In the early church in the first century special gifts were given by God, speaking in tongues, prophecies and knowledge.
These gifts allowed the gospel to be understood and helped in the spreading of this good news. It was the vehicle necessary for the early church before the New Testament could be written (put together).
By the end of the first or into the second century the New Testament was complete with the 27 books that it is comprised of and canonized. Canonized is from the word canon, a term that comes from a Greek word that means rule or measure.
These 27 books were accepted as authentic (genuine; real) authoritative and thus, as the rule for faith and life.
All of the New Testament books were accepted as written by the authors of the four gospels and apostles. In other words it had been put together from the: Gospels, 4 Books, Acts, 1 book, The Epistles, 21 Books, and the book of Revelation.
The original Greek New Testament was probably written on papyrus or skins and either rolled into a scroll or folded to form a manuscript. The printing press didn’t come along until the 15 century.
Today since the bible is the most book sold in the world everyone can have a copy.
Back in the days before the Printing Press the New Testament was written on scrolls and was limited, as they were hand copied. As more and more were written and distributed Gods word was made available. We can’t pinpoint a certain date when these gifs were eliminated. They probably continued until they weren’t needed.
Speaking in tongues is merely talking in a language that someone present in a church service can understand.
This speaking in tongues is seen in Act 2 wherein Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost the multitude, men from surrounding nations heard the apostles speak in his own language, they were amazed..
In the following scriptures it says, Prophecies, Tongues, and Knowledge, to be done away With,
- 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NASB)
- 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
- 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
- 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
The (KJV) says for verse 10:
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
That which is perfect, is the New Testament,God communicates only to us through it.
That which is in part, gifts, that which is in part shall be done away.
James in 1:25 (KJV) writes about, the perfect law of liberty, which is the New Testament. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Also James in 2:12 (KJV) writes about the “law of liberty” which is the New Testament. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Pentecostals believe in Premillennialism and the rapture.
Because of this belief Pentecostals and churches that believe in speaking in tongues interpret 1 Corinthians 13:10
“But when that which is perfect is come” as meaning:
Christ’s second coming back to earth, where he will live for a thousand years.
That’s why since that hasn’t happened yet they can speak in tongues and have other spiritual gifs.
This comes under a belief in Premillennialism in which the theory Premillennialism is not true.
For a detailed explanation of Premillennialism see:
Is the Theory Rapture and Premillennialism True?
The Pentecostal and Assembly of God movement is the cause of widespread disagreement with the Church of Christ and other church groups with the belief of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifs in these modern times.
Members of so many churches, Roman Catholic, Baptist, other Protestant groups etc. share this speaking in tongues regardless of doctrinal differences
The whole of Christianity has been affected by the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement in a way not seen since the days of the Protestant Reformation.
Church groups that don’t believe in these modern day spiritual gifs admire how its followers, are energized, but are shocked at how much of New Testament teaching is completely ignored by misinterpretation and applied to a different theory not taught in the scriptures.
When the Pentecostal Movement Started In 1900, Charles Parham, was an American holiness evangelist. He believed strongly in divine healing, and figured strongly in the emergence of Pentecostalism as a Recognizable Christian movement.
He began teaching that speaking in tongues tends to prove that when the apostles started speaking in tongues in the second chapter of Acts was evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Pentecostal movement accepted this as one of their beliefs.
In Kansas in 1900 he started a school and taught that if you receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit you’ll be able to speak in tongues as evidence.
Some how he believed that being able to speak in tongues missionaries would no longer need to study foreign languages.
Which didn’t happen.
In 1905, Parham in a school he started in Texas had a student William J Seymour.
In 1906 Seymour traveled to Los Angeles to the Azusa Mission, a ramshackle former stable on Azusa Street, in downtown Los Angeles, This three-year-long event boosted by his preaching and People preaching and testifying as they felt moved by the Spirit, sang songs and spoke in tongues. They worked themselves up into various moods of enthusiasm, intense emotionalism, excitement, or talkativeness.
Thousands of visitors attended the mission, carrying this new found experience back to their home churches.
The Assemblies of God churches were founded mainly by two men and is the main group within the Pentecostal movement.
First we have Charles F. Parham noted as the founder of the Pentecostal denomination.
This movement grew and their belief of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifs was adopted by other church groups.
Eudorus Bell is the 2nd man aiding in the establishment of the Assemblies of God.
Associated with the Southern Baptist Convention as a pastor in Texas he felt there was a need to join two main Pentecostal groups that had already been formed into one.
In a meeting in Hot Springs Arkansas called together by Bell, Pentecostals came from all over and together they form the first General Council.
In this meeting they came up with a name, Assemblies of God, and this new denomination’s main beliefs of which one is speaking in tongues.
This debunking of Pentecostal and Assemblies of God Churches is given here to show that speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifs is not given in these modern times.
Again it was used in the early churches to spread the Gospel until the New Testament could be written and used until it wasn’t needed any more.
Speaking in tongues or Premillennialism is not practiced by the Church of Christ and is not taught in the New Testament for these modern times.
In 1 Corinthians 14:23-27-28-33 Paul gives an example of speaking in tongues
Note, this letter from Paul was written before the New Testament was put together.
- 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
- 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
- 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.