Pentecostal Languages: A Biblical Exploration of the Gift of Speaking in Tongues

Copyright © 2013 D. E. Didymus.

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Scripture quotations noted LXX are from The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English, Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton (Hendrickson Publishers; 1851). Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. Copyright public domain. Used by permission.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-9905-2 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/12/2013

Contents

Old Testament

Introduction To The Septuagint

In The Beginning … Tongues

Jehovah Speaks In The Tongues Of Men

Tongues Interpreted

The Holy Spirit Speaks Through Prophets

The Holy Spirit Speaks Through Songs

Jehovah Speaks

Jehovah’s Prophesy Of A Pure Language

The Hebrews Begin To Speak In Other Tongues

All Languages Will Know God Is With Us

Old Testament Review And Summary

New Testament

New Covenant

Feast Of The First Fruits

Parting Asunder

Other Tongues

It Shall Come To Pass

The Wonderful Works Of God

He Shall Testify Of Me

If I Speak With The Tongues Of Men

Jesus Speaks In Tongues

If I Speak With The Tongues … Of Angels

That Which Is Perfect

If There Be No Interpreter

He That Speaketh In A Tongue Speaketh Not Unto Men

… With Groans Which Cannot Be Uttered

Speaketh Not To Men But To God…

New Testament Review And Summary

Acknowledgements

The inspiration for this book took place while I was aboard the USS HANCOCK during the Vietnam War. Having been saved at the age of 15 and joining the U.S. Navy at 17, I found myself off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. During this tenure, I met two people who planted the seed of my Biblical studies: David Walsh and another gentleman whom I cannot recall his name. Their apologetical discussions of Biblical doctrines motivated me to give specific attention to the original languages of the Scriptures.

Special thanks to Robert Young, whose mess deck conversations aboard the USS RANGER brought forth spiritual enlightenment and courage to face the battles of warfare (spiritual and in the Persian Gulf) during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

It would be twenty years later, after retiring from the military, that I would have the privilege of acquiring a formal education in Biblical studies.

During my five year enrollment in Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas, two professors rekindled my interest in the original languages and theological studies: Professor Jesse Thomas (Koine Greek) and Professor Ronald Mitchell (Theology). It was under their tutelage and other professionals at Central Baptist College that my dream of a formal education in Biblical studies was achieved.

My deepest appreciation is extended to several people who, without their interest and foresight, this book would not have been completed. For her hard work and exhaustive hours of editing, I am grateful to Mrs. Cynthia Brown. For her constant encouragement, I thank my Mother, Bobbie Mitchell, with all my heart. And, for believing in me and inspiring my spirit, I am so grateful to my Beloved Lady with Wings, Mrs. Norajean Harrell.

Introduction to the Septuagint

The Septuagint was the commonly read version of the Hebrew Torah (also referred to as the Old Testament) within the Palestinian area and throughout the Roman Empire since its translation from Hebrew to Greek in 250 BC. It was read publicly in Jewish synagogues by Hellenistic Jews (Hebrews who spoke the Greek language) and Gentile proselytes. The Temple priests and the Hebrew community considered this translation as equally inspired as the original Torah itself. Consequently, in the letters of the Apostles, the Septuagint was quoted extensively to prove that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Jewish Messiah.

Often when an examination of the events of the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2) and the writings of the Apostle Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthian Church (chapters 12-14) are conducted, the Old Testament is excluded with the exception of the prophecy of Joel (2:28-32) which was recited by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost in 33AD. Laying a historical foundation regarding the gift of tongues will provide insight into the mindset of the Jerusalem spectators who stood in awe of the Disciples’ extraordinary abilities during that feast. By correlating events and prophecies appearing in the Old Testament and the New Testament, readers will gain insight on how the events of Luke’s epistle impacted the ancient Jewish rabbis as they looked apprehensively for the signs which would announce the coming of the Messiah according to the Septuagint Scriptures.

In the Beginning … Tongues

In ancient times God spoke to people through languages. There was no Bible to read—no Old Testament nor New Testament—just His voice. Only the words that came forth from His lips … expressed in the languages of those whom He created. In the beginning God spoke in the tongues of men.

The first words that Adam and Eve ever heard were from God—their Dad. Delivering His first blessing and command to mankind, He said, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it …" (Gen. 1:28, NKJV). It is not known what language God spoke to the earth’s first parents, but this first language was passed on to their children: Cain, Abel and Seth, and their daughters. This language was taught and learned by their descendants for the next fourteen generations and "… the whole earth had one language and one speech." (Gen. 11:1 NKJV). After 1,600 years of speaking the same language, this would change.

