What is the best gift to desire?
Tongues are not the best gifts.
We are told both that God gives us each a gift that is particular for us, for the wirk of service in the body. Not only do we not all get through same gift, but we are not to desire that gift. It isnt the best one.
In addition, the purpose of Tongues, was to reach Jews (primarily who visited churches), to hear the Gospel in their own language. Whatever nation they were living in or traveling to, where they came upon a church, and out of curiosity [of hearing about Jesus] went in to see what it was about, they would hear the Gospel in their own language.
It has 0 to do with the charlatanery going on today, taught by churches that lie about the Holy Spitit, and cause weak new believers distress abd fear that theyre not saved. Those churches preach a false Gospel and should live in fear of God's judgment falling in them.
The Truth of Tongues
In Acts 2, when the Spirit descended (once for all time) to earth, sent by Jesus, at Pentecost, Luke records that:
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem ->>Jews, devout men ->>from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and ->>they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.” (Acts 2:4–6).
So the “tongues” were known human languages, given supernaturally so that the visiting Jews from many regions (Parthians, Medes, Elamites, etc., Acts 2:9–11) could hear the gospel in their own heart language.
The purpose was:
• To authenticate the coming of the Spirit and the beginning of the church.
• To serve as a sign to unbelieving Jews (see Paul’s note in 1 Corinthians 14:21–22, quoting Isaiah, where tongues are a sign for unbelievers, specifically Israel).
• To give authentication to the hearers that these Apostles were with Christ, and sent by Him to proclaim the Gospel with power.
• To spread the gospel across language barriers at a unique moment in redemptive history.
In that framework, “tongues” weren’t private prayer languages or ecstatic speech; they were real, intelligible languages God used to advance the gospel among Jews and Gentiles at that transitional time.
There were two times Tongues were gifted, and again the reason was to share the Gospel with Jews who lived or worked abroad, and of any who went into churches in regions where a church existed, out of curiosity. They were people of another language, or Jews who traveled from Israel to those regions.
As noted, Gentiles would also see this (hear it) and realize God was among these people. No imaginary false God's ever did anything like this. So curious local & visiting Gentiles also there would see that happening, hear the Gospel, and be converted. There were Gentiles who lived in Israel, in the Roman Empire who did business with Jews there, knew Hebrew, just as there were firmness who converted to Judaism who would be among these hearing and seeing this, who would get saved.
The Arrival of the Holy Spirit
Seen in Acts 2
• Recipients of the Spirit:
• The Holy Spirit first came upon the Apostles (and “the disciples,” Acts 2:1–4) — specifically those whom Jesus had personally chosen and trained.
• Purpose: to empower them for ministry and to confirm their authority as His messengers.
• The Tongues Sign:
• When the apostles spoke in tongues, it was public and miraculous, and all the visiting Jews heard them in their own native languages (Acts 2:6).
• This authenticated the apostles’ message: God was endorsing their preaching, showing they were sent by Christ.
• It was a sign to the Jews that these men had been commissioned by God — not a general gift for all believers to prove spirituality.
• Authority and Apostleship:
• The miraculous empowerment confirmed that the Apostles had Jesus’ authority (Luke 24:49; John 20:21–22).
• It was temporary and unique for the foundational period of the church, not normative for all believers today.
Key Summary
• Spirit came first on the Apostles to empower and authenticate them.
• Tongues were a visible, audible sign to unbelieving Jews and others that Jesus’ messengers were truly sent by Him.
• This was foundational: it proved God was inaugurating His church through Christ’s chosen apostles.
• Not for proof of spirituality for all believers, and not a private prayer language.
It was later gifted to people in Churches, as they were founded, for the same reason, to reach the Jews, and that continued until the Bible was complete.
According to Scripture: he pattern is:
Spirit Gifts After Pentecost
• Initial Outpouring – Apostles Only:
• At Pentecost, the Spirit empowered the apostles (Acts 2) to authenticate them and launch the church.
• Tongues, prophecy, and miraculous signs served as confirmation of Apostolic authority and as signs to unbelieving Jews.
