Why speak in tongues – if we have AI translators.

B-A-C said:

Matt 28:19; "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Acts 8:14; Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
Acts 8:15; who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:16; For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 8:17; Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:18; Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

Mark 1:8; "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." ( John the Baptist is speaking here )

Acts 9:17; So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 9:18; And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

In the passage about Paul, it doesn't specifically mention tongues. But we know he did speak in tongues from other scriptures.

1Cor 14:18; I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

I couldn't find any scripture that says the disciples were baptized. But I did find two that says they baptized other people.
Of course Jesus Himself was baptized by John the Baptist.

John 3:22; After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
John 3:23; John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—

John 4:1; Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
John 4:2; although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were,

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Acts 8) tongues was a sign to the apostles those people were saved.

Paul spoke in other languages,not gibberish.

Act 8?) Those people were baptized under John’s baptism weren’t saved. They had to be baptized into Christ.
Once you accept Christ,as they did,you automatically receive the Holy Spirit upon believing.
There is no second infilling. You get it all at that moment.

Eddie Deepfield said:

Pentecostal believers are indoctrinated with their particular denominations take on tongues and its own particular understanding of scripture. Which can be quite confusing as there are over 740 recognized Pentecostal denominations and ten of thousands of Charismatic Churches.

Scripture is clear - tongues were used to convert the unsaved by supernatural means of speaking a foreign language. This was a sign. For unbelievers.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit as practiced in most Pentecostal and Charismatic circles is problematic. At most they are emotional outbursts of the persons personal devotion and commitment. Which is okay. But to say they are God speaking to people - is not really the case. Is it ? They are not supernatural in any way.
The gifts are as follows:

• The Gift of Wisdom
• The Gift of Knowledge
• The Gift of Faith
• The Gift of Healing
• The Gift of Miracles
• The Gift of Prophecy
• The Gift of Discerning Spirits
• The Gift of Tongues

Please let me know where these have been in operation with independent verification. Nope? I thought so. I live in Africa. And no Pentecostal preacher has been able to convert the masses.

Of course except for the prosperity/health/wealth/faith gospel which has a great following in a poor land. As one would expect.

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What you say about the clear teaching of scripture is wrong.

The event at Pentecost was a one-off. A special sign for a unique occasion.

For a discussion of the gift of tongues in the regular life of the church, read 1 Corinthians 14.

Hekuran said:

The event at Pentecost was a one-off. A special sign for a unique occasion.

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Besides that, there wasn't only one day of Pentecost. It was likely an annual event on the 50th day of passover.

Acts 2:1; When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Acts 20:16; For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
1Cor 16:8; But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;

The "original" in Acts2. One in Jerusalem after Paul was saved ( which was obviously not the Acts 2 event ). And one in Ephesus at least 3 years later.

lentz said:

Acts 8) tongues was a sign to the apostles those people were saved.

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So none of the 120 people in the upper room ( including Mary ) in Acts 2 were saved until that moment, even though many of them ( especially the disciples ) had been following Jesus for three years prior that ?
The thief on the cross wasn't saved? John the Baptist wasn't saved? It doesn't say he ever spoke in tongues. He died before Acts 2.

lentz said:

Paul spoke in other languages,not gibberish.

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And yet he says he can't understand what he is saying.

1Cor 14:2; For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

1Cor 14:10; There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
1Cor 14:11; If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
1Cor 14:12; So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
1Cor 14:13; Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Cor 14:14; For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

lentz said:

Once you accept Christ,as they did,you automatically receive the Holy Spirit upon believing.
There is no second infilling. You get it all at that moment.

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And yet the Bible says it was second event in five places.
Did Cornelius not believe until the end of Acts 10? Was he not saved before then? He never spoke in tongues before.
Did the Samaritans in Acts 8 not believe even though they had already been baptized in water before then? They never spoke in tongues before.
Did the disciples at Ephesus in Acts 19, who had also already been baptized in water years before they met Paul, not get saved until they spoke in tongues?
When did Paul himself get saved? He met Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9, but he doesn't get the Holy Spirit until at least 3 days later when he meets Ananaias in Acts 9.

1Cor 14:38; But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

lentz said:

Acts 8) tongues was a sign to the apostles those people were saved.

Paul spoke in other languages,not gibberish.

Act 8?) Those people were baptized under John’s baptism weren’t saved. They had to be baptized into Christ.
Once you accept Christ,as they did,you automatically receive the Holy Spirit upon believing.
There is no second infilling. You get it all at that moment.

