What Does the Bible Teach About Speaking in Tongues?

“Speaking in tongues” refers to a miraculous ability some early Christians had that enabled them to speak a language without first having learned it. (Acts 10:46, New International Version) The speaker was easily understood by anyone who knew that language. (Acts 2:​4-8 ) Speaking in tongues was one of the gifts of the holy spirit that God gave to some first-century Christians.​—Hebrews 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:​4, 30.

Where and when did speaking in tongues start?

This miracle first occurred in Jerusalem on the morning of the Jewish Festival of Pentecost in 33 C.E. About 120 of Jesus’ disciples were meeting together when “they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak in different languages.” (Acts 1:​15; 2:​1-4 ) A large crowd of people “from every nation under heaven” gathered, and “each one heard them speaking in his own language.”​—Acts 2:​5, 6.


What was the purpose of speaking in tongues?

(1) To show that God was backing Christians. In the past, God provided miraculous signs to prove that he was backing faithful people such as Moses. (Exodus 4:​1-9, 29-​31; Numbers 17:10) Speaking in tongues served a similar purpose, showing that God was backing the newly formed Christian congregation. The apostle Paul wrote: “Tongues are not a sign for the believers but for the unbelievers.”​—1 Corinthians 14:22.

(2) To enable Christians to give a thorough witness. Those who heard Jesus’ followers on the day of Pentecost said: “We hear them speaking in our languages about the magnificent things of God.” (Acts 2:​11) Thus, another key purpose of this miracle was to enable Christians “to give a thorough witness” and to “make disciples of people of all the nations,” as they had been commanded by Jesus. (Acts 10:42; Matthew 28:19) About 3,000 who observed the miracle and listened to the witness that was given became disciples that very day.​—Acts 2:​41.

Was speaking in tongues to continue permanently?

No. The gifts of the holy spirit, including that of speaking in tongues, were a temporary provision. The Bible foretold: “If there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease.”​—1 Corinthians 13:8.

When did speaking in tongues cease?

The gifts of the holy spirit were generally passed on to other Christians in the presence of the apostles, usually by the apostles placing their hands on fellow believers. (Acts 8:​18; 10:44-​46) It appears that those who received the gifts of the spirit from the apostles did not transfer them to others. (Acts 8:​5-7, 14-​17) To illustrate, a government official may issue a driver’s license to someone, but that person is not given the legal authority to issue a license to anyone else. Apparently, speaking in tongues ended with the death of the apostles and those who had personally received the gift from them.

What about speaking in tongues today?

The miraculous gift of speaking in tongues evidently ended about the end of the first century C.E. No one today can rightly claim to speak in tongues by God’s power.

How can true Christians be identified?

Jesus said that self-sacrificing love would identify his disciples. (John 13:34, 35) Likewise, the apostle Paul taught that love would be a permanent identifier of genuine Christians. (1 Corinthians 13:​1, 8 ) He indicated that God’s spirit would produce in Christians the qualities referred to collectively as “the fruitage of the spirit,” the first quality of which is love.​—Galatians 5:​22, 23.

Jokanem:
1. Was speaking in tongues to continue permanently?No. ...

2. When did speaking in tongues cease? The gifts of the holy spirit were generally passed on to other Christians in the presence of the apostles, ...

Jokanem:
The miraculous gift of speaking in tongues evidently ended about the end of the first century C.E. No one today can rightly claim to speak in tongues by God’s power.

DoWhatThouWilt:

Interesting. So you mean the annoying irritating blabbing gibberish that most people do today isn't actually speaking in tongues?
If yes, what would you call that?

xynerise:
People speak in tongues today because their pastor told them it is compulsory. "Just say anything that comes from your mouth and God will interpret it for you"


They really don't understand how speaking in tongues works

contra:
This position of jw is not correct. Read Mark 16:16-18 (KJV) . These are the direct words of Jesus. Emphasise on 17.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 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.

DMCA:




They will now just be saying something like...


Tchaaaa turubalista Kamala tohida... Topsy Tata karma hagi Zi pa to to lagisha popo ko was ti biu Sha ni VA ha boom rataaaah


And say they are speaking in tongues

All these penticostals and their gibberish

Who takes them seriously

DMCA:

Wahala for person wey the interpret Bible literally.


So you think people that people that did philosophy then philosophy know nothing?

