10 Things To Know About Speaking In Tongues

Speaking in tongues is the practice of speaking in unintelligible words and sounds, often as part of a religious ritual or experience.

"Speaking in tongues" in the Bible refers to a spiritual gift bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in languages they do not know. This occurrence is primarily discussed in the New Testament within the context of the early Christian church.

Speaking in Tongues Bible References:

Acts 2:1-4 - This is the most famous passage about speaking in tongues, occurring at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, allowing them to speak in other languages as the Spirit enables them:

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Paul discusses spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues. He describes them as different gifts given by the same Spirit for the common good:

"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues."

1 Corinthians 14 - This chapter contains an extended discussion on the proper use of the gift of tongues within the church. Paul emphasizes that while speaking in tongues is a sign for unbelievers, prophecy is preferable in the church because it edifies the whole congregation:

"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified."

Perspectives from Well-Known Christians:

St. Augustine of Hippo - A theologian and philosopher, Augustine mentioned speaking in tongues in his discussions on miracles and the Holy Spirit. In his work "The City of God," he acknowledged that tongues were more common in the early church:

"In the earliest times, the Holy Ghost fell upon them that believed: and they spoke with tongues, which they had not learned, as the Spirit gave them utterance. These were signs adapted to the time. For there behooved to be that betokening of the Holy Spirit in all tongues, to show that the Gospel of God was to run through all tongues over the whole earth. That thing was done for a betokening, and it passed away."

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed in and supported the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues, though he cautioned against overemphasizing any singular spiritual gift.

Charles Spurgeon, a renowned Baptist preacher, was skeptical of the continuation of certain miraculous gifts, including speaking in tongues, in the post-apostolic age. He stressed the importance of focusing on the Scripture for guidance and instruction.

Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, referred to speaking in tongues among the apostles as a sign of the Holy Spirit's power but did not focus heavily on it in his teachings. He emphasized the primacy of Scripture and the preaching of the gospel in the vernacular.

The spiritual gift of speaking in tongues remains controversial in our day and is a subject deserving of our close attention. This article is not designed to argue that tongues are still valid but attempts to describe the nature and function of tongues speech.

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