Speaking in tongues Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Christianity== ===Theological explanations=== In [[Christianity]], a supernatural explanation for glossolalia is advocated by some and rejected by others. Proponents of each viewpoint use the biblical writings and historical arguments to support their positions. * '''Glossolalists''' could, apart from those practicing glossolalia, also mean all those Christians who believe that the Pentecostal/charismatic glossolalia practiced today is the "speaking in tongues" described in the New Testament. They believe that it is a miraculous [[charism]] or [[spiritual gift]]. Glossolalists claim that these tongues can be both real, unlearned languages (i.e., [[xenoglossia]])<ref name=grudem1994p1070>{{Cite book|first=Wayne A. |last=Grudem |author-link=Wayne Grudem |title=Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine |publisher=[[Inter-Varsity Press]] |location=[[Leicester]] |year=1994 |page=1070 |isbn=978-0851106526 |oclc=29952151}}</ref><ref name=ag-baptism2000>{{cite web|author=General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God |date=11 August 2000 |title=The Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The Initial Experience and Continuing Evidences of the Spirit-Filled Life |url=http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4185_spirit-filled_life.pdf |publisher=[[General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States]] |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217141421/http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4185_spirit-filled_life.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2008 }}</ref> as well as a "language of the spirit", a "heavenly language", or perhaps the [[Angelic tongues|language of angels]].<ref name=grudem1994p1072>{{Cite book|first=Wayne A. |last=Grudem |author-link=Wayne Grudem |title=Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine |publisher=[[Inter-Varsity Press]] |location=[[Leicester]] |year=1994 |page=1072 |isbn=978-0851106526 |oclc=29952151}}</ref> * '''[[cessationism|Cessationists]]''' believe that all the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased to occur early in Christian history, and therefore that the speaking in tongues as practiced by Charismatic Christians is the learned utterance of non-linguistic syllables. According to this belief, it is neither xenoglossia nor miraculous, but rather taught behavior, possibly self-induced. These believe that what the New Testament described as "speaking in tongues" was xenoglossia, a miraculous spiritual gift through which the speaker could communicate in natural languages not previously studied. *A third position claims that glossolalia does exist, but it is a form of [[prelest]], not the "speaking in tongues" described in the New Testament. It believes glossolalia is part of a mediumistic technique where practitioners are manifesting genuine spiritual power, but this power is not necessarily of the Holy Spirit.<ref name=Rose1997/> * A fourth position conceivably exists, which believes the practice of "glossolalia" to be a folk practice and different from the legitimate New Testament spiritual gift of speaking/interpreting real languages. It is therefore not out of a belief that "miracles have ceased" (i.e., cessationism) that causes this group to discredit the supernatural origins of particular modern expressions of "glossolalia", but it is rather out of a belief that glossolalists have misunderstood Scripture and wrongly attributed to the Holy Spirit something that may be explained naturalistically.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html|title=A Neuroscientific Look at Speaking in Tongues|first=Benedict|last=Carey |newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 November 2006}}</ref> ===Biblical practice=== There are five places in the [[New Testament]] where speaking in tongues is referred to explicitly: * [[s: Bible (King James)/Mark#Chapter 16|Mark 16:17]] (though this is a [[Mark 16|disputed text]]), which records the instructions of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]], including his description that "they will speak with new tongues" as a sign that would follow "them that believe" in him. * [[s: Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 2|Acts 2]], which describes an occurrence of speaking in tongues in [[Jerusalem]] at [[Pentecost]], though with various interpretations. Specifically, "every man ''heard them'' speak in his own language" and wondered "how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" * [[s: Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 10|Acts 10:46]], when the household of [[Cornelius the Centurion|Cornelius]] in [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] spoke in tongues, and those present compared it to the speaking in tongues that occurred at [[Pentecost]]. * [[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 19|Acts 19:6]], when a group of approximately a dozen men spoke in tongues in [[Ephesus]] as they received the Holy Spirit while the apostle Paul laid his hands upon them. * [[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 12|1 Cor 12]], [[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 13|13]], [[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|14]], where [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] discusses speaking in "various kinds of tongues" as part of his wider discussion of the [[gifts of the Spirit]]; his remarks shed some light on his own speaking in tongues as well as how the gift of speaking in tongues was to be used in the [[Mother Church|church]]. Other verses by inference may be considered to refer to "speaking in tongues", such as [[s:Bible (King James)/Isaiah#Chapter 28|Isaiah 28:11]], [[s:Bible (King James)/Romans#Chapter 8|Romans 8:26]] and [[s:Bible (King James)/Jude|Jude 20]]. The biblical account of [[Pentecost]] in the second chapter of the book of Acts describes the sound of a mighty rushing wind and "divided tongues like fire" coming to rest on the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geisler |first1=Norman L. |author1-link=Norman Geisler |title=Was it Only the Apostles Who Spoke in Tongues at Pentecost? |date=11 February 2022 |url=https://christianpublishinghouse.co/2022/02/11/was-it-only-the-apostles-who-spoke-in-tongues-at-pentecost/ |publisher=Christian Publishing House |access-date=5 July 2023}}</ref> The text further describes that "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages". It goes on to say in verses 5β11 that when the Apostles spoke, each person in attendance "heard their own language being spoken". Therefore, the gift of speaking in tongues refers to the Apostles' speaking languages that the people listening heard as "them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God". Glossolalists and cessationists both recognize this as [[xenoglossia]], a miraculous ability that marked their [[Baptism of the Holy Spirit|baptism in the Holy Spirit]]. Something similar (although perhaps not xenoglossia) took place on at least two subsequent occasions, in Caesarea and Ephesus. Glossolalists and cessationists generally agree that the primary purpose of the gift of speaking in tongues was to mark the [[Holy Spirit]] being poured out. At [[Pentecost]] the [[Apostle Peter]] declared that this gift, which was making some in the audience ridicule the disciples as drunks, be the fulfilment of the prophecy of [[Joel (prophet)|Joel]], which described that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh ([[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 2|Acts 2:17]]).<ref name=ag-baptism2000 /> Despite these commonalities, there are significant variations in interpretation. * '''Universal'''. The traditional [[Pentecostal]] view is that every Christian should expect to be [[Baptism in the holy spirit|baptized in the Holy Spirit]], the distinctive mark of which is glossolalia.<ref name=ag-truths>{{cite web |title=Statement of Fundamental Truths |url=http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft.pdf |author=Assemblies of God |publisher=[[General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States]] |year=1961 |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619112828/http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft.pdf |archive-date=19 June 2006 |author-link=Assemblies of God}}</ref> While most Protestants agree that baptism in the Holy Spirit is integral to being a Christian, others<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christians.eu/holy-spirit-baptism/|title=Baptism with the Holy Spirit|work=christians.eu|date=22 July 2015}}</ref> believe that it is not separable from [[Religious conversion|conversion]] and no longer marked by glossolalia. Pentecostals appeal to the declaration of the [[Apostle Peter]] at Pentecost, that "the gift of the Holy Spirit" was "for you and for your children and for all who are far off" ([[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 2|Acts 2:38β39]]). Cessationists reply that the gift of speaking in tongues was never for all ([[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 12|1 Cor 12:30]]). In response to those who say that the baptism in the Holy Spirit be not a separate experience from conversion, Pentecostals appeal to the question asked by the [[Apostle Paul]] to the Ephesian believers "Have ye received the Holy Ghost ''since'' ye believed?" ([[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 19|Acts 19:2]]). * '''One gift'''. Different aspects of speaking in tongues appear in Acts and 1 Corinthians, such that the [[Assemblies of God]] declare that the gift in Acts "is the same in essence as the gift of tongues" in 1 Corinthians "but different in purpose and use".<ref name=ag-truths/> They distinguish between (private) speech in tongues when receiving the gift of the Spirit, and (public) speech in tongues for the benefit of the church. Others assert that the gift in Acts was "not a different phenomenon" but the same gift being displayed under varying circumstances.<ref name=grudem1994p1073>{{Cite book|first=Wayne A. |last=Grudem |author-link=Wayne Grudem |title=Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine |publisher=[[Inter-Varsity Press]] |location=[[Leicester]] |year=1994 |page=1073 |isbn=978-0851106526 |oclc=29952151}}</ref> The same description{{snd}}"speaking in tongues"{{snd}}is used in both Acts and 1 Corinthians, and in both cases the speech is in an unlearned language. * '''Direction'''. The New Testament describes tongues largely as speech addressed to God, but also as something that can potentially be interpreted into human language, thereby "edifying the hearers" ([[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|1 Cor 14:5, 13]]). At Pentecost and Caesarea the speakers were praising God ([[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 2|Acts 2:11]]; [[s:Bible (King James)/Acts#Chapter 10|10:46]]). Paul referred to praying, singing praise, and giving thanks in tongues ([[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|1 Cor 14:14β17]]), as well as to the [[interpretation of tongues]] ([[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|1 Cor 14:5]]), and instructed those speaking in tongues to pray for the ability to interpret their tongues so that others could understand them ([[s: Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|1 Cor 14:13]]). While some people limit speaking in tongues to speech addressed to God{{snd}}"prayer or praise",<ref name=grudem1994p1070/> others claim that speaking in tongues be the revelation from God to the church, and when interpreted into human language by those embued with the gift of interpretation of tongues for the benefit of others present, may be considered equivalent to prophecy.