Understanding the Gift, the Confusion, and the Truth
There’s a lot of noise in the church today—emotion, experience, tradition, culture. But at the end of the day, none of it matters if it doesn’t line up with what God’s Word actually says.
What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues?
Not what a denomination says. Not what a preacher says. Not what you experienced in a moment of passion. But what God says in His Word.
I. Tongues in the Beginning — What Actually Happened in Acts?
If you want to understand tongues, don’t start with emotion or modern movements. Start with Scripture. Start with the first time tongues appear—the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:4 – “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Now keep reading:
Acts 2:6 – “And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.”
Acts 2:11 – “…we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
This wasn’t gibberish. This wasn’t private prayer. This was a miracle—real, earthly languages being spoken by people who had never learned them, so that the gospel could be heard by all.
Tongues in the Bible are actual languages with phonetic value and purpose, not mystical syllables or rhythmic chants. That’s not an interpretation—that’s explicitly stated in the Word of God.
II. But What About 1 Corinthians? Isn’t That a Different Kind of Tongue?
This is where many believers get confused.
Paul addresses tongues again in 1 Corinthians 12–14, and some argue that he’s referring to a different kind—something like a private, heavenly prayer language.
But let’s read it in context.
1 Corinthians 14:2 – “For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.”
Many stop here and say, “See? That proves it’s a personal, God-only language.”
But they ignore the next verses, where Paul explains the problem—not a benefit.
1 Corinthians 14:9 – “So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.”
1 Corinthians 14:19 – “Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Paul isn’t promoting mysterious languages. He’s saying: If no one can understand it, sit down.
Tongues were a gift for edification, not personal experience. And without interpretation, they served no purpose in the church body.
III. What Were Tongues, According to the Bible?
Let’s define it biblically:
Tongues were:
- Human languages never learned by the speaker
- Supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit
- Used for evangelism and verification, not emotional display
- A sign for unbelievers, not a tool for spiritual superiority
- Always subject to order and interpretation
1 Corinthians 14:22 – “Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.”
Tongues were never chaotic, never uncontrolled, and never used to validate someone’s spirituality. They were a miraculous tool—not a permanent feature.
IV. Why Were Tongues Given?
Tongues were a sign that confirmed:
- The message being preached was from God
- The messengers were sent by God
- The gospel was crossing language barriers instantly
Hebrews 2:3–4 – “It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
And they were foundational.
Ephesians 2:20 – “[The church is] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
You don’t keep laying a foundation once the building is up. You don’t need scaffolding once the structure is complete. Tongues were scaffolding.
V. Have Tongues Ceased?
Here’s where the debate gets hot—but Scripture is clear.
1 Corinthians 13:8 – “Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
Tongues will cease. The Greek verb used here is in the middle voice, which implies that tongues would cease on their own—not wait for Jesus to return, not wait for heaven.
And history confirms that they did.
By the end of the first century:
- No more mention of tongues in Scripture
- No evidence of tongues in the churches Paul continued to oversee
- Early church fathers (like Chrysostom and Augustine) confirmed the gift was no longer active
Tongues were a temporary gift for a specific purpose, during a specific time.
VI. But Don’t Some Verses Seem to Support Modern Tongues?
Yes—but only if you take them out of context. Let’s walk through a few commonly misused verses:
1. Romans 8:26
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Misused to say: This is a prayer language or speaking in tongues.
Truth:
- The Spirit is the one groaning—not us.
- These are wordless groanings, not mystical syllables.
- It describes God’s intercession, not our speaking.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:1
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love…”
Misused to say: There’s a heavenly angelic prayer language we can speak.
Truth:
- Paul is using hyperbole—exaggerating for effect.
- Just like “if I give my body to be burned”—not a call to martyrdom.
- He’s saying, even if I could, it’s worthless without love.
3. Mark 16:17
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues…”
Misused to say: All believers will speak in tongues.
Truth:
- The passage is textually disputed—not found in earliest manuscripts.
- It says “these signs will accompany”, not that all signs apply to all believers.
- Same list includes picking up snakes and drinking poison. You can’t cherry-pick one.
4. Acts 2, 10, 19
Misused to say: Tongues always follow receiving the Holy Spirit.
Truth:
- These were transitional moments as the gospel spread—Jerusalem, Samaria, Gentiles.
- Not every conversion included tongues. (See Acts 16:31–34.)
- The focus is on the spread of the gospel, not repetition of a formula.
VII. The Modern Imitation: What’s Really Happening Today?
Let’s be blunt: most of what is called “tongues” today doesn’t resemble anything biblical.
- It’s not a known language
- It’s not interpretable
- It’s not orderly
- It doesn’t edify the church
- And often, it’s trained and mimicked
People in the same church often repeat similar rhythmic sounds—not languages. Some are even taught to repeat syllables until it feels right.
That’s not a miracle. That’s a learned behavior.
And worse—some churches teach that tongues are required for salvation.
But Scripture says:
Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Tongues are never presented as the sign of salvation. The Bible teaches that the fruit of the Spirit, not the gifts, are the true evidence of a changed heart.
VIII. So What Does the Bible Actually Say?
- Tongues were real human languages, supernaturally spoken by those who never learned them.
- They were a sign gift, not a spiritual badge.
- They were orderly, interpretable, and purposeful.
- They ceased, just as Scripture said they would.
- And modern tongues—as practiced in many churches—do not match the biblical gift in form, function, or purpose.
Final Word: The Real Evidence of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God is not proven by emotional highs or mystical utterances.
He is proven by transformed lives.
Galatians 5:22–23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
The real miracle is not what comes out of your mouth.
It’s what God does in your heart.