"Speaking in tongues"-What does the Bible say?

Before I was a Christian, I was once tricked into going to an Apostolic Church. When I walked in, I was shocked and thought people were out of their minds. What in the world was I witnessing? They told me they were speaking in tongues.
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[@dewaynebryant8005]

This is a great explanation. I've talked to people, as I'm sure you have also, who were crushed when they couldn't speak in tongues and others had them doubting their salvation. The other difficulty is the fact that linguistic studies have shown that "heavenly languages" bear little to no resemblance to actual languages, but are still influenced by the culture of the individual (A Japanese person "speaking in tongues" still sounds Japanese, Germans still sound German, etc.). And then there's the fact that a person who practices speaking in tongues gets better at it - a strange thing if it's really a gift from God.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Those are really interesting points everyone should consider! Thank you.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

A linguist should NOT be able to understand heavenly languages, otherwise it wouldn't be heavenly...that's an odd conclusion to come to...if an alien came to us and spoke alien, then by definition of the word "alien" then we wouldn't understand them.

[@vickisullivan847]

I was raised in a so called "Full Gospel" church, under the umbrella of Pentecostalism. I experienced first hand the "speaking in tongues", the "dancing in the spirit", and it was frightening to me as a child, and it always felt more 'evil' to me than 'holy'. Members of my congregation would just suddenly start speaking in tongues, and jerking around like they were possessed by demons. Then it was like a domino effect, because other members would chime in and start speaking in tongues as well, and jerking around, or take off running up and down the aisles of the church. It was completely chaotic, with people falling to the floor, and convulsing. It was common to see women laying in the aisles ("passed out in the spirit") with their dresses raised above their hips, and the men would have to place their suit coats over them. Once, one of our choir members suffered a head injury, because the preacher threw his microphone, as he suddenly took off "dancing in the spirit" across the stage. It hit the kid in the head, and he had to be taken to the emergency room. I don't care what anyone says; that's NOT "Holy", that's pure "Evil". I was baptized in a creek when I was about 13 years old. Then many of the adult members started pressuring me to be "baptized in the spirit". Telling me that I "would never truly be a Christian until I received the "baptism of the holy ghost and the gift of tongues". I avoided it for a year, and then when I was 14 years old, on an extremely hot Summer Sunday afternoon, after morning church services, a bunch of them cornered me, and decided it was "time" for me to "receive the holy spirit". The church was old, and smelled of mildew, and of course we had no air conditioning, just an old fan placed in front of the entrance door of the church, blowing in more hot air. They sat me down in one of the pews, and about 10 of them surrounded me, and started praying for me to "receive the holy spirit". They held me there, pushing my head, my shoulders, for what seemed like an eternity, but it was actually about an hour. I was so hot I was having trouble breathing, and I was soaked with not only my own sweat, but with their sweat that was dripping from them as they stood over me, praying, shouting, and speaking in tongues. I knew I had to do something to get them to stop, because I was having a hard time breathing, and I just knew I was going to die right there in that pew if I didn't do something. So I FAKED IT! That's right, I faked it! It wasn't hard to do, since I had heard others doing it thousands of times. So I 'pretended to speak in tongues', and they believed it. They started jumping around, and yelling "Hallelujah, thank you Jesus!", but thankfully they released me, and everyone hugged me and said a bunch of congratulatory nonsense to me. All I wanted to do was get out of there! One of the so called "Christian sisters" drove me home, and told my parents "the good news". I'll never forget the evil presence that surrounded me that day. That church wasn't a "house of God", it was a "house of Satan". I'm sorry this was so long, but I felt I needed to share my story as a warning to others. These churches that push this "you have to receive the gift of tongues to be a real Christian" narrative, are pure evil in my opinion.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

I appreciate so much your willingness to share this heartbreaking story. You are not alone. I am also grateful that you saw that these people did not truly represent God. It seems this experience did not destroy your faith in Jesus, just in those who treat others in this fashion. May God bless you as you continue on your journey. By the way, we have another video on the eleven lies I was told about the gift of tongues. Perhaps it will resonate with you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU

[@vickisullivan847]

@@TopicalBibleStudies Thank you, and may God bless you.

[@chikaeze3640]

Thank you for sharing.

