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TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION

NOTE: According to Amos 7:7-9, God uses a “plumb line” to measure the spiritual life His people.  When lives line up with His Word there is perfect “Liberty”!  But on either side of the “plumb line” there are ditches.  The ditch on the right is “Legalism” and the ditch on the left is “License”!

 So it is today about the subject of “tongues”.  On the “plumb line” of the Word, there is “Liberty” but on either side there are ditches: 1) “Tongues are passed away,” “No such thing as tongues today,” “Tongues are of the devil?” 2) “One must speak in tongues in order to be saved?” The Scriptural view is  neither of these extremes but a rather a balance of the whole counsel of the Word of God in which there is perfect “Liberty”!

According to I Corinthians 12:10, 28 there are “divers kinds of tongues” and “diversities of tongues”:

1)   dialektos=dialect as in Acts 2:8

2)   glossa=languages and interpretation as in I Corinthians 12:30

3)   proseuchomai=“Praying in the Spirit” as in I Corinthians 14:14-16 and Ephesians 6:18

4)   psallo=“Singing in the Spirit” as in I Corinthians 14:14-16

5)   stenagmos=“Groaning in the Spirit” as in Romans 8:26-27

6)   See also: I Corinthians 14:6 “revelation, knowledge, prophesies and doctrine.”

I.     Hebrew: tongue- lashon=tongue, language

1.   Isaiah 28: 11 “For with stammering(aleg=stammering) lips (saphah=lip) and another tongue(lashon)will he speak to this people.”

2.   Joel 2:28-32 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour

     out(shaphak=to pour out) my spirit(pneuma) upon all flesh(basar=flesh); 

     and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy(naba=foretell, tell forth

     what God is saying), your old men shall dream dreams(chalam=to dream),

     you young men shall see visions(chizzayon=vision): And also upon the

     servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my

     spirit…”(Acts 2:16-21 “This is that…”)

II.  Greek: tongue - glossa=a tongue, language

                                 diaklektos=dialect

                  interpretation - hermeneia=interpretation, explanation

NOTE:

    *I Corinthians 12:1 “Now concerning spiritual(pneumatikos= spiritual) gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant(agnoeo=without knowledge).”

             *I Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into (baptizo=place into) one body(soma=body).”

             *I Corinthians 12:18 “But now hath God set(tithemi=to put or place) the members(melos=part of the body, limb) every one of them in the body (soma), as it hath pleased him(thelo=to will).”

             *I Corinthians 14:1 “Follow after(dioko=to pursue) love(agape), and desire(zeloo=to be zealous) spiritual(pneumatikos=spiritual) gifts, but rather (mallon=more) that ye may prophesy(propheteia=speak forth or foretell what God is saying).”

            *I Corinthians 12:11 “But all these worketh(energeo=to work in) that one and the selfsame(touto=this very thing) Spirit, dividing(diaireo=to take apart) to every(hekastos=each) man severally as he will.”

1.   Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs(semeion=sign, mark, signal) shall follow

               (epakoloutheo=to follow upon) them that believe; In  my name shall

they cast out(ekballo=to cast out) devils(aimonion=demons); they shall

 speak (laleo=to speak, talk, tell) with new(kainos=fresh, newly made,

recent, new) tongues(glossa);  They shall take up serpents(ophis=a

serpent); and if they drink(pino=to drink)any deadly things

(thanassimos=belonging to death), it shall not hurt(blapto=disable,

weaken, hurt) them; they shall lay hands on (epitithemi=to put or place

upon) the sick(arrhostos=not strong), andthey shall recover(kalos=to

hold well).”

2.   Acts 2:3 “There appeared(optomai=to be seen) unto them cloven

         (diamerizo=to divide throughout)  tongues (glossa) like as of fire(pur),

         and it sat upon(resting, settled) each of them”

3.  Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled(pletho=to make full) with the Holy

     Ghost, and began to speak(laleo=talk, speak, tell) with other  (heteros= 

     other, different) tongues(glossa), as the Spirit gave them utterance 

     (apophtheg=to speak with strong expression).”

4.   Acts 2:8 “And how hear we every man in our own tongue(dialektos=

     dialect), wherein we were born?”

5.  Acts 2:11 “We do hear them speak(laleo=talk, speak, tell) in our

     tongues(glossa) the wonderful works(megaleia=great doings or deeds) of

     God.”

6.   Acts 10 :46 “For they heard(akouo=to give ear to) them speak(laleo=to

talk, speak, tell) with tongues(glossa), and magnify(megaluno=to make

great) God.”

7.   Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost

     came on them; and they spake(laleo=to speak, talk, tell) with tongues

     (glossa), and prophesied(propheteia=to foretell or forth tell what God is

     saying).”

