Subject: Tongues?Ecstatic Utterances or Languages |
Bible Note: Gracefull: In all sincerity, I agree with you when you write: "I do not have 'proof' that tongues of angels do exist and are available to us." That's basically what I've been saying, i.e., "there is no biblical teaching of any special angelic language that people could learn to speak." I do appreciate you and your reply. I appreciate your courtesy and many of the points you've made since you started posting to this forum. It is not my intention to be quarrelsome nor to attack you. I submit the following for your consideration. Not saying this is the final word on the subject, merely asking you to consider it. Grace and peace to you, Radioman2 :-) - - - - - - - - - - - - - "the tongues of men and of[a] angels," '(a) A very earnest amplifying of the matter, as if he said, "IF THERE WERE ANY TONGUES OF ANGELS, and I had them, and did not use them to the benefit of my neighbour, it would be nothing else except a vain and prattling type of babbling."' (The 1599 Geneva Study Bible. Emphasis added.) (http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/GenevaStudyBible/) - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'and of angels; 'not that angels have tongues in a proper sense, or speak any vocal language, in an audible voice, with articulate sounds; for they are spirits immaterial and incorporeal; though they have an intellectual speech, by which they celebrate the perfections and praises of God, and can discourse with one another, and communicate their minds to each other; see (Isaiah 6:3) (Daniel 8:13). ( . . . ) '[The apostle refers to] the speech of angels, when they have assumed human bodies, and have in them spoke with an audible voice, in articulate sounds; of which we have many instances, both in the Old Testament and the New, wherein they have conversed with divers persons, as Hagar, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Manoah and his wife, the Virgin Mary, Zechariah, and others; 'unless by the tongues of angels should be meant the most eloquent speech, and most excellent of languages; or if there can be thought to be any tongue that exceeds that of men, which, IF ANGELS SPOKE, they would make use of. Just as the face of angels is used, to express the greatest glory and beauty of the face, or countenance, (Acts 6:15) and angels' bread is used for the most excellent food, (Psalms 78:25) . . .' (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. Emphasis added. This is not the full quote. I've condensed/edited it due to space limitations. To read more go to: http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/GillsExpositionoftheBible/) |