Is Speaking In Tongues Biblical?
Note: This is a very long post. This post will be updated and changed over the next few days. Today is 5-20-2008
Although the title of this post asks if speaking in tongues is biblical, it would be more accurate to ask if the modern day Pentecostal movement teaches a correct interpretation of speaking in tongues. I thought about making that the title, but it was too long. The point of this is to show how I've come believe that the Pentecostal view of speaking in tongues is unbiblical.
Let's begin...
The first mention of speaking in tongues in the New Testament is found in Mark. Take a look at this passage in context:
Mark 16:14-18
14Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
This passage should be familiar to all Christian because verse 15 is the "Great Commission" where we're told to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all of creation. Also notice that at this time Jesus is only speaking to the Eleven (Judas is no longer apart of the Apostles at this time).
Acts 1:1-11
1In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
In this passage it says that Jesus appeared to the Apostles he had chosen and spoke about the Kingdom of God. He told them not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Gift of the Holy Spirit because they would receive power to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Finally notice that there are three places Jesus mentioned that they will be witnesses. Although this obviously doesn't limit them to those places alone, but it's given in such a way as to tell them that they will go from Jerusalem all the way out to the ends of the earth (ie. To all nations).
I want to again emphasize that three places are mentioned to express that the Apostles will be witnesses not only in Jerusalem but to all nations. This is important because in the Book of Acts "speaking in tongues" is only mentioned three times. First in Jerusalem on Pentecost, Second in Caesarea which is in Samaria, and third, way up in Ephesus to represent the "Ends of the Earth".
Now we will look at the first time speaking in tongues is mentioned in Acts Chapter 2. I'll include a large portion of the Chapter so you can see it in context.
Acts 2:1-12
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
First I think it's important to understand that the events in this passage are taking place in Jerusalem. Second, there were Jews from every nation and each one heard them speaking in their own native language. Third, only the Apostles are mentioned as being apart of those speaking in tongues (See verse 14 & 37).
The next mention of speaking in tongues can be found in Acts Chapter 10:
Acts 10:1-48
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." 4And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." 16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." 21And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?" 22And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." 23So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man." 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
30And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
34So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47"Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
In this passage we see Peter receiving a vision in which he is told to kill and eat things which were considered by the Jews (and the law) to be unclean. When Peter refused, the Lord speaks to him and says, "What God has made clean, do not call unclean". This was a picture or illustration to Peter that God see no difference between the Jews and those of other nations for God shows no partiality because in Christ, we are all one (Gal. 3:28). Peter goes on to explain that it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with Gentiles. So imagine Peter's (and the Jewish believers with him) surprise when they realized that the Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentiles just as it had been given to them on the day of Pentecost. It says in verse 45 that the circumcised believers were amazed that the Holy Spirit was being given to the Gentiles also. They new they the Gentiles had believed and received the Holy Spirit because they began to speak in tongues.
I also think it's important that Peter says that Jesus didn't apper to all the believers after his resurrection, but to those who had been chosen to be witnesses. This is also stated in chapter 1 that Jesus appeared to the Apostles over a period of 40 days while he gave many convincing proofs that he was alive, and spoke about the Kingdom of God.
The third and last passage in Acts takes place in Ephesus which represents "the ends of the earth". When Paul came to Ephesus he found some disciples who had never even heard of the Holy Spirit and so he lays hands on them and while they were praying that they would receive the Holy Spirit, the men began to speak in tongues.
Acts 19:1-7
1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7There were about twelve men in all.
Before I quote the famous passage of Paul from 1 Corinthians, I want to take a moment to explain what Augustine said about this topic and then see if Paul's message can be seen differently than is most common among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians.
In the writings of Augustine, we read in "The Reply Faustus The Manichean" the following:
For, as is stated above, and has been said repeatedly, there is a distinct narrative in the Acts of the Apostles of the mission of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and the effect produced showed who it was. For all who first received Him spoke with tongues; (Acts 2) and in this sign there was a promise that in all tongues, or in all nations, the Church of after times would faithfully proclaim the doctrine of the Spirit as well as of the Father and of the Son.
