Chapter 19 The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the
same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; TO
ANOTHER DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will.
- 1 Corinthians 12.:7-11
In our study of the gifts of the Spirit, we come to the subject of divers kinds of tongues. The
word "divers" in First Corinthians 12:10 is italicized, which means that it was added by the
translator.
Actually, this verse reads, "... to another, kinds of tongues. . . ." However, in another scripture,
Paul said that God set in the Church diversities of tongues (1 Cor. 12:28); therefore, we would
not be out of line scripturally to say "divers" kinds of tongues, or different kinds of tongues.
This utterance gift of tongues is an important gift in that tongues is the door into the
supernatural. This doesn't necessarily mean the gift of tongues is the best gift, for as we
indicated previously, the best gift is the gift needed at the moment.
Tongues: The Most Prominent Gift
Of the three vocal gifts, or as they are sometimes called, the gifts of utterance or inspiration —
the gift of prophecy, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues — the gift of
tongues is the most prominent.
A question often asked by those in denominations is, "Why do Full Gospel people place such
emphasis on tongues?" The answer is, "We do not." There are several reasons why it may
seem that we do.
First, we are often questioned about tongues and are therefore drawn into discussions about
tongues.
Second, speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence when people are baptized in the
Holy Ghost. Third, utterance in tongues in public assembly is the most frequently manifested
gift of the Spirit.
Fourth, tongues and interpretation of tongues are distinctive to the Church Age. Therefore,
they are more in operation.
We see all the other gifts of the Spirit in operation in the Old Testament — the word of wisdom,
the word of knowledge, special faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, and
discerning of spirits — all the gifts of the Spirit except for tongues and interpretation of
tongues.