What is “Speaking in Tongues?”

[FredFlanders]

1- The Apostle Paul said “I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all” 1 Cor 14 v 18 ; Paul knew that this heavenly prayer language edified himself into the character of Christ enabling him the preach the Gospel, cast out demons and heal the sick, all the signs Jesus said would follow believers once they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16 v 16-18) Jude 20; Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
2- The person that prays in tongues does not understand with his natural mind. 1 Cor 14 v 14; For if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful.
3- It is a sign to the unbeliever 1 Cor 14 v 22; This was a sign to those not empowered with the Holy Spirit as promised in the NT age.
4- Speaking in tongues allows us to pray in the Spirit. 1 Cor 14 v 14; When I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth.
5- Speaking in tongues helps our weaknesses and intercedes in the perfect language to God to direct us according to God’s will; Rom 8 v 26
6- After the Book of Acts all the Books were written to those empowered with the Holy Spirit.

[BoranJarami]

1- The Apostle Paul said “I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all” 1 Cor 14v 18 ; Paul knew that this heavenly prayer language edified himself into the character of Christ enabling him the preach the Gospel, cast out demons and heal the sick, all the signs Jesus said would follow believers once they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16v 16-18) Jude 20; Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

I'm afraid I don't follow you here. Where in the Bible does it say that speaking in tongues allows us to perform other miracles?

Jude 20 does not mention tongues, it refers to praying in the Holy Ghost. These are not the same thing. On the contrary, Paul warns us against praying in tongues (I Corinthians 14:14-22).

2- The person that prays in tongues does not understand with his natural mind. 1 Cor 14v 14; For if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful.

Which can be said of any earthly language that we do not understand.

By the way, "unknown" is not actually in the Greek and "tongues" comes from the Greek that means languages that have not been learned. So, it is "For if I pray in a language that I have not learned my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful.

3- It is a sign to the unbeliever 1 Cor 14v 22; This was a sign to those not empowered with the Holy Spirit as promised in the NT age.

And if you recall from Acts 2, this is a sign in that unbelievers are able to hear the gospel in their own (earthly) language.

4- Speaking in tongues allows us to pray in the Spirit. 1 Cor 14v 14; When I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth.

Any prayers made in spirit are in spirit. This verse does not claim that praying in the spirit is exclusive to praying in tongues. Nor does this verse claim that it is the tongues that allow us to pray in spirit. In fact this verse is warning against praying in tongues because we cannot comprehend what we are saying (hence it says that it it unfruitful). Just a few couple verses later we are told that tongues is for the benefit of unbelievers, not believers. Think about it.

5- Speaking in tongues helps our weaknesses and intercedes in the perfect language to God to direct us according to God’s will; Rom 8v 26

This verse does not mention tongues. In fact, it talks specifically about something that cannot be spoken. Tongues are spoken.

6- After the Book of Acts all the Books were written to those empowered with the Holy Spirit.

Yes, but what does this have to do with tongues?

[FredFlanders]

BJ,
Speaking in tongues was the Biblical evidence some one had been empowered with the Holy Spirit. This is my experience as well and thousands of other Christians today. When we are empowered with the Holy Spirit we receive all the other gifts as well. Speaking in the prayer language builds up our faith and confidence to exercise these gifts, as well as receive revelation of God’s word and direction in our life. This is the same experience the Apostle Paul had.
Speaking in tongues is fundamental to our walk and growth in Jesus. All believers can receive this empowerment of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.
Many believers receive by them selves but usually they receive when praying with another believer who has the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Paul said in Tim 4 v 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery.
BJ I see that you have tried to put other explanations to speaking in tongues but they can only explained by those that actually exercise the gift.
Fred.

[BoranJarami]

If speaking in tongues is essential to our walk and growth in Jesus why does the Bible say that not all Christians receive this gift (I Corinthians 12:10)? I cannot speak of your experiences or the experiences of thousands of others. What I can speak of is the Word of God. Experiences can be deception or misunderstood but the Word of God is eternal and without error.

This is what the scriptures have to say about speaking in tongues:

- Tongues simply refers to languages. (Acts 2:4) [the Greek translated as tongues here (and elsewhere)is glossa which means a physical tongue or a language. In this case it is plural. The word "unknown" which often accompanies the word "tongues" in scripture is not actually from the Greek. It is simply added in.]

- The languages are earthly languages (Acts 2) [Everyone heard the gospel in their own language but to some it sounded like drunk babbling. This only makes since if each was speaking in a different language so that a person that knew Greek would understand the one speaking Greek but not the others speaking other languages (thus sounding like drunken babbling)]

- Speaking in languages is a special gift from God (I Corinthians 12:7-11)

-Speaking in languages is not given to every believer (I Corinthians 12:7-11) [some are given the gift of languages while others are given other gifts]

-Speaking in languages is a gift to be used for unbelievers (I Corinthians 14:22)

Speaking in languages is used to share the gospel (Acts 2) [Tongues were spoken to share the gospel with unbelievers]

-Speaking in languages is without profit unless it communicates revelation, testimony, prophecy, or doctrine. (I Corinthians 14:6)

-Speaking in languages is without profit if no one can interpret (I Corinthians 14:28)

-Speaking in tongues is not for prayer (I Corinthians 14:14) [Praying in tongues my be in Spirit, but it is unfruitful for us because we don't even understand what we are saying. It is far better to be praying in spirit with our own language]

In short, speaking in languages (tongues) is a gift from God to be able to speak the language of a person (that we apparently didn't learn) in order to share the gospel with them.

