BRIAN A. YEAGER
There are many in the religious world that claim they have an ability to speak in tongues, heal the sick, raise the dead, and etc.  These men even are convincing many innocent folks of this.  The problem with this doctrine that many are teaching concerning miracles is that miraculous gifts no longer exist in this age.  Think along this line.  Today I will change my teachings if ONE “miracle worker” will meet me at the hospital of their choice and let me pick the room giving them a chance to prove this doctrine.  These miracle workers will claim that I am tempting God with this challenge, but the Bible states differently.  The Bible states that Christ confirmed his teachings with miracles (Acts 2:22).  The Bible tells us to try the spirits to see if they are of God (I John 4:1).  The challenge is there, but there will be no takers!  The Bible teaches that these miracles will come to an end (I Corinthians 13:8-10).  This passage states that tongues and such will end when “that” which is perfect is come.  Friends, “that” is not Christ.  “That” is the written word of God.  Miracles existed to prove the teachings of the Christ, and the Apostles.  These miracles are no longer in need this day, we have the written word that is complete and perfect.  Let me urge you to come to the Church that Christ died to establish (Acts 20:28), the Church of Christ.  What must I do to be saved?  Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17), Believe (John 8:24), Repent (Luke 13:13), Confess Christ (Matthew 10:32-33)and be baptized (Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:20-21).  Read (Matthew 7:13-14; 21-23)!

James E. Farley
Jesus and His apostles and prophets performed many signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. They were all for the primary purpose of confirming the Word: for proving that these men were who they said they were, and that their message was truly from God. (Mark 16:15-20; Hebrews 2:1-4). Jesus and the early disciples were compassionate people and were often moved by the sicknesses, death, and troubles of people of their day. Often the miracles worked by them benefited these people greatly: the blind received their sight, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, people were raised from the dead, people were fed, etc. However, even when our Lord or His apostles worked beneficial miracles on behalf of hurting people, still the primary purpose of the sign or miracle was confirmation – to prove they were from God and were doing God’s bidding.
In Mark chapter two, we have the record of four faithful friends carrying their sick friend to Jesus and working very hard to get this “one sick of the palsy” to the Lord. When Jesus saw their faith (vs. 5), which was certainly evidenced by their actions (Compare James 2:14-26, especially verse 18), He said, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mark 2:5). Some of the scribes then reasoned in their hearts, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” They were right. Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus then proceeded to prove or confirm that He is God! He asked, “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” He did not give them time to answer that question, but said, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” (Mark 2:9-12). Our Lord confirmed that He is who He says He is, and He did it with miracles. (Compare again Mark 16:15-20; Hebrews 2:1-4)
On another occasion, John’s disciples came from him asking Jesus, “Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19-20). How did the Lord answer them? The Word says, “And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached …” (Luke 7:21-22). The answer? YES, I AM HE, AND THESE MIRACLES PROVE IT! Signs and miracles were primarily for confirmation. Peter says he was proven to be Messiah by “miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know …” (Acts 2:22).
Some men came to Ephesus claiming to be apostles, and the church of Christ there put these to the test as per 1 John 4:1. They proved with this trial that these men were not apostles at all, but were liars, and our Lord commended the church there for doing so. (Revelation 2:2) Have you ever wondered what that test might have been? We do not have to wonder, for Paul reveals it to us. When some were doubting his apostleship, Paul wrote, “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I  behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:11-12). What were the “signs of an apostle”? Miracles! They were primarily for confirmation. –

By Devadas Prakash
Common sense demands that one concur with brother Roy Deaver that there were nine miraculous gifts, all of which remain if one remains, but miracles have ceased (44-46).
But before the New Testament was all written, they had nine gifts of the Spirit, or Spiritual gifts in the church (I Cor. 12: 1,8-10). Tongues and interpretation of tongues were two of the nine. Some contend for tongues today, but leave the other eight behind. But they all ceased together. These gifts were bestowed by the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:18; Rom. 1:11; Acts 19:5-7; II Tim. 3:5-6). All know that when the apostles all died they ceased to lay on hands and bestow these gifts, and they naturally ceased. (Nichols 24-25)
Miracles were never an end to themselves, but they served a specific purpose, which when that purpose was fulfilled, miracles ceased. Miracles were provisional in nature; when they completed that which they were intended by God to do, they were no longer needed and they ceased. The apostle Paul addressed the use of miracles in first century Corinth, namely their abuse, in 1 Corinthians 12-14. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, the apostle foretold that miracles would end. Specifically respecting our topic, “…tongues…shall cease…” (v. 8). Verse 9 introduces that through miracles new revelation from God was received in parts — partial and piecemeal respecting several inspired speakers on a number of occasions; speaking was provided them by the Holy Spirit. The New Testament had not been completed yet, but it was in the process of being written (e.g., 1 Corinthians). However, Paul contrasted that situation of partial, piecemeal revelation with a counterpart that would be complete or perfected, thereby displacing the partial, piecemeal revelation attributed to miracles (v. 10). “9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Cor. 13:9-10). James 1:25 refers to God’s Word as “the perfect law of liberty.”
First Corinthians 13:11-12 present two “before and after” illustrations to contrast partial, piecemeal revelation received through miracles with the superior completed revelation that was to displace miracle-assisted revelation. Verse 11 resorts to childhood versus adulthood, miracles represented by childhood and adulthood representing completed revelation. Verse 12 refers to polished metal or other reflective surfaces such as water used anciently for mirrors versus the clarity with which one sees someone face to face. The former represents the miracle assisted, partial piecemeal revelation whereas the latter represents the completed revelation that we call the New Testament.
Ephesians 4:11-14 parallels the 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 passage and also uses the illustration of childhood contrasted with adulthood for the same purpose. Miracle assisted workers appear in verse 11 on whom the early church relied for revelation from God. That situation, though, was temporary and to last only “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and knowledge of the Son of God… (v.13). Ministers, for instance, today must study God’s Word rather than rely on miraculous assistance from the Holy Spirit.
The purpose of miracles appears in Mark 16:20: “…confirming the word with signs following.” Miracles already confirmed the Word in the first century (Heb. 2:3-4). Therefore, when the last apostle died, and when the last person upon whom an apostle laid hands to transfer miraculous power died, miracles ceased. The death of miracle-workers and the collection of the New Testament books occurred around the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century (Col. 4:16; 2 Pet. 3:16). Incidentally, this was a long time before the Catholic Church got around to officiating the New Testament canon.

