Taking extensively from the work of Cleon Rogers, the presence of speaking in tongues in the writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, the best history of the early Church available, will here be examined. First, Clement of Rome wrote a letter to the church at Corinth in about AD 100 addressing some of the same issues Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians, but Clement does not mention speaking in tongues at all (135). Second, Ignatius is equally silent in a letter to Ephesus where 12 men in Acts 19 spoke in tongues and prophesied (135). Third, Justin Martyr does not mention speaking in tongues in any of his voluminous writings, though he does deal briefly with some aspect of spiritual gifts in his Dialogue with Trypho. It is thought to be most astounding that he did not use speaking in tongues in his argument, especially if he could have, since it would be a great benefit to Christianity over Judaism (137).
Fourth, Irenaeus does mention occurrences present to his time (approximately AD 180) in his work Against All Heresies. "In like manner we do also hear [akouomen] many brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages,..." (Roberts 531). Rogers explains that the broader context of Irenaeus's theological upbringing should be born in mind here. Before serving as a bishop, Irenaeus was closely associated with the Montanists, and even during his service in office he maintained ties with them. The Montanists were considered heretics because of their unbalanced Pneumatology and emphasis on the spiritual gifts. Also, he does not seem to be saying that he had first-hand experience of this activity. Finally, he does not emphasize or rely on this point at all nor does he mention speaking in tongues elsewhere (Rogers 139-40).
Fifth, Tertullian makes a few claims to the presence of speaking in tongues, but his allegiance to Montanism discredits each of these claims (140). Sixth, Origen admits at least that the outward manifestations had diminished by his time, about AD 200-250 (142). Lastly, Chrysostom writes in his sermon notes for 1 Corinthians 12-14 that the things mentioned in that passage were obscure to him and his listeners because of their ignorance of the facts written therein, because the gifts were no longer taking place (142).
These accounts seem to be conclusive evidence for the cessation of authentic speaking in tongues. To be intellectually honest with the historical accounts, one must at least admit that tongues-speaking activity was limited to cults such as the Montanists by the end of the second century, if not earlier. These accounts substantiate only a position concerning speaking in tongues and not spiritual gifts in general. This gift could have biblically ceased independent of the other spiritual gifts, represented by prophecy and words of knowledge in 1 Corinthians 13:8. (These two gifts could more specifically represent the other two groups of gifts as delineated above by eteroV in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.)
Before concluding that speaking in tongues was given only for a very brief time during the founding of the Church, a glance at Acts 2:16-21, quoting Joel 2:28-32, is necessary. First, touto estin to ("This is the thing") can be understood in one of two ways:
1. The speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost is the fulfillment of the prophesying predicted through Joel, or 2. Peter is saying, "Listen to this thing spoken through Joel; is speaking in tongues so farfetched in light of this?" The first understanding stretches the field of meaning of "prophesy" beyond any other instance in Scripture, especially in light of the defined purpose of speaking in tongues above, but if it were right, then no one should expect a resurgence of speaking in tongues in order to fulfill it at a time closer to the Second Advent. The second understanding has several merits, and if it is correct, the Jews should still look forward to prophesying and dreams and visions among them in the last days before the great and glorious appearing of Christ at the Second Advent. This prophecy is not for the Church, and it mentions only revelatory gifts (of which speaking in tongues even with interpretation is not one) already having been experienced in Israel.
Tongues Section 3: Regulations for Use
Papers
