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TONGUES SHALL CEASE
by
Ron Cottle
“Speaking
in
tongues” term Glossolalia.
in the record of the Christian
is a popular This
phenomenon, appearing
church,
the New Testament. To some it is a
sign
of
spiritual
renewal helpful
and
ought
to be
encouraged. to certain individuals
phrase
for what scholars .
from time to time is
unmistakably
reflected in
life and To others it might be seen as
but often
“tongues”
is an
egocentric
perhaps
to be
ignored. escape
from the more
weighty more
damaging
actively discouraged
Except
ing
in tongues
appear
of
specific temperament
leads to strife and disunion in the church as a whole and
ought
To still others
demands of life in Christ and is
than
helpful
to the
body
of Christ and
ought
to be
if not
suppressed.
for Mark 16:17 the
only explicit
references to
speak-
in Acts and I Corinthians.
is not inconsistent with these references. Acts refers to “other
and to
“tongues” (glossais)
of the
developing gospel
in the
world; namely,
tongues” (heterais glossais) crucial
junctures
The
Mark passage
at three
(1)
Ronald Cottle earned both the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees from the University of Southern California. Dr. Cottle serves as Executive Vice-President of the Assemblies of God Graduate School, Springfield, Missouri.
– 43-
1
the
breakthrough
of the
gospel fearing gentiles (10:46); who had not
previously
I Corinthians
pretation
of
tongues”
“tongue”
or
“tongues” (12:30; 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, 39).
and
(3)
to followers
followed Christ
mentions “kinds of
tongues”
(12:10), “strange tongues” (14:21),
to the Jews
(2:4); (2)
to God-
of John the
Baptist
(19:6).
(12:10, 28),
inter-
and 13:1, 8;
14:2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, 18,
more
fully.
While the noun
the
phrase
“to
and there are
of in New Testament Greek:
glossolalia
does not
appear speak
with
tongues” (glossais frequent
occurrences
glossolalia.
Glossa
(1)
the
physiological
(2) language
Let us
spell
this out somewhat
in the New
Testament,
lalein)
does
appear,
of the word
glossa,
which is a
component
has three referents
organ
of taste or
speech;
or a manner of
speech;
(3)
what
might
be called undiscernible
speech
or “obscure
speech” of
persons
in
religious
refers to the
tongue
in Mark 7:33 and 35 where
and it was released …
Other
passages employingglossa
14:11;
I Cor.
14:9;
Jas.
3:5-6;
I Jo.
as “a
physical
Jesus “touched
(a
and he
spoke in this manner include:
(Kittel)
and “the broken
ectasy” (Arndt-Gingrich).
(1 )
Glossa
unmistakably organ
of
speech”
dumb man’s
tongue,”
plainly.”
Lk.
1:64; 16:24;
Rom.
3:13; 3:18;
I Pet.
3:10;
and Rev. 16:10.
Glossa is used in a
figurative Acts 2:3
“tongues
Phil. 2:11
“every tongue
confess.”
(2)
The second use
of glossa, speech,”
is used as
language
of
fire”;
Acts 2:26
“my tongue rejoiced”;
is used with
perhaps
In Revelation figurative
or
personified
sense as the
physical organ
in
and
that of
“language
or manner
of
the verses 6 and 8 where dialecto
is found
only
in Acts and Revelation. In Acts 2:11
glossa
in “we hear them
telling
in our own
tongues mighty
works of God.” This
parallels
the same
meaning.
the use of
glossa
sense as a synonym
and “nation” in order to
distinguish
(cf. 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6;
and
17:15).
(3)
It is the third
usage
that concerns us
here,
however: that
other
of
glossa
as
“strange
or ecstatic
– 44-
for
language
is
always
in a
for
“tribe,” “people,” one
liguistic group
from an-
speech”
now sometimes called
2
glossolalia.
Before
going category
this
essay,
let us
pause
the references
in this
to
glossolalia.
Various
phrastic renderings
biased
rather than
clarify
the actual
meaning. for
example,
used
“strange tongues”; known
tongues”;
the NEB
“the
language
of
ecstasy,” “tongues utterance.” The modem
Today’s “speak
with
strange
sounds.”
Perhaps
on to review
briefly
and then
probe
into the text of special concern for
for one observation.
