Daniel L. Segraves

The Role of Tongues in Praying in the Spirit

Daniel Segraves

June 6, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

I wrote this article about thirty years ago when some Pentecostals were questioning whether a person could continue speaking with tongues after being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Their assertion was that all who are baptized with the Holy Spirit speak with tongues as a sign of this experience, but that only those who also receive the spiritual gift of “divers kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10) can speak with tongues after being filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:4). I have revised the original article for clarity and to include additional insight.

By definition, Pentecostals believe in speaking with tongues [the biblical practice of speaking with tongues involves speaking in a language or languages one has never learned by the enablement of the Spirit (Acts 2:4-12; 10:44-47; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 30; 14:1, 6, 10-11, 13-19, 23, 26-28)]. Pentecostals believe speaking with tongues is the initial sign of baptism with the Holy Spirit. Many understand there is a difference between the speaking with tongues which occurs when a person is baptized with the Holy Spirit and the gift of diverse [i.e., different] kinds of tongues, which some, but not all, receive (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30).

There is, however, some confusion over the continued role of speaking with tongues on the part of the person who has been baptized with the Holy Spirit but who may not have received the gift of diverse kinds of tongues.

There are two extremes of thought on this issue. Some have been known to claim that a person must speak with tongues every day in order to maintain salvation. There is no biblical support for this idea. On the other hand, some have so de-emphasized speaking with tongues that they see no further purpose for it after initial Spirit baptism unless a person has the gift of diverse kinds of tongues [this gift is for the purpose of communicating a message from God to the church, and it must be accompanied by an interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:5]. This latter position leads to the problem of people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and never speaking with tongues again.

Believers who have not spoken with tongues for many years often find it difficult to break through some unseen barrier to be able to speak with tongues again. They sometimes believe their first experience must be duplicated in every way before they can speak with tongues. Doubts may assail them as to whether their speaking is genuine tongues or whether it is just their imagination or worse, the work of the devil.

I believe that all those who are baptized with the Holy Spirit can, and should, continue to speak with tongues regularly. This is true whether or not one has the gift of diverse kinds of tongues. Indeed, this latter gift involves different (diverse) kinds of tongues [languages]. The simplest explanation of this is that a person with this gift is able to speak in more than one language unknown to him or her. The gift may also involve various purposes for the tongues, as they are related to the gift of interpretation. That is, one message in tongues may be for the purpose of edification, another for exhortation, and another for comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3-6). A person without this gift, but who has been baptized with the Holy Spirit, has the ability on a continuing basis to speak in at least one language unknown to that person.

The question under consideration here is whether the Bible teaches that a person without the gift of diverse kinds of tongues does indeed have the continuing ability to speak with tongues, whether the individual should regularly exercise that ability, and to what purpose.

A Sign Following Believers

Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

The “new tongues” spoken of here are new or different languages. This is not a reference to a new believer “cleaning up his language.” It is a miraculous sign, as are all the others listed, involving a new language [tongue=language]. This prediction by Jesus began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and continued to be fulfilled in the lives of the early believers throughout the New Testament era (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 14:18-39).

Jesus’ promise in Mark 16 clearly indicates that these sign gifts would continue to be present in the lives of believers. There is no indication that any of them would be expected to occur only once in a believer’s experience. In other words, few would interpret the phrase “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” to refer to a one time event that never needs repeating in a believer’s life. That is, whenever the opportunity and need arises, a person who is a believer can be expected to minister to the sick through the laying on of hands. He will do this even daily, if need be.

The same is true of the prediction by Jesus that believers will “speak with new tongues.” Clearly, speaking with tongues is one of the things that will characterize believers. They will not speak with tongues just once and then cease. Speaking with tongues will be a way of life for them. Whenever the opportunity and need presents itself for them to speak with tongues, they will do so, even if it is daily.

If a believer is expected to speak with tongues only once, it seems strange that Jesus would say, “And these signs shall follow them that believe ….” This phrase indicates a continuing sign, something that follows believers throughout their lives.

The Pattern of Acts

Believers first spoke with tongues on the Day of Pentecost, as they were filled with the Holy Spirit and as “the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). While the mind gives utterance to speech in one’s own language, the Holy Spirit gives utterance to speaking with tongues.