[@kavikv.d.hexenholtz3474]

There is absolutely nothing mysterious about Biblical "tongues" - and there is only one type - when referring to something spoken, they are nothing more than real, rational language(s); usually, but not always, unknown to those listening to them, but always known by the speaker(s) - it’s their native language (in some cases, it is a language the speaker has learned). In contrast, the “tongues” Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians are producing today is an entirely self-created phenomenon. It is non-cognitive non-language utterance; random free vocalization based upon a subset of the existing underlying sounds (called phonemes) of the speaker’s native language, and any other language(s) the speaker may be familiar with or have had contact with. It is, in part, typically characterized by repetitive syllables, plays on sound patterns, alliteration, assonance, and over-simplification of syllable structure. The "nail in the coffin", so-to-speak, is that _any and all_ phonological rules (rules governing how sounds are put together in a given language - what is allowed and what is disallowed) governing a speaker's native language, will _also_ govern their tongues-speech. That fact alone negates anything that can be construed as 'divine' in nature and cements that fact that it is a self-created phenomenon. Further, this subset of phonemes mentioned above typically contains only those sounds which are easiest to produce physiologically. Occasionally some speakers will use two or more subsets of phonemes to generate glossolalia, producing what, to them, sounds like two (or more) distinct “tongues languages”, thus claiming to be able to speak in “divers tongues”. There is absolutely _nothing_ that “tongues-speakers” are producing that cannot be explained in relatively simple linguistic terms. Conversely, when it comes to something spoken, there are absolutely _no_ Biblical references to “tongues” that do not refer to, and cannot be explained in light of, real rational language(s), though it may not be the explanation you want to hear, and it may be one which is radically different from what you believe, or were taught. _Nowhere_ in the Bible is modern tongues-speech advocated or evidenced. “Praying in the Spirit” does _not_ refer to the words one is saying. Rather, it refers to how one is praying. In the three places it is used (Corinthians, Ephesians, and Jude), there is absolutely zero reference to 'languages' in connection with this phrase. “Praying in the Spirit” should be understood as praying in the power of the Spirit, by the leading of the Spirit, and according to His will. I'm not doubting or questioning the 'tongues experience'; glossolalia as the spiritual tool that it is, can be very powerful and, for many people, the experience is profound. As one commenter put it, “Speaking in tongues distracts the ego/analytical/conscious mind while leaving the subconscious (the heart) wide open to import the divine." Both the spiritual and physical benefits of using this tool are also well documented. Again though, it is important to note that this same statement can be made for virtually _any_ other culture that practices glossolalia. Religious and cultural differences aside, the glossolalia an Evenki Shaman in Siberia, a vodoun priestess in Togo and a Christian tongues-speaker in Alabama are producing are in no way different from each other. They’re all producing their glossolalia in the exact same way; they just have different explanations and beliefs as to why they’re doing it, and where it comes from. It is only in certain Christian denominations where is it construed as something it never was. “Tongues” is to some Christian believers a very real and spiritually meaningful experience but consisting of emotional release via non-linguistic ‘free vocalizations’ at best; non-cognitive non language utterance - the subconscious playing with sounds to create what is perceived and interpreted as actual, meaningful speech. In _some_ cases, I would argue that it is clearly a self/mass delusion prompted by such a strong desire to “experience God” that one creates that experience via “tongues”. ‘Tongues’ (read, *‘languages’* ) - the divine gift, is the God given ability to effortlessly learn to speak and be understood through real-language barriers. It is not xenoglossy, nor is it modern tongues-speech. As a point of note, I’m a Linguist, and let me also add here that I am neither a so-called ‘cessationist’ nor a ‘continuationist’ - I do not identify with either term; in fact, I had never heard the two terms until just late in 2016. As far as I’m concerned, quite frankly, since the Biblical reference of “tongues” is to real, rational languages, obviously “tongues” haven’t “ceased”. With respect to Mark 16:17 - when people went out to spread the message of Christianity, they encountered peoples, customs, and moreover languages they had hitherto not known even existed. Thus, they would need to speak with “new languages” - they would need to learn them in order to spread the message. The passage refers to nothing more than real, rational languages. If one were to hear someone say, “I’m going to start speaking a new tongue in a few months.” I don’t think anyone would assume it was anything else than a real, rational language (though that sentence dos sound a bit archaic, but it illustrates the point). The point is, that it’s a new language to the one(s) learning it, not to the people who already speak it. The entire passage is rather moot anyway since it is a later addition to the text (early 2nd century).

