Daily Lesson for Wednesday 5th of August 2026
What about the gift of tongues? In line with the manifestation of the gift elsewhere in the Bible (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:1-13, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:6), the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians is most likely the Spirit-granted ability to speak in foreign languages.
Paul mentions the gift of tongues in the list of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (see also 1 Corinthians 12:28,30; 1 Corinthians 13:1,8). However, he refers to it repeatedly in 1 Corinthians 14:1-40. Indeed, the Greek word glōssa (“tongue”) appears more than twenty times in 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, with fifteen occurrences in 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 alone. Besides these, the Greek word heteroglōssos (“another tongue”) also occurs, in 1 Corinthians 14:21. This high number of references to the gift of tongues suggests that this matter is of particular concern for Paul. The misuse and abuse of this gift by the church in Corinth caused disorder and confusion in public worship (1 Corinthians 14:23,27,33,40).
Read 1 Corinthians 14:5,13,26-27 and 1 Corinthians 12:10,30. What particular instruction did Paul give concerning the gift of tongues?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
The reason the gift of speaking in tongues must go hand in hand with that of interpreting them is that tongues must be intelligible (1 Corinthians 14:9); otherwise, there is no benefit in using the gift (1 Corinthians 14:6). This explains why Paul put so much emphasis on interpretation and understanding. Obviously, he is criticizing not the gift of tongues itself, but, as we will see tomorrow, the excessive prominence the Corinthians attributed to it, which led to the neglect of the gift of prophecy.
At this point, it is important to notice that although Paul desired that all the Corinthians could speak foreign languages (1 Corinthians 14:5), he did not expect that to happen (1 Corinthians 12:10). Thus, the thought that “all must speak in tongues before claiming baptism in the Holy Spirit is a perversion of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 and 14.”—Raoul Dederen, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, Commentary Reference Series, vol. 12 (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2001), p. 620.
|
Are there people in your church who speak other languages? How can they use this ability to reach other people for Christ? How can this fact help us understand the true nature of tongues that Paul is addressing? |
