When one reads the New Testament it is clear that there existed in the first-century church a miraculous spiritual gift that involved the ability to speak in different languages without previous study.  Jesus promised that one of the signs accompanying those who believed in Him would be “they shall speak in new tongues” (Mark 16:17).  This promise came to fruition on the day of Pentecost when the twelve received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).  The apostles, men of Galilee, spoke in the native languages of those gathered; thus, it is evident that the gift of tongues was not speaking languages altogether unknown to humanity, but simply new and unknown to the speaker (Acts 2:6-8).

The gift of tongues was present at Peter’s preaching to Cornelius’ family and friends as a sign that God opened the door to the Gentiles to receive the Gospel (Acts 10:46).  In Acts 19:6, when the men who had been baptized under John’s baptism learned from Paul that it was no longer valid, they were baptized in the name of the Lord, Paul laid his hands on them, and they spoke with tongues.

The church at Corinth was started by the apostle Paul (Acts 18).  Corinth received miraculous gifts that were the signs of an apostle laying his hands on them (2 Corinthians 12:12).  In fact, they came behind in no spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:7).  However, those at Corinth abused their spiritual gifts to the dividing of the church.  For three chapters Paul addresses this abuse of spiritual gifts  (1 Corinthians 12-14).  In 1 Corinthians 12:28, he ranks the importance of the various gifts saying, “first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles….”  The gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues are the last two items on the list.  The gift of tongues was a showy gift that the Corinthians had abused.  Paul sets them straight as to its relative importance and how it should be discharged with an interpreter in 1 Corinthians 14.

The purpose of the miraculous gifts of the first-century church has been fulfilled.  The gift of tongues was one of several listed in the closing verse of Mark as having the purpose of confirming the word (Mark 16:20).  New revelation from God is always accompanied with miraculous signs to show His approval of the message (Hebrews 2:3-4).  When the revelation of the New Testament was complete, the purpose of the miraculous gifts had been fulfilled.  The New Testament predicts the cessation of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, including tongues, saying “…tongues, they shall cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

The New Testament is complete, lacking nothing; it is called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).  The faith has been delivered once and for all (Jude 3).  We have all we need for life and godliness revealed in the word of God (2 Peter 1:3).  The gift of tongues, as recorded in the New Testament, no longer exists today.  Those today who utter gibberish in ecstatic frenzies of emotional excitement are not displaying the gift of tongues as the New Testament defines it.  It is an error to confuse these dramatic displays going on today in religious meetings with the miraculous ability to speak actual languages recorded in the New Testament.

–Mark Day

Hannah went before the Lord to pray for she was “in bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10).  She had no children.  Her husband Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah, who had been blessed with children; moreover, Peninnah was cruel, provoking and irritating her (vv. 4-6).  Hannah asked for a son and vowed to dedicate the child wholly to God (v. 11).

Eli, the priest, was nearby and watched Hannah while she prayed only moving her lips without making any sound with her voice.  He made an assumption about Hannah that was both hasty and undeserved; he rebuked her for being drunk (vv. 12-14).  Hannah explained that she was not drunk, but rather pouring out her soul before the Lord (v. 15).  She said, “Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial” (v. 16).  “Belial” is a word in Hebrew for worthlessness (cf. Deuteronomy 13:13).  Hannah had the godly character and judgment to regard being drunk as worthless debauchery.

In reality, Eli’s children were “sons of Belial” who robbed those who brought their offerings and committed fornication with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle (2:12-17, 22).  While Eli verbally rebuked his sons, he did not administer discipline that would be effective enough to curtail their evil (2:23-25).  It appears that Lord rebuked Eli for not only not restraining his sons but also being one of those who benefited from their robbery (2:29).

Hannah, however, was blessed by the Lord.  She returned home after pouring her heart out to the Lord in prayer, no longer distressed but at peace (1:18).  She became pregnant and had a son, naming him Samuel, meaning “asked of God” (1:20).  She weaned the child and was faithful to her vow by giving him to the service of the Lord (1:24-28).  Hannah rejoiced in God’s blessings and was, unlike Eli’s sons, willing to give what she received to the Lord.  Her child Samuel grew and served at the tabernacle with Eli (2:11).  Hannah “made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (2:19).  Hannah was rewarded five-fold for her faithfulness; she had three sons and two daughters (2:21).

It is easy for us to look at others and assume the worst while failing to really see our own sins clearly.  Members of the church can be like Eli or they can be like Hannah.  Those like Eli make exception for their own and operate by a double standard.  We are thankful for those who imitate Hannah, who in sincere devotion to God raise godly children.  When Samuel had grown old he could honestly say, “Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.”  Samuel had lived like his mother Hannah rather than Eli and his sons with whom he had served at the tabernacle.  Would to God that all of us and our children could honestly say what Samuel said when we have grown old.

-Mark Day