Speaking in Tongues

“...Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:26b,27-28).

Do I Have to Speak in Tongues?
The Apostle Paul spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). Some teach that speaking in tongues is a sign, or evidence, of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of the believer. What does the Bible have to say about all of this?

1 Corinthians 12-14 are three chapters in Paul’s letters that deal with spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that a spiritual gift (a manifestation of the Spirit, KJV) is given to each member of the Body of Christ so we can help each other. The next verses begin to name the various gifts that believers receive: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

Paul’s list is by no means comprehensive, for he lists more gifts of the Spirit in other places of the New Testament like Ephesians 4.

What is important to note here is that Paul ends this list by saying in verse 11 that all of the gifts are distributed only by the Holy Spirit and that He (the Holy Spirit) alone decides which gift each person should have. (The KJV says, “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”)

This verse is critical. In the context of three sequential chapters (1 Corinthians 12-14) where Paul is addressing spiritual gifts to the Church at Corinth, he makes it clear that there are many gifts. Who receives what gift is up to the Holy Spirit alone.

Don’t check out on me because of your tradition. The Bible says, “Come let us reason together.” And Jesus says we ought to worship God with all our heart, our mind, our soul, our strength. Keep your thinking cap on. If there are more gifts than the gift of tongues and it is the Holy Spirit’s decision regarding who receives that gift, we must conclude that while some will receive the gift, some will not. The distribution of the gifts is at the Holy Spirit’s prerogative, not ours.

This alone should relieve someone who has doubted the authenticity of their Christian experience because you haven’t yet spoken in tongues. You may never ever speak in tongues and be just as filled with the Holy Ghost as the next believer. Tongues is only one of the gifts.

Tongues Defined
So, what is the gift of tongues? Let me remind you of why the gifts are given. 1 Cor. 12:7 says the gifts are given so we can help each other. We want to know the Lord. We want to grow, or mature, in Him. The gifts are to help us spiritually. The word tongues in Greek is glossa. Glossa is the feminine noun that refers to the literal tongue, that is, the organ of speech in your mouth. Or it refers to what happens with your tongue -- you speak. So, glossa refers to the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.

In Acts 2 we see the gift of tongues at work. (Remember that 1 Corinthians 12:7 says that the gifts are given so we can help each other.)

In Acts 2:4 we see that the Holy Spirit filled those present on the Day of Pentecost and they began speaking in other tongues, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

They had not taken a Rosetta Stone language course. No! They were really speaking in tongues! (A tongue is the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.)

The next verse, Acts 2:5, tells us that at the time the Holy Spirit gave these believers the ability to speak in tongues, there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. Please note that they were Jews, not Christians.

When those Jews heard the noise, everyone came running, and were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

I think it’s important that we review what we know so far. (1.) Spiritual gifts are given to believers. (2.) Spiritual gifts are given to help us know and grow in Christ.

At this point in the story of Acts 2, the people are amazed. What they were witnessing was not humanly possible. The speakers were all from Galilee (not exactly a region known for churning out erudite scholars). Yet the devout Jews from every nation heard these Galileans speaking in their native languages! Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift. It is not a natural talent. God is manifesting Himself through the gift.

The message spoken by the believers was about the wonderful things God had done (v. 11). If you continue reading the chapter it becomes evident how this manifestation of the Spirit helped the church. Peter interpreted what was taking place for those devout Jews who had come to find out what was going on. Peter preached Jesus to those devout Jews. He told them of Jesus Christ crucified, buried, resurrected and interceding and the Bible says that those devout Jews were repentant (v. 37) and were baptized. The church was helped by the gift! 3,000 joined “that day” (Acts 2:41).

Did the gift of tongues help? It certainly did! Those devout Jews from every nation who were living in Jerusalem were able to hear the good things God had done in their own language. Because it was clearly a miracle that they could hear those good things in their own language coming from the mouths of Galileans, they were primed and ready to receive the message about Christ. Yes indeed! It helped.

This is so important. For it is the same principle that Paul articulated when he addressed the use (and improper use) of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. We should desire gifts that strengthen, encourage and comfort others (1 Cor. 14:3). He says that speaking in tongues only benefits the church if someone interprets (1 Cor. 14:5). Well that makes sense, doesn’t it?! Paul had already told them two chapters before, that the purpose of the gifts is for us to help each other. If speaking in tongues (languages) will help, the Spirit will give it to who He chooses, to help! We saw in Acts 2 that people hearing the good things God has done in their native languages helped because 3,000 devout Jews became Christians.

It is important to note that Paul generally argues against speaking in tongues in the context of corporate worship. He says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you?” (1 Cor. 14:6a). “If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space” (1 Cor. 14:9, NLT). “...in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language” (1 Cor. 14:18, NLT).

If unbelievers come into a church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy” (1 Cor. 14:23, NLT).

It is clear that Paul prefers that tongues not be a part of corporate worship, but in his summation he makes an allowance. He says in verses 27 and 28 that (1.) no more than two or three should speak in tongues. (2.) They must speak one at a time and (3.) someone must interpret what they say. Paul says that if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in the church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

The impression is often given in our times that people just cannot help themselves when they begin speaking in tongues. They just start shouting and speaking. The Bible does not teach this. In fact, let me tell you what the Bible does say, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, you are in control of yourself. Paul teaches in Galatians 5:23 that one fruit of the spirit is self-control.

Paul says that God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33a).

Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible does teach that there is a spiritual gift of tongues. The gift is given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit. Paul had the gift of tongues. But the Corinthians had to be told by Paul that he even had it. Why? Because he used it to speak to God privately.

The Apostle Paul was very clear on this. Gifts are to help the church. If you do speak in tongues, it must be orderly. If tongues happen in the context of corporate worship, no more than two or three can speak in tongues. Only one can speak at a time. And someone must be present to interpret because, again, the gifts are to help us know and grow. If these characteristics are not present, “they must be silent” and speak in tongues to God privately.

You are in control of yourself (1 Cor. 14:32). The Bible does not teach that is the will of God for everyone to speak in tongues nor for a sanctuary full of ecstatic believers to be simultaneously speaking in tongues.

I know this may cut across some of your cultural sensibilities about having “a Holy Ghost filled time.” We are living in a time where charismatic utterances are accepted as genuine manifestations almost everywhere. There are charismatic Catholics, Paul Morton heads up the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, I even know a tongues-speaking United Methodist preacher!

The Bible teaches that the gifts should edify. If the gift of tongues ever manifests itself in corporate worship, the Bible is specific about how it should happen: two, no more than three with an interpreter. And one speaking at a time.

May God bless you as you take time to prayerfully read on your own through the entire 2nd chapter of Acts and 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned and I know that the Holy Ghost will lead and guide you into all truth (1 Cor. 2:14, John 16:13).