Speaking in Tongues

This is the first volume of a 3-volume series whose goal is to exhaust the topic of the gift of tongues, especially as it is understood and practiced by the modern Pentecostal-Charismatic tradition.As this "study is structured after the model of an archaeological excavation or 'dig,'" this first volume begins "at the surface level with the current state of affairs in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles" (10) and focuses on "the modern redefinition of 'tongues' as a private prayer language" (jacket).Volume 2 ("all the way down through Church History" (10)) aims to "provide ample evidence that the word 'tongues' in sacred tradition has always referred since time immemorial to nothing more than ordinary human languages" (198).Volume 3 ("even deeper, down into the intertestamental period and Old Testament times" (10)) "will provide evidence for the claim that the tongues of Corinth almost certainly involved no miraculous gifts of tongues whatsoever, but merely a problem of foreign sacred language that was not understood by many in the assembly and had to be verbally translated and explained to the laity in the common tongue" (199).To the authors' credit, the previews of volumes two and three are sufficient to get an accurate grasp of the whole argument.There are two Forewords.James Likoudis calls this "a remarkable and ground-breaking study of the phenomenon of 'tongue-speaking' " (xv).Unfortunately, it is neither.Dale Coulter from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (not David Coulter, as misidentified by the authors, xvii), says, "Pentecostal and Charismatic scholars should welcome the challenge that Blosser and Sullivan bring.After all, as they make clear, it is not a challenge out of animus" (xiii).Well, okay, but if the authors are going to make bold and allegedly "incontrovertible" claims, they have to expect someone will take them up on the challenge.The reader must calibrate his/her expectations.Per the subtitle, Blosser and Sullivan purport to produce "A Critical Historical Examination."They have actually written a polemic.(I am reminded of the scene from Unforgiven [1992 film] when smoothtalking English Bob, on his way to Big Whiskey to avenge the attack on Delilah, lectures his fellow passengers on the benefits of a monarchy over democracy, impugning the very idea of a presidency, all while insisting, "I don't mean to give offense."To which a rough-hewn, gravelly-voiced cowboy replies, "Well, maybe you don't wish to give offense, Sir.But you are giving it pretty thick.")

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