Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) is a spiritual gift mentioned in the New Testament in which a person speaks in a language they have not learned. In Acts it appears as real human languages; in 1 Corinthians it is a gift that Paul regulates and says must be done in an orderly way and with interpretation in the church.
Detailed answer
The Bible describes tongues in two main settings. At Pentecost (Acts 2) the disciples spoke in known foreign languages so that visitors from many nations heard the gospel in their own tongue. In 1 Corinthians 12–14, Paul treats tongues as one of several spiritual gifts given by the Spirit for the building up of the church.1
Paul values the gift but insists on order: in a gathering, tongues should be limited, taken in turn, and always interpreted so the church is edified. Without interpretation, he says, it is better to speak words people understand (1 Corinthians 14:19).2
Sincere Christians differ on whether this gift continues today. Continuationists believe all the gifts remain active. Cessationists believe the miraculous sign-gifts served the apostolic era and have ceased. Both sides agree the gift must never be used in disorder or as a measure of someone's spiritual maturity or salvation.3
Biblical basis
- Acts 2:1-13ESV
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-11ESV
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-40ESV
- Mark 16:17ESV
Theological explanation
Tongues is listed among gifts the Spirit distributes 'as he wills' (1 Corinthians 12:11), which means no single gift is required of every believer. Paul explicitly asks, 'Do all speak with tongues?' expecting the answer 'no' (1 Corinthians 12:30).4
The governing principle for all gifts is love and edification (1 Corinthians 13–14). A gift used without love or order does not honor God regardless of how impressive it seems.5
Common errors
- 1.That speaking in tongues is proof a person is saved or 'baptized in the Spirit' — Scripture never makes tongues the test of salvation.
- 2.That every Christian must speak in tongues — Paul teaches the Spirit gives different gifts to different people.
- 3.That tongues may be practiced publicly without interpretation — Paul forbids this in the gathered church.
Pastoral application
- a.Whatever one's view, gifts are for serving others, not self-display; pursue love above all (1 Corinthians 14:1).
- b.In church, everything should be done 'decently and in order' (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Notes
- 1.Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987), on Acts 2 as xenolalia and 1 Corinthians 12–14 as congregational regulation of the gift.
- 2.D. A. Carson, Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987), ch. 3, on the necessity of interpretation for edification.
- 3.Westminster Confession of Faith 1.6 and 1.10 place Scripture, not private experience, as the final judge of controversies of religion — a principle shared by both continuationist and cessationist confessions when testing gifts.
- 4.1 Corinthians 12:11, 30; cf. Fee, First Epistle to the Corinthians, on the Spirit's sovereign distribution of gifts.
- 5.Carson, Showing the Spirit, ch. 4, on love as the criterion that relativizes every gift.
Bibliography
- Carson, D. A.. Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987.
- Fee, Gordon D.. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
- Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Chapters 52–53, on spiritual gifts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020.
- Thiselton, Anthony C.. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.