The Gift of Tongues: A Biblical Guide

The gift of tongues opens a direct channel of communication between believers and God. This supernatural ability, one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, has transformed countless lives since its dramatic entrance at Pentecost.

Whether you're exploring this gift for the first time or seeking deeper understanding, this easy-to-read guide will explore how tongues can revolutionize your prayer life, strengthen your faith, and equip you for ministering to others in today's world.

What Is the Gift of Tongues: Understanding This Spiritual Gift

Part 1 of 5 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 12 minute read

Exactly what is the gift of speaking in tongues? Here's my definition of this extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit:

The gift of tongues is the God-given ability to speak at will in heavenly languages without having studied them and without having a natural understanding of the words being spoken.

Heavenly Languages: The Supernatural Nature of Tongues

It's important to note that whenever The New Testament makes a reference to speaking or praying in "tongues," it refers to speaking in different languages. These languages are structured, fluent, supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

When Paul says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels …" (1 Corinthians 13:1), he's implying that tongues are heavenly languages that he had not learned through conventional means. The Greek word γλῶσσα (glōssa) translated as tongues means by implication, languages or glossolalia.

Seven Misconceptions that Hinder Tongues

Understanding the true nature of the gift of tongues empowers us to use it effectively. Let's explore what distinguishes genuine tongues from common misconceptions:

• It is NOT the natural ability to speak and understand learned languages.
• It is NOT speaking gibberish or making strange, repetitive noises.
• It is NOT the product of our human intellect or emotionalism.
• It is NOT a forced demonic tongue.
• It is NOT a separate gift from praying in tongues.
• It is NOT speaking in one tongue; it's speaking in multiple tongues.
• It is NOT the only evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Clearing up misconceptions and gaining a good understanding of the gift of tongues helps you to use the gift effectively. You'll be able to edify yourself by communicating with God in your heavenly languages at any time.

You'll also be able to edify other believers in the Church by confidently delivering an inspired message in an unknown tongue that you can then interpret using the gift of interpretation of tongues.

The Biblical Foundation of Tongues

Paul the Apostle was known to be fluent in several languages. He was raised speaking Koine Greek in Tarsus where Greek Culture and learning were prominent. He later studied the Hebrew Scriptures in Jerusalem under Gamaliel the Elder, and he would have spoken Aramaic while in Palestine and regions to the east.

However, whenever Paul mentions "tongues" in his writings, he was not referring to one of the languages he had learned, