A Series that considers the Gifts given by the Holy Spirit to Believers

This page is one of a number that seeks to provide basic study material for the Christian who wishes to see what the Bible says about the gifts of the Spirit.

Tongues, appearing to have a more limited usage in the New Testament only needs to be considered in a different way from our previous pages. We observe first of all the limited number of times it is recorded as happening in the New Testament, and then go on to the teaching about it, of which there is plenty. Finally we consider why this gift was not observed in the Old Testament or in Jesus.

1. The Gift

Tongues Definition: a supernatural utterance in an unknown language

References to it happening: (In Acts)

•  Clear languages when HS came on them 2:4

•  Declaring wonders of God 2:11

•  Response to HS coming on Gentiles 10:44-46

•  Ditto 19:6

2. Teaching: (In 1 Cor)

•  A gift of the Spirit 12:10

•  Seems to be able to be a ministry 12:28,30

•  Also referred to as tongue of angels 13:1

•  Is speaking to God, i.e. prayer 14:2

•  Is a mystery with the person's spirit 14:2

•  Edifies or builds up the person 14:4

•  Paul wanted all to speak in tongues 14:5

•  It seems that on occasion it can be a revelation, or word of knowledge or prophecy or instruction 14:6 (This doesn't seem good exegesis but it does seem that it has happened in authentic experience - for God to make a specific point to someone. Consider prayer the norm.)

•  In public, pray also for interpretation 14:13

•  We can also sing in tongues 14:15

•  It is praising God 14:16

•  It is giving thanks 14:17

•  Paul spoke in tongues a lot 14:18

•  Tongues were a sign to help people believe, in that they fulfilled prophecy 14:21,22

•  Yet tongues will be considered madness by unbelievers 14:23

•  In a public setting where tongues is spoken out, only 2 or 3 should do it and there should be interpretation 14:27 (Paul speaking in church context)

•  We should not forbid tongues 14:39

•  Yet in public it should be done in an orderly way 14:40

Notes:

•  Tongues is an unknown language released by the Holy Spirit, particularly after a person has been filled with the Spirit.

•  There are historical instances where it proves to be a genuine language.

•  It is (usually) prayer uttered in the Spirit.

•  It is usually praise or thanksgiving in worship, but experience indicates it can be used in warfare praying, probably still praise etc.

•  It can be used any time when you are on your own.

•  When you are in a congregational setting, if it is spoken out to the congregation, it should be interpreted.

•  That interpretation will probably be a prayer of the spirit of that person, a beautiful utterance that touches the hearts & spirits of all the listeners.

•  When someone interprets, the interpretation may follow the exact flow or translation of the original word or it may differ because the interpreter is paraphrasing the word in the Spirit.

•  It seems that one reason for tongues is to allow us to keep on praying when our minds have run out of our own words yet our heart and spirit want to keep on praising.

•  In all things the glory should go to Jesus. Where the attention is drawn to the person speaking, it is detracting from the Spirit's intention.

3. But what about Jesus?

In considering all the other Gifts of the Spirit so far, we have observed such gifts in the Old Testament, in the ministry of Jesus and in the life of the early church as seen in the Acts of the Apostles.

In the case of tongues and interpretation there is no reference to tongues in the Old Testament or in the ministry of Jesus.  Why is this?

a) Absence of Tongues in the Old Testament

No express reason is given but the following is suggested as an answer.  In the Old Testament period, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals on specific occasions and for specific purposes. In the New Testament period, after belief, the Holy Spirit indwells and fills the believer.

We have observed above, that the release of praying in tongues comes as an expression of the filling or overflowing of the Spirit in the individual believer.   Because that did not seem to happen in the Old Testament period, it would thus not have occurred.

b) Absence of Tongues in the Ministry of Jesus.

Jesus on earth was God-man. In ways that deny our understanding He was both fully God and fully man.  Although he regularly prayed, he did not ebb and flow in the Spirit as most Christians do. Similarly he did not need to switch off his mind when he wanted to keep on thanking and praising his Father. Unlike us, he would not come to the end of his vocabulary.

4. And So?

The above two paragraphs are only suggested answers to the absence of tongues in places where the rest of the gifts are obvious. The Bible does not give specific reasons.  All one can say is that tongues and interpretation are Christian experiences to which the New Testament testifies as clearly as any other gift - more so in fact. The fact that we may not understand it should not mean that we write it off.

We simply suggest, if you still have queries, you again read through the notes on the page above.

The need for all the other gifts is still obvious and did not cease with the arrival of the New Testament canon as some suggest.   If that is so, then for similar reasons we would suggest that the need for and use of tongues legitimately has not ceased.