This is what the Word of God says. If I am wrong on this then I am willing to listen to correction from the scriptures.

[Abelard]

1- The Apostle Paul said “I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all” 1 Cor 14 v 18

You left out the rest of the sentence.

...nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
(1Corinthians 14:19 NRSV)

[undead]

BJ,
Speaking in tongues was the Biblical evidence some one had been empowered with the Holy Spirit.

OK. But it was no more than "evidence." It wasn' t the only evidence, for not even Christ spake in tongues, yet clearly he was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

This is my experience as well and thousands of other Christians today. When we are empowered with the Holy Spirit we receive all the other gifts as well.

No. That is not true. Many of those who speak in tongues have no other gift that I can discern, and many are disobedient too. In fact it is sometimes the case that tongue speakers are the most doctrinally deficient in knowledge and understanding.

Speaking in the prayer language builds up our faith and confidence to exercise these gifts, as well as receive revelation of God’s word and direction in our life. This is the same experience the Apostle Paul had.
Speaking in tongues is fundamental to our walk and growth in Jesus.

You're making this up. I know of no bible verse that says it.

All believers can receive this empowerment of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.
Many believers receive by them selves but usually they receive when praying with another believer who has the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Many believers don't want to speak in tongues as they would prefer to use their mind instead.

[FredFlanders]

BJ & Abelard,
Paul was saying in Cor 14 that "speaking in tongues" is little benefit in a Church meeting because no one can understand the meaning so it should be done 2 or 3 times and interpreted by the Spirit for a sign to the unbeliever (or those who have not received he Holy Spirit) However in private Paul said he thanked God he prayed in tongues more than you ALL, 1 Cor 14 v 18-19 as Paul knew “Praying in the Spirit” edified himself and enabled him to walk and grow in the things of Christ. We are told God is a Spirit and we must “Worship Him in Spirit and Truth” 1 Cor 14 v 14 says “when I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth.”
Every believer can speak in tongues and is easily activated by faith. Some times it happens by yourself but usually when another believer prays with you.
Fred.

[FredFlanders]

Undead,
True, Jesus did not speak in tongues as he was word perfect. Speaking in tongues was given to believers after his resurrection to help us pray in a perfect language. Rom 8 v 26-28.
Speaking in tongues is essential for your walk and growth in Christ but does not guarantee salvation. When we receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we still have the choice to be led by the Holy Spirit or deny God. There will be my people who speak in tongues who will not be in the resurrection. “Many will be called, but few will be chosen.” To truly know the Love of God and to be able to pass it on to others, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is again essential. If “speaking in tongue’ believers are not walking in the fruit of the Spirit then that is a sign that they are not being led by the Spirit but we are not here to condemn such a one but help them back on track and understand how to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
All “Speaking in tongue” Christians have the empowerment to operate all the gifts by faith but many don’t and many do. Again not to condemn anyone as new believers grow and understand what God has given them they activate the gifts more ubundantly.
There are many miracles that seem strange in the Bible but God did them for a purpose. “Speaking in tongues” is one of those strange miracles, but not for those that have received.
Undead, Mark 16 v 16-20 states Jesus saying “Believers would speak in tongues”, So why not believe what Jesus said?
Fred.

[BoranJarami]

BJ & Abelard,
Paul was saying in Cor 14that "speaking in tongues" is little benefit in a Church meeting because no one can understand the meaning so it should be done 2 or 3 times and interpreted by the Spirit for a sign to the unbeliever (or those who have not received he Holy Spirit)

A sign of what? This was not something that simply said "hay look at God's power" Speaking in languages was used to communicate the gospel (Acts 2). Interpreters were only needed if the audience didn't understand the language. In the case of acts it is clear that no such interpreter was needed. The audience was hearing the gospel in their own languages.

However in private Paul said he thanked God he prayed in tongues more than you ALL, 1 Cor 14v 18-19 as Paul knew “Praying in the Spirit” edified himself and enabled him to walk and grow in the things of Christ. We are told God is a Spirit and we must “Worship Him in Spirit and Truth” 1 Cor 14v 14 says “when I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth.”

- I Corinthians 14:18-19 says nothing about praying in tongues. It specifically talks about speaking in tongues.

-Where do you get that talking in tongues enables us to walk and grow in the things of Christ? As far as I am aware this is never mentioned in the Bible.

-Yes, God is a spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth, but we are never told that praying in tongues is the only way to do this. I Corinthians 14:14 does not teach this. You might as well say that since you can breath while climbing a mountain that climbing a mountain is they only way you can breath.

