What Is the Gift of Speaking in Tongues? Is It for Today? What About Praying in Tongues?
The gift of speaking in tongues has been debated across Christian traditions for centuries. The Bible describes tongues as Spirit-enabled speech, sometimes involving unlearned human languages and potentially even languages of angels. Paul writes about tongues as a real and recognizable practice in the early church. His readers understood it as a form of supernatural speech, often unintelligible without interpretation. Christians today continue to ask what the gift of speaking in tongues is, whether it remains active, and how praying in tongues fits into the life of the church. The New Testament offers clarity on the nature, purpose, and limits of this spiritual gift, grounding it in the work of the Holy Spirit and the call to edify the church.
The Nature of the Gift of Speaking in Tongues
When the Bible speaks about the gift of tongues, it uses the word glōssa, which simply means “language” or “tongue.” In the New Testament, the gift includes speaking in unlearned languages empowered by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 provides the clearest example, where believers spoke in the native languages of people gathered in Jerusalem. Yet Paul seems to refer to additional forms of tongues that are not immediately recognizable as human language.
A Known Spiritual Phenomenon
Paul’s early readers did not need an explanation of tongues. They already knew what it was. Speaking in tongues was familiar in the Christian community and perhaps in some broader religious environments. Paul acknowledges its legitimacy and spiritual value, showing that the gift was real and not merely psychological or emotional.
Human Languages—and Possibly Angelic Ones
Paul says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels” (1 Corinthians 13:1). This suggests that tongues may include supernatural human languages or possibly heavenly ones. The precise nature of each instance is not the point; Paul’s concern is the purpose, order, and edification of the church.
A Spirit-Enabled Expression
Tongues are not self-generated. They arise from the Spirit’s work in the believer. Paul explains that the one who speaks in tongues “utters mysteries in the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). This ties the gift directly to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit.
The Purpose of Tongues in the Life of the Church
The Bible consistently emphasizes that spiritual gifts, including tongues, exist to build up the church. Tongues can edify the speaker, but their public use requires interpretation.
Tongues as Prayer, Praise, and Celebration
Paul acknowledges the value of praying in tongues. He describes tongues as a way of celebrating divine mysteries, praising God, and interceding. When someone prays in tongues, “his spirit prays,” even if his mind is unfruitful (1 Corinthians 14:14). This shows that tongues can serve as a deeply personal form of worship and dependence on God.
The Need for Interpretation
Paul insists that when tongues occur in a public gathering, they must be interpreted. Without interpretation, the church gains no understanding. The goal of every gift is edification, and uninterpreted tongues do not achieve this. Therefore, Paul instructs the one speaking in tongues to remain silent in the assembly unless an interpreter is present (1 Corinthians 14:28).
Avoiding Confusion and Disorder
The gift of tongues can be misused. Paul warns against an obsession with spiritual spectacle. If the church becomes fascinated with extraordinary manifestations, it may lose sight of the Spirit’s steady work of shaping holiness, unity, obedience, and Christlikeness. Tongues are valuable, but they are not the highest measure of spiritual maturity.
Are Tongues for Today?
Christians disagree about whether tongues continue today. Some claim that miraculous gifts ended after the apostolic age, while others believe that all gifts of the Spirit remain active. The debate often centers on theological assumptions rather than explicit biblical teaching.
No Biblical Statement That Tongues Have Ceased
The Bible never gives a clear declaration that tongues—or any spiritual gifts—have ended. Claims that the gifts have ceased are theological conclusions, not scriptural statements. Paul says that tongues will cease “when the perfect comes” (1 Corinthians 13:10), a moment associated with seeing Christ “face to face” and knowing fully. This points to the final resurrection and renewal, not the close of the apostolic era.
The Spirit Still Gives Gifts as He Wills
Paul emphasizes that the Spirit distributes gifts to each believer “as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). No text restricts this distribution to the first century. If the Spirit remains active in the church, the gifts remain possible.
Tongues as a Gift—Not a Requirement
Some have taught that Spirit baptism always produces speaking in tongues. This has little biblical support. In the New Testament, tongues appear in some conversion accounts but not all. Paul asks rhetorically, “Do all speak in tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30), expecting the answer no. Tongues are a gift—not a universal requirement.
Tongues Should Be Practiced with Wisdom
If tongues continue today, they should follow Paul’s guidelines:
Used for prayer and personal edification
Used publicly only when interpreted
Exercised with humility and restraint
Evaluated based on whether they build up the church
This keeps the focus on edification rather than display.
Praying in Tongues and the Private Life of the Believer
Paul speaks positively about praying in tongues as a private practice. He says, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18), suggesting personal use even outside gathered worship.
A Form of Prayer When Words Fail
Praying in tongues can serve as a way to express dependence on God when emotions, burdens, or limitations in language make articulate prayer difficult. Paul describes this as praying “in the spirit,” which can supplement but not replace praying with understanding.
Edification of the Individual
Tongues can strengthen the believer’s inner life. “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4). This is not selfish; it is a recognition that the Spirit ministers to individuals as well as to the church. This personal edification can fuel worship, perseverance, and intimacy with God.
Still Under the Lordship of Christ
Even private prayer in tongues should reflect devotion to Christ. It must not become a badge of superiority. Paul’s teaching keeps tongues grounded in humility, submission, and the larger calling to love God and neighbor.
Conclusion
The gift of speaking in tongues is a real and complex spiritual phenomenon described in the Bible. It can involve supernatural human languages or possibly heavenly ones. Paul affirms its value, especially as a form of personal prayer and praise, but he insists that public use must be orderly and interpreted to build up the church. The New Testament does not teach that tongues have ceased, nor that they are required for every believer. The gift must be evaluated not by its unusual nature but by its ability to strengthen the church and align with the Spirit’s work of transforming believers. Praying in tongues can be a meaningful expression of worship and dependence, provided it remains rooted in love, humility, and obedience. The gift of tongues matters because it reflects the Spirit’s presence—but the Spirit’s presence is measured ultimately by the fruit of transformed lives.
Bible Verses Related to Speaking in Tongues
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues” (Acts 2:4).
“One who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God” (1 Corinthians 14:2).
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
“The Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
“Do all speak in tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30).
“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4).
“Let there be only two or three at most” (1 Corinthians 14:27).
“If there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent” (1 Corinthians 14:28).
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18).
“The manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