In
light
of this
special usage of glossa
have in
English
a
corresponding special
translations of the Bible
which
have,
because
in favor of a
particular point
of
view,
tended
of 1961-70 used
it would be
very helpful
term to
designate
have used
para-
they
are
varied,
and often
to obscure
The Geneva Bible of
1560,
the
KJV
if 1611 used “un-
“ecstatic
speech,”
of
ecstasy,”
and “ecstatic English
Version of 1966 used
it is the
the best word is
simply
the Greek
itself-glossolalia. But even here we must exercise care to
clarify
whether
which are understandable” or the I Cor. “devo-
unknown to the
speakers”
we mean. I
suggest
that only
in the sense of I Cor. and
to translate
“tongues”
This third
usage
is confined to I there a total of 20 times:
in I Cor.
(15 5times).
.
various kinds
Acts
“languages
tional,
undiscernible
glossas”
that perhaps
we should use
glossolalia use
“languages
in Acts
2:4; 10:46;
and 19:6.1
Now
to glossa
as glossolalia. Cor. 12, 13, and 14 and
appears 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1, 8;
and 14:1-39
I Cor. 12:10 and 28
appear of various kinds of
glossas
vs. 10-“For…
of
tongues (hereto
vs. 28-“And
tongues (gene glosson).”
I Cor. 13:1 and 8 are as follows:
vs. 1-“If I
speak
angels …”
to refer to the
gifts (charismaton)
for use in
worship:
by
the
Spirit
there is
given …
gene glosson).”
God set some in the church … diversities of
with the
tongues (glossais)
of men and
this would give us a term by which to distinguish speaking in tongues as the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the or Holy
devotional this would be Spirit
with what we know as “prayer language” tongues. Perhaps helpful for present-day discussion of
problems of understanding in this area.
– 45-
3
vs. 8-“There are
tongues;
pausontai).”
We shall return I Cor. 14 has 16 references to
“tongues”
they
will cease
(eite glossai,
to this verse
shortly.
in the verses earlier meaning:
“obscure or ecstatic
28:11, “By
and
by
the
lips
of
is verse
21, a quote of Isa. tongues (ev heteroglossois)
to this
people.”
of
every
reference to
tongues
mentioned and all are this third speech.”
The
only exception men of
strange
foreigners
will I
speak
Here we have a brief review within the New Testament.
Now we
proceed
“… whether there be
tongues for
tongues, they
will cease …” speaking,
but
they
will cease …”
This is a
quite simple, for
disagreement among interpreters lack of
clarity
or its
equivocation.
to I Cor. 13:8: Eite
glossai, pausontai.
they
shall cease …”
straightforward
TEV,
KJV,
RSV, “…
as “… there are
gifts
of
statement. The basis
of this
passage
cannot be its The
meaning
of the
passage
is
Tongues
act of
worship
or
ministry for
disagreement, however, THE CEASING BEGIN?”
A
very
common scholars
including Ungerl follows:
There are three
stages phecy, tongues
and
knowledge
clear: TONGUES SHALL CEASE.
in the third sense of obscure or ecstatic
shall
cease-stop altogether.
is the
interpretation put
and Bruner2
in the
development:
question,
speech
as an
The basis “WHEN SHALL
forth
by
a number of might
be summarized as
13:8); (2)
then
faith, hope
and love will remain
(3) finally,
love alone is
everlasting
This is the
way
it unfolds:
When Jesus
returns,
will be
realized,
(1) first, pro- will cease and
pass away (I
Cor.
(I
Cor.
13:13);
and
(I
Cor.
13:13).
into
sight
and
hope Paul
says,
“There
faith will be turned
but love will remain. When
abide
faith, hope
and love.” he means that the first three
gifts
will
1Merrill F. Unger, New Testament Teaching on Tongues (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1973) 34d ed., pp. 90-101.
2F. D.
258-262.
Bruner,A Theology of the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1970), esp. pp.
– 46-
4
have
already
disappeared.
these three
gifts
became
did this take
place?
When the
form
because
they
were
replaced
Jamnia is this:
When
canon of the New Testament became available in its
present
superfluous
by
the written Word of God. The
fixing
of the canon took
place
at
in 201 A.D.
Hence,
and
Joppa
the scheme which resulted
(1)
The
gifts
of
peophecy, tongues
until 200
A.D.;
(2)
Faith Christ;
and
hope
will remain
and
knowledge
existed
until the second
coming
of
(3) Love,
which has
always existed,
all
eternity.
Two serious
problems first,
it seems
very unlikely quickly
wider
circulation,
virgins
(young
will continue to do so for
in
holding
such a view are
(1)
ever considered that his
second
coming
of
Jesus, time when
new,
more settled
of faith.
The context of the
passage of I Corinthians which concerns “church matters”
(11:2-14:40) the time when
tongues expected
involved
that Paul
written letter to the Corinthian believers would receive
let alone become
is inconceivable that the author of I Cor. 7 who exhorted
women of
marriageable age)
not to bother become married because of the shortness of time
would within
contemporary worship
way emerge
due to the
adoption
.