It was during the flooding of the entire earth that its people first experienced rain from the atmosphere "because the LORD God had not yet made it rain on the land—before that the earth’s surface was watered by a mist that would rise up from the earth and water all the ground. (Gen. 2:4; NCV). Afterwards, lands were divided by oceans and seas. It was during this time that God reiterated to Noah and his sons the blessing and command He spoke to Adam, declaring, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. (Gen. 8:15 NCV). After many children were born and the earth’s population grew, the people formed an alliance and, as one people, … journeyed from the east [and found] a plain in the land of Shinar, and dwelt there." (Gen. 11:2 NCV). The basis of this unification was that … all the earth was one lip and there was one language to all. (Gen. 11:1 Septuagint; henceforth labeled: LXX). The word translated language here is from the Greek word Φωνη (phone) to wit this Century is certainly familiar with. Upon building a city that would permit this mass population to live as one people, they elected a leader for themselves. This leader was very popular and was praised as a mighty man and a mighty hunter. He was the son of Cush and great-great grandson of Noah. His name was Nimrod and he led the people to build a structure which would be called the Tower of Babel—mankind’s first worship center (Gen. 10:8-10). The purpose of this city and tower was twofold: so that they could make a name for themselves and that they wouldn’t be dispersed over the face of the whole earth the latter being in direct violation of God’s command to fill the earth (Gen. 11:4 NCV). But God had other plans …

"Come, and having gone down let Us[1] there confound their tongue, that they may not understand each the voice of his neighbor." (Gen. 11:7 LXX)

Within the context of Chapter 11 four main events occurred …

1. With the exception of those who retained the original language, all others received a language which they had never heard before.

2. Those able to understand the language of their neighbor united.

3. Those who failed to understand the language of his neighbor separated from them.

4. All groups dispersed from the land of Mesopotamia into other parts of the world and filled the earth—thereby conforming to Jehovah’s commandment.

"From these were the islands of the Gentiles divided in their land, each according to his tongue [glossa], in their tribes and in their nations." (Gen. 10:5 LXX)

What was once a totally united people became divided tribes and nations. Thus, history recorded the first event wherein languages became classified as unknown or foreign to civilization since the days of Adam. Notice in the above verse that the entire world population was considered Gentile. The distinction between Gentile and Hebrew would not occur for another ten generations—about 300 years—when Abram, the father of the Hebrew nation, would be born (Gen. 17:5).

Jehovah Speaks In The Tongues Of Men

There are several times when the book of Genesis details conversations between Jehovah and Abram, but perhaps not one nearly as significant as the one conducted when He came to announce that Sarah, Abram’s wife, would conceive and give birth.

And God appeared to him [Abraam] by the oak of Mambre as he sat by the door of his tent at noon. And he lifted up his eyes and beheld, and, Lo! Three men stood before him. … And He said to [Abraam], Where is Sarrha thy wife? And [Abraam] answered and said, Behold! In the tent. And He said, I will return and come to thee according to this period seasonably and Sarrha thy wife shall have a son. And Sarrha heard at the door of the tent, being behind Him, … and Sarrha laughed in herself … And the Lord said to Abraam, Why is it that Sarrha has laughed in herself, saying, Shall I then indeed bear? Shall anything be impossible with the Lord? At this time I will return to thee seasonably and Sarrha shall have a son. And Sarrha denied, saying, I did not laugh (for she was afraid), and He said to her, Nay, but thou didst laugh." (Gen. 18:1−25 LXX).

During this meeting and conversation it seems that neither Abram nor Sarah recognized at first that it was God Himself who appeared before them. Apparently disguising themselves as men, these three persons were literally and actually seen by Abram at the specific location of the oak of Mambre. Nearby, in a cave called Machpelah, is where Abram, Isaac (his son), Jacob (Abram’s grandson) and their wives are buried (New Illustrated Bible Dictionary; pp. 794). It wasn’t until after Sarah laughed inside herself that God opened her eyes and those of her husband, Abram, to realize who it was that was speaking to them. Knowing that she did not laugh out loud, Sarah denied laughing at God, but, being … He who searches the minds and hearts (Rev. 2:23), Jehovah scolded her, saying, Yes, you did!!

After convincing Abram and Sarah that they would have a son, and after Abram realized that he was in the company of his Creator, he listened as Jehovah asked the other two men walking with them, Shall I hide from Abraam my servant what things I intend to do? Listening intently to this conversation, Abram heard Jehovah say, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha has been increased towards Me and their sins are very great. I will therefore go down and see, if they completely correspond with the cry which comes to Me, and if not, that I may know.

Knowing that his nephew, Lot, lived in the city of Sodom, Abram suddenly gets the courage to engage in conversation with Jehovah … And Abraam drew nigh and said, Wouldest Thou destroy the righteous with the wicked and shall the righteous be as the wicked? … Thou that judgest the whole earth, shalt Thou not do right?" Perhaps admiring Abram’s new found courage and knowing that such courage was embraced in behalf of his nephew (seeking mercy), Jehovah continues to engage in quite a lengthy discourse with Abram.