Just a Corinthian Thing?
This is part 5 in a series on speaking in tongues. To get a better context of this article, we recommend reading the previous parts, Part 1: “Speaking in Tongues is Not Magic”, Part 2: “Tongues: An Ancient Problem”, Part 3: “Putting ‘Tongues’ in It’s Place”, and Part 4: “Interpret, or Be Quiet!”
So far, we’ve focused on Paul’s teaching about speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14. And, even if this were all the information we had on tongues in the New Testament, it would certainly be a solid foundation for our understanding of this gift. Instruction for churches about the Lord’s Supper is mostly limited to 1 Corinthians 11 in the New Testament, too. So, even if tongues were not mentioned anywhere else, it would not necessarily lessen its value for the church.
Actually, speaking in tongues is mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Most people know about its role in the Acts of the Apostles (see especially chapters 2, 10-11, 19) as an indicator of the outpouring of the Spirit on ‘all flesh’ in connection with the arrival of a new age. But, as I see it, tongues is also likely referred to in three other New Testament books: Romans, Ephesians and Jude. There are some great insights that come from these texts regarding the purpose and exercise of tongues!
Tongues in Romans 8?
When the apostle Paul says that one of his reasons for visiting Rome is to “impart some Spiritual gift (charisma)” to establish the community there (1:11), you realize how important the expression of the Spirit among the Roman house churches was to him. And, while Paul does not mention “speaking in tongues” directly in the letter, I think that there is a good likelihood that he refers to this in Romans 8 as part of his discussion of the Spirit’s contributions to our prayers for the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose.
In Romans 8:26-27, Paul says that the Spirit Himself intercedes through us according to God’s will because the Spirit knows God’s mind. When he describes how the Spirit does this, he says that it is through “unspeakable/inarticulate groans/sighs” (stenagmois alaletois, for you Greek students out there). Scholars are divided about whether this refers to speaking in tongues, or to some other kind of inner-Spirit-groaning or sighing. The tricky part is the interpretation of the word alaletois, which could mean anything from “inexpressible” to “inarticulate in a recognizable language.”
Along with some other scholars, I think Paul is referring to tongues here. What convinces me is the context of prayer, which was a key element of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 14, and the future completion of God’s eternal purpose – comparing the ‘mysteries’ of 1 Corinthians 14 to the ‘will of God’ in Romans 8, which includes redemption of humanity and all creation. But, even if Paul does not refer solely to tongues here, it seems fair to say that these expressions of the Spirit would not exclude tongues, since they appear as prayer inspired by the Spirit in 1 Corinthians. If this is correct, we can understand prayer in tongues as a way that God cries out to himself, through us, by the Spirit, in order to accomplish his ultimate purposes (8:28-30). That means that when we pray in tongues, we are stepping into the middle of a divine conversation! What an awesome privilege!
Tongues in Ephesians 6?
In Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul tells his readers to prepare themselves for the cosmic spiritual conflict into which they were plunged as a result of their new identity in Christ. In addition to getting dressed in God’s own armor (courtesy of Isaiah 59:17), believers are exhorted to “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…” (6:18). As in Romans, Paul doesn’t use the specific words “speaking in tongues” here. However, he does use the exact same language here as he did in 1 Corinthians to describe tongues – “praying in the Spirit” (1 Cor 14:15). This suggests that tongues were in Paul’s mind when writing these instructions, even if he might also include other forms of Spirit-led prayer – which could be what “all [kinds] of prayers and supplications” means.
In this context, tongues is a form of strategic weaponry that aids believers in their ‘wrestling’ against hostile cosmic powers, and also assists other saints, including Paul, as he seeks to boldly announce the Gospel’s mystery while imprisoned. This is not to exclude the mind as an additional location of strategic warfare! Paul makes that clear enough in 2 Corinthians 10, where the ‘pulling down of strongholds’ is clearly connected to the “arguments and opinions” that challenge what we know from God. But, here in Ephesians 6, Paul orients believers to the unseen battle, and encourages them to tap into the Spirit’s resources to engage effectively in ways that go beyond even their own understanding!