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Peter |last=Masters |author2=John C. Whitcomb |title=The Charismatic Phenomenon |publisher=Wakeman Trust |location=London |year=1988 |page=[https://archive.org/details/charismaticpheno0000mast/page/49 49] |isbn=978-1870855013 |oclc=20720229 |author2-link=John C. Whitcomb |url=https://archive.org/details/charismaticpheno0000mast/page/49 }}</ref> * '''Music'''. Musical interludes of glossolalia are sometimes described as [[singing in the Spirit]]. Some hold that singing in the Spirit is identified with singing in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:13β19,<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|14:13β19|KJV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|first=Donald A. |last=Johns |editor1=Stanley M. Burgess |editor2=Gary B. McGee |editor3=Patrick H. Alexander |title=''Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements'' |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |location=[[Grand Rapids, Michigan]] |year=1988 |page=788 |isbn=978-0310441007 |oclc=18496801|title-link=Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements}} Cited by {{cite web|first=Richard M. |last=Riss |url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/riss.html |title=Singing in the Spirit in the Holiness, Pentecostal, Latter Rain, and Charismatic Movements |date=28 July 1995 |access-date=9 June 2009}}</ref> which they hold to be "spiritual or spirited singing", as opposed to "communicative or impactive singing" which Paul refers to as "singing with the understanding".<ref>{{Cite book|first=Delton L. |last=Alford |editor1=Stanley M. Burgess |editor2=Gary B. McGee |editor3=Patrick H. Alexander |title=Dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |location=[[Grand Rapids, Michigan]] |year=1988 |page=690 |isbn=978-0310441007 |oclc=18496801}} Cited by {{cite web|first=Richard M. |last=Riss |url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/riss.html |title=Singing in the Spirit in the Holiness, Pentecostal, Latter Rain, and Charismatic Movements |date=28 July 1995 |access-date=9 June 2009}}</ref> * '''Sign for unbelievers''' ([[s:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 14|1 Cor 14:22]]). Some assume that tongues are "a sign for unbelievers that they might believe",<ref>{{cite web |title=Questions about Tongues |url=http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/baptmhs_faq_tongues.cfm |publisher=[[General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States]] |year=2009 |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613065932/http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/baptmhs_faq_tongues.cfm |archive-date=13 June 2006}}</ref> and so advocate it as a means of evangelism. Others point out that Paul quotes Isaiah to show that "when God speaks to people in language they cannot understand, it is quite evidently a sign of God's judgment"; so if unbelievers are baffled by a church service they cannot understand because tongues are spoken without being interpreted, that is a "sign of God's attitude", "a sign of judgment".<ref name=grudem1994p1075>{{Cite book|first=Wayne A. |last=Grudem |author-link=Wayne Grudem |title=Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine |publisher=[[Inter-Varsity Press]] |location=[[Leicester]] |year=1994 |page=1075 |isbn=978-0851106526 |oclc=29952151}}</ref> Some identify the tongues in Acts 2 as the primary example of tongues as signs for unbelievers. * '''Comprehension'''. Some say that speaking in tongues was "not understood by the speaker".<ref name=grudem1994p1070/> Others assert that "the tongues-speaker normally understood his own foreign-language message".<ref>{{Cite book |first=Peter |last=Masters |author2=John C. Whitcomb |title=The Charismatic Phenomenon |publisher=Wakeman Trust |location=London |year=1988 |page=[https://archive.org/details/charismaticpheno0000mast/page/106 106] |isbn=978-1870855013 |oclc=20720229 |author2-link=John C. Whitcomb |url=https://archive.org/details/charismaticpheno0000mast/page/106}}</ref> This last comment seems to have been made by someone confusing the "gift of tongues" with the "gift of the interpretation of tongues" , which is specified as a different gift in the New Testament, but one that can be given to a person who also has the gift of tongues. In that case, a person understands a message in tongues that he has previously spoken in an unknown language. ===Pentecostal and charismatic practices=== {{Pentecostalism |key beliefs}} [[File:Glossolalia religiosa, Falando em linguas pentecostal.flac|thumb|People speaking in Portuguese and languages during a Christian prayer as an assembly of gods on a hill in Tingua, Rio de Janeiro]] [[Baptism with the Holy Spirit]] is regarded by the [[Christian perfection#Holiness Pentecostalism|Holiness Pentecostals]] as being the third work of grace, following the [[born again|new birth]] ([[first work of grace]]) and [[entire sanctification]] ([[second work of grace]]).<ref name="TWTHS2002">{{cite book|title=The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers β Issue 56 |year=2002|publisher=West Tennessee Historical Society.|language=en|page=41|quote=Seymour's holiness background suggests that Pentecostalism had roots in the holiness movement of the late nineteenth century. The holiness movement embraced the Wesleyan doctrine of "sanctification" or the second work of grace, subsequent to conversion. Pentecostalism added a third work of grace, called the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which is often accompanied by glossolalia.}}</ref><ref name="FahlbuschBromiley1999"/> Holiness Pentecostals teach that this third work of grace is accompanied with glossolalia.