[@aikhongchua8978]

A very helpful video and solidly based on scriptures! The Lord bless you to know the truth and speak the truth always. If you don't mind, I would like to share my own thoughts on tongues today with you: 1. They are NOT verifiable today to be a gift exactly like that in the first century and as mentioned in the bible because I have NEVER heard of even one interpretation to tongue speaking in churches I visited in my 40+ years as a Christian. 2. Tougues I hear today are usually repetitive and "simple" sentences which one can learn ( and some Christians do offer help to teach them! which is weird because if it is a gift from God, why does one have to teach it?). They don't sound like proper languages. 3. Tongues was one of the accompanying signs to the preaching of the word in the first century. Hence, Paul said he spoke in tongues more than anyone else because he was the chief missionary in preaching the gospel to all the nations (Greek "oikumene" ie regions in the then Roman Empire, not "COSMOS", the entire planet earth) as evidenced by the book of Acts which was largely about Paul's missionary journeys. 4. Paul himself said in a few times in the bible that the gospel HAD BEEN PREACHED to ALL the "nations" ( note same meaning as above) during his lifetime ( see eg Colossians etc). 5. When the gospel had been preached to all the nations, the END would come as said by Christ himself. What was the END? It was the end of the Old Covenant age (or Old Jewish age ) and the usher in of the New Covenant. Hence, there is no longer a need for tongues in the New Covenant age we live in now. Of course, I fully believe people still need the gospel of Christ to be saved in the New Covenant. There is no contradiction here. I am only saying tongues are no longer given as an accompanying sign in the New Covenant. Sorry my sharing is rather lengthy.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Thank you for watching and commenting. You are an encouragement! We're grateful to have your further reflections. Some of them we also expand on in this follow-up video you might not have seen yet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU Thank you again. God bless you!

[@DB-dg3gt]

Your title is ambiguous as to which way you will lean on this highly debated topic. You have done a wonderful job not only explaining this gift, but have done so without being disparaging to our charismatic bothers and sisters. Jon MacArthur is well disliked for his book “the charismatics”, but I challenge our Charismatic friends to read it. I was shocked that he could provide so much information on this topic and the damage it does to a church body of Christ.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

I recognize that the ambiguous approach can frustrate some people. I did this, however, to prevent another frustration: People coming to a video with their minds made up, ready to attack. It will always be our goal to, as Paul said, speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). There have been times I have won the argument but lost the influence, and my prayer is to not repeat that. Thank you for your kindness.

[@CollinBoSmith]

I believe tongues are an unknown language and I think a lot of the points in your video fail to show otherwise. Here are some things I would say in response: 1) Acts 2 is in no way conclusive as to if the miracle is in the apostles speaking other languages or instead of the miracle is that the hearers can understand the language being spoken in their own language. It could go either way. 2) Paul says that tongues are for speaking “to God” not to men, which contradicts your thesis that tongues is primarily for evangelism. In the same vain, he says he “prays” in tongues. Prayer is speech to God. 3) Paul says that “no one” can understand when a tongue is spoken 4) The verses you brought up where Paul speaks of “many different languages in the world” is meant to be an analogy to tongues, and by nature analogies are not identical to the things they are being compared too. This is evidence by the fact that Paul uses two other analogies, playing music and a battle horn, and these two analogies are not identical to the gift of tongues. So by using the analogy of human languages in this passage it suggests that Paul does not see human languages as identical to tongues but only as analogous. 4) The context of Corinthians is corporate worship among believers, which flies in the face again of tongues having the primary purpose of being evangelistic. In fact, Paul says, as you pointed out, that unbelievers will think you’re crazy if you speak in tongues in front of unbelievers, which makes no sense if you would just be speaking to them in a known tongue. 5) your interpretation makes the gift of interpretation not a gift at all, but something pointless. 6) there is evidence that ecstatic utterances in unknown language was a phenomena that was happening in the ancient world, even amongst Jews, so heavenly languages fits right into the cultural context of that time whereas immediately being able to speak known language would be a brand new phenomenon. 7) an early anti Christian critique from Celsus mentions that Christian’s were going around saying meaningless words and utterances that no man could understand, which gives some early and enemy attestation of the practice of Christian’s speaking in unknown languages. I know you may have had some bad experiences, but don’t throw the baby, and the word of God, out with the bath water. Most of what you said was a weak positive case for your position with no counters to the claims from my view. Other than that all you did was associate the bad practices of some Christian’s with the biblical practice of speaking in tongues. The Corinthians we’re doing a lot wrong too, but that didn’t make Paul throw out tongues in a heavenly language from corporate worship altogether.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Did you see the second video? It addresses some of what you have written. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU We have written a follow-up lesson that addresses a few of your other concerns we would love your thoughts on. We hope to eventually turn it into a video. topicalbiblestudies.com/1-corinthians-142-is-a-rebuke/

[@CollinBoSmith]

