Romans 8:26-27
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weakness or lack of strength) for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit according to the will of God.”
I find these two scriptures interesting. Some interpret this scripture to mean that the Holy Ghost is praying for or through us as we “pray in tongues” or “use our prayer language.” It is believed by many that when we “pray in tongues” the Holy Ghost is interceding for us. As I read this text over and over along with the entire chapter, I found out that verses 26 and 27 neither implies or indicated such a thing. This commonly known view has no scriptural basis at all. This one passage used as a proof text actually has nothing to do with tongues: “The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). Unutterable or unuttered groanings obviously cannot refer to tongues since the Spirit’s intercession cannot be articulated (i.e., spoken or uttered).
“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought [Gk: ‘as it BEHOOVES’—that which is necessary & binding]: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings [What kind of groaings? Our groanings? The spirit groaning through US? NO…] …which CANNOT BE UTTERED” (Rom. 8:26. “…UNSPOKEN groans,” Emphatic Diaglott, “…INARTICULATE groanings,” Concordant Literal New Testament, etc.).
“Groanings – stenagmos (sten-ag-mos) a sigh
“Which cannot be uttered” – alaletos (al-al-ay-tos); unspeakable
“Utterance” – apophtheggomai (ap-of-theng’-om-ahee) – to enunciate plainly, i.e. declare; to say, speak forth (Enunciate means to “pronounce–words, sentences, etc.–especially in an articulate or a particular manner; to state or declare definitely; to announce or proclaim.”
This scripture CANNOT be used to justify our “prayer language” or speaking/praying in tongues. If the groanings “CANNOT BE UTTERED”–cannot be vocalized by the Spirit then it most certainly CANNOT be vocalized by human expression audibly in any language (ie. Tongues)–then how could any claim to do it? These groanings refer to the intercession of the Holy Spirit, not to a believer’s “prayer language”. It has nothing to do with us or a working on our part (ie. Speaking or praying)This verse clearly states that the SPIRIT “cannot” utter (or speak) these groanings (sighs). If the SPIRIT cannot utter it, then how in the world is the Spirit (not our spirit, but the HOLY SPIRIT) speaking through us by way of a tongue? If the SPIRIT CANNOT UTTER (speak) these groanings, then how are WE “all of a sudden” able to still utter (speak) them in praying to God? The Word of God says that the SPIRIT CANNOT UTTER (speak) them! If the Word of God says that the SPIRIT CANNOT UTTER (speak) these groanings, then that means that WE absolutely CANNOT UTTER (speak) the groanings of the SPIRIT by way of tongues.
Therefore we should not assume:
That the Spirit is “speaking through us” in the form of a language. The Scriptures teaches no such thing, but the opposite in that it does not speak through us. These are groanings or sighs not WORDS and scripture clearly teaches that EVERY word of a language has significance and makes sense (1Cor 14:10). Also it is the Spirit who is praying not us, so we should not assume that the Spirit is using us to pray by way of tongues. The Word of God has precedence over experience (which may not be biblical) or the teachings of men. We have no right to read what we want to read into Scripture. Instead of reading what we want to believe, we must instead believe what we read.
There are a lot of translations of the Bible (NIV, NKJV and etc.) and they all aim to simplify the scriptures, but most of them instead are making them complicated and misconstruing what the author really intended to say. Be careful which Bible versions you read.
Let’s examine this scripture (Rom. 8:26) in light of the entire chapter:
As I read through the chapter I noticed Paul’s flow of thought in verses 19-27.
First Paul brings out that the creation groans (vs.22)
Second Paul brings out that believers groan (vs.23)
Third Paul brings out “likewise” the Spirit groans the same way (vs. 26)
Basically what Paul was saying is that creation and believers are sighing or groaning over the fallen state of mankind and that all of creation is longing for the “manifestations of the sons of God” and for “the glorious liberty of the children of God (vs. 21,19).” We all are groaning under the weight of our fallen state, waiting for our bodies to be redeemed, but Paul is bringing out that we are not alone because “likewise” the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is groaning over the same thing. Paul was using a verse 26 metaphorically based on what he said in the scriptures before verse 26 – the groanings of creation and of the believers. Also scriptures does not say that the believer is the one doing the groanings, but it says the Sprit does, in intercession for us and that those groanings cannot be uttered.
