1. Speaking in Tongues: glossolalia Acts 2

2.  Consider 1 Corinthians 14:2  A little bit of Greek – “Glossa” and “dialektos”  Pentecostal “unintelligible speech”  Biblical example of speaking in tongues – Acts 2  Pentecostal practices cp. First centuary practices  Conclusions Outline

3. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." 1 Corinthians 14:2

4. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. (ESV) Unknown? For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. (ASV) ο γαρ λαλων γλωσση ουκ ανθρωποις λαλει αλλα τω θεω ουδεις γαρ ακουει πνευματι δε λαλει μυστηρια (Antoniades) ο γαρ λαλων γλωσση ουκ ανθρωποις λαλει αλλα τω θεω ουδεις γαρ ακουει πνευματι δε λαλει μυστηρια (Elzevir)

5. Glossa - Languages  Refers to foreign languages in the following passages:  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Rev. 5:9)  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands (Rev. 7:9)  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings (Rev. 10:11)  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves (Rev. 11:9)  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations (Rev. 13:7)  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people (Rev 14:6)  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues (Rev 17:15)

6.  "Glossa" also means intelligible speech in the following passages:  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Rom. 14:11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:11)  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 Jn. 3:18) Glossa – Intelligible speech

7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (Acts 2:7,8). Pentecost

8.  Women usually predominate  Bryan Wilson, Sects and Society: A sociological Study of Three Religious Groups in Britain, (London: William Heinemann Ltd.), pp. 302-303.  Miracle Magazine, 14, No. 9, (June, 1969), p. 17.  "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Cor. 14:34,35). Differences from Pentecostal practice: women

9.  “all things should be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40)  "if any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course... " (1 Cor. 14:27).  Miracle Magazine, 14. No. 9, (June, 1969), p. 11. Differences from Pentecostal practice: All at once

10.  "let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church... " (1 Cor. 14:27,28). Differences from Pentecostal practice: Interpreter?

11. "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." (1 Cor. 14:32). Differences from Pentecostal practice: Compelled

12. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37). Paul's instruction to the Corinthians

13. Christian phenomena? "I wouldn't give you two cents for what you call a Holy Ghost experience, if the only action you got was a few minutes of stammering lips: "Bla, bla, bib, gah, gah, goo!" My children said that when they were six months old! I have seen people do that when they are drunk... I have seen many people whom I believe were merely 'trained' by those who prayed with them, to seemingly receive the Holy Ghost... I believe some Pentecostal denominations are full of people who have never received the baptism in the Holy Ghost experience. They have just been patted on the back and shook on the chin, and told what to say, until they couldn't say anything but, "Bla, bla, gag, gag, goo!" And then somebody said, 'You've got it!' The only action they got was when somebody shook them under the chin!' "The Book of Acts is Holy Ghost in Action", Miracle Magazine, 14, No. 9 (June, 1969), p. 10.

14.  Speaking in tongues is found in Scripture  It is not the Glossolalia of the Pentecostal movement  It was a “universal translator”  It’s purpose was to preach the Gospel to all “people’s, nations and tongues” Conclusions