Is Speaking in Tongues for Today?

Introduction: Understanding the Gift of Tongues

The spiritual gift of "speaking in tongues," also known by the Greek term glossolalia (from glōssa, meaning "tongue" or "language," and lalia, meaning "speech"), is one of the most distinctive and debated gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the New Testament. For some Christians, it represents a vibrant, contemporary expression of the Spirit's power and presence. For others, it's a phenomenon primarily associated with the foundational era of the early church. This diversity of understanding has led to significant theological discussion and varying church practices. This article aims to explore the biblical occurrences of speaking in tongues, its stated purposes in Scripture, and the two main theological perspectives,continuationism and cessationism orregarding its relevance and practice in the church today. Our goal is to foster a respectful understanding of this complex topic, grounded in a careful examination of God's Word. For theological perspective, explore Understanding the Gospel, Scripture Insights, and AI and Spiritual Formation.

Biblical Occurrences

The New Testament records several instances where believers spoke in tongues, providing the primary data for understanding this spiritual gift.

• Acts 2:1-13 (The Day of Pentecost): This is the first and most detailed account of speaking in tongues. On the Day of Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples:

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [Greek: heterais glōssais] as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4, ESV) The remarkable aspect of this event was that the "other tongues" were clearly identifiable human languages previously unknown to the speakers. Devout Jews from "every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5) who were gathered in Jerusalem for the feast heard the disciples declaring "the mighty works of God" in their own native languages (Acts 2:6-11). This miraculous event served as a powerful sign of the Holy Spirit's arrival, broke down language barriers, and was instrumental in the conversion of about three thousand people that day (Acts 2:41). Here, tongues were a clear vehicle for cross-cultural evangelism and a sign of God's inclusive work among all nations.

• Acts 10:44-46 (Cornelius' Household): When Peter preached the gospel to the Gentile centurion Cornelius and his household:

"While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues [Greek: glōssais lountōn] and extolling God." (Acts 10:44-46, ESV) This event, often called the "Gentile Pentecost," was pivotal. The Jewish believers recognized that the Gentiles had genuinely received the Holy Spirit because they exhibited the same sign of speaking in tongues that had occurred at Pentecost. This authenticated the inclusion of Gentiles into the church on equal footing with Jewish believers. While the text doesn't specify if these were known human languages, the parallel with Acts 2 suggests a similar miraculous phenomenon.

• Acts 19:1-7 (Ephesian Disciples): Paul encountered some disciples in Ephesus who had only received John's baptism and had not heard of the Holy Spirit.

"And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues [Greek: elaloun te glōssais] and prophesying." (Acts 19:6, ESV) Similar to the event in Acts 10, speaking in tongues (along with prophecy) served as an outward sign confirming that these disciples had received the Holy Spirit and were fully incorporated into the new covenant community.

• 1 Corinthians 12-14 (The Church in Corinth): Paul's extended discussion in these chapters addresses the operation of spiritual gifts, including tongues, within the local church at Corinth. Here, the nature and function of tongues appear somewhat different or more varied than in Acts:
• A Spiritual Gift: Tongues is listed as one of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28).
• Not Universal: Paul implies that not all believers speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30: "Do all speak with tongues?").
• Two Manifestations? Some scholars distinguish between the "tongues" in Acts (often seen as known human languages for evangelism/authentication) and the "tongues" in Corinth, which might have included ecstatic utterances, prayer languages, or heavenly languages not necessarily understood by human hearers unless interpreted. Paul states, "For one who speaks in a tongue speaks he utters mysteries in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:2).
• Requires Interpretation in Public Worship: Paul emphasizes that if tongues are spoken publicly in the church gathering, they must be accompanied by interpretation so that the whole church can be edified (1 Corinthians 14:5, 13, 27-28). Uninterpreted tongues in public are discouraged as unhelpful to others.
• Personal Use: Paul also speaks of praying "with my spirit" (often understood as praying in tongues) in a way that his mind is unfruitful (i.e., he doesn't cognitively understand it), suggesting a private prayer language for personal edification (1 Corinthians 14:4, 14-15).

The nature of Corinthian tongues;whether always known human languages (xenolalia) or sometimes non-cognitive spiritual utterances (glossolalia in a more ecstatic sense),is a key point of debate among interpreters.

The Purpose of Tongues in the New Testament

Based on these occurrences, several purposes for the gift of tongues can be identified:

1. A Sign of the Holy Spirit's Coming and Presence: In Acts 2, 10, and 19, speaking in tongues served as a clear, external sign that the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon new groups of believers, authenticating their inclusion in God's redemptive work.
2. Evangelism and Proclamation to Different Language Groups: Primarily in Acts 2, tongues enabled the disciples to communicate the gospel supernaturally across language barriers.
3. Personal Edification and Prayer: 1 Corinthians 14:4 states, "The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself." Paul also speaks of praying with his spirit (in tongues) as distinct from praying with his mind (1 Corinthians 14:14-17), suggesting a private prayer or worship language that edifies the individual believer.
4. Corporate Edification (When Interpreted): When accompanied by the gift of interpretation, speaking in tongues could build up the entire church (1 Corinthians 14:5, 26-28). The interpretation made the message intelligible and beneficial to all.
5. A Sign for Unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:21-22): This is a complex passage where Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11-12. He states, "Thus tongues are a sign for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers." he immediately follows by saying that if unbelievers enter a service where everyone is speaking in uninterpreted tongues, they will think the believers are mad (v. 23). Some interpret this "sign for unbelievers" as a negative sign of judgment (as in Isaiah's context, where foreign tongues signified God's judgment on unheeding Israel). Others see it as a potential (though risky, if uninterpreted) sign that might provoke unbelievers to recognize God's supernatural power.