And this was not gibberish. The amazed multitude said, “We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). It is noteworthy that on the first occasion when people spoke with tongues, they described in languages unknown to them the wonderful things God has done. This indicates that one of the uses of tongues even by those who do not have the gift of diverse kinds of tongues is to glorify God for His mighty acts. (See Psalm 150:2.)

When the Holy Spirit was poured out at the house of Cornelius, the amazed Jewish believers “heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:46). While one could speculate that the Gentiles here first spoke with tongues, then separately and apart from that magnified God in their own language, that does not fit the model of Acts 2, nor does it fully explain the amazement of the Jewish onlookers. The visitors were amazed because they heard the Gentiles, in languages unknown to them, magnify God.

When Paul confronted the disciples of John the Baptist and declared to them that Jesus is the Messiah, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them, and “the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6, NKJV). It is possible that the spiritual gift of prophecy was at work here (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:3-4). Perhaps, however, they were prophesying in tongues (in languages unknown to them). By his quotation from Joel on the Day of Pentecost, Peter identified speaking with tongues as a prophetic act (Acts 2:4, 11, 16, 17-18). We should also keep in mind that interpreted tongues equal prophecy in value (1 Corinthians 14:5). For an interpretation of tongues to be prophecy, the tongue itself would have to be prophecy in another language. Some would understand 1 Corinthians 14:6 to further support this view: “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching” (NKJV).

This view understands Paul as referring to tongues which, uninterpreted, do not profit or edify the church, but when interpreted, result in revelation, a word of knowledge, a prophecy, or teaching.

Whether or not the prophecies of the newly Spirit baptized believers in Acts 19 were related to their speaking with tongues, it remains that on the Day of Pentecost believers, in tongues, declared the wonderful works of God and, at Cornelius’ house, magnified God in tongues.

The only other place in Scripture where tongues are explicitly mentioned, in addition to Mark and Acts, is 1 Corinthians, in the context of Paul’s discussion of the gifts of the Spirit.

The Corinthian Letter

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul listed nine gifts of the Spirit and compared their function with that of the various members of the human body working together for the common good. It is understood in the discussion that not everyone has each gift, but that all have at least one gift. The gift of diverse kinds of tongues is one of the nine gifts mentioned.

1 Corinthians 13 points out the emptiness of spiritual gifts not motivated by love. One bit of insight gained as to the nature of speaking with tongues is the possibility of speaking with human or angelic tongues (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Much of 1 Corinthians 14 is devoted to the proper use of the spiritual gifts, including the purpose of speaking with tongues. While Paul indicated the pointlessness of tongues without interpretation as it relates to the edification of the church, he does recognize that uninterpreted tongues have value for the person who speaks with tongues.

For the moment, let’s focus our attention only on the advantages of uninterpreted tongues:

“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2, NKJV).

“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4, NKJV).

“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays …” (1 Corinthians 14:14, NKJV).

” … when thou shalt bless with the spirit … thou verily givest thanks well …” (1 Corinthians 14:16-17).

Summary

To sum up the value of uninterpreted tongues from Acts and 1 Corinthians, we note the following:

  1. While speaking with tongues, a person may declare the wonderful works of God.
  2. While speaking with tongues, a person may magnify God.
  3. One who speaks with tongues speaks not unto people, but unto God.
  4. One who speaks with tongues speaks mysteries in the spirit.
  5. One who speaks with tongues edifies (i.e., builds up, strengthens, or encourages) himself.
  6. When a person prays with tongues, it is his or her spirit praying.
  7. One who speaks with tongues can give thanks well.

All of these are noble activities and illustrate the value of continuing to speak with tongues following the initial baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Paul defined praying in tongues as praying “with the spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:14-15). While it is true that one’s natural mind is not helped by uninterpreted tongues, whether in prayer or otherwise, it is no less true that the spirit is edified. Rather than rejecting prayer in tongues, Paul wrote, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

This introduces another possible function of tongues: Not only can a person pray with tongues; he or she can also sing with tongues.

When a person is moved to speak with tongues, but there is no interpreter in the congregation to render the message in the language of the people, the person with the tongue is to keep silence in the church (i.e., he is not to speak aloud in the public assembly). But rather than forbidding him to speak altogether, Paul instructed this person to “speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:28). In other words, even if speaking in tongues in this case would have no value to the congregation at large, it could still have value to the individual speaking with tongues, because he would be speaking to God and at least he himself would be edified.