Tongues in Jude?
We know a lot less about Jude (his name is actually Judah, as the Greek text makes perfectly clear!) as a person, author and Christian leader than we do about Paul. That’s what makes interpreting his letter a bit more of a challenge. We have a much smaller “sample size” of his language and theological expressions. So, when we see the phrase “praying in the Holy Spirit” in verse 20, we can’t be completely sure whether he is referring to tongues.
Two things make me think he is: (1) his language matches Paul’s language about praying in tongues in 1 Corinthians, and (2) it is connected to the same concept of edification that we see Paul referring to in his letter. The first observation simply suggests that in the absence of any other clear reference point for the phrase “praying in the Holy Spirit,” then maybe Paul’s language can help us interpret the phrase when it is used by another Jewish apostle and brother of the Lord Jesus. The second observation highlights that both of these men describe the purpose of “praying in the Spirit” in terms of contributing to the Spiritual growth of the pray-er. Jude’s exhortation to “build yourselves up” by praying in the Spirit shares the same theological understanding that Paul has about tongues – that it has an edifying influence on the speaker.
Another parallel between Jude 20 and Paul’s thinking in 1 Corinthians is the relationship between the use of this gift and love. The grammar of Jude 20 suggests that praying in the Spirit is one of the ways that the readers are to keep themselves “in the love of God” (v. 21). In 1 Corinthians, Paul calls the readers to speak in tongues in a loving way. In this letter, Jude calls the readers to keep themselves in God’s love by praying in tongues! Finally, both letters also emphasize the ongoing nature of this Spirit speech up until the return of Christ (1 Cor 13:10; Jude 21).
So, speaking in tongues seems valuable…now what?
Many believers I meet don’t have a theological problem with speaking in tongues. They do, however, have a practical one. They report never having spoken in tongues, although they have interest in it. Some even express disappointment because they have prayed for this gift, but have not received it. What advice can be offered to folks who find themselves in this situation? That’s a great question – I’m glad you asked! Tune in next time for some practical encouragement regarding speaking in tongues.
So far, we’ve focused on Paul’s teaching about speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14. And, even if this were all the information we had on tongues in the New Testament, it would certainly be a solid foundation for our understanding of this gift. Instruction for churches about the Lord’s Supper is mostly limited to 1 Corinthians 11 in the New Testament, too. So, even if tongues were not mentioned anywhere else, it would not necessarily lessen its value for the church.
Actually, speaking in tongues is mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Most people know about its role in the Acts of the Apostles (see especially chapters 2, 10-11, 19) as an indicator of the outpouring of the Spirit on ‘all flesh’ in connection with the arrival of a new age. But, as I see it, tongues is also likely referred to in three other New Testament books: Romans, Ephesians and Jude. There are some great insights that come from these texts regarding the purpose and exercise of tongues!
Tongues in Romans 8?
When the apostle Paul says that one of his reasons for visiting Rome is to “impart some Spiritual gift (charisma)” to establish the community there (1:11), you realize how important the expression of the Spirit among the Roman house churches was to him. And, while Paul does not mention “speaking in tongues” directly in the letter, I think that there is a good likelihood that he refers to this in Romans 8 as part of his discussion of the Spirit’s contributions to our prayers for the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose.
In Romans 8:26-27, Paul says that the Spirit Himself intercedes through us according to God’s will because the Spirit knows God’s mind. When he describes how the Spirit does this, he says that it is through “unspeakable/inarticulate groans/sighs” (stenagmois alaletois, for you Greek students out there). Scholars are divided about whether this refers to speaking in tongues, or to some other kind of inner-Spirit-groaning or sighing. The tricky part is the interpretation of the word alaletois, which could mean anything from “inexpressible” to “inarticulate in a recognizable language.”