Draslo:

Normally, it's just another person's language to aid in spreading the gospel but these days it's shaprapra Bula! 🤣🤣

DMCA:

I swear...😂


Just watch how gullible penticostals will come here to crucify us and justify their giberish tongue speaking.🤣


Omo! They take everything about the Bible literally. Interpret as it suits them and start preaching .

---

Last last e be like say na me and you never find the holy spirit 🤣🤣🤣

Verance:
Speaking in tongues as far as Act 2 is concerned is speaking, for a brief period, in a language which is not ones native language as moved upon by the Holy Spirit for the intent of passing across a gospel message to the surprise of the speakers of the native language who can clearly discern that you are speaking a language you normally cannot speak which then confirms to them that you are being empowered by some supernal forces.

The Pentecostal church is the champion of gibberish. They use scriptures like 1 Corinthians 14:2 (unknown tongues) and Galatians 1:26 to back up their false claims. The first case of Speaking in tongues wasn't an unknown tongue. It was an intelligible language, hence the term "unknown" must be an error in translation. Now as for Galatians 1:26, interpreting "groanings which cannot be uttered" as speaking in gibberish is both scriptural and linguistic ignorance. How can what cannot be uttered translate as "loud unintelligible blabbings"?

On a final note, the Pentecostal churches claim that speaking in tongue is to communicate in the language the devil cannot understand is simply unscriptural for that is not the purpose of the gift of tongues (Go read 1 Corinthians 14) and such a claim is no where to be found in the bible. According to these Pentecostals, if you pray to God in English or your native language, the devil will understand and then block your prayers from getting to God. Lol.

contra:
This position of jw is not correct. Read Mark 16:16-18 (KJV) . These are the direct words of Jesus. Emphasise on 17.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 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.


The Bible teaches about speaking in tongues in several places, including Acts 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and Mark 16:17-18. Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift that allows a person to speak in a language they do not know, often as part of prayer or worship.

In Acts 2:4, the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles and they begin to speak in tongues. This event is seen as the birth of the Christian Church and the spread of the Gospel to people of all languages and nations.

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the gift of tongues. He emphasizes that speaking in tongues is a sign for unbelievers and a way to edify oneself in prayer (1 Corinthians 14:2-4). Paul also provides guidance on the use of tongues in public worship, emphasizing the importance of interpretation so that others may understand and be edified (1 Corinthians 14:5-19).

Jesus himself spoke about the gift of tongues in Mark 16:17-18, saying, "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." This passage indicates that speaking in tongues is a sign of belief and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power.

In addition, Romans 11:29 states that "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." This means that once God has given a spiritual gift, such as the gift of tongues, he will not take it away. Therefore, the gift of tongues is still valid and available to believers today.

In conclusion, speaking in tongues is a biblical and valid spiritual gift that is still available to believers today. It is a way to communicate with God and to build up oneself and others in faith. While it is important to use this gift responsibly and in accordance with biblical guidance, it should not be discounted or dismissed as outdated or irrelevant.

contra:


The Bible is not a philosophical book. It's a spiritual book. If you don't have the Holy Spirit you will be in error. This one is the most important because the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible.

Interpreting the Bible can be a complex task, and there are many different approaches and methods that scholars and readers use to understand its meaning. Here are a few key principles that can help guide interpretation:

Context: Understanding the context of a particular passage or book is crucial to interpreting it correctly. This includes the historical, cultural, and literary context of the text, as well as the broader theological context of the Bible as a whole.

Genre: Recognizing the genre or type of literature a particular passage is can help us understand its intended meaning. For example, poetry uses figurative language and imagery, while historical narratives describe events in a straightforward way.

Authorial intent: It is important to consider what the author of a particular book or passage was trying to communicate to their original audience. This can involve studying the language, culture, and historical context of the author and their audience.

Literary devices: Biblical authors often use literary devices such as metaphor, allegory, and symbolism to communicate their message. Recognizing these devices can help us understand the intended meaning.

Scripture interpreting Scripture: The Bible is a unified whole, and one passage should be understood in light of the rest of the Bible. This means that interpreting a particular passage should take into account other related passages and themes throughout the Bible.

Prayer and guidance of the Holy Spirit: Ultimately, understanding the Bible requires the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Prayer and an openness to God's leading can help us discern the true meaning of Scripture.

These principles are not exhaustive, but they can provide a helpful framework for interpreting the Bible in a responsible and faithful way. It is also important to seek out trustworthy resources, such as commentaries and study Bibles, to aid in interpretation.