​@@TopicalBibleStudies Thanks for pointing me to those other sources. I will address some of the points you make in the other video. Firstly I want to say I subscribed to your channel recently because I enjoyed a different video you did. Also I want to say that I myself have never spoken in tongues nor am I obsessed with trying to or over emphasizing the importance of it. The reason I believe what I believe is firstly on the basis of my reading of the scriptures. The only thing I am defending is that the gift of tongues is real and that it should be understood as an unknown language, so I won't address anything that is not a counter claim to that. First of all I would reiterate that on the day of Pentecost the miracle could also be understood as being in the understanding of the audience. This would also solve one of your issues with the preaching of "two gifts of tongues" because it makes the gift of tongues one consistent gift, an unknown language that requires miraculous interpretation, across the new testament. You use 1 Cor 14-17 to support that tongues should not be done outside of a public setting, but this seems like a total misuse of this passage. Paul here is speaking specifically about order in corporate worship, so that language he uses caters to that, but it in no way excludes the possibility of speaking in tongues in private. In fact, when paul says "I speak in tongues more than all of you, YET IN CHURCH I would rather speak intelligibly" suggests that corporate worship is not the only setting for speaking in tongues. Couple this with Paul's direction to not speak in tongues around unbelievers lest they think your crazy, and now you have tongues among unbelievers being forbidden, tongues among believers being regulated, and only a private use of tongues is left as the "not in church" use that Paul mentions. You seem to be assuming here and elsewhere that because Paul gives instructions for how to use tongues corporately that that is the only contexts in which he envisions it's usage, which simply does not follow logically. This hermeneutical mistake seems to plague the rest of your video. For instance, you seem to think the Bible demands interpretation whenever a tongue is spoken, but Paul's only point is that an interpretation should be present in a corporate setting, he says nothing of private use. You could also point back here to the fact that Paul says one speaking in a tongue speaks "to God" and that prayer itself is speech to God. Tongues even in corporate worship should be prayer to God, the interpretation is simply to let others in on what is being prayed. You also say that passage teaches that praying in a language you don't understand is unfruitful, but this is going way further than Paul's intent. Paul here is saying that praying in a tongue without the gift of interpretation or among people who can't understand is unfruitful, yet elsewhere he says a believer edifies himself when speaking in tongues, which is certainly fruitful. You totally miss the horn analogy that I already commented on in my first comment in your second video. You seem to think Paul is saying that because a random song on the battle horn won't be understood, therefore tongues are known languages. That is not his point here at all. Paul is saying that tongues are like the unknown horn in corporate worship, so he would rather known things be spoken in corporate worship so all can understand. This is clear from the context of that passage. You say that Paul is being descriptive not prescriptive when he is saying that one who speaks in tongues speaks to God, but there is simply no evidence of this in the passage and that Paul believes this is the case with tongues fits perfectly with the rest of the chapter that suggests that no one understands tongues without the divine gift of interpretation. I think you may be a little burned by your experience in the church you were in, and it sounds like some of their practices were messed up, but I think maybe that has led you to only be able to see a strawman version of the argument that the gift of tongues is an unknown language. I hope you will look into some of these things and reconsider.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

We appreciate your subscription and are grateful you can see the good of this channel, even we currently disagree on this subject. You provided a detailed response, for which I am thankful. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to respond in similar detail, and I will be traveling for the next two weeks, so I may not be able to see your response to this for some time. Hopefully our request and commitment can be mutual: we will both continue to study. In the additional resources I linked above (I'll link again below), I cover almost everything you mentioned in your detailed response, including this: Either I misspoke, or you misunderstood. I do not believe tongues was meant for the assembly alone. I say as much clearly in the second video. Sorry for the confusion on that point. Here is the other video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU Here is why I believe it is a serious mistake to see 1 Corinthians 14:2-5 as prescriptive: topicalbiblestudies.com/1-corinthians-142-is-a-rebuke/

[@CollinBoSmith]

I understand. I’ll check out the other resources and continue to prayerfully study. Thanks for engaging as much as you did. God bless.

[@Wade_NZ]

Very well explained. Many thanks

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Thank you. Glory to God!

[@anointgarcia]

1 Corinthians 13 1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.TOUNGES ARE KNOWN LANGUAGES NOT SUM UNKNOWN GIBBERISH

[@Rosie916Rangi]

Amen. The holy spirit allows those who speak a different language to hear the gospel message, when spoken in a different language.

[@PopoolaTemidayo]

This is brilliant and exactly what I teach my students in church but they are still embracing their fathers lies 😢 I wish them out of the deceptions

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Very sad, indeed. I was one of the deceived. Did you see the second video? Eleven LIES they told me about the gift of tongues! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU We also have another one coming out, so stay tuned. God bless you on your journey.