Even though Paul gave clear instructions on the proper use of tongues, emphasizing the importance of interpretation for the edification of the body, he could not be interpreted as denigrating tongues. He wrote, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Corinthians 14:18) and ” … do not forbid to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39, NKJV).

Praying with the Spirit

For our purposes here, it is important to note that Paul equated praying in tongues with praying in the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15). This gives insight into other Scriptures that discuss the role of the spirit in prayer.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26, NKJV).

Some would disagree that this is a reference to praying in tongues. They would point out that the Spirit’s work here results in “groanings which cannot be uttered” rather than words which can be articulated, albeit in a language unknown to the speaker. Perhaps this is true, although the possibility remains that those could be groanings that cannot be uttered with the aid of the natural mind, but which can be uttered by the direction of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit did, on the Day of Pentecost, give utterance to words that otherwise would have remained unspoken. The “groanings” Paul has in mind are those arising from “the mind of the Spirit,” not the natural mind, and they are employed by the Spirit as “He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27, NKJV).

But whether or not this is a reference to praying with tongues, Romans 8:26 points out important features of praying in or with the Spirit:

  1. Our natural understanding is insufficient to give us direction in prayer.
  2. The Spirit compensates for this human weakness by giving us direction in prayer, even leading us to pray with “groanings.”

Paul concluded his discussion of the armor of God with these words: “[P]raying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit …” (Ephesians 6:18). Clearly he had reference to prayer that goes beyond that which springs from human understanding alone.

Another reference to prayer in this spiritual dimension is found in Jude 20: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (NKJV). The word translated “building up” [epoikodomeō] is related to the word translated “edifies” [oikodomeō] in 1 Corinthians 14:4. Jude uses a participle, 1 Corinthians a verb. The sense of the word is the same in both cases: “To make nearer to fullness or completion” (Logos Bible Software). The connection between these texts indicates that Jude’s reference to “praying in the Holy Spirit” is to praying in tongues.

While praying in the Spirit includes praying in a language understood by the speaker words impressed upon him by the Holy Spirit, prayer in tongues is always — by definition — prayer in the Spirit.

Once a person’s human spirit is reborn (John 3:6), he possesses the ability to speak with tongues on a continuing basis. This is inherent in Jesus’ prediction that speaking in tongues is a sign that will follow believers and in the fact that the first sign of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the ability of believers to speak with tongues by the utterance of the Spirit.

If we see the new birth as comparable to the birth of a child, it would be unreasonable to expect any of the abilities inherent in the new birth to cease as one matures. Instead, we would expect the abilities — including the ability to speak — to increase in proficiency and effectiveness.

By praying or singing in tongues, a person can:

  1. give evidence of being a believer
  2. declare the wonderful works of God
  3. magnify God
  4. speak to God in a way that surpasses human understanding
  5. speak mysteries
  6. edify himself or herself
  7. allow the born again spirit to pray
  8. give thanks well.

A sincere believer in Jesus Christ who loves the Lord does not need to worry about the origin of the tongues he speaks. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13, NKJV).

No loving human father will allow an evil person to slip his children poison when they ask for food. How much more will our heavenly Father not allow Satan to deceive His beloved children by giving them a false gift! The allegation that some witch doctors or practicing Satanists may have been known to speak with counterfeit “tongues” has nothing at all to do with sincere believers in Jesus Christ who come to God on the basis of the promises of Scripture to receive a good gift from God. (See James 1:17.)

During the last years of his life, Andrew D. Urshan devoted his ministry almost exclusively to emphasizing the importance of believers continuing to speak with tongues frequently after their initial Spirit baptism. He said that if people would speak with tongues every day, they would always live in victory.

That is good counsel for our day, a day when some are de-emphasizing tongues, but a day when the need for praying in the Spirit is greater than ever before.

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How videos are produced at the UPCI headquarters.

Daniel Segraves

June 4, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

Since 1968, I have been involved in various ways in the production of Sunday school curriculum for the United Pentecostal Church International. This started with Word Aflame Publications, when I served as the editor of the Junior High literature.

