Tongues a Sign
Many faith only groups are Pentecostal where they believe they still have spiritual gifts of tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. We believe tongues ceased sometime after the last apostle passed. Those who practice tongues today we believe are imposters and are under delusion from God.
2Th 2:11 AndG2532 for this causeG1223 G5124 GodG2316 shall sendG3992 themG846 strong delusion,G1753 G4106 that theyG846 should believeG4100 a lie:G5579
Once a person gives up the truth, God allows them to be led astray through Satan's miracles.
This body of miracles today can be seen in the Catholic body through sun wonders such as seen in different places, but also tongues and other delusions that are not the original.
The Apostle Paul taught tongues were not eternal and they would cease, as would other gifts.
The question is when would they cease? Though there are many theories Paul gives us a definite time frame.
1Co 13:12 ForG1063 nowG737 we seeG991 throughG1223 a glass,G2072 darkly;G1722 G135 butG1161 thenG5119 faceG4383 toG4314 face:G4383 nowG737 I knowG1097 inG1537 part;G3313 butG1161 thenG5119 shall I knowG1921 even asG2531 alsoG2532 I am known.G1921
Pentecostals view this as when Christ returns, but it seems to be self recognition. That is why Paul uses the idea of a dark mirror. In a mirror men recognize their own likeness. It is an idea of recognizing the true body of Christ.
You recognizing them and them recognizing you.
At the time spiritual gifts were employed it was hard to tell the true from the false.
Eph 4:14 ThatG2443 we henceforth beG5600 no moreG3371 children,G3516 tossed to and fro,G2831 andG2532 carried aboutG4064 with everyG3956 windG417 of doctrine,G1319 byG1722 theG3588 sleightG2940 of men,G444 and(G1722) cunning craftiness,G3834 wherebyG4314 they lie in wait to deceive;G3180 G4106
At the time of spiritual gifts it was easy to introduce false history and false doctrine, but as the spirit worked in the churches members, it became easier to identify what was real and what was false. As the scriptures were penned it became even more stable as truth permeated the body.
Teaching scripture took the place of partial prophecy.
Those speaking in tongues today are indeed imposters. If you study their doctrine they have fallen doctrinally. They no longer teach a proper plan of salvation and most fell into premillinial eschatology.
Men such as Irenaeus claimed to speak in tongues well after the Apostles, but he himself was an immature teacher of tongues. He taught tongues were the sign of maturity, but the scriptures do not teach such doctrine. The scriptures expose all of his teaching concerning tongues.
1. Not all Christians in the Apostles era spoke in tongues. They were not a sign of salvation.
1Co 12:30 (G3361) HaveG2192 allG3956 the giftsG5486 of healing?G2386 do(G3361) allG3956 speakG2980 with tongues?G1100 do(G3361) allG3956 interpret?G1329
2. Tongues were a sign toward unbelievers, not believers, so they were not meant as a personal witness to ones salvation.
1Co 14:20 Brethren,G80 beG1096 notG3361 childrenG3813 in understanding:G5424 howbeitG235 in maliceG2549 be ye children,G3515 butG1161 in understandingG5424 beG1096 men.G5046
1Co 14:21 InG1722 theG3588 lawG3551 it is written,G1125 WithG1722 men of other tonguesG2084 andG2532 other(G1722) G2087 lipsG5491 will I speakG2980 unto thisG5129 people;G2992 andG2532 yet for all thatG3779 will they notG3761 hearG1522 me,G3450 saithG3004 the Lord.G2962
1Co 14:22 WhereforeG5620 tonguesG1100 areG1526 forG1519 a sign,G4592 notG3756 to them that believe,G4100 butG235 to them that believe not:G571 butG1161 prophesyingG4394 serveth notG3756 for them that believe not,G571 butG235 for them which believe.G4100
Tongues were meant to be a specific sign to the Jews who did not believe. They were employed before Jews such as Acts 2, Acts 10 where 6 Jews witnessed gentile conversion, and in gentile churches but in the presence of Jewish converts such as Acts 19. They were primarily a testimony to unbelievers, and not a sign to believers.
Irenaes taught tongues were a sign of reaching spiritual perfection.
“We speak wisdom among them that are perfect,” terming those persons “perfect” who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all languages[3], Against Heresies
Yet, this can't be true because Paul called the tongue speakers in Corinth carnal.
1Co 3:1 AndG2532 I,G1473 brethren,G80 couldG1410 notG3756 speakG2980 unto youG5213 asG5613 unto spiritual,G4152 butG235 asG5613 unto carnal,G4559 even asG5613 unto babesG3516 inG1722 Christ.G5547
It is apparent Irenaeus himself was not being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Also, Irenaeus may have been an imposter even though recognized by the Catholics as a church Father.