The phenomenon of speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, has been a topic of interest and debate among Christians for centuries. The Bible provides significant insights into this practice, which is considered a spiritual gift by many. To understand what the Bible says about speaking in tongues, it’s essential to delve into the relevant scriptures and their context.
New Testament Foundations
The New Testament, particularly the books of Acts and 1 Corinthians, contains the most direct references to speaking in tongues. The first recorded instance of speaking in tongues occurs in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
This event was a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit, who would give them the power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). The speaking in tongues here served as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s coming and enabled the disciples to preach the Gospel to people of different languages gathered in Jerusalem, thereby spreading the message of Christ universally.
Corinthian Context
The most detailed discussion of speaking in tongues, however, is found in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 through 14. The Corinthian church was known for its charismatic gifts, including speaking in tongues. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, addresses the proper use and understanding of spiritual gifts, including tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:10
“To another the working of miracles, 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 14:2
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”
In the Corinthian context, speaking in tongues was seen as a way to speak to God in a language that transcended human understanding, a form of spiritual prayer or praise. However, Paul emphasizes the importance of interpretation, so that the speaking in tongues might edify the church.
1 Corinthians 14:13-15
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?”
Guidance for Practice
From the biblical accounts, several principles can be deduced regarding the practice of speaking in tongues:
Purpose: Speaking in tongues serves as a form of personal edification and prayer (1 Corinthians 14:4), and when interpreted, it can also edify the church.
Order: Paul instructs that in church gatherings, no more than two or at the most three should speak in tongues, and only one at a time, with someone interpreting (1 Corinthians 14:27).
Love and Understanding: The practice should be pursued with the aim of building up the community in love and understanding, rather than causing confusion (1 Corinthians 14:1-40).
Gift Distribution: Like other spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues is distributed by the Holy Spirit as He determines (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Debate and Diversity
Despite the biblical guidance, the practice of speaking in tongues has been subject to diverse interpretations and practices within Christianity. Some view it as a necessary evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, while others see it as one of many gifts that may or may not be bestowed on believers. The cessationist perspective argues that speaking in tongues, like other charismatic gifts, ceased with the completion of the New Testament or the death of the apostles. In contrast, continuationists believe these gifts continue to the present day.
Conclusion
The Bible presents speaking in tongues as a genuine spiritual gift with the potential for personal and corporate edification. The practice, as outlined in the New Testament, is to be conducted in an orderly manner, with interpretation for the benefit of all, and in the context of love and the pursuit of spiritual gifts that build up the church. As with all spiritual practices, the key is approaching it with a humble heart, seeking to understand and apply biblical principles in a way that honors God and builds up the community of believers.