8.   Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit(pneuma) also helpeth(to take hold

with one) our infirmities(asthemeia=weakness): for we know not(oida=to

see)what we should pray(proseuchomai=to pray toward) for as we

ought(dei=to behove): but the Spirit(pneuma) itself(neuter) maketh

intercession (come between, to meet with) for us with groanings(stenagmos

=sighing; See also: Greek embrim=to snort, be deeply moved in John

    11:33, 38) which cannot be uttered(alaletos=unspeakable).  And he(God)

    that searcheth (ereunao =to trace, track) the hearts(kardia) knoweth (oida

    =to see) what is the mind(phronema=mind, inclination) of the Spirit

    (pneuma), because he maketh intercession(to meet with, come between) for

    the saints(hagios=set apart, separate, holy) according to the will of God.”

9.  I Corinthians 12:10 “To another divers kinds(genos=species, kinds) of

     tongues(glossa); to another the interpretation(hermeneia=explanation,

     interpretation) of tongues(glossa):”

10. I Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set(tithe=to put, set, place) some in the church(ekklesia=the called out), first apostles(apostolos=sent forth ones), secondarily prophets(prophetes=foretell, forth tell what God is saying), thirdly teachers(didaskalos=instructor), after that miracles(dunamis=act of power), then gifts(charisma=grace, favor) of healings(iama=healing),helps(antilepsis=helping, supporting), governments(kuber=a steering, piloting, directing), diversities(genos=sort, genus) of tongues(glossa).”

11. I Corinthians 12:30 “Have all the gifts of healing?(No)  Do all speak

      (laleo=to talk, speak, tell) with tongues(glossa)?(No)  Do all  interpret

      (hermeneuo=to interpret or explain thoroughly)?(No)”

12.   I Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly(zeloo=be zealous for) the

  best(kreitton=stronger, more powerful) gifts(charisma=gifts, grace, 

  favor);”

13.  I Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) with the

       tongues(glossa) of men and of angels, and have not love(agape), I am

      become as sounding brass, or a inkling cymbal.”

14. I Corinthians 13:8 “Love(agape) never faileth(ekpipto=to fall off or

      away): but whether there be prophecies(propheteia=fortell or forth tell

      what God is saying), they shall fail(katargeo=to make useless); whether

      there be tongues(glossa), they shall cease(pauomai=cease, pause);

     whether there be knowledge(gnosis=knowledge), it shall vanish away  

    (katar=to make idle, inactive, useless).”

15. I Corinthians 14:1 “Follow after(dioko=to pursue) love(agape), and 

desire(zeloo=to be zealous for) spiritual(pneumatikos=spiritual) gifts, but

rather(mallon=more) that ye may prophesy(propheteia).”

16. I Corinthians 14:2 “For he that speaketh(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) in an

      unknown tongue(glossa) speaketh(laleo=to talk, speak, tell)not unto men,

      but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he

      speaketh mysteries(musterion=what is known only to the initiated).”

17.  I Corinthians 14:4 “He that speaketh(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) in an

      unknown tongue(glossa)edifieth(oikodomeo=to build up)himself; but he

      that prophesieth edifieth(oikodomeo=to build up) the church(ekklesia).”

18.  I Corinthians 14:5 “I would that ye all spake(laleo=to talk, speak, tell)

      with tongues(glossa), but rather(mallon=more) that ye prophesied

      (propheteia): for greater(meizon=greater) is he that prophesieth than he

      that speaketh laleo=to talk, speak, tell) with tongues(glossa) , except he

      interpret(hermeneuo=to interpret or explain thoroughly), that the

      church(ekklesia) may receive edifying(oikdome=building up).”

19.  I Corinthians 14:6 “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking(laleo=to

      talk, speak, tell) with tongues(glossa), what shall I profit you, except I

      shall speak to you either by revelation(apokalupsis=an uncovering), or by

      knowledge(gnosis==knowledge), or by prophesying(propheteia=

      foretelling, forth telling what God is saying), or by doctrine(didache=

      teaching)?” See also I Corinthians 14:26

20.  I Corinthians 14:9 “So likewise ye, except ye utter(didomi=to give) by the

       tongue(glossa) words(logos) easy to be understood(eusemos=easily noted),

      how shall it be known what is spoken?  For ye shall speak into the air.”

21. I Corinthians 14:13 “Wherefore let him that speaketh(laleo=to talk,

      speak, tell) in an unknown tongue(glossa) pray that he may interpret

     (hermeneuo=to interpret or explain thoroughly).”

22. I Corinthians 14:14-16 “For if I pray(proseuchomai=to pray) in an

unknown tongue(glossa), my spirit prayeth(proseuchomai=to pray), but

my understanding (nous=mind) is unfruitful(akarpos=without fruit). 