The Continuationist View: Tongues Are for Today

Continuationism is the theological position that all spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, including speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing, continue to be available and active in the church throughout the entire church age, until Christ's return. This view is widely held within Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations and movements.

• Arguments for Continuationism:
• No Explicit Biblical Cessation: Continuationists argue that there is no verse in the Bible that explicitly states that the gift of tongues (or other sign gifts) has ceased or would cease before the return of Christ. They believe such gifts are part of the normal Christian life as empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Purposes Still Relevant: The purposes of tongues.such as personal edification in prayer, corporate edification through interpretation, and potentially as a sign;are seen as still relevant and needed in the church today.
• The Great Commission and Spiritual Power: The ongoing mission of the church to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) requires spiritual power, and continuationists believe all the gifts, including tongues, are part of the Spirit's provision for this mission (Mark 16:17, "they will speak in new tongues," though the longer ending of Mark is textually disputed, is often cited).
• Contemporary Experience and Testimony: Many continuationists point to widespread contemporary experiences and testimonies of believers speaking in tongues across various cultures as evidence that the gift is still active. They see this as a fulfillment of God's promise to pour out His Spirit (Acts 2:17-18, quoting Joel 2).
• Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8-10: They typically interpret "the perfect" (or "that which is perfect") in 1 Corinthians 13:10 as the return of Christ and the establishment of the eternal state. Therefore, gifts like tongues and prophecy would "pass away" only when Christ returns and believers see Him "face to face" (v. 12), and full knowledge is attained.

The Cessationist View: Tongues Ceased with the Apostolic Age

Cessationism is the theological position that certain spiritual gifts, particularly the more overtly miraculous or "sign gifts" like apostleship, prophecy, and speaking in tongues (and sometimes divine healing), served a unique, foundational purpose in the early church and ceased with the death of the last apostle and/or the completion of the New Testament canon.

• Arguments for Cessationism:
• Foundational Purpose of Sign Gifts: Cessationists argue that the primary purpose of sign gifts like tongues and prophecy in the apostolic era was to authenticate the apostles as messengers of new revelation from God and to confirm the truth of the Gospel message during the church's foundational period (Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). Once the foundation of the church was laid and the New Testament (the final written revelation) was complete, these specific authenticating and revelatory gifts were no longer necessary.
• Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8-10: This is a key text for cessationists.

"Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect [Greek: to teleion] comes, the partial will pass away." Cessationists often interpret "the perfect" as the completed New Testament canon. With the arrival of God's full and final written revelation, the "partial" modes of revelation, such as prophecy and potentially tongues (if viewed as a form of revelation or a sign tied to it), would naturally "cease" or "pass away." They argue that "knowledge" here refers to supernaturally revealed knowledge, not ordinary knowledge.

• Nature of Tongues in Acts: They often emphasize that the tongues in Acts were known human languages (xenolalia), serving a clear purpose of evangelism and authentication. They may view the modern phenomenon of glossolalia (often non-cognitive utterances) as different from the biblical gift or as having ceased.
• Historical Argument: While debated, some cessationists argue that there is a general lack of credible evidence for the widespread practice of genuine glossolalia (especially xenolalia) in church history from the end of the apostolic age until the rise of modern Pentecostalism in the early 20th century. They see the modern phenomenon as a revival of something that had largely ceased.

Paul's Regulations for Tongues in Corporate Worship (1 Corinthians 14)

Regardless of one's view on whether tongues are for today, Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 14 provide timeless principles for the orderly and edifying use of any spiritual gift in corporate worship. If tongues are practiced publicly, these guidelines are crucial:

• Purpose is Edification: The primary goal of all spiritual gifts in the church gathering is the edification (building up) of the whole body (1 Corinthians 14:5, 12, 26).
• Interpretation is Essential for Public Tongues: "If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Uninterpreted tongues in a public service do not edify others who cannot understand.
• Prophecy (Intelligible Speech) is Preferred for Edification: Paul clearly states that prophecy (speaking God's message in an understandable language) is more beneficial for building up the church than uninterpreted tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 19: "in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.").
• Not All Speak in Tongues: Paul asks rhetorically, "Do all speak with tongues?" (1 Corinthians 12:30), implying the answer is no. It is not a gift given to every believer, nor is it a necessary sign of salvation or being filled with the Spirit for all time (though in Acts, it often accompanied the initial reception of the Spirit for new groups).
• Order and Decency: "But all things should be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40). Worship services should be conducted in an orderly way that reflects God's character and promotes understanding.
• Desire Spiritual Gifts, Especially Prophecy, but Do Not Forbid Tongues: Paul encourages believers to "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1) and concludes his instructions by saying, "So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:39). This suggests that if genuine tongues are practiced according to biblical guidelines (with interpretation in public), they should not be prohibited.