As you might imagine, many changes have occurred in this process since 1968. Beginning in the 1970s and continuing to the present time, I have written materials on the adult level. Although I have lost track of how many lessons I have written, I think it is safe to say they number in the hundreds. Some years ago, I counted what I had done to that point. I believe it was 150 lessons.

More recently, with the development of new technologies, my involvement has reached beyond writing. Videos are now included in the materials produced to supplement the printed lessons. Last week, I was in the studio at the headquarters of the UPCI to film two videos, one on the significance of the change of Jacob’s name to Israel and the other on what it means to say that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

It occurred to me that some readers of this blog may be interested to know what kind of studio is used and how this process is accomplished. Susan, my wife, was with me, and she took some pictures with her iPhone. We were in the same studio where David K. Bernard and Jonathan Mohr film Dr. Bernard’s podcast.

L. J. Harry, Curriculum Director for the Pentecostal Resources Group, sits with his back to the camera. State-of-the-art technology is utilized, including a teleprompter that keeps pace with the reader’s voice. I wrote the scripts for the videos and emailed them to Brother Harry before the session. David Zuniga, the cameraman, is a graduate of Christian Life College in Stockton, California. I taught at Christian Life College for twenty-five years.

So that’s it! I recommend God’s Word for Life, the current name of the curriculum produced by the UPCI. Each Sunday, the lessons prepared for all grade levels explore the same biblical texts, enabling families to review what they have studied.

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Is speaking in tongues the evidence or the sign of baptism with the Holy Spirit?

Daniel Segraves

June 1, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

As Susan and I were cleaning out our garage yesterday, I discovered a DVD titled, “Daniel Segraves, Sunday Evening Session, 2014, Division of Education Summer Institute.” Perhaps I had forgotten this DVD existed. When I viewed it, I realized it was a message I delivered exploring whether speaking in tongues is the evidence a person has been baptized with the Holy Spirit or a sign of that event.

When I was doing research for my Ph.D. dissertation on the biography and theology of Andrew D. Urshan, I read one of his books titled “My Study of Modern Pentecostals.” In this book, written in 1923, Urshan explained his belief that speaking with tongues is the sign, not the evidence. The Fundamental Doctrine of the United Pentecostal Church International describes speaking with other tongues as the initial sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

I wrote an article exploring this view titled “Speaking in Tongues: Evidence or Sign?” and posted it on this blog on July 19, 2018. You can read the article there.

When I realized my presentation was also preserved in video format, I decided to post it as well. Here it is:

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Sixty years of ministry.

Daniel Segraves

May 7, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

I am so thankful for the privilege of being involved in various aspects of ministry in the United Pentecostal Church International for the past sixty years. This has included pastoring, teaching, and writing.

It all began when I was sixteen years old. As I participated in a prayer meeting at about one or two o’clock in the morning, the Lord gave me a desire to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. My early training came from men like Clyde J. Haney, Paul Dugas, and other faculty members at Western Apostolic Bible College in Stockton, California.

In 1968, the year after graduation from WABC, I accepted an invitation from J. O. Wallace to work with him as the first Director of Promotions and Publications for the General Sunday School Department of the UPC. At that time, the headquarters of the organization were located at 3645 South Grand Avenue in Saint Louis, Missouri. This is the city where I was born.

During the time I served in this capacity, the UPC began publishing the first full-scale Oneness Pentecostal Sunday school curriculum under the banner of Word Aflame Publications. My responsibility was to function as the editor of the Junior High materials.

From 1970 until 1975, I worked as the Minister of Christian Education for a local church in Maplewood, Missouri, while at the same time developing promotional materials for various departments of the UPC. Then I accepted the pastorate of the First Pentecostal Church in Dupo, Illinois, staying in this role until 1982.

During the spring of 1982, Kenneth F. Haney invited me to become the Executive Vice-President of Christian Life College. I accepted, returning to Stockton as the administrator and chairman of the department of theology for the same school where I had been trained when it was known as WABC. When Brother Haney was elected as the general superintendent of the UPCI, he asked me to assume the role of president for CLC. I served in this office until 2007, when I returned to St. Louis to teach at Urshan Graduate School of Theology.

I retired from full-time work at UGST on July 1, 2018, becoming professor emeritus.

