1. 1 Corinthians 12:28. “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” God has appointed, ordained, commanded, tongues to be exercised in the church, with or without denominational approval. There is no such thing as an “apostolic-Church” and a “post-apostolic-Church”. Jesus established one Church for all time. Period!
2. Mark 16:17. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” In this passage, tongues is wholly a matter of one’s relationship with Christ through personal believing; the gift has nothing to do with the death of Apostles or canonizing of Scripture. Observe that in this case, believing is the same requirement as given to the Philippian jailor, Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” And Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart.” In each case, belief is the foundation of relationship with God. It is dangerous to predicate such relationships upon historical events or chronological dates.
3. Acts 2:3,4. “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Holy Spirit has never surrendered His sovereignty to man; it was He, not the disciples who spoke in other tongues. Here, the human and Divine poles were joined and tongues resulted.
4. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5. Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit … He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues …”
5. 1 Corinthians 14:13-19. For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue , my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind… I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you …” Paul said that his “spirit prayed”. Does the spirit of modern Christians no longer need to pray as Paul’s did? Not only so, Paul worshiped God in a more profound way by singing in tongues. Where does the New Testament teach that our worship of Jesus has changed from the first century?
6. 1 Corinthians 14:22. “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.” If God provided tongues as a miraculous sign for unbelievers anciently, did He remove the gift because we have no unbelievers today who need the “sign”?
7. 1 Corinthians 14:39. “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.” None of Paul’s writings is more explicit than this.
From the newsletter of Charles Carrin
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Thanks for wrapping up all these scriptures in one solid bundle. It’s amazing how many people will try and argue the existence of the gift of tongues, even though it is fully supported in the Scriptures.
I think some also place too much emphasis on tongues, and forget that Paul says that we should “covet to prophesy” and also that love is the greatest gift to eagerly seek!
I think everyone just makes such a big deal out of it, but after you read those scriptures it’s like, “oh, alright. I guess that’s the way it is.” In other words…
shakeema rokash andoblerundama kedopasmahleha!
@Justin - I have seen churches pervert the Scripture to read that since love is the greatest gift that tongues and prophesy are lesser gifts. Therefore you only need those if you don’t have love.
People will always create a theology to justify their unbelief.
As I watch the discussion continue within a major pentecostal denomination over whether or not tongues is the initial physical evidence of the Holy Ghost Baptism, this post really brings to light all the scriptures in one place!
I think I’ll link it!