

 

2) Acts chapter 10. When God sent Peter to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, with the Gospel message. The tongues were spoken as a sign to the Jewish Nation that the Gentiles were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost just as the Jews were.

 

Acts 10:43-48 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

3) Acts chapter 19. John’s disciples had received his baptism, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. When they heard that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, they believed and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then these 7 men spoke in tongues, giving evidence that both Old and New Testament Jews were saved through the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

 

Acts 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (7) And all the men were about twelve.

 

4) All three instances were a sign to the Jews concerning salvation. There are no other records of speaking in tongues referenced in God’s Word.