Table of Contents
What is Speaking in Tongues in the Bible?
Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is spoken about in 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and many other passages of scriptures including the Book of Acts.
We know that it was given when the Apostle's laid their hands on people to receive Holy Spirit Baptism and ofcourse most notably with the tongues of fire reference in the upper room as many followers of the Lord Jesus waited for the promised Holy Spirit.
We've provided one of the most used scriptures below on speaking in tongues.
This gift is still active today as the Lord Jesus, the Perfect, has not yet come (returned), but He will!
| Aspect / Question | Scriptural Evidence | Scholarly Commentary | Theological Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition / Nature | 1 Corinthians 12–14; Acts 2:1–13 | Scholars maintain two primary types: xenolalia (known human languages) and glossolalia (spiritual languages). Fee and Carson note Paul’s description focuses largely on glossolalia. | Establishes tongues as a Spirit-enabled vocal expression with diverse forms and purposes. |
| Pentecost Event | Acts 2:1–13 | Most scholars (e.g., Keener, Dunn) agree Acts 2 describes known human languages understood by foreigners—xenolalia. | Demonstrates the Spirit’s power to communicate the gospel across linguistic barriers. |
| Corinthian Practice | 1 Corinthians 12–14 | Paul addresses chaotic glossolalia; emphasizes intelligibility and edification. Fee: tongues = Spirit-inspired utterance not naturally understood. | Clarifies purpose: tongues must build up the church; interpretation required in gatherings. |
| Gift as Prayer / Praise | 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14–15 | Scholars interpret tongues as private prayer language and worship. Dunn and Turner: tongues often function devotional rather than declarative. | Highlights tongues as communion with God; strengthens the believer internally. |
| Interpretation of Tongues | 1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:5, 13, 27–28 | Interpretation seen as a separate but related gift enabling the community to understand glossolalic speech (Carson). | Ensures tongues contribute to communal edification and order in worship. |
| Sign for Unbelievers | 1 Corinthians 14:21–22 (citing Isaiah 28:11) | Scholars see this as Paul linking tongues to divine judgment or authentication of God’s activity, not evangelism. | Shows tongues can function symbolically, pointing to God’s presence or judgment. |
| Continuity in Acts | Acts 10:44–48; Acts 19:1–7 | Tongues occur in distinct moments marking Spirit-reception in new groups (Jews, Gentiles, John’s disciples). | Demonstrates tongues as signs of inclusion into the new covenant community. |
| Early Church Witness | Irenaeus (Against Heresies), Tertullian (Against Marcion) | Early Christian writers report tongues continuing into the 2nd–3rd centuries. Scholars (Ferguson) view these as similar to New Testament glossolalia. | Shows tongues were not limited to the apostolic era in early Christian practice. |
| Cessationist View | —— | Cessationist scholars (Warfield, MacArthur) argue tongues ceased after the apostolic age; tied to authentication of apostles. | Highlights historical-theological debate on whether tongues continue today. |
| Continuationist View | —— | Continuationists (Grudem, Fee, Keener) maintain tongues continued historically and remain active gifts today. | Emphasizes ongoing Spirit empowerment and charismatic experience. |
| Psychological / Linguistic Studies | —— | Modern studies (Goodman, Samarin) show glossolalia is not a known human language but patterned speech influenced by culture and spirituality. | Supports understanding tongues as a Spirit-influenced vocal behavior beyond normal linguistic rules. |
Scripture on Tongues and other gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Gifts of The Spirit Scripture
1 Corinthians 14:1-19 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 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. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; [a]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without [b]significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a [c]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are [d]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the [e]edification of the church that you seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Reference:
Primary & Biblical Studies Sources
Fee, Gordon D. God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Hendrickson, 1994.
Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT). Eerdmans, 1987.
Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC). Eerdmans, 2000.
Chrysostom, John. Homilies on First Corinthians. (Early testimony on tongues having ceased in his time.)
Calvin, John. Commentary on 1 Corinthians. (Historic Reformed interpretation of tongues.)
Dunn, James D. G. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. SCM Press, 1970.
Dunn, James D. G. Jesus and the Spirit. Eerdmans, 1975.
Turner, Max. The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: In the New Testament Church and Today. Baker, 1998.
Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, Vols. 1–4. Baker Academic, 2012–2015.
Keener, Craig S. Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts. Baker, 2011.
Marshall, I. Howard. Acts (TNTC). Eerdmans, 1980.
Monographs on Glossolalia
Samarin, William J. Tongues of Men and Angels: The Religious Language of Pentecostalism. Macmillan, 1972.
Goodman, Felicitas D. Speaking in Tongues: A Cross-Cultural Study of Glossolalia. University of Chicago Press, 1972.
Menzies, Robert P. Empowered for Witness: The Spirit in Luke–Acts. Sheffield Academic Press, 1994.
Menzies, William W. Understanding the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Zondervan, 1971.
Stronstad, Roger. The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke. Hendrickson, 1984.
Pentecostal/Charismatic Studies
Arrington, French L. The Acts of the Apostles: An Exegetical and Practical Commentary. Bridge-Logos, 1999.
Macchia, Frank D. Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology. Zondervan, 2006.
Yong, Amos. The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh. Baker Academic, 2005.
Hollenweger, Walter J. The Pentecostals. Hendrickson, 1972.
Cessationist & Reformed Works
Warfield, B. B. Counterfeit Miracles. Scribner’s, 1918.
MacArthur, John. Strange Fire. Thomas Nelson, 2013.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan, 1994. (Continuationist but evaluates cessationist arguments.)
Journal Articles
Bittlinger, Arnold. “Speaking in Tongues in the New Testament.” Concilium 8 (1965).
Atkinson, William. “Glossolalia, Linguistics, and Related Issues.” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 13 (1998).
Fee, Gordon D. “Toward a Hermeneutic of 1 Corinthians 12–14.” Charisma & Christian Life Foundation, 2002.
Turner, Max. “What Was the Gift of Tongues?” Tyndale Bulletin 49.1 (1998): 113–119.
Samarin, William. “The Linguistic Context of Glossolalia.” Secondary Linguistics Journal, 1972.
Historical and Patristic Studies
Kydd, Ronald A. N. Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church. Hendrickson, 1984.
Origen. Against Celsus. (References to early Christian spiritual gifts.)
Irenaeus. Against Heresies. (Some of the earliest Christian references to charismatic gifts.)