Click to expand...

The Cessationist mantra in a nutshell!!! No sign of understanding what any of it is about. Note: the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" Biblically is not, and never was an "Infilling".

lentz said:

Nah
Won’t waste my time
Wouldn’t change anyone’s mind.
I know the truth,,that’s enough

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And @Eddie Deepfield

But you don't know the truth. You think you do.

Scripture is clear that tongues is not only a gift to speak a different language like 'French or German'.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.

Please note the 'new tongues' . If you use a dictionary you will find the meaning of the word 'new' to mean 'new'. IE Not in existence. New, as in new car. New, as in new house. A tongue that is 'new' to mankind.

1 Cor 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God.

Note how this scripture says 'speak to God'. A purpose of the 'new tongue' is to speak to God. Please try understand that. It is a very important fact to grasp. The title of this thread and the OP is clearly an opinion with no research.

The purpose for being Baptized in the Holy Spirit is for “power” for ministry.

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus said......

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

In Acts the people were Hearing in their Own language.. Peter was speaking in his own language.

KingJ said:

but to God.1 Cor 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people

Note how this scripture says 'speak to God'. A purpose of the 'new tongue' is to speak to God. Please try understand that. It is a very important fact to grasp. The title of this thread and the OP is clearly an opinion with no research.

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"A purpose of the 'new tongue' is to speak to God.'

Are you insinuating that God does not understand English?

" The title of this thread and the OP is clearly an opinion with no research."

Really?

Acts2:6 "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

So have you seen this?

Hekuran said:

What you say about the clear teaching of scripture is wrong.

The event at Pentecost was a one-off. A special sign for a unique occasion.

For a discussion of the gift of tongues in the regular life of the church, read 1 Corinthians 14.

Click to expand...

Why was it a one off? But the Gifts are not a one off?
Pentecostal believers are indoctrinated with their particular denominations take on tongues and its own particular understanding of scripture. Which can be quite confusing as there are over 740 recognized Pentecostal denominations and ten of thousands of Charismatic Churches.

Scripture is clear - tongues were used to convert the unsaved by supernatural means of speaking a foreign language. This was a sign. For unbelievers.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit as practiced in most Pentecostal and Charismatic circles is problematic. At most they are emotional outbursts of the persons personal devotion and commitment. Which is okay. But to say they are God speaking to people - is not really the case. Is it ? They are not supernatural in any way.
The gifts are as follows:

• The Gift of Wisdom
• The Gift of Knowledge
• The Gift of Faith
• The Gift of Healing
• The Gift of Miracles
• The Gift of Prophecy
• The Gift of Discerning Spirits
• The Gift of Tongues

Please let me know where these have been in operation with independent verification. Nope? I thought so. I live in Africa. And no Pentecostal preacher has been able to convert the masses.

Of course except for the prosperity/health/wealth/faith gospel which has a great following in a poor land. As one would expect.

Eddie Deepfield said:

"A purpose of the 'new tongue' is to speak to God.'

Are you insinuating that God does not understand English?

" The title of this thread and the OP is clearly an opinion with no research."

Really?

Acts2:6 "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

So have you seen this?

Click to expand...

You are cherry picking. You need to take the two scriptures I presented and add them to Acts 2:6. Both known languages and a new language are true. Just as scripture says.

You are guilty of removing from scripture if you only teach the above. Please, yourself and @lentz need to be aware of Rev 22:18-19

Rev 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

I notice these threads tend to focus on tongues. But there are nine gifts listed.

1Cor 12:8; For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
1Cor 12:9; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1Cor 12:10; and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

If we say the gifts of the Spirit are dead, OK then speaking in tongues would be gone. But no one on here would have any wisdom or knowledge either.
No one here would have faith or healing, or miracles, or prophecy. Tongues by themselves are useless, someone has to interpret them.

1Cor 14:9; So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
1Cor 14:10; There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
1Cor 14:11; If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
1Cor 14:12; So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
1Cor 14:13; Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

1Cor 14:2; For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

Why pray in tongues rather than just.. say English?

Rom 8:26; In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

I see the word "gibberish" passed around on here. How do you know it's gibberish? Do you speak every language? But even so, gibberish to you, may not be gibberish to God.
Sometimes words fail me. Sometimes, I really don't know how to pray or what to pray. There have been circumstances, where I thought I knew what God wanted, but then I wasn't so sure.
There's an old saying, that "God knows your heart". He knows what is in your heart and mind, even when you don't. He understands what you are saying, even when you don't.
Most of the time, I pray in English. But there have been times I didn't.