He also states in his replies to the Donatist Petilianus in chapter 32:
And yet you know, as you prove by your quotation, that the Holy Spirit descended in such wise, that those who were then filled with it spake with divers tongues: what was the meaning of that sign and prodigy? Why then is the Holy Spirit given now in such wise, that no one to whom it is given speaks with divers tongues, except because that miracle then prefigured that all nations of the earth should believe, and that thus the gospel should be found to be in every tongue? Just as it was foretold in the psalm so long before: "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." This was said with reference to those men who were destined, after receiving the Holy Spirit, to speak with every kind of tongue. But because this passage itself signified that the gospel should be found hereafter in all nations and languages, and that the body of Christ should sound forth throughout all the world in every tongue, therefore he goes on to say, "Their sound is gone out throughout all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." Hence it is that the true Church is hidden from no one. And hence comes that which the Lord Himself says in the gospel, "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." And therefore David continues in the same psalm, "In the sun hath He placed His tabernacle," that is, in the open light of day; as we read in the Book of Kings, "For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun." And He Himself is "as a bridegroom coming out of His chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run His race. His going forth is from the end of heaven:" here you have the coming of the Lord in the flesh. "And His circuit unto the ends of it:" here you have His resurrection and ascension. "And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof:" here you have the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom He sent in tongues of fire, that He might make manifest the glowing heat of charity, which he certainly cannot have who does not keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace with the Church, which is throughout all languages.
Augustine makes it clear that he believed the speaking in tongues we read of in Acts, was first of all a known foreign language/tongue. Second they were a sign that the Gospel was to be taken to all peoples and nations. Finally, Augustine makes it clear that no one who received the Holy Spirit in his days spoke in tongues. He says this to point to the fact that tongues did exist at one point, but they no longer did "because that miracle then prefigured that all nations of the earth should believe, and that thus the gospel should be found to be in every tongue".
Before we look at 1 Corinthians 14, I want to look at the context of this book and chapters preceding it. To do this I'll quote John MacArthur's sermon titled "The Truth About Tongues PT.1":
The Corinthian church had allowed the entire world system in which they existed to infiltrate their assembly. For example, they were emphasizing human philosophies (chapters 1-4), they had a hero worship cult (chapter 3), they were involved in terrible, gross, sexual immorality (chapters 5-6), they were suing each other in court (chapter 6), they had misevaluated their home and marriage relationships (chapter 7), they were confused about pagan feasts, idolatry, and things offered to idols (chapters 8-10), they had relinquished the proper place of women in the church (chapter 11), they had misunderstood the whole dimension of spiritual gifts (chapter 12), and they had lost hold of the one great thing--love (chapter 13).
You see, they had let the satanic system that existed in their society infiltrate the church. And with it came the pagan religious practices--with all of the ecstasies, eroticisms, and sensualities. The Corinthians accepted it all, creating a confused amalgamation of truth and error.
Now we come to Chapter 12-13 where Paul tells us about the Spiritual manifestations of the Spirit and how each manifestation or gift is given solely for the common good and to build up the Church. He states:
1 Corinthians 12:7
7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
He goes on to explain that we are all one body and because of that one part cannot say it does not need the others or operate apart from the rest of the body.
Now we come to chapter 14 where Paul says:
1 Corinthians 14
1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
26What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But all things should be done decently and in order.
Now to explain this, I'll quote Matthew Henry's Commentary on this chapter:
In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good. I. He begins with advising them of all spiritual gifts to prefer prophesying, and shows that this is much better than speaking with tongues, 1Co 14:1-5. II. He goes on to show them how unprofitable the speaking of foreign languages is, and useless to the church; it is like piping in one tone, like sounding a trumpet without any certain note, like talking gibberish; whereas gifts should be used for the good of the church, 1Co 14:6-14. III. He advises that worship should be celebrated so that the most ignorant might understand, and join in prayer and praise, and presses the advice by his own example, 1Co 14:15-20. IV. He informs them that tongues were a sign for unbelievers rather than those that believe; and represents the advantage of prophecy above speaking with tongues, from the different suggestions they would give to the mind of an unbeliever coming into their assemblies, 1Co 14:21-25. V. He blames them for the disorder and confusion they had brought into the assembly, by their vanity and ostentation of their gifts; and directs them in using the gifts both of tongues and prophecy, 1Co 14:26-33.
