Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS OLD AS GENESIS

When one studies the subject of “unknown tongues,” it is important to know that the term “unknown” is not found with “tongues” in the original language of the scriptures. Rather it has been supplied by translators, and serves only to confuse the English reader. It is also most important to know that the term “tongue” is a metonymy of speech for “language.” However, that being said, if one speaks in a language not understood by the hearer, it is by that context unknown.

God is the author of language. He instilled it in Adam and Eve, and for the next 1700 years, the world was of one language. However, the determination of the post-flood world caused God to instantly implement several languages to separate the people, and to stop their ecumenical madness at Babel. “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” Genesis 11:7. Then, since they could not understand one another on a large scale, their speech was truly “unknown tongues,” but not in a language unknown to segments of the population. It was by language (tongues) that they were separated and grouped.

God repeated the miraculous feat at Pentecost (Acts 2) as the church was baptized in the Holy Spirit power, and many languages (nationalities of people) were represented there who heard as well as witnessed the Word and power of God. This is underscored by the statement, “how hear we every man in his own language?” Acts 2:8. Thus it was not languages unknown to men, but rather unstudied, and unlearned by those who spoke them. Then the question arises: was it a miracle of hearing or a miracle of language. Let it be underscored that it was, as the Bible states, one of languages. There were many speakers that day on Pentecost. Some casual observers initially thought they heard the babbling of drunks, but upon closer observation, as well as the explanation of the Apostle Peter, they understood that different languages were being spoken simultaneously by several speakers, so that hearers of different languages did in fact hear in their own language and understood what they heard.

To speak in a language that others do not understand is useless, and senseless, and denounced in the scriptures. Still, the unstudied and unlearned insist on attributing the activities of confusion to the Lord Who plainly teaches us that the author of confusion, He is NOT! I Cor. 14:33. There is no great mystery about what happened on Pentecost, or how God used the first church for the initial outreach of Christianity, but there were miraculous abilities given of strict order by which God is always defined. Thus, as Paul so plainly puts it, “Let all things be done decently, and in order.” I Cor. 14:40

FOR THOUGHT: Who do you credit as the author and sustainer of heretical religion? Is it the righteous, creator God who cannot lie? Is it fallen Lucifer who seeks to undo the work and plan of Jesus? Your answer will reveal much in discipleship. Do you believe the brief exposition offered in this article is truth or falsehood? Why?