Navigating Differing Views with Grace

The debate over speaking in tongues is an "in-house" discussion among Christians who share core beliefs in the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith.

• Focus on Essentials: Unity in the essential doctrines of the faith is paramount. Differing views on the continuation or cessation of certain spiritual gifts should not become a basis for breaking fellowship or condemning fellow believers.
• Respect and Humility: Christians on both sides should strive to understand the biblical reasoning of the other, engage with respect and humility, and avoid caricaturing opposing viewpoints.
• Test All Things by Scripture: All experiences and practices must be continually evaluated in light of God's Word.
• Love as the Guiding Principle: As 1 Corinthians 13 (sandwiched between chapters 12 and 14 on spiritual gifts) powerfully reminds us, love is the "more excellent way." Without love, even the most spectacular spiritual gifts are meaningless.

Conclusion: Seeking God's Glory and Church Edification

The biblical gift of speaking in tongues, as seen in Acts and 1 Corinthians, served various purposes: authenticating the Holy Spirit's work, enabling cross-cultural proclamation, and (especially in Corinth) facilitating personal prayer and corporate edification (when interpreted). Whether this gift continues in the same way today is a point of sincere disagreement between continuationists (who believe it does) and cessationists (who believe it ceased with the apostolic age, often linking its cessation to the completion of the New Testament canon as "the perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10).

Regardless of one's theological stance on its continuation, Paul's emphasis in 1 Corinthians 14 remains vital: all spiritual gifts exercised in the church should aim for the edification of the body, be practiced in an orderly manner, and be subordinate to the overarching principle of love. Christians should seek to understand what the Bible teaches, respect differing convictions held by fellow believers, and ultimately focus on using whatever gifts God has given them to glorify Him and build up His church in love and truth.

FAQs

Q1: Are the "tongues" spoken on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the same as the "tongues" Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 14? A1: This is a key point of discussion. _ Acts 2 Tongues (Xenolalia): The tongues spoken on the Day of Pentecost were clearly known human languages that the speakers had which were understood by people from various nations present in Jerusalem. This was a miraculous enabling for cross-cultural communication of "the mighty works of God." _ 1 Corinthians 14 Tongues (Glossolalia): The nature of tongues in Corinth is more debated. Paul says, "For one who speaks in a tongue speaks he utters mysteries in the Spirit" (1 Cor 14:2). This, and the need for interpretation, leads some to believe that Corinthian tongues were often, or primarily, ecstatic utterances, prayer languages, or heavenly languages not necessarily corresponding to known human languages. Others maintain that even in Corinth, the ideal or genuine gift was xenolalia, but it was being misused without interpretation. Many continuationists believe both forms (known languages and spiritual/prayer languages) are valid expressions of the gift. Many cessationists focus on the Acts 2 model as the primary example and question whether the modern phenomenon of non-cognitive utterances aligns with it, or they believe both forms ceased.

Q2: If a church believes speaking in tongues is for today, how should it be practiced according to 1 Corinthians 14? A2: If a church affirms the continuation of the gift of tongues, 1 Corinthians 14 provides clear guidelines for its public exercise: _ Purpose of Edification: The primary goal must be to build up the whole church (v. 5, 12, 26). _ Interpretation is Necessary: If someone speaks in a tongue in a public service, there must be an interpretation so others can understand and be edified (v. 13, 27-28). If no interpreter is present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to themselves and to God (v. 28). _ Orderly and Limited: No more than two or three should speak in tongues in a given service, and they should do so one at a time (v. 27). _ Intelligible Prophecy Preferred for Edification: Paul emphasizes that understandable prophecy (inspired speech in the common language) is more valuable for edifying the church than uninterpreted tongues (v. 1-5, 19). _ Self-Control: The exercise of spiritual gifts is not an uncontrollable ecstasy; "the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets" (v. 32). _ Decency and Order: "All things should be done decently and in order" (v. 40). The overarching principles are love for others, intelligibility, orderliness, and the mutual edification of the congregation.

Q3: What is the difference between the gift of tongues and praying in the Spirit? A3: This can be understood in a couple of ways:

• Some see "praying in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20) as a broad term referring to all prayer that is guided, empowered, and enabled by the Holy Spirit, whether in a known language or in tongues. In this view, praying in tongues would be one way of praying in the Spirit.
• Others, particularly in charismatic circles, may more specifically equate "praying in the Spirit" with praying in tongues (as Paul seems to do in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15: "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also..."). Here, "praying with my spirit" (in tongues) is contrasted with "praying with my mind" (in an understood language). In essence, all true Christian prayer should be "in the Spirit" in the broader sense of being Spirit-led. For those who believe in and practice the gift of tongues, praying in tongues is a specific manifestation of praying in the Spirit, often associated with personal devotion and communion with God when the mind is not actively formulating the words.