MESSAGE TWO IN THE SPECIAL RADIO SERIES
Sharpening the
Focus on the
Tongues Question
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
I n a study of the modem movement of tongues, there is a need to un derstand thoroughly what it was that the Holy Spirit did on the day of Pente cost. Behind this, too, is a need to know why the Holy Spirit used tongues on that famous day of the church. The study is found in Acts 2:1-21. In verse four the expression “other tongues” is very interesting. There is the word which means another of identity. For example, if I have a 'Bible in my hand and ask for “another Book,” I mean I want another copy of the Scriptures like the one I already have. If I ask for a book of another type, it would be entirely different. This second word the Holy Spirit uses indicates that the disciples were to speak in a tongue dif ferent from the one to which they were accustomed. In verse five we read, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven.” From verses six to eleven we discover the tongues in which the apostles spoke were national languages. “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded [confused] be cause that every man heard them speak in his own language” (v. 6). The word language in the original Greek is in teresting. It is dialektos, which gives us our English word “dialect.” Con
tinuing, “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were bom?” (w . 7, 8). The Holy Spirit sharpens up the definition of the word tongue. First, a general word is em ployed; now it comes into focus as a national tongue, or, as we might say, a native tongue. From the word tongue in Greek comes our word glossary. A glossary is a list of words and their meanings (generally technical terms describing the words used in various fields of endeavor). Therefore, glossary might include how y o u “tongue” words, as well as the context of their meaning. So, these were both dialects and native tongues, the language with which the people were bom. All of the areas mentioned embodied important geographical units around the city of Jerusalem extending as far as Egypt and Rome. It involved the entire Medi terranean world. The Holy Spirit gave the ability to speak in tongues not that the disciples might show how spiritual they were, or indicate their deeper spiritual life, but rather it was a gift for a missionary effort. Those who list ened were to be able to understand, (continued on next page) 5
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