What is speaking in tongues, and is it for today?
At Pentecost, tongues were Spirit-given speech in languages the speakers had not learned, so that everyone heard 'the mighty works of God' in his own language. Paul treats tongues as one gift among many, to be used for building the church, ordered and interpreted in the assembly. Whether the sign gifts continue today is a question on which faithful Christians differ, but the Bible's priorities are clear: love is greater, and everything is for edification.
This question arose from studying What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? and Who is the Holy Spirit?.
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What the Scripture says
At Pentecost, tongues were real languages
The disciples 'began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak,' and the pilgrims from every nation were bewildered, 'because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.' They heard the speakers declare 'the mighty works of God' in the languages of Parthians, Medes, Egyptians, Romans, and Cretans. These were not ecstatic noises; they were known human languages, given by the Spirit so the gospel could be heard.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
Tongues is one gift among many, from the same Spirit
Paul lists 'different kinds of languages' and 'the interpretation of languages' alongside prophecy and healings: 'the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.' His rhetorical questions make the point: 'Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?' No gift is mandatory for every believer, and none is proof of the Spirit's arrival: the same Spirit gives, and He gives 'as he desires', to whomever He wills.
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Its purposes: a sign to unbelievers and prayer to God
Paul says the one who speaks in a tongue 'speaks not to men, but to God... in the Spirit he speaks mysteries,' and that tongues are 'a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving,' fulfilling Isaiah's word about speaking to this people 'with stammering lips and in another language.' He prays and sings 'with the spirit' and 'with the understanding also,' insisting that the mind not be left unfruitful. The gift is real, and it is also bounded: it serves faith, and it is not its own end.
For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language;
For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? 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.
In the assembly: ordered, limited, interpreted
Paul's rule is stark: 'Let all things be done to build each other up,' with at most two or three speaking and one interpreting, and 'if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly.' God is 'not a God of confusion, but of peace.' Whatever place tongues has in private prayer, the public worship of the church is the arena of the understandable word, so that even outsiders can hear and say that God is really among you.
What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,
If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
Is it for today? The text's priorities endure
Paul says love never fails and that tongues 'will cease' when that which is complete has come. Whether that fullness has arrived now or awaits Christ's return is debated among faithful believers who read the same chapters. What is not debated is the text's priority: the gift must be tested, love must govern, and everything must build the church. So the practical answer is the biblical one: pursue love, desire the greater gifts, and let the Spirit's own order rule the church.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
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They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
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