WHAT 1^ST & 2^ND CENTURY CHURCH FATHERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT

TONGUES

Clement of Rome, a friend of both Peter and Paul, wrote in AD 96, in his First Epistle 1:2-2:7 and his Genuine Epistle to the Corinthians 45: "What visitor among you is there who has not proved your most excellent and firm faith, who has not marvelled at your prudent and gentle piety in Christ, who has not proclaimed your magnificent practice of hospitality, and who has not blessed your perfect and sure knowledge?...There was an insatiable desire to do good, and a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit came upon all. You were full of holy counsel....

“Ye have searched the scriptures, which are true, which were given through the Holy Ghost; and you know that nothing unrighteous or counterfeit is written in them.”

In the Epistle to Diognetus 5, about AD 140: "For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of men neither by country, language, nor customs.� They do not dwell in cities of their own, nor do they use some strange language, nor practice a peculiar kind of life.� Their teaching indeed has not been discovered by any speculation or consideration of men full of curiosity, nor do they busy themselves with human doctrine as some do." 

Irenaeus, about 180, wrote in Against Heresies I.x.1; and Refutation and Overthrow of False Doctrine, Bk. 2: "For the church, although dispersed throughout the whole world as far as the ends of the earth, received from the apostles and their disciples the faith...in the Holy Spirit, who has proclaimed through the prophets the plans of God and the comings of Christ....So far are they from raising the dead, as the Lord raised, and as the apostles by means of prayer, for even among the brethren frequently in a case of necessity when a whole church united in much fasting and prayer, the spirit has returned to the ex-animated body, and the man was granted to the prayers of the saints....

"Wherefore, also, those that were truly his disciples, receiving grace from him, in his name performed these things for the benefit of men, as every one received the free gift from him. Some, indeed, most certainly and truly cast our demons, so that frequently these persons themselves that were cleansed from wicked spirits believed and were received into the church. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also visions and prophetic communications; other heal the sick by the imposition of hands, and restore them to health. And, moreover, as we said above, even the dead have been raised and continued with us many years.

"As we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in all tongues through the spirit, and who also, bring to light the secret things of men for their benefit, and who expound the mysteries of God."