Do all speak in tongues?
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE - ARE YOU LISTENING?
Certainly, this has been used as an extensive argument by those who oppose speaking in tongues. In fact, many use Paul’s statement, “let there be only two or at most three,” not to limit tongues but to prohibit them entirely.
Both these Scriptures must be considered in any discussion of tongues, but only in connection with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 14:5: “Now I want you all to speak in tongues.” How do we reconcile “let there be only two or at most three” and “I want you all to speak”? Is Paul contradicting himself? No.
The confusion is cleared away when we consider the two sets of circumstances in which speaking in tongues appears in the New Testament.
The confusion is cleared away when we consider the two sets of circumstances in which speaking in tongues appears in the New Testament.
- They appear both as a sign and as a gift.
- They appear as a sign or outward evidence that accompanies the baptism in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4, 10:45–46, 19:6, and Mark 16:17.
- They appear as a gift in Paul’s references in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.
Now in Acts, where tongues appear as a sign, all who received the baptism in the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues.
No limitation or restriction is placed on the manifestation, nor is there any suggestion that some received tongues while others did not. Nor is there any attempt to teach or instruct the recipients in the “proper use” of tongues.
Speaking in tongues came to all, serving as the sign, or evidence, of the Holy Spirit’s arrival in power upon them. I believe it is safe and correct to say that there is no such thing as misuse of tongues when they initially appear at the time of one’s receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
But in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, we find Paul discussing speaking in tongues as a gift among other gifts, to be used in the services of the church, only as the Holy Spirit directs, for “the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
But in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, we find Paul discussing speaking in tongues as a gift among other gifts, to be used in the services of the church, only as the Holy Spirit directs, for “the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Here, Paul treats speaking in tongues not in terms of receiving but in terms of exercising the ability at a given time in the service of worship. He was explaining to those who had received the sign of tongues when they were baptised in the Holy Spirit, and who could now manifest this ability to praise God in other languages, how, in church, any manifestation of tongues should fall in the same category as other manifestations of the Spirit, such as prophecy, the word of wisdom, etc.
Paul made it clear that, in church, if some individual is moved by the Holy Spirit to manifest tongues, it should be accompanied by the gift of interpretation so that the whole worshipping assembly may benefit by it. (See 1 Corinthians 14:27.)
Yet, even here, Paul qualifies his statement by adding that prayer in tongues without interpretation, i.e., the sign tongue, may also be exercised during the church service, but only silently, so as not to disturb or disrupt the public worship service. (See 1 Corinthians 14:28.)
Certainly, in regard to speaking in tongues aloud, in church, with the gift of interpretation to follow, the question, “Do all speak with tongues?” must be answered with an emphatic no!
However, when we encourage those seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit to seek it in terms of the initial scriptural evidence of speaking in tongues, we do not assume that all receiving tongues will be led by the Spirit to manifest the gift in a public worship service.
Certainly, in regard to speaking in tongues aloud, in church, with the gift of interpretation to follow, the question, “Do all speak with tongues?” must be answered with an emphatic no!
However, when we encourage those seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit to seek it in terms of the initial scriptural evidence of speaking in tongues, we do not assume that all receiving tongues will be led by the Spirit to manifest the gift in a public worship service.
Experience indicates that only a small percentage of those who manifest speaking in tongues at the time they receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit will ever be used for a public manifestation of tongues and interpretation in church. By far, the most common use of tongues is during one’s own private prayer time.
Essentially, what we have said here is: the accounts in the book of Acts show how the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues is received, while much of Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians show how speaking in tongues is to be properly used and controlled in public services of the church.
Essentially, what we have said here is: the accounts in the book of Acts show how the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues is received, while much of Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians show how speaking in tongues is to be properly used and controlled in public services of the church.
