The Gift of Tongues: A Comprehensive Study

Purpose: In this study, we will define the gift of tongues and explore the biblical precedent for this gift. 

We will:

• Discuss how this gift is received according to the book of Acts and prophesied by Jesus

• Outline both private and public usage and the purpose of both according to Paul

• Answer the question of what Old Testament curse this gift solves

• List FAQs and provide answers

Focus Passages: Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 14, Genesis 11

What is the Gift of Tongues? 

Separate from the gift of interpretation of tongues, this is a gift given by the Holy Spirit in which the Christ follower is supernaturally empowered to speak/pray/sing in a non-native language. Like any gift, it’s something that’s given, but unlike a natural language, it’s not learned. 

Greek: glossolalia 

From Prophecy to Fulfillment 

Related Prophecies

• John the Baptist, who baptized with water, prophesied that the Messiah would baptize His people with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11). We’ll see later the pattern of people getting baptized into the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues at the same time. 

• Jesus said that one of the signs following believers would be speaking in “new tongues” (Mark 16:17).

• Acts 1:5 - Jesus said to wait in Jerusalem until they’re baptized with the Holy Spirit.

• Alluded to briefly in Isaiah 28:11, later quoted by Paul when speaking of the gift. “For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to His people.”

Instances of Fulfillment

• Acts 2: Primarily fulfilled in Acts 2 at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit fell on those in the upper room and they started speaking languages of people groups all around the region. Peter later preached the gospel to the marveling crowd. Thousands repent and are saved. 

• Acts 8:9-17 (indirectly mentioned): Clear distinction made between believers who had been baptized in Jesus name, but the Holy Spirit hadn’t fallen on them yet. An ex-sorcerer now believer wanted to pay Peter and John for the Holy Spirit because of the signs that came with it (possibly speaking in tongues & prophesying like other instances?) 

• Acts 10: The first documented Gentiles getting baptized in the Spirit and speaking in tongues. Then they got baptized in water. 

• Acts 19:1-6: Paul baptizes followers of John the Baptist in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit falls on them and they speak in tongues and prophesy.

How to Receive this Gift

ASK. Jesus Himself gives you permission to pursue Him for this, and Paul reiterates it. 

Luke 11:13: “If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, then how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 

1 Corinthians 14:1: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts … “ 

Other verses to build your faith to ask and believe He will give you this gift: 

Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 12:32, John 14:26, John 16:15, Romans 8:32, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Acts 10:34-35.

How to Use It

No spiritual compulsion needed—you can speak in tongues whenever you want, but use discretion. Remember that the goal is always edification, both of yourself and those around you (1 Corinthians 14:12). All the gifts, including tongues, must be used from a place of LOVE, or Paul says it’s futile. 

• Public Function & Use: Paul strongly recommends that someone be there to interpret so other people can understand what’s being said and they can be edified. Even though he spoke in tongues often, he saw the gift of prophecy as more practical because it didn’t need to be interpreted. Interpretation is a separate gift of the Spirit, but tongues can be interpreted without the gift in instances where your particular prayer language happens to be the native language of someone around you. See all of 1 Corinthians 14 for Paul’s protocols and reasons behind them. 

• Private Function & Use: when used privately, it’s unto personal edification, despite not knowing what you’re praying.

  • 1 Cor. 14:2: You speak in tongues unto God, “uttering mysteries in the Spirit.”

  • 1 Cor. 14:4: “The one who speaks in tongues edifies himself …”

  • 1 Cor. 14:15: In context, Paul calls praying in tongues “praying in the Spirit” and confirms that he does so without understanding what he’s saying. 

  • Jude 1:20: Jude encourages believers to “pray in the Spirit” to build your faith.

Old Testament Connection: Reversing the Curse of Divided Languages

Curse reversals are a common theme where curses or judgements enacted in the Old Testament are reversed/satisfied/dealt with in the New Testament. The curse of the law (first Pentecost) being satisfied in Christ and being replaced with the law of the Spirit of life (NT Pentecost) isn’t the only reversal. The Tower of Babel incident of Genesis 11 was also reversed through the pouring out of the gift of tongues. 

Genesis 11 Tower of Babel Incident:

• This was a structure built for religious purposes (a ziggurat) in which this group was trying to control God and “make a name for themselves.” They wanted God on their terms.