What is it then?  I will pray(proseuchomai=to pray) with the spirit

(pneuma), and I will pray (proseuchomai=to pray) with the understanding

(nous=mind) also: I will sing(psallo=to sing praises without regard to a

musical instrument)  with the spirit(pneuma), and I will sing(psallo=to sing

praises without regard to a musical instrument) with the understanding

(nous=mind) also.  Else when thou shalt bless(eulogeo=to speak well of

with the spirit(pneuma), how shall he that occupieth (anapleroo =to fill up)

the room(topos=a place) of the unlearned (idiotes=a private person) say

Amen at thy giving of thanks (eucharisteo=to be thankful) seeing he

understandeth not(eido=to see, know, be acquainted with) what thou

sayest?”

23. I Corinthians 14:18-19 “I thank my God, I speak(laleo=to talk, speak, 

      tell),  with tongues(glossa) more than(mallon=more) ye all:  Yet in the

      church(ekklesia) I had rather speak(laleo=to talk, speak, tell)five words

      with my understanding (nous=mind), that by my voice I  might teach

      (katecheo=instruct orally)others also than ten thousand words in an

      unknown tongue(glossa).”

24.  I Corinthians 14:21 “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues

 (dialektos)and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yea  for all that

 will they not hear me, saith the Lord.”(Isaiah 28:11-12)

25. I Corinthians 14:22-23 “Wherefore tongues(glossa) are for a sign

     (semeion=sign, mark, signal), not to them that believe(pisteuo=trust, rely

     on), but to them that believe(pisteuo=trust, rely on) not: but prophesying

     (propheteia=fortell, tell forth what God is saying) serveth not for them

     that believe(pisteuo=trust, rely on) not, but for them which believe

     (pisteuo=trust, rely on).  If therefore the whole(holos=all, entire) 

     church (ekklesia) be come together into one place,(sunerchomai=to

     assemble) and all speak(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) with tongues(glossa),        

     and there come in those that are unlearned(idiotes=a private person), or

     unbelievers(pisteuo=trust, rely on), will they not say that ye are

     mad(mainomai=to be furious, raving)?”

26. I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren?  When ye come together

(sunerchomai=assemble), every one of you(hekastos=each) hath a psalm

(song of praise on an instrument), hath a doctrine(didache=teaching), hath

a tongue(glossa), hath a revelation(apokalupsis=an uncovering), hath an   

interpretation(hermeneia=interpretation, explanation).  Let all things be

done unto edifying(oikodome=building up).” See also I Corinthians 14:6

27. I Corinthians 14:27-28 “If any man speak(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) in an unknown tongue(glossa), let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course(meros=in part, rotation); and let one interpret(hermeneia=to

     interpret, explain).  And if there be no interpreter (hermeneia=to interpret,

     explain), let him keep silence(sigao=to be silent, quiet) in the church

     (ekklesia); and let him speak(laleo=to speak, talk, tell) to himself, and to

     God.”

28. I Corinthians 14:39-40 “Wherefore, brethren, covet(zeloo=to be zealous)

to prophesy(propheteia=foretell or tell forth what God is saying), and

forbid not(koluo=to cut short, restrain) to speak(laleo=to talk, speak, tell)

with tongues (glossa).  Let all things be done decently (euschemonos=

becomingly) and in order(taxis= arrangement, order).”

29. Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking(laleo=to talk, speak, tell) to yourselves(heautou =of selves, among yourselves, to one another)) in  psalms(psalmais=a song of praise on an instrument) and hymns(humnos=song of praise) and 

spiritual songs(ode=an ode, a lyric poem), singing(psallo=singing with

instruments) and making melody(psallo=to play on a stringed instrument)

in your heart(kardia) to the Lord(kurios=master);”

30. Ephesians 6:18 “Praying(proseuchomai=to pray for) always(kairos=in  

      every season) with all prayer(proseuchomai=to pray for) and supplication

      (deisis=petition of needs) in the Spirit(pneuma), and watching(keep guard,

      wakeful) thereunto with all perseverance(enduring constancy) all

      supplication(deesis=petition of needs) for all saints (hagios=set apart, holy,

      separate);”

31. Colossians 3:16 “Let the word(logos) of Christ(Christou=anointed one) dwell in you(enoikeito=to be at home) richly(plousios=to be rich) in all wisdom (sophiai); teaching(didaskontes=to instruct) and admonishing one another(noutheteo=to put in mind) in psalms(psalmois=with musical accompaniment) and hymns (humnois=praises to God) and spiritual (pneumatikais) songs(oidais= general songs with or without accompaniment , singing(aidontes) with grace(chariti) in your hearts (kardiais) to the Lord(kurios).”

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