Every believer can speak in tongues and is easily activated by faith. Some times it happens by yourself but usually when another believer prays with you.
Fred.

I Corinthians 12:6-11 tells us that this is not true.

"And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all. But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He desires."
(1 Corinthians 12:6-11)

We do not all have the same gifts. Some have the gift of tongues, but some do not. If this is not true, then show me through the scriptures.

[TyRockwell]

If speaking in tongues is essential to our walk and growth in Jesus why does the Bible say that not all Christians receive this gift (I Corinthians 12:10)? I cannot speak of your experiences or the experiences of thousands of others. What I can speak of is the Word of God. Experiences can be deception or misunderstood but the Word of God is eternal and without error.

This is what the scriptures have to say about speaking in tongues:

- Tongues simply refers to languages. (Acts 2:4) [the Greek translated as tongues here (and elsewhere)is glossa which means a physical tongue or a language. In this case it is plural. The word "unknown" which often accompanies the word "tongues" in scripture is not actually from the Greek. It is simply added in.]

- The languages are earthly languages (Acts 2) [Everyone heard the gospel in their own language but to some it sounded like drunk babbling. This only makes since if each was speaking in a different language so that a person that knew Greek would understand the one speaking Greek but not the others speaking other languages (thus sounding like drunken babbling)]

- Speaking in languages is a special gift from God (I Corinthians 12:7-11)

-Speaking in languages is not given to every believer (I Corinthians 12:7-11) [some are given the gift of languages while others are given other gifts]

-Speaking in languages is a gift to be used for unbelievers (I Corinthians 14:22)

Speaking in languages is used to share the gospel (Acts 2) [Tongues were spoken to share the gospel with unbelievers]

-Speaking in languages is without profit unless it communicates revelation, testimony, prophecy, or doctrine. (I Corinthians 14:6)

-Speaking in languages is without profit if no one can interpret (I Corinthians 14:28)

-Speaking in tongues is not for prayer (I Corinthians 14:14) [Praying in tongues my be in Spirit, but it is unfruitful for us because we don't even understand what we are saying. It is far better to be praying in spirit with our own language]

In short, speaking in languages (tongues) is a gift from God to be able to speak the language of a person (that we apparently didn't learn) in order to share the gospel with them.

This is what the Word of God says. If I am wrong on this then I am willing to listen to correction from the scriptures.

You do not know what you are talking about.

[TyRockwell]

OK. But it was no more than "evidence." It wasn' t the only evidence, for not even Christ spake in tongues, yet clearly he was empowered by the Holy Spirit.



No. That is not true. Many of those who speak in tongues have no other gift that I can discern, and many are disobedient too. In fact it is sometimes the case that tongue speakers are the most doctrinally deficient in knowledge and understanding.


You're making this up. I know of no bible verse that says it.


Many believers don't want to speak in tongues as they would prefer to use their mind instead.

You do not know what you are talking about.

[BoranJarami]

You do not know what you are talking about.

Then please enlighten us.

[TyRockwell]

Originally posted by TyRockwell
You do not know what you are talking about.

Then please enlighten us.

Trying to make a someone who is not Spirit-filled (which is not the same as Spirit indwelt, like you), understand, is like trying to describe colors to a person who was born blind.

[BoranJarami]

Trying to make a someone who is not Spirit-filled (which is not the same as Spirit indwelt, like you), understand, is like trying to describe colors to a person who was born blind.

I am filled with the Holy Ghost and I have spoken in "unknown tongues". The Holy Ghost, however, has shown be through the scriptures what the true gift of speaking in tongues is and what my "unknown tongues" was. I am sure of this, but I am also willing to admit that as a human I may still have gotten things wrong.

The word of God is the test of all doctrines and prophecies. By it we test all spirits that move us. I implore you to show me in the word of God where I am wrong that I may live in truthful knowledge.

"Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
(2 Timothy 2:15)

Here is your time and hour. Rightly divide the Word of Truth. Show me where I am wrong in the Word of God. Show me where your doctrine is true. The Bible is the standard of truth on this matter, not personal experiences that can be misleading or misunderstood. If you cannot do this, then I see no purpose in this dialog.

[TyRockwell]

I am filled with the Holy Ghost and I have spoken in "unknown tongues". The Holy Ghost, however, has shown be through the scriptures what the true gift of speaking in tongues is and what my "unknown tongues" was. I am sure of this, but I am also willing to admit that as a human I may still have gotten things wrong.

The word of God is the test of all doctrines and prophecies. By it we test all spirits that move us. I implore you to show me in the word of God where I am wrong that I may live in truthful knowledge.

"Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
(2 Timothy 2:15)

Here is your time and hour. Rightly divide the Word of Truth. Show me where I am wrong in the Word of God. Show me where your doctrine is true. The Bible is the standard of truth on this matter, not personal experiences that can be misleading or misunderstood. If you cannot do this, then I see no purpose in this dialog.

You need to understand the connection between "praying with the spirit," and "praying with a tongue."

You can pray with the spirit without praying in tongues. But if you are praying in tongues you are praying with the spirit.

Paul said, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." 1st Cor. 14:14-15