Jesus told the eleven to preach the gospel to all creation (Mk. 16:14, 15). One of the signs that accompanied the apostles who initially went forth preaching the gospel to the world for the first time was the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak with “new tongues” (Mk. 16:17, 20).
These tongues were human languages. They were new to the apostles. They were not new in the sense that had never before been spoken or introduced to mankind. Acts 2 elucidates that when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the audience noticed that “every man heard them speak in his own language” (v. 6). Though several of the apostles were uneducated Galilean fisherman, they were able to speak other languages they had never studied. One of the most arduous tasks involved in doing mission work today is learning a new language to effectively communicate to the receptor. The multitude gathered on Pentecost day included around fifteen different nations. They marveled when they heard the apostles speak, asking “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8).
The miraculous gift of tongues (speaking other languages) was given for a sign (1 Cor. 14:22). Peter pointed to what the crowd saw and heard as a sign of the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostles (Acts 2:33). The exercise of this gift not only arrested the attention of the crowd on Pentecost day so they would listen to the gospel, but later it also confirmed that the Gentiles were allowed to enter God’s grace through the gospel without circumcision (Acts 10-11). It served as confirmation in Acts 19:1-6, too.
Some today claim a gift of tongues that is characterized by ecstatic utterances involving no known human language, but the Bible gives no example of such. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul begins his emphasis on love by stating, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels;” however, the reference to angels is not stating that there was an angelic language Paul actually spoke. Rather, the context bears out that Paul is employing hyperbole just as he does when he mentions knowing all mysteries (which none but God does) and faith that moves mountains (1 Cor. 13:2). He was speaking of miraculous gifts that gave revelation in parts, which ceased when the completed (perfect) revelation came (1 Cor. 13:8-11). Moreover, the exercise of these gifts was done in an orderly manner with the speaker maintaining control over himself to keep silent if necessary (1 Cor. 14:27-33).
If one in the church assembly does not understand the spoken message, prayer, or words of the song, then no spiritual benefit is derived (1 Cor. 14:15-20, 23). Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11 in his discussion on tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. The stammering lips and strange (foreign) tongue was the Assyrian language when they conquered the Israelites, not ecstatic gibberish unknown to anyone on earth.
Instead of an abuse of the first-century gift of tongues to show off, Paul emphasized teaching with fewer words whereby the audience may understand and be edified (1 Cor. 14:19). Satan does not want people to understand the word of God, lest, perhaps, they believe it and bring forth fruit (Mt. 13:19, 23). The word of God produces faith in the heart (Rom. 10:17) and builds up the faithful to possess their eternal inheritance (Acts 20:32).
Let us be thankful that the word of God has been made available in our own language. That we can so easily access the words of eternal life is a tremendous blessing not to be taken for granted.
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