• Occasional Later Empowering – Early Churches:
• The Spirit did give gifts like tongues, prophecy, and healings to other early believers in specific, temporary cases (Acts 10:44–46, Cornelius’ household; Acts 19:1–7, disciples at Ephesus).
• Purpose remained foundational or confirming, often to show the spread of the gospel or God’s approval of a new community.
• These instances were not normative for all believers, but were “special acts” to advance the gospel before the completion of Scripture.
• Cessation When Scripture Was Complete:
• Once the New Testament canon was established, the miraculous gifts ceased because their purpose — confirming God’s revelation and establishing the church — was fulfilled.
• Ordinary believers now rely on the Spirit for regeneration, sanctification, and guidance, not for miraculous tongues or sign gifts.
Summary
• The Spirit occasionally gave miraculous gifts in other churches, but only to serve a foundational or confirming role until the Bible was complete.
• Afterward, all believers are empowered spiritually, but the sign gifts were no longer necessary.
Even looking at Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 12–14 it gives this same understanding:
Gift Diversity, Not Superiority (12:4–11, 29–30)
• Tongues were just one of many Spirit-given gifts.
• Paul emphasizes that no one gift makes a believer more spiritual, and the Spirit distributes gifts as He wills.
• This underlines that tongues were functional, not a measure of maturity.
• Temporary and Secondary (13:1–8)
• Tongues, even “of men or angels,” are temporary and will cease.
• Love, not miraculous display, is the lasting evidence of a Spirit-filled life.
• Paul explicitly contrasts tongues with gifts that edify the church — the permanent purpose of prophecy, teaching, and Scripture.
Order and Purpose in Worship (14:1–25, 27–28)
• Tongues must be interpreted to benefit the church (14:27–28).
• They are described as a sign for unbelievers (14:21–22), quoting Isaiah 28:11–12, especially Israel.
• Prophecy, in contrast, is the primary gift for building up believers.
Simple Summary
• Tongues = real languages, given by God as signs for unbelieving Jews in the early church.
• They were temporary, not normative, and never meant as proof of spirituality.
• Paul’s instructions stress edification, order, and purpose, not personal exaltation.
• Once the church was established and Scripture complete, sign gifts were no longer needed, but the Spirit continues to produce fruit and empower believers in ordinary life.
So, in summary
When the Holy Spirit first came at Pentecost, He empowered the aapostles with tongues—real, intelligible languages—so that visiting Jews from many nations could hear the gospel in their own language. This miraculous gift authenticated the Apostles’ authority as Christ’s messengers and helped establish the church. Later, the Spirit occasionally gave tongues and other sign gifts in specific churches, always to confirm God’s message or advance the gospel, never as proof of personal spirituality. Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 12–14 reinforce this: tongues were temporary, meant for edification, order, and as a sign to unbelievers, while prophecy and teaching were for building up believers. Once Scripture was complete, these sign gifts ceased, though the Spirit continues to empower all believers for growth, sanctification, and fruitful service.
Even though you do not get to choose thd gift(s) God gives you, cuz you're given them to do the works in Christ that he prepared for you to do in the local church body... You might be wondering which are the Best gifts?
Well the best gift is the one you are given.
But also true is what Scripture teaches on this.
Paul specifically addresses this in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:31
“But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
• Paul calls some gifts “higher” — these are the ones most useful for building up the church, not for personal display.
1 Corinthians 14:1
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”
• Here Paul clarifies:
• Love is the overarching goal — gifts without love are worthless.
• Prophecy is the best gift to desire, because it edifies the church by teaching, encouraging, and comforting.
• Tongues are not mentioned as a primary gift to pursue, emphasizing their temporary and secondary nature.
Takeaway:
• The best gifts are those that serve the church, particularly prophecy (teaching, encouragement, Scripture exposition; which a pastor does- he is a gift to the church).
• Spiritual fruit (love, patience, holiness) and gifts that build up others are the ultimate goal. And it begins with Love.
Remember? The Law of Christ is to Love God and Love Others 😊
God bless
Related:
●Believers new nature & the Fruit of the Spirit
●The Law of Christ & Law of the Spirit of Life
Resources for Believers