<ref name="TWTHS2002"/><ref name="FahlbuschBromiley1999"/> Because Pentecostal and charismatic beliefs are not monolithic, there is not complete theological agreement on speaking in tongues.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Generally, followers believe that speaking in tongues is a [[spiritual gift]] that can be manifested as either a human language or a heavenly supernatural language in three ways:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casanova |first1=Amanda |title=10 Things Christians Should Know about the Pentecostal Church |url=https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/10-things-christians-should-know-about-pentecostalism.html |website=Christianity.com |access-date=2 December 2019 |date=6 April 2018}}</ref> * The "sign of tongues" refers to [[xenoglossia]], wherein followers believe someone is speaking a language they have never learned. * The "gift of tongues" refers to a glossolalic utterance spoken by an individual and addressed to a congregation of, typically, other believers. * "Praying in the spirit" is typically used to refer to glossolalia as part of personal prayer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=N. T. |title=Acts for Everyone, Part One |date=2008 |publisher=Louisville: WJK |pages=210β211}}</ref> Many Pentecostals and charismatics quote Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 14 which established guidelines on the public use of glossolalia in the church at Corinth although the exegesis of this passage and the extent to which these instructions are followed is a matter of academic debate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richardson |first1=William Edwin |title=Liturgical Order and Glossolalia. 1 Corinthians 14:26cβ33a and its Implications |url=https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1137&context=dissertations |website=Andrews University |access-date=2 December 2019 |date=June 1983}}</ref> The gift of tongues is often referred to as a "message in tongues".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Pentecostal Experience|last=Gee|first=Donald|publisher=Gospel Publishing House|year=1993|isbn=978-0882434544|location=Springfield, MO|page=154}}</ref> Practitioners believe that this use of glossolalia requires an interpretation so that the gathered congregation can understand the message, which is accomplished by the [[interpretation of tongues]].{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} There are two schools of thought concerning the nature of a message in tongues: * One school of thought believes it is always directed ''to'' God as prayer, praise, or thanksgiving but is spoken in for the hearing and edification of the congregation.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} * The other school of thought believes that a message in tongues can be a prophetic utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Signs of the Apostles|last=Chantry|first=Walter J.|publisher=Banner of Truth Trust|year=1973|isbn=978-0851511757|location=Edinburgh, Scotland|pages=22β23}}</ref> In this case, the speaker delivers a message to the congregation on behalf of God.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} In addition to praying in the Spirit, many Pentecostal and charismatic churches practice what is known as [[singing in the Spirit]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mookgo S. Kgatle |title=Singing as a therapeutic agent in Pentecostal worship |journal=Verbum et Ecclesia |year=2019 |volume=40 |doi=10.4102/ve.v40i1.1910 |s2cid=150696864 |doi-access=free |hdl=10500/26433 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Michael |title=Releasing the Spirit: the Pentecostals |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-9/releasing-spirit-pentecostals.html |website=Christianity Today |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Religion β Christianity β Pentecostalism |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/pentecostal_1.shtml |website=BBC |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> ===Interpretation of tongues=== {{anchor|Interpretation of tongues}} In [[Christian theology]], the ''interpretation of tongues'' is one of the [[spiritual gift]]s listed in [[1 Corinthians 12]]. This gift is used in conjunction with that of the gift of tongues{{snd}}the [[supernatural]] ability to speak in a language (tongue) unknown to the speaker. The gift of interpretation is the supernatural enablement to express in an intelligible language an utterance spoken in an unknown tongue. This is not learned but imparted by the [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|Holy Spirit]]; therefore, it should not be confused with the acquired skill of [[language interpretation]]. While [[Cessationism|cessationist]] Christians believe that this miraculous [[charism]] has ceased, [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic]] and [[Pentecostal]] Christians believe that this gift continues to operate within the [[Christian Church|church]].<ref name=foundations>Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'', 1983, (Los Angeles: Foursquare Media, 2008), pp. 342β343.</ref> Much of what is known about this gift was recorded by [[St. Paul]] in [[1 Corinthians 14]]. In this passage, guidelines for the proper use of the gift of tongues were given. In order for the gift of tongues to be beneficial to the edification of the church, such supernatural utterances were to be interpreted into the language of the gathered Christians. If no one among the gathered Christians possessed the gift of interpretation, then the gift of tongues was not to be publicly exercised. Those possessing the gift of tongues were encouraged to pray for the ability to interpret.<ref name=foundations/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page