This is a kind of “bare bones” description of my life in ministry to this point. Along the way, I have written twenty-two books, and I am now working on the twenty-third. I have been the Bible teacher at eighteen camp meetings, and I had the privilege of preaching for the general conference of the United Pentecostal Church in Australia.

As the days of my life have progressed, I have had the opportunity to complete further education, earning the Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology and the Master of Theology degrees at Western Seminary as well as the Ph.D. in Renewal Studies with dual emphases in Christian History and Christian Theology at Regent University School of Divinity.

None of us knows the future. But if the day should come when I receive a Ministry Milestone for seventy years of service, I will be approaching ninety years of age!

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Good News!

Daniel Segraves

February 5, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

I am so happy to report that at 3:43 PM today I received an email from Everett Gossard, Book Editor for the Pentecostal Resources Group informing me that my manuscript for the second volume of The Messiah in the Psalms: Discovering Christ in Unexpected Places has been accepted for publication.

By 4:56 PM I had the contract signed, scanned, and emailed.

I’m thankful for Brother Gossard’s guidance in this project, and I’m already at work on volume 3, which will consist of Book 5 of the Psalter. This consists of Psalms 107-150.

Right away, I have noticed that in this section of the Book of Psalms the Aramaic Targums are replete with the use of Memra, as are Books 3 and 4. The word Memra appears 35 times between Psalm 107 and Psalm 148. My interest is in how Memra is used in the Targums as a kind of interpretative paraphrase for Yahweh, usually rendered LORD in English translations.

I am especially interested to note the use of Memra in Psalm 110:1. This is a significant verse for Christology. It is quoted, paraphrased, or alluded to in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament verse. It is, in fact, the last full verse of the Old Testament quoted by Peter before Acts 2:38, playing a significant role in convicting them and prompting them to ask, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Indeed, the word “Memra” appears in the Targum of Psalm 110:1, giving us guidance to grasp how first century believers may have understood this verse.

When Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” they answered, “The Son of David.” Jesus responded, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ‘? “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”

The Pharisees were unable to answer a word. From that day, no one dared question Jesus. (See Matthew 22:41-46.)

I will keep you updated on my progress as I work toward Psalm 150.

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With gratitude ….

Daniel Segraves

January 27, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

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Certificate for 60 years of ministryDownload

I am grateful for the privilege of ministering for sixty years within the fellowship of the United Pentecostal Church International. In my prayers, I frequently express my gratitude to God for those He has brought into my life who have had a good influence on me.

I cannot list all those who have pointed me in the right direction, but they certainly include my parents, Glen and Agnes Segraves. My father was my first pastor. My grandfather, L. D. Segraves, was the first apostolic preacher in my family.

Other pastors and teachers whose voices I can still hear include Clyde J. Haney, my pastor and one of my teachers at what was then known as the Western Apostolic Bible College. Another influential teacher at that time was Paul Dugas, whose son Timothy later became my pastor.

Since my calling in life focused not only on pastoring but on teaching, I sat under a wide variety of teachers in the process of earning various degrees required to qualify for professorial duties in accredited schools. Since the UPCI did not yet have accredited schools where such degrees could be earned, many of my teachers were not identified with the apostolic movement. Nevertheless, the learning experience was valuable and helpful, enabling me to participate in preparing our own graduate school for accreditation.

God is still at work in my life today through the influence of my pastor, Mitchell Bland, my friends in ministry, and my peers who understand the call into the world of academia.

Thank you, United Pentecostal Church. This is my home. This is my church. I love you.

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All done!

Daniel Segraves

January 18, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

This past Thursday night, January 16, I finished my work on the second volume of my commentary titled The Messiah in the Psalms: Discovering Christ in Unexpected Places. On the same evening, I submitted the 227-page manuscript to Everett Gossard, the book editor for Pentecostal Resources Group.

At a meeting on November 5, 2024, the PRG Executive Publications Committee discussed the earlier form of this work, which consisted of my comments on Psalms 73-89, Book Three of the Psalter. The committee members considered the manuscript provisionally approved, contingent on their review of the complete manuscript. The committee will meet next on March 12 to decide on the entire work, now including my commentary on Psalms 73-106. Psalms 90-106 constitute Book Four.

If all goes well, I am hoping for publication before the 2025 general conference of the United Pentecostal Church International in St. Louis, Missouri.

Now, on to Psalm 107!

