THE GIFT OF TONGUES

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1858

THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

The following paragraph has been going the round of our exchanges:

TONGUES AND TRANSLATIONS.—When the gospel was first preached to all nations, it was necessary to give a diversity of tongues; a tongue for each nation: and this was done by divine power. But in this second promulgation, as it were, of the gospel, the work will probably be carried on by a diversity of scriptures; a translation for each nation. Instead of the gift of tongues, God, by his providence is giving to mankind a gift of Scriptures.”—Claudius Buchanan.

A summary manner, truly, of accounting for the cessation of the gifts of the Spirit; and one which might appear very plausible, did we not happen to know something that the Bible says upon the subject. That the gift of tongues has been employed, as upon the day of Pentecost, to convey the gospel to people of other languages, is not to be denied; but is this its only or even its primary, object? What says Paul? Hear him. 1 Cor. xiv, 2. 'For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth him. What? Is not the tongue given for the express purpose that men may understand? But here we have the declaration of Paul that sometimes, at least, the gift of tongues is conferred when no man understands it. 'Wherefore,' continues he, [verse 13.] 'let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.' Again, 'if any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence.' Verses 27, 28. Now if the gift of tongues was conferred upon the disciples only that they might preach the gospel to those of other languages, where would be either the necessity of an interpreter, or any propriety in Paul's language? There would be neither. Therefore the suggestion given in the above extract is a point-blank fallacy.

It may be asked then, What was the object of tongues? This question Paul answers in verse 22: 'Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.'

We are all aware that the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, which attended the early promulgation of the gospel, is a thing unknown among the mass of professed Christians of the present day. If some plausible reason could be assigned for this state of things, other than the degeneracy and apostasy of the church, it would no doubt be very soothing to many consciences; but the Bible does not furnish it. No. We have yet to hear a single necessity urged for such manifestations in the days of the apostles, which does not exist now; and that passage of the Bible where the cessation of these gifts is even insinuated, is yet to be shown.