Johnie Edwards
Bloomington, Indiana
There is much misunderstanding as to what the Bible teaches about tongue speaking. This misunderstanding is beginning to creep in among the people of God. Let me call to your attention eight things the Bible teaches about tongue speaking.

1. Bible Tongues Were Languages. When the apostles spoke in tongues in Acts 2, “the multitude was confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2:6). There were several different languages represented as Jews had come from all nations to keep the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:51). They heard the apostles speak in their “own tongue, wherein they were born” (Acts 2:8). So, Bible tongues were not just a lot of jabbering but languages which were spoken at the time.
2. Bible Tongue Speaking Was Associated With The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit.The Lord promised that He would send the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. “And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49). The Lord renewed this promise in John 14:26. Jesus told the apostles, “Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (Jno. 16:13). In Acts 1:4, 5, 8, Jesus again tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. They wait in Jerusalem. According to Acts 2, the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Another example of tongue speaking being associated with the baptism of the Holy Spirit is in the case of Cornelius. Peter said, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15). As a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues. (Acts 10:45-46).  For people today to be able to speak in tongues as was done in the first century, they would first have to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is impossible to receive today!
3. Bible Tongue Speaking Was Associated With Spiritual Gifts. There are nine spiritual gifts as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12. One of these was tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. (1 Cor. 12:10). These gifts were imparted only by an apostle by the laying on of his hands. There is a case in Acts 19 where Paul taught and baptized about twelve men. “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19: 6). For people today to be able to speak in tongues as was done in Bible days, they would have to receive the baptism of the Spirit as we just noticed or have an apostle lay hands on them, neither of which can be done today! Here is proof-positive that Bible tongues do not exist today.
4. Bible Tongues Were To Be Understood. Read 1 Corinthians 14:2-26. As you read these passages you will observe (a) “except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air” (v. 9) (b) “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (v. 19). If no one understands the tongue in which one is speaking, what good is accomplished?
5. Purpose of Bible Tongue Speaking. When Jesus told the Apostles to carry out the great commission, he also told them that the, could cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, drink deadly things and not be hurt and recover the sick. (Mark 16:15-18) Now, what was the purpose of these things? “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mk. 16: 20). Tongue speaking along with these other miracles simply confirmed the word. Paul told the Corinthians “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. . .” (1Cor. 14:22). Since the word has now been confirmed (Heb. 2:3), we do not need tongue speaking to confirm it!
6. Use Of An Interpreter. One of the spiritual gifts was “the interpretation of tongues” (1 Cor. 12: 10). Paul said, “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret” (1 Cor. 14:13). Again, Paul said, when there was tongue speaking, “let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Cor. 14:27-28). If one spoke in a language others did not know and there was no interpreter, it became unfruitful. (1 Cor. 14: 14).
7. Bible Tongue Speaking Was Orderly. “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that, by course . . .” (I Cor. 14:27). Again it is said, Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40). What little so called tongue speaking that I have heard, was everything but orderly!
8. Bible Tongue Speaking Has Ceased. Paul told the Corinthians that “whether there be tongues, they shall cease . . .” (1 Cor. 13-8) He further told them when tongue speaking would cease. He said that tongue speaking would cease “when that which is perfect is come” (1 Cor. 13: 10). That “which is perfect” is the word of God revealed in its completness. (Jas. 1:25) Now that the Word of God has come, now that it has been completed, tongue speaking has ceased. This occurred about A.D. 96 and there has not been a case of Bible tongue speaking since.

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