AN UNKNOWN TONGUE
March 28, 2011
by Mathias Torres Age: 18
Another way of saying language is tongue. There are some scriptures that use this word tongue instead of language. An example of it being used this way is:
Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
John 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
The phrase “Hebrew tongue” in the Strong’s is:
G1447 Ἑβραΐστί
Hebraisti
heb-rah-is-tee’
Adverb from G1446; Hebraistically or in the Jewish (Armaic) language: – in (the) Hebrew (tongue).
Another use of the word tongue is used in Acts 2:6.
G1258
διάλεκτος
dialektos
dee-al’-ek-tos
From G1256; a (mode of) discourse, that is, “dialect”: – language, tongue.
Tongue is another way to say language or dialect. So, if I were to use the word “tongue” in a sentence it might be, “I am speaking an English tongue.” Now that we know that a tongue is another way of saying language, there are other scriptures that use the word tongue, but are different words in the Greek. For example:
1 Corinthians14:1-5
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
The word tongues, used here, means a language, but not just any language; an unknown language that is only acquired spiritually. Here is the Greek definition of the word tongue or “glossa” used here:
G1100
γλῶσσα
glōssa
gloce’-sah
Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): – tongue.
There is a language that isn’t acquired naturally. This means that there is a spiritual language that can only be acquired spiritually. So, how do we learn this language? The answer is within the first two verses:
1 Corinthians14:1-2
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
The Word for “Spiritual Things” is actually one word in the Greek. It is means spiritual and it speaks of things that are figurative. Figurative and Spiritual are synonymous. Here is the definition for this word spiritual:
G4152
πνευματικός
pneumatikos
phyoo-mat-ik-os’
From G4151; non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious: – spiritual.
The definition alone does not give us a very good description of how this word spiritual also means figurative. So, let’s let the scripture define it for us. Lets look at how this same word is used in another scripture:
1 Corinthians 2:13-14
13These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The word spiritual used here is the related to word that is used in 1 Corinthians 14. The word spiritually used here is an adverb. The definition is as follows:
G4153
πνευματικῶς
pneumatikōs
pnyoo-mat-ik-oce’
Adverb from G4152; non-physically, that is, divinely, figuratively: – spiritually.
Paul is saying that the spiritual things are the figurative comparison in scripture, such as the seed is the word (Luke 8:11) and God’s teaching or revelation is rain (Deuteronomy 32:2). By this, we can see how the word spiritual can be synonymous with saying figuratively. Now with that in mind, lets go back to 1 Corinthians 14.
1 Corinthians14:1-2
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
The word “mysteries” used here speaks of a secret thing that only the godly can understand. This word speaks of things that are only given to those who are initiated to the religious secrets. Here is the Definition:
G3466
μυστήριον
mustērion
Thayer Definition:
1) hidden thing, secret, mystery
1a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
1b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
1c) a hidden purpose or counsel
1c1) secret will
1c1a) of men
1c1b) of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
Now, we can see that this figurative (spiritual) language (tongue) are the mysteries (secret language of God). How do we learn this spiritual language of (mysteries) secrets, which are hidden in parables, proverbs, dark Sayings, and riddles. Here is a scripture that may open up our eyes:
Mark 4:11
11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Matthew 13:10-11
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
The secrets or language of God are in the parables. It is a language that doesn’t use literal words, and to learn it you have to understand the parables. So, speaking in a Tongue is speaking a language. This means that The book of Proverbs, The Song of Solomon, Psalms, Revelations, ect. are written in a language that isn’t literal but spiritual (figurative).