I think the reason people have a problem with tongues is fear. They are afraid of the unknown. They are afraid of something new. Sometimes God wants you to get out of your comfort zone.
Sometimes he wants you to try to walk of water. Perhaps the reason we don't see many miracles these days, is the same reason Jesus didn't.

Matt 13:58; And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

If you're praying from the heart, and you're genuinely seeking the truth, and genuinely praying for God's will... what is He going to do, ignore you or punish you because you didn't speak
certain words in a certain language?

Eddie Deepfield said:

Are you insinuating that God does not understand English?

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I believe He also speaks Spanish, Russian, Hindi, French, German, Pilipino, Cantonese, Hebrew, Japanese, and hundreds of other languages.
I doubt that people who speak English have a monopoly on speaking to God.

Prov 15:29; The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Isa 1:15; "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Isa 1:16; "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,

Zech 7:13; "And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts;

Psa 66:18; If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Mic 3:4; Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.

Isa 59:2; But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

1Pet 3:7; You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Matt 23:14; "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

There are prayers God doesn't listen to. But I don't see that He doesn't listen to things not said in English.

Sue D. said:

Peter was speaking in his own language.

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Actually, he wasn't.

Acts 2:6; And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:7; They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:8; "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
Acts 2:9; "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10; Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
Acts 2:11; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."

But Acts 2 may not be a good example, it's the only place where specific languages are mentioned, and it's also the only place here the tongues of fire above people's heads, and the mighty rushing wind are mentioned also.

Acts 2:2; And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3; And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
Acts 2:4; And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

No wind, or tongues of fire, or specific languages mentioned here...

Acts 10:46; For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,

... or here.

Acts 19:6; And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

B-A-C said:

I believe He also speaks Spanish, Russian, Hindi, French, German, Pilipino, Cantonese, Hebrew, Japanese, and hundreds of other languages.
I doubt that people who speak English have a monopoly on speaking to God.

Prov 15:29; The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Isa 1:15; "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Isa 1:16; "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,

Zech 7:13; "And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts;

Psa 66:18; If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Mic 3:4; Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.

Isa 59:2; But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

1Pet 3:7; You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Matt 23:14; "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

There are prayers God doesn't listen to. But I don't see that He doesn't listen to things not said in English.

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Exactly - he hears in any human language - so why speak in tongues?

KingJ said:

Scripture is clear that tongues is not only a gift to speak a different language like 'French or German'.

Click to expand...

Where does this happen ? Today?

B-A-C said:

Rom 8:26; In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

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Doesn't make any sense.

God knows what we are going to pray before we even do - Yet we don't know what to pray. And so the Holy Ghost prays for us using tongues. Yet we haven't a clue what he said. to God.

With groaning too deep for words.

What?

Did i get this right?

KingJ said:

You are cherry picking. You need to take the two scriptures I presented and add them to Acts 2:6. Both known languages and a new language are true. Just as scripture says.

You are guilty of removing from scripture if you only teach the above. Please, yourself and @lentz need to be aware of Rev 22:18-19

Rev 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

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You ducked my question.

Why use an unknown tongue, which sounds like gibberish*, to speak to God?

When he can understand any human language and in fact knows what we are about to say before we even do?

* ( gibberish - unintelligible or meaningless language)

B-A-C said:

I notice these threads tend to focus on tongues. But there are nine gifts listed.

1Cor 12:8; For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
1Cor 12:9; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1Cor 12:10; and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

If we say the gifts of the Spirit are dead, OK then speaking in tongues would be gone. But no one on here would have any wisdom or knowledge either.
No one here would have faith or healing, or miracles, or prophecy. Tongues by themselves are useless, someone has to interpret them.

1Cor 14:9; So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
1Cor 14:10; There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
1Cor 14:11; If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
1Cor 14:12; So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
1Cor 14:13; Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

1Cor 14:2; For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

Click to expand...

Where does this happen ? Today?

KingJ said:

You are cherry picking. You need to take the two scriptures I presented and add them to Acts 2:6. Both known languages and a new language are true. Just as scripture says.

You are guilty of removing from scripture if you only teach the above. Please, yourself and @lentz need to be aware of Rev 22:18-19

Rev 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Click to expand...

You know what ?
That part in revelation about adding to and subtracting from,only pertains to the book of revelation.
But like all scripture,people twist and mold it into something it’s never meant to be.