The Problem Tongues in 1 Cor 14: A Reexamination

Abstract

In a previous article in this Journal (Fall, 1995), I suggested an alternative explanation for the "other tongues" of Acts 2:4. Historical evidence demonstrates that both the Judeans from Palestine and the Diaspora Judeans shared the same native languages (i.e., Aramaic and Greek). The Judean crowd of Acts 2 had expected to be hearing the "holy tongue" (i.e., Hebrew), the proper language of the temple liturgy, the upper language of the Jewish diglossia. Instead, the disciples of Jesus when filled with the Spirit prophesied in their own native languages (i.e., Aramaic and Greek) and violated the Jewish diglossia. Luke designates these languages as "other tongues" (i.e., languages other than Hebrew). A natural response after exposure to this alternative explanation is to ask: "That makes sense in the context of Acts 2; how, though, does it make sense of the 'tongues' of 1 Corinthians 14?" This article provides an explanation for the "problem tongues" of 1 Corinthians 12-14.

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