Although some translations add the word "unknown" before the word tongues, it is usually in italics because it is not in the originals but is added by translators in an attempt to clarify things. The word used for tongue in 1 Corinthians 14 is the same word used in Acts Chapter 2 where we see them speaking a known foreign language. In this passage Paul was rebuking them and stating a fact that when they spoke in an tongue they were being selfish and doing nothing but edifying themselves. The only person who could understand them was God. Whatever they were saying was a mystery because not even their mind (also translated "understanding") was fruitful. The true gift was meant to build up the church, but these people has either perverted or misused the true gift and therefore they were only edifying themselves. The gift was meant be a sign, it was meant to further the proclamation of the Gospel to every tongue, tribe and nation. But these people were abusing and/or misusing the true gift to edify themselves. In later times when men tried to imitate the true gift by speaking in "unknown" tongues, they were expelled from the church and labeled as "False Prophets". This can be seen in the writing of the "Early Church Fathers" around 300 A.D..
There is said to be a certain village called Ardaba in the Mysia, which touches Phrygia. There, they say, one of those who had been but recently converted to the faith, a person of the name of Montanus, when Gratus was proconsul of Asia, gave the adversary entrance against himself by the excessive lust of his soul after taking the lead. And this person was carried away in spirit; and suddenly being seized with a kind of frenzy and ecstasy, he raved, and began to speak and to utter strange things, and to prophesy in a manner contrary to the custom of the Church, as handed down from early times and preserved thenceforward in a continuous succession. And among those who were present on that occasion, and heard those unknown utterances, there were some who were indignant, and rebuked him as one frenzied, and under the power of demons, and possessed by the spirit of delusion, and agitating the multitude, and debarred him from speaking any more; for they were mindful of the Lord's distinction and threatening, whereby He warned them to be on their guard vigilantly against the coming of the false prophets. But there were others too, who, as if elated by the Holy Spirit and the prophetic gift, and not a little puffed up, and forgetting entirely the Lord's distinction, challenged the maddening and insidious and seductive spirit, being themselves cajoled and misled by him, so that there was no longer any checking him to silence. And thus by a kind of artifice, or rather by such a process of craft, the devil having devised destruction against those who were disobedient to the Lord's warning, and being unworthily honoured by them, secretly excited and inflamed their minds that had already left the faith which is according to truth, in order to play the harlot with error. For he stirred up two others also, women, and filled them with the spurious spirit, so that they too spoke in a frenzy and unseasonably, and in a strange manner, like the person already mentioned, while the spirit called them happy as they rejoiced and exulted proudly at his working, and puffed them up by the magnitude of his promises; while, on the other hand, at times also he condemned them skilfully and plausibly, in order that he might seem to them also to have the power of reproof. And those few who were thus deluded were Phrygians. But the same arrogant spirit taught them to revile the Church universal under heaven, because that false spirit of prophecy found neither honour from it nor entrance into it. For when the faithful throughout Asia met together often and in many places of Asia for deliberation on this subject, and subjected those novel doctrines to examination, and declared them to be spurious, and rejected them as heretical, they were in consequence of that expelled from the Church and debarred from communion.
Conclusion
I have not seen anything in scripture or other writings of the early Church that can be used to make a case for speaking in an unknown tongue, and certainly not as a private prayer language. If I traveled to Africa and God miraculously gave me the ability to speak in the language of the people there, I wouldn't understand the language, nor would any of my friends but only God and the people to whom I would be speaking. But if I spoke that same language in my home town, no one but God could understand me unless someone was there to interpret. By interpreting this as a foreign language as is consistent with the context of the passages in Mark and Acts, there is still no problem. I am open to the possibility that God at times gives people the ability to speak an unknown (to the speaker) foreign language to someone else for the purpose of spreading the Gospel even in these days.
I am not convinced that the gifts have ceased completely, but I am confident that the Pentecostal view of speaking in a strange and unknown tongue as a private prayer language that no one understands but God to edify the spirit is nothing more than a false counterfeit of the true gift. Their view doesn't fit the context of any scripture passage nor does it align with any of the interpretations of the early church or those taught for 1800+ years. It is my belief that the gift of tongues was a unique gift given to the Apostles on Pentecost, the gentile believers in Caesarea, and the believers in Ephesus as a sign in that day to both the Apostles and all the Jewish people that the Gospel should be taken into all the world. I believe that at times God can and has enabled people to speak the foreign language of another person in order to proclaim the Gospel at times.
05-11-2008 02:51 
Thank you for writing this and I'm really impressed with your insight into the correlation between the three places mentioned in Acts 1 and the three places mentioning speaking in tongues. God bless you.
Gordon Andrewson08-08-2008 23:37
I never believed in speaking in an unknown tongues like my pentecostal friends have but I wasn't always sure how to explain some of these passages but you have helped me so much. Thank you for writing this and as the person above me said, I'm really impressed at your insight.
Gordon
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