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Almost there ….

Daniel Segraves

January 10, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

I am happy to report that I have finished my work on Psalms 73-104. Now I am working on Psalm 105, which I may be able to complete over this weekend. If so, I will lack only Psalm 106 to be ready to send the manuscript for the second volume of my commentary to the editor.

Those who have followed my journey on this project know it has been off and on the back burner since 2018. This has never been because of a lack of interest on my part. I am intrigued by the Psalter, and I rejoice over every discovery I have made. It has truly been an experience of discovery. That’s why all three volumes of this work (yes, there will be a third and final volume covering Psalms 107-150) are titled The Messiah in the Psalms: Discovering Christ in Unexpected Places.

When the project has been on the back burner, it has been due largely to my involvement in other writing projects like my commentary on the Holy Spirit. This hardback book exceeds 300 pages and deals with nearly every reference to the Holy Spirit from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.

I am so grateful for my wife Susan! She has supported and encouraged me throughout this experience, sharing my joy of discovery when I found never before seen insights.

Now, back to work!

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A New Year and a New Era for Logos Bible Software

Daniel Segraves

January 1, 2025 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

In this, my first post on the first day of the new year, I would like to let you know about the latest developments in my favorite research resource, Logos Bible Software.

From time to time, I am asked what I think is the most helpful Bible software available.

My opinion is based on many years of use in the context of teaching on the Bible college and seminary levels as well as research and writing to fulfill the requirements for the degrees M.A. in Exegetical Theology, Master of Theology, and Ph.D. in Renewal Studies with majors in Christian Theology and History of Global Christianity.

In addition to using Bible software in preparation for teaching in classrooms, local churches, camp meetings, and other venues like Purpose Institute, I find it helpful in fulfilling writing assignments for the Pentecostal Life magazine, “God’s Word for Life,” the curriculum published by the United Pentecostal Church International, and a variety of other ministry opportunities that require writing. I have written twenty-one books and hope to have finished the twenty-second in just a few days.

So what Bible software do I recommend?

Without question, it is Logos Bible Software.

I regularly sit through training sessions to keep up to date on the latest developments in this amazing technology. To take a look for yourself at its current state, you can go to https://www.logos.com. You will discover “The World’s Most Powerful Bible Study Platform.” A “Start Free Trial” is available if you like what you see. If you wish, you can talk to a Logos expert by calling 888-398-9481.

If you’ve ever looked at Logos, you probably have some idea about its capabilities. Today’s Logos does all it has ever done but, in an often-used term, it takes Bible research and writing to “a whole new level.”

I subscribe to Logos MAX. With its thousands of books, journal articles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and original language resources (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic) available in a moment, I can find what I need to move quickly to complete projects.

The integration of AI enables me to ask questions and receive almost instant feedback based on the resources in my subscription. The responses free me from any concern about the accuracy of my findings because they do not come from the internet at large but from the trusted resources I have selected.

With the New Era of Logos, you will discover tools and resources to supercharge your personal study, teaching and preaching preparation, and academic research. I encourage you to look into this.

I wouldn’t want to be without it!

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Marching on …

Daniel Segraves

December 20, 2024 | Daniel L. Segraves, Ph.D.

At about midnight last night I finished my work on Psalms 93-99. These psalms form a unit focusing on the reign of the LORD. They are well-connected with the creation account in Genesis and with the New Testament by several quotations and allusions, including an extended quotation that clearly testifies to the deity of the Messiah, Jesus. By means of this quotation, Jesus is identified as Yahweh.

Now, on to Psalm 100. One of the first things I did today was to read through Psalms 100-106. When I am finished writing the commentary on these psalms, I will submit the entire document to Everett Gossard, the book editor for Pentecostal Resources Group. This manuscript will cover Psalms 73-106, Books 3 and 4 of the Psalter. It will exceed 200 pages.

I appreciate those who are praying for me as I finish this project. One of the last things Jesus told His disciples before His ascension was that everything written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Him must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). I pray that our Lord will help me identify those things written about Him in the Book of Psalms. So far, I have discovered that much of the messianic content of this book is connected with other messianic insights from the law and the prophets as well as fulfillment motifs in the New Testament.

This has been an exciting and rewarding journey, but it will not be complete until I write my comments on Psalm 150:6.

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