The Gift of Tongues
The Spirit-given ability to speak in languages not known to the speaker or in an
ecstatic language that could not normally be understood by the speaker or the hearers.
The apostle Peter considered the phenomenon of speaking in tongues that occurred
on the Day of Pentecost (Act 2) as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2:28-
32).
On the Day of Pentecost, the followers of Christ were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).
The people assembled in Jerusalem for this feast came from various Roman provinces
representing a variety of languages. They were astonished to hear the disciples
speaking of God’s works in their own languages.
In an appearance to the disciples after His resurrection, Jesus declared, “these signs
will follow those who believe; In My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with
new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
Tongues as a gift of the Spirit is especially prominent in I Cor 12 and 14. In I Cor 12
the phenomenon of tongues is listed with other gifts of the Spirit. As one of the several
gifts given to believers as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, tongues is intended with
the other gifts to be exercised for the building up of the church and the mutual profit of
its members. In I Cor 13 the apostle Paul puts the gift of tongue in perspective by
affirming that though we “speak with the tongues of men and of angels” (vs 1), if we do
not have love, the gift of tongues has no value. In I Cor 14 Paul deals more specifically
with the gift of tongues and its exercise in the church. In this chapter the tongue is not
an intelligible language, for it cannot be understood by the listeners. Therefore, a
parallel to the gift of tongues is the gift of interpretation. The gift of tongues was used
as a means of worship, thanksgiving, and prayer.
While exercising this gift, individuals address God, not people; and the result is to edify
themselves and not the church (I Cor 12:2,4). This gift is never intended for self-
exaltation but for the praise and glorification of God. Paul does not prohibit speaking
in tongues in a public service (vs 39) but Paul claims for himself the gift of tongues-
speaking, but apparently he exercised this gift in private and not in public (vs 18-19).
The phenomenon of speaking in tongues in the New Testament is not some
psychological arousal of human emotions that result in strange sounds. This is a
genuine work of the Holy Spirit.
Some say the Holy Spirit comes automatically but Jesus says, we ought to ask (Luke 11:
13). Paul says the gift of tongues helps us when we don’t know what to pray for (Rom
8:26).
The evidence of the Holy Spirit can come by the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-6).
Cornelius was praying and asking God for something and God directed him to send for
Peter to explain the gospel (Acts 10:43-48).
Some say tongues are not of God and confuse it with the confusion of tongues at the
towel of Babel (an ancient tower symbolizing human pride and rebellion). It was built
during the period after the flood. The construction of the tower and city is described as
an act of self-glorification by the builders (Gen 11:4). People seek for their own
security in community life and culture, independent of God. This is human initiative
apart from God (Ps 127:1). As such, the activity is evil and sinful. (Gen 11: 5-8) their
communication with each other to advance their effects is frustrated because they
begin to speak different languages. Finally they abandon the building of the city and
go their own way, becoming scattered over the earth. Ultimately the sinful and rejected
condition of mankind, which is clearly shown by the described in this account, needed
Pentecost as its answer. On this day the Holy Spirit was poured out on all people so
they understood one another, although they spoke different languages (Acts 2:1-11,
Eph 2:14-18) the barriers that divide people and nations were thus removed.