Scripture clearly teaches that it is the SPIRIT doing the groanings or speaking if you will, not people. Not only that, but the Spirit is not really speaking because His graonings “cannot be uttered.” If His groanings “cannot be uttered” why do many of us believe that the manifestation of the intercessory prayer of the Spirit is being accomplished when we are speaking or “praying” in tongues? Now if we understand this to mean “praying in tongues” then in all reality the verse will contradict itself because speaking in a tongue(s) is utterance. Scripture clearly teaches that the Sprit is praying, not us, with groaning s that cannot be uttered. Then in verse 27, it teaches that what cannot be uttered God understands because “he knoweth what is in the mind of the Sprit.” How? “Because he maketh intercession for the saints” according to His very own will (vs. 27).
In other words – when we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit of God sees our heart and knows our needs. The Spirit then intercedes for us before the Throne of God in a way that we would not even be able to understand if we heard it. There is no speaking or praying in tongues, because the Spirit is doing the speaking before God directly and not through us.
In order to rightly divide the Word of truth we have to learn how to apply Literal Principle and it goes like this…
First, does this passage say anything about speaking in tongues? No. In fact, Paul (who is the author of Romans) has PLENTY to say about the use of speaking in tongues. If he were talking about speaking in tongues here, then he would have said so.
Secondly, the passage says the “Spirit Himself” intercedes, which implies that our involvement is not needed. Using the Literal Principle we can conclude that Romans 8:26 DOES NOT mean that the Spirit is using us to bring out His intercession for us by “praying in tongues”.
Be Blessed
PDCM
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Sure must be hard to read your bible with scriptures like this in it… or can you explain this away too??
Acts 10
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.
and again
Acts 19
6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[a] and prophesied.
Hello, Thanks for visiting. Just to answer your question no it is not hard reading scriptures like that. It seems that you are implying that this blog post is against speaking in tongues…it is NOT. If this was indeed your conclusion I invite you to read it again. This post is addressing Rom 8:26 in regards to a “prayer language” in that the “Holy Spirit” is using tongues to pray through us or for us. This scripture is often misinterpreted and this post is simply shedding some light on that misinterpretation. Sorry for your confusion.
nice! i’m gonna make my own blog
It is great to point that out…but, in wanting the whole counsel of the word of God, why not also point out that I Cor. 14:2-4 definitely mentions tongues as speaking mysteries unto God for the believer’s edification. So you can split hairs but the truth remains… God has given a gift to his people for those who receive it. A way to prayer when you don’t know what to pray…and I am grateful. May God open your heart and mouth to receive what He freely gives. He loves you.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for stopping by. With all love, you and many others read my blogs and jump to conclusions. In reading your comment and similar comments I assume that one -you have not read the entire post, two – you are reading into the post something that is not there or 3- maybe you simply did not understand the post.
This post is not refuting that there is no “prayer language”, that there is no such thing as speaking in tongues or a tongue, that I don’t speak in a tongue or unto God (because I do the biblical way…not chanting one word or the same couple of words over and over), nor is it disputing 1 Cor. 14:2-4. Maybe the ” ” threw you off or offended you. If so I am sorry. By using ” ” it is not to falsify the phrase. I use ” ” because it came from somewhere, not the bible, it is just a phrase. Anyway, I invite you to read it again.
What this post is about is the claim that IT IS THE HOLY GHOST SPEAKING THROUGH A PERSON PRAYING FOR THAT PERSON AND THAT IT IS THE HOLY GHOST INTERCEDING FOR US. It is refuting the claim THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF IS SPEAKING THROUGH US USING TONGUES TO PRAY FOR US HIMSELF. You may have not been taught that, but many of us were. Sorry for the all caps it is not intended for disrespect, just so that you get the point. I am specifically talking about Romans 8:26 &27 being used to justify this claim. The claim (again) that every time we speak in a tongue unto God it is the Spirit using our voice in the form of a language so that HE can pray for us. Nothing more and nothing less. Again you may not have been taught that. Now taking into consideration the whole counsel of God…there is NOTHING in Scripture that justifies this claim that Jesus prays for us using tongues. 1Cor. 14:2-4 (since you put this scripture out there) makes it clear that it is US speaking to God using the gift he gave us which He understands fully…. NOT God speaking THROUGH us as explained above. So I am NOT “splitting hairs”. Just to make all of this clear, I will post part of this in the post so that no one else get’s it twisted, jumps to conclusions, assumes or anything else.
Peace and blessings