Journal: Grace Journal
Volume: GJ 14:1 (Winter 1973)
Article: Tongues Shall Cease
Author: Gilbert B. Weaver

GJ 14:1 (Wtr 73) p. 12

Tongues Shall Cease

Gilbert B. Weaver

Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
John Brown University

One of the most spectacular phenomena of the Christian faith during the past century has been a resurgence of an early church practice called “speaking with tongues.” This phenomenon is purportedly a divinely-given ability to speak in a language unknown to the speaker.

Upon encountering individuals or groups that practice this, the young Christian is wont to ask of his spiritual counselors, “Are we missing something? If we are rightly related to the Lord, shouldn’t we be displaying this gift, just as did the early church?”

When the Scriptures and church history are consulted on the question the following facts stand out:

(1) In the book of Acts there are three examples of early Christians speaking in tongues. (2:4; 10:46; 19:6)

(2) In the epistles there is only one treatise on the use of tongues as a spiritual gift, 1 Corinthians 12–14 .

(3) When church history is examined, it is clear that the use of tongues did not continue past the apostolic age. Tongues were already a thing of the past in the early part of the second century. With few exceptions, not until the last part of the nineteenth century has any group claimed to have this gift.

(4) Turning back to the Scriptures, it is discovered that in the heart of Paul’s treatise on tongues there is the statement that tongues are not permanent—that they are destined to cease (1 Cor 13:8).

Upon examining the facts there are the following two possibilities: (1) The gift of tongues will cease when the church age is over. For some reason it was neglected for 1750 years, but now it is having a genuine, God-given resurgence. (2) The gift of tongues was given along with certain other temporary gifts (also mentioned as stopping in 1 Corinthians 13) to fulfill a definite need in the first century church. Now this need has been fulfilled, and the gift has long since ceased.

GJ 14:1 (Wtr 73) p. 13

The modern tongues movement is not a genuine continuation of the first century phenomena, but rather it originates from some other source.

In order to determine which of these opposing views is correct, it is necessary to examine the statement “tongues shall cease” to determine the following facts:

(1) What is meant by “tongues” in You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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