“canonical”;
and
(2) second,
it
Christian
to
before the
the same letter write of a practices
would cease and a
of a literary rule
under
question
within the section congregational worship
and other gives
us the
key
to
understanding
and
ministry
were
as a
gift
for devotion
to cease as Paul saw it.
In I Cor. 11 Paul deals with another church
conduct
of the Lord’s
Supper.
as
you
eat this bread and drink the
cup you proclaim
death
until he comes.”
matter,
the
proper In verse 26 he
says:
“For as often
the Lord’s
nate the
desirability symbols
the Corinthian Christians body
and blood of Jesus.
Here we are left in no doubt that the event which will termi-
of the eucharist is the parousaa.
of bread and wine will continue to be needed
of the
great
Until
then,
the
to remind cost of
redemption:
the
47
5
Now,
in
light
of this immediate the time of ceasing
euchczrist and the charismczta tongues
is the second
the occurrence
context, 13:8
“happening.”
seems to
say
that
such as the knowledge
and
indicate
The
language
In in the latter
they
the earlier
period
will
disappear
because
The nature of this latter which “that
“knows
thinks as a child”
and
(again)
in which “that which is
perfect”
for
contemporary worship practices
including prophecy,
coming
of Christ. I Cor.13:8, 10,12,
of a definite event-a
indicates a crisis which will end one
period
and usher in another.
the
gifts
were used and
useful;
no
longer
needed.
period
which is
perfect” (vs. 12)
will
replace
in
part” (vs. 9);
“is in
part”
(vs. 11);
“sees
through
“knows in
part” (vs. 13).
It is a period
Then,
coming
of Christ the one who is “a child” (prophecy),
is one
of perfect
wisdom in
that which
(vs. 10);
“understands and
a
glass darkly” (vs. 12);
of perfect
speech will
replace
that which
“prophe- as a child”
(vs. 11).
second
(tongues),
understood as a
child,
will become a
to his childhood.
sies in
part” (vs. 9) and “speaks
at the
coming
of “that which is
perfect”-the
and the new
age
which that
coming
ushers in-
and who
spoke
and
thought (knowledge)
mature man and
put away
the
things pertaining
will be a period when the one who sees in a mirror
will come to see “face to face”
(vs. 12)
and a
shall vanish and “I shall know even as
The new
period
in an obscure fashion time when
partial knowledge I am known”
(vs. 12).
That this
position
is not one
adopted Neo-Pentecostals alone is evidenced
lished commentaries. For
example, tionably
the time alluded
to is the
coming
refers to it as “heaven… a state
E llicott
says
“this verse shows
by
the
emphatic ‘then’
is the end of this
dispensation.
shall not cease until the
perfect
by
Pentecostals and
by
a review of
older,
estab-
Dean Alford wrote:
“Unques-
of the
Lord”;
Barnes
of absolute
perfection”;
and
that the time
The
has been
brought
in.” theory
that such
gifts
were not
of God is
theory only,
when the
gifts
shall cease imperfect
Finally,
G. H.
Lang says,
“The intended to be
permanent without
any
basis
More
recently,
ing to
I Cor.
13:8-10, prophecies,
in the Church
in the Word of God.”
F. F. Bruce has said: “It is true
that,
accord-
– 48-
tongues,
and
knowledge
are to be
6
done
which is
perfect following
the
apostolic
away,
but
only
‘when that which is
perfect
is not come
yet …
age
makes it
come to a full
stop
with the
closing
of the New Testament canon.”1
and David E. Dilworth
is come.’ That
the literature of the
period
plain
that the
gifts
did not
I
writing
the
position Assembly
of the United
Presby-
“We cannot… follow
Bruce M.
Metzger paper
for the 182nd General terian Church
the view of some
theologians ceased
warrant for this
assumption … basis of
Scripture,
that neither
despised
nor forbidden
in the U.S.A. in 1970
says:
that the
purely supernatural gifts with the death of the
apostles.
the
practice
In
summary
There seems no
exegetical We therefore conclude on the
of
glossolalia
should be …”2
then,
I submit that the “until he come” of I Cor. 11:26 and the “when that which is
perfect
event;
namely,
is come” of I Cor. 13:10 “the blessed
hope
and
are one and the same appearing
(Titus
cease.”
of the
glory
of our
great
God and Savior Jesus Christ” 2:13).
It is at this time and not before that
“tongues
shall
1″Answers to Questions,” The Harvester, (August, 1964).
20ffice of the General Assembly, 520
Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107.
– 49-
7
