To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 00:38:58 -0000
Subject: HF010 - The Charismata 'glossais lalein'
Hebraics,
This Bible study on the charismata has its focus on the Biblical
term 'glossais lalein' or 'to speak with tongues.' Since Hebraic-
Foundations is concerned with pre 325A.D. Christianity, we will need to
stay within the framework of the Scriptures and the early Church.
As a place of beginning let's hear from the prophet Isaiah, who
said, "Indeed, he will speak to this people through stammering lips
and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, 'Here is rest, give rest
to the weary,' and, 'Here is repose,' but they would not listen."
(Isa28:11,12)
The book of Isaiah is often referred to as the fifth
gospel. It contains a tremendous amount of prophecy concerning Christ and
the Church. Listen carefully to Isaiah and you will hear the gospel of
Christ as it was presented on the day of Pentecost.
No study on glossais lalein is complete without this Scripture. This
Isaiah prophecy stands in the background of the day of Pentecost.
First of all, notice who the prophecy is for. The 'this people' are
the Jewish peoples who will have gathered out of all the nations to
be in Jerusalem at Pentecost.
Now notice that the speaking will be done in stammering lips and a
foreign tongue. The speaking will not be in the native tongue of
Hebrew or Aramaic. To the untrained ear it will sound like
stammering. But actual languages of the nations will be spoken.
Now notice that the message to be presented is from the One who
said, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary." Who do we hear
saying, 'Here is rest?' Listen to Matthew 11:28, where Jesus
says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest."
Finally notice that the message is not about speaking in tongues,
or 'glossais lalein.' Speaking in other languages was merely the
vehicle of delivery.
The message, whether it was through the various languages being
spoken, or whether it was through the preaching of Peter, was about
Jesus, the Rest Giver. To make speaking the tongues the message is
to miss what Pentecost was all about.
The Rest Giver is a prophecy concerning Messiah. It had been
imprinted in the hearts of God's ancient people that the Rest Giver
will come. When Noah was born, it was thought that he was the Rest
Giver. Then again we hear about the Rest Giver through Jacob. Jacob
says, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from
between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of
the peoples." (Gen49:10)
Shiloh was a term the ancients used for Messiah. But the key word is the
word 'obedience.' The Hebrew 'yiqqahah' speaks of inner submission or
tranquility of heart. It also means cleansing or purging. (King James has
'gathering' but this is not a good rendering.)
What was Pentecost about? The day of Pentecost was the coronation day of
Jesus Christ. He was crowned King of all the earth. And the word of His
Lordship was to be sent into all the earth, in the languages of the
nations. But what message was to be sent? Not only the Rest Giver message,
but that Jesus had arisen from the dead and was now seated in heaven as
Lord and Christ; that whoever would call upon His name would be saved. To
call upon His name is to recognize His Lordship. To call upon His name
implies repentance and faith.
What happens when a person comes to the moment of true faith in
Jesus? There is a peace that fills the heart, and the Holy Spirit
testifies to the human spirit, that God is their Father. Then, as a
believer learns to walk in the new covenant, the power of Rest begins to
overflow the heart. The great key to the victory life is learning to enter
into the Rest.
To continue with Pentecost - Was glossias lalein ever present again
in the early Church? Only on a limited basis. The Acts of the Apostles
covers roughly a 35 year period. There are two other occasions where
glossias lalein was present. There may have been other times, but it is
not recorded. Each time speaking in languages is present, there is a
connection relating to the day of Pentecost. These were 'gateway'
experiences. (The Corinthian tongues has to be dealt with separately.)
Now historically - Was speaking in tongues ever taught as a major
doctrine in the early Church. Not that we have any record of. Paul
spoke of this gift as something that would go into 'idle' for a time. My
understanding is that it may reappear throughout history according to the
sovereign working of God.
By the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., some of the
more spectacular giftings were ebbing. We hear this in Hebrews
2:1,2; "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have
heard, so that we do not drift away from it." Then it goes on to say, "How
will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was first
spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God
also testifying with *them*, both by signs and by various miracles and by
gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."
Notice that the writer is using past tenses with regard to signs and
miracles and gifts. Its not an issue that signs, and miracles, and gifts
are not common to Christianity. They will always be a part of our
experience. Rather, it is a matter of understanding that various giftings
serve a purpose for a season, and may go into 'idle' until they are to be
used again. The one gift that seemed to go idle early on was 'glossais
lalein.' Other giftings, such as prophecy remained in the Church.
A careful search of the earliest writings of those who had been
trained by the apostles, or who were second and third generation
disciples, will show that this particular gifting was becoming rare. There
was a reoccurrence with the Montanists, but this movement went to seed in
false prophecy.
One thing the early Church never taught, neither Biblically nor in
the early Christian writings, was that speaking in tongues was a sign of
salvation, or that it related to a second experience of empowerment. Yet
the teaching of empowerments is a very real part of the Christian
doctrines.
To deal with speaking in tongues in the Corinthian Church, we have to open
up another area altogether. But for the sake of this study, I'll bring it
to a close.
The Bible study is open for discussion. Please try to remain within
Scripture language. I realize it is easy to want to read our own
beliefs or experiences back into the Scriptures, but that does
damage to the study of the Scriptures. Let's find out what the Bible
actually teaches.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org