Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 166 views

    Speaking in Tongues in The Bible

    Uploaded by

    Eusebiu Borca
    The document discusses what happened at Pentecost based on the account in Acts 2. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. There are two views on what this meant: either they spoke in angelic tongues or human languages. The author argues that based on the Greek grammar, it was a miracle where the disciples spoke human languages they did not know, allowing each listener to hear in their own language. This overcame the language barrier created at the Tower of Babel.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Speaking in Tongues in The Bible

    Uploaded by

    Eusebiu Borca
    166 views3 pages
    The document discusses what happened at Pentecost based on the account in Acts 2. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. There are two views on what this meant: either they spoke in angelic tongues or human languages. The author argues that based on the Greek grammar, it was a miracle where the disciples spoke human languages they did not know, allowing each listener to hear in their own language. This overcame the language barrier created at the Tower of Babel.

    Original Description:

    Tongues in the Bible

    Original Title

    Speaking in Tongues in the Bible

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses what happened at Pentecost based on the account in Acts 2. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. There are two views on what this meant: either they spoke in angelic tongues or human languages. The author argues that based on the Greek grammar, it was a miracle where the disciples spoke human languages they did not know, allowing each listener to hear in their own language. This overcame the language barrier created at the Tower of Babel.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    166 views3 pages

    Speaking in Tongues in The Bible

    Uploaded by

    Eusebiu Borca
    The document discusses what happened at Pentecost based on the account in Acts 2. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. There are two views on what this meant: either they spoke in angelic tongues or human languages. The author argues that based on the Greek grammar, it was a miracle where the disciples spoke human languages they did not know, allowing each listener to hear in their own language. This overcame the language barrier created at the Tower of Babel.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Speaking in Tongues in the Bible

    What happened at Pentecost?


    Megan Sauter 08/13/2016 (08/13/2016T09:17)

    This Bible History Daily feature was originally published in 2015.Ed.

    All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit
    gave them ability.
    Acts 2:4

    What happened at Pentecost in the New Testament?

    Acts 2 describes a miracle: During the festival of Pentecost, Jesus


    disciples are given the Holy Spirit, and they begin speaking in
    tongues (other languages). Are the disciples speaking in human
    languages, or is this an instance of glossolalia in the Bible?

    Glossolaliaspeaking in angelic tonguesis described as a spiritual


    gift in 1 Corinthians 1214. Websters dictionary defines glossolalia
    as prayer characterized chiefly by incomprehensible speech,
    originating in primitive Christianity and now practiced by
    Pentecostal groups in ecstatic forms of worship.

    Ben Witherington III addresses what happened at Pentecost in his


    Biblical Views column Speaking in the Tongues of Men or
    Angels? in the July/August 2015 issue of Biblical Archaeology
    Review. While some believe that Acts 2 is the first instance of
    SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN THE
    glossolalia in the Bible, he maintains that it is not. BIBLE. This Armenian
    manuscript was illustrated by
    When the disciples begin speaking in tongues, Acts 2:6 says that the Zakaria Gnunetsi in 1575. It
    depicts Acts 2 when Jesus
    crowd of Diaspora Jews who were in Jerusalem for the festival of
    disciples receive the gift of
    Pentecost gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard speaking in tongues at
    them speaking in the native language of each. Pentecost. Some believe this
    is the first instance of
    glossolalia in the Bible, but
    Those who believe this is an instance of glossolalia in the Bible say others maintain that the
    that two miracles took place: The disciples were speaking in angelic disciples are speaking human
    tongues, and each person heard the message in his native languages.

    language. However, Ben Witherington III contends that just one miracle occurred. The disciples
    miraculously began speaking other human languages, which is supported by the Greek
    grammar of Acts 2:6. Witherington explains:
    The phrase in their native language modifies the verb speaking in verse 6, not the verb
    hearing. So there is exactly one miracle of speech at Pentecosta miracle my Greek
    students regularly pray for, namely, the ability to suddenly speak a foreign language
    without further study! In short, the Pentecost story is not about glossolalia, despite the
    name of the modern Protestant denomination. If you want to find a story about glossolalia
    in a story about conversion in Acts, then you should turn to the story of Cornelius in Acts
    10.

    Witherington further explains that what happened at


    Pentecost is the opposite of what occurred at the Tower of
    Babel (Genesis 11:19). As a result of the Tower of Babel,
    human language is confused, and a language barrier is
    created, but at Pentecost, the language barrier is
    surmounted:

    At Pentecost the multiple languages problem and


    language barrier is not resolved, but the Good News TOWER OF BABEL. Pieter Bruegel the
    overcomes the problem by being shared in all the Elders painting Tower of Babel is on
    display at the Kunsthistorisches
    various languages of the persons present there. While Museum in Vienna. Ben Witherington III
    Pentecost doesnt reverse the effect of Gods confusing explains that what happened at
    Pentecostspeaking in tongues
    the languages at Babel, it overcomes the problem for the overcame the effect of the Tower of
    sake of the salvation of the nations. Babelthe confusion of language.

    To see Ben Witherington IIIs full analysis of what happened at Pentecost, read his Biblical
    Views column Speaking in the Tongues of Men or Angels? in the July/August 2015 issue
    of BAR.

    BAS Library Members: Read the full Biblical Views column Speaking in the Tongues of
    Men or Angels? by Ben Witherington III in the July/August 2015 issue of Biblical
    Archaeology Review.

    Not a BAS Library member yet? Join the BAS Library today.

    This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on July 13, 2015.

    Learn more about Pentecost and read more articles by Ben Witherington III in the BAS Library:
    Bargil Pixner, Church of the Apostles Found on Mt. Zion, Biblical Archaeology Review,
    May/June 1990.

    Ben Witherington III, Biblical Views: Text Archaeology: The Finding of Lightfoots Lost
    Manuscripts, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2014.
    Ben Witherington III, Biblical Views: Images of Crucifixion: Fresh Evidence, Biblical
    Archaeology Review, March/April 2013.

    Ben Witherington III, In the Beginning: Religion at the Dawn of Civilization, Biblical
    Archaeology Review, January/February 2013.

    Ben Witherington III, Biblical Views: Spirited Discourse About God Language in the New
    Testament, Biblical Archaeology Review, May/June 2012.

    Ben Witherington III, Biblical Views: Making Sense of the Unlikely Easter Story, Biblical
    Archaeology Review, March/April 2011.

    Ben Witherington III, Biblical Views: Jesus Has the Last Word, Biblical Archaeology Review,
    March/April 2010.

    Not a BAS Library member yet? Join the BAS Library today.

    Permalink: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/speaking-in-tongues-in-the-bible/

    You might also like