Along with some other scholars, I think Paul is referring to tongues here. What convinces me is the context of prayer, which was a key element of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 14, and the future completion of God’s eternal purpose – comparing the ‘mysteries’ of 1 Corinthians 14 to the ‘will of God’ in Romans 8, which includes redemption of humanity and all creation. But, even if Paul does not refer solely to tongues here, it seems fair to say that these expressions of the Spirit would not exclude tongues, since they appear as prayer inspired by the Spirit in 1 Corinthians. If this is correct, we can understand prayer in tongues as a way that God cries out to himself, through us, by the Spirit, in order to accomplish his ultimate purposes (8:28-30). That means that when we pray in tongues, we are stepping into the middle of a divine conversation! What an awesome privilege!
Tongues in Ephesians 6?
In Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul tells his readers to prepare themselves for the cosmic spiritual conflict into which they were plunged as a result of their new identity in Christ. In addition to getting dressed in God’s own armor (courtesy of Isaiah 59:17), believers are exhorted to “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…” (6:18). As in Romans, Paul doesn’t use the specific words “speaking in tongues” here. However, he does use the exact same language here as he did in 1 Corinthians to describe tongues – “praying in the Spirit” (1 Cor 14:15). This suggests that tongues were in Paul’s mind when writing these instructions, even if he might also include other forms of Spirit-led prayer – which could be what “all [kinds] of prayers and supplications” means.
In this context, tongues is a form of strategic weaponry that aids believers in their ‘wrestling’ against hostile cosmic powers, and also assists other saints, including Paul, as he seeks to boldly announce the Gospel’s mystery while imprisoned. This is not to exclude the mind as an additional location of strategic warfare! Paul makes that clear enough in 2 Corinthians 10, where the ‘pulling down of strongholds’ is clearly connected to the “arguments and opinions” that challenge what we know from God. But, here in Ephesians 6, Paul orients believers to the unseen battle, and encourages them to tap into the Spirit’s resources to engage effectively in ways that go beyond even their own understanding!
Tongues in Jude?
We know a lot less about Jude (his name is actually Judah, as the Greek text makes perfectly clear!) as a person, author and Christian leader than we do about Paul. That’s what makes interpreting his letter a bit more of a challenge. We have a much smaller “sample size” of his language and theological expressions. So, when we see the phrase “praying in the Holy Spirit” in verse 20, we can’t be completely sure whether he is referring to tongues.
Two things make me think he is: (1) his language matches Paul’s language about praying in tongues in 1 Corinthians, and (2) it is connected to the same concept of edification that we see Paul referring to in his letter. The first observation simply suggests that in the absence of any other clear reference point for the phrase “praying in the Holy Spirit,” then maybe Paul’s language can help us interpret the phrase when it is used by another Jewish apostle and brother of the Lord Jesus. The second observation highlights that both of these men describe the purpose of “praying in the Spirit” in terms of contributing to the Spiritual growth of the pray-er. Jude’s exhortation to “build yourselves up” by praying in the Spirit shares the same theological understanding that Paul has about tongues – that it has an edifying influence on the speaker.
Another parallel between Jude 20 and Paul’s thinking in 1 Corinthians is the relationship between the use of this gift and love. The grammar of Jude 20 suggests that praying in the Spirit is one of the ways that the readers are to keep themselves “in the love of God” (v. 21). In 1 Corinthians, Paul calls the readers to speak in tongues in a loving way. In this letter, Jude calls the readers to keep themselves in God’s love by praying in tongues! Finally, both letters also emphasize the ongoing nature of this Spirit speech up until the return of Christ (1 Cor 13:10; Jude 21).
So, speaking in tongues seems valuable…now what?
Many believers I meet don’t have a theological problem with speaking in tongues. They do, however, have a practical one. They report never having spoken in tongues, although they have interest in it. Some even express disappointment because they have prayed for this gift, but have not received it. What advice can be offered to folks who find themselves in this situation? That’s a great question – I’m glad you asked! Tune in next time for some practical encouragement regarding speaking in tongues.
Posted in Tongues