• God’s judgement was dividing the languages to split up this group into different nations, and then assigning lesser gods to these nations 

• We learn in Deut 32:8-9 that He divided mankind “according to the number of the sons of God” which are lesser Elohim, and he took Israel as His inheritance, despite being a small, weak nation (Deut 7:7-8).

Acts 2 Pentecost Incident:

• God comes on HIS terms, appointing a time and place for ~300 people to encounter Him in an upper room in Jerusalem.

• Holy Spirit came down and they started speaking in “other tongues.”

• The nations God originally divided at Babel were celebrating Pentecost in Jerusalem and instead of the languages being used to divide nations, the Lord is using language here to reunite the nations under the Lordship of Jesus by His Spirit. Not only was this a sign to the people at Pentecost, but it was an announcement to the principalities and powers of these nations that God was taking mankind back out from under their jurisdiction to advance His kingdom. Game over. 

FAQs

Q: Am I less of a Christian if I don’t have the gift of tongues?

A: NO. Paul asks rhetorically “Do all speak in tongues?” implying that not all speak in tongues (1 Cor 12:30) but there’s unity in the diversity of our spiritual gifts and callings as the Body of Christ. One is not less than the other. Remember also that when Jesus sent out the 70 (or 72) in Luke 10, they were preaching the gospel with signs and wonders before the Pentecost event. 

Q: How do I receive this gift?

A: Again, just ask and keep asking until He gives it to you. It could take a day, months, even years (like it did for me), but whatever the case, don’t get discouraged and don’t give up if you really want this gift. Ask and believe!

Q: Can people fake it?

A: Unfortunately, yes. This causes people to discount the gift all together, but just because counterfeits exist doesn’t mean we disregard that which is true along with it. 

Q: Can I speak in tongues at will?

A: Yes. Paul expressed this saying “I WILL pray with the Spirit, and I WILL pray with understanding (1 Cor 14:15). Then again, there will be times where it just comes out, like the first time you speak in tongues, or at key moments where the Lord really wants to speak to someone near you in their native language. He doesn’t control you, but you give Him the control at will. 

Q: Did this gift cease?

A: This a common argument used in the cessationist camp who believe that this gift, along with all spiritual gifts, have ceased. This is based on a misunderstanding 1 Cor 13:18 where Paul mentions “tongues will cease,” but that “love never fails.” In context, he actually means that all gifts of the spirit will eventually become obsolete, as in, when we get to heaven, but love will never become obsolete. You can be assured that as long as the gospel needs to be preached, and as long as the church needs to be edified, then signs and wonders will continue to follow, including the gift of tongues. Also, we saw that this gift wasn’t limited to just the apostles, but was given to Gentiles (us) also. We see no indication of this ceasing in their lifetime or ours. 

Q: Does it have to be interpreted every time in order for tongues to be legitimate?

A: This is a common misunderstanding. Tongues don’t have to be interpreted for them to be personally edifying, but Paul recommends that they be interpreted for others so that they can be edified. He even says “if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, wouldn’t they say you’re out of your mind?” (1 Cor 14:23). He’s right! At the same time, he says to not forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:39). Just use it wisely. 

Q: What does it sound like?

A: Everyone who speaks in tongues sounds different. The Lord could give me one language, and you another, and whatever you receive might morph and change at different times. There were times where my language sounded Chinese, but some of the words I’ve caught myself using are Hebrew and Spanish. 

Q: Do you think before you speak in tongues, like thinking before you speak in a native language?

A: Interestingly, no. I have no idea what I’m saying, so I’m bypassing the use of my brain. I don’t “think,” I just “do.” It’s difficult to explain, but it’s easier to speak in tongues than to speak my native language in my opinion. 

Q: I have the gift. How often should I use it?

A: As much as possible, not to show it off, but for personal edification. This is literally the Holy Spirit praying through you the perfect will of God (Romans 8:26-27). You can pray in the Spirit too little, but never too much.

Q: Can demons understand what I’m saying?

A: Some have this question, and the truth is, we don’t know definitively. The Bible doesn’t say, but I’ve heard stories of ministers praying in tongues during a deliverance session and the demon manifesting said “STOP, STOP—I CAN’T UNDERSTAND YOU WHEN YOU DO THAT!” They seem to get really agitated with the use of this gift in my experience and other experiences I’ve heard.