[@rebeccasnyder6719]

Good Morning.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

The Gift of tongues needs the gift of interpretation also to be used but prayer language if tongues IE speaking unto God not unto men needs no interpretation because it is not for the public but personal edification.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

Hello brother, I must correct you that Acts doesn't say that the apostles Preached in tongues it says they spoke of the wonderful works of God, so the apostles were praising God in tongues.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Thanks again for a kind comment. Acts 2:4 says, "And they [the apostles] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." I think I see what you're saying, and I've not fully considered any implications of this that verse 14 and onward could possibly have not been with other languages. When I stand in front of a group of people and declare the mighty deeds of God, however, (as you reference-v. 11), I consider that preaching. These people heard the apostles preach the mighty deeds of God in their own languages and dialects. I believe it would be reasonable to think that Peter and the rest of them would continue teaching the gospel (vv. 14-36) in such languages and dialects. But, as you say, maybe not. Either way, Acts 2 makes it evident that the gift of tongues was used in a public assembly of nonbelievers, speaking in known human languages the mighty deeds of God. I appreciate your comments so far.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

@@TopicalBibleStudies Thank you for your kindness too 🙂 I am high functioning autistic so I am quite meticulous and question everything thoroughly, I often get mistaken for being rude or argumentative just because I question things a lot, if I don't know something I will burn the midnight oil until I get the answer 😄 I was part of the WoF movement for a number of years and I have heard and seen the errors of teachings on tongues in all its extremes, your story is familiar to me but thankfully I never came under anyone who taught that salvation is based on tongues, I spoke in tongues after a very simple prayer for salvation and I didn't even know nor was told about tongues, I just spoke in them and found out what happened afterwards praise The Lord. I don't know many people in my Christian circle or at my baptist church who speak in tongues but there is no division between us, it's all good.

[@anointgarcia]

And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect.U SEE IT WASNT DEVIL GIBBERISH IT WAS KNOWN LANGUAGES GET IT RIGHT TOUNGES ARE LANGUAGES THAT R KNOWN JUST READ THE BIBLE VERSE ABOVE

[@anointgarcia]

1 Corinthians 13 1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.TOUNGES ARE KNOWN LANGUAGES NOT SUM UNKNOWN GIBBERISH

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Since you mention previously being a part of the Word of Faith movement, we would love for you to review the videos we did on the subject. Three videos so far. kzbin.info/aero/PLkPnEyD9YpDLyxyKI8wlifSHosPYIdIK1

[@Rosie916Rangi]

What is the 'rushing mighty wind'? Angels sent from God to bring the holy spirit, to give them utterance.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

I speak in tongues as The Spirit wills, I don't understand it nor other people but the bible says "he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh NOT unto men but UNTO God, howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries" which mean tongues are mysterious to men but not God. People who have never spoken in tongues have no authority to speak on the subject especially when they don't read 1 Corinthians 12-14 correctly, also the early church fathers such from 200AD onwards recorded Christians speaking in tongues and miracles. I have heard VERY FEW speak in true tongues sadly, because a lot of people make it up or repeat what someone told them to say, however that doesn't no do away with the real gift of tongues, tongues is not a sign of salvation, it is a sign of being filled with The Holy Spirit, check throughout ACTS, we are ALL born of The Spirit and have The Holy Spirit indwelling us as born again believers but not everybody is FILLED to overflowing.

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

Thank you very much for commenting. Did you watch the entire video? In it, we address every passage the Bible speaks of the gift of tongues, including the ones you cited. We also address in context 1 Corinthians 14:2, which says, "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." We have another follow-up video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPFZmx4iLlgpNU Thank you again. God bless you.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

@@TopicalBibleStudies Thanks for the reply, what did you think of my comment? I will watch the video again for extra clarity 👍

[@TopicalBibleStudies]

I believe you are being quite thoughtful and respectful in your comments, unlike many people on the internet these days. Just because we currently disagree doesn't mean we must attack each other. I really appreciate it.

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

@@TopicalBibleStudies We are brothers in Christ good Sir, I always do my best to be respectful and teachable, i have had my theology upended a few times over the past 32 years 😄i see it as growth, I truly appreciate your spirit towards me too 💯

[@Metamorphfitness-cj8wn]

I hope you and others reading my comments will see that I am not rude or argumentative but take what I say in the meekness, and gentleness that I type this in...the thumbnail is actually my fitness channel so I needed a photo that was appropriate to it, my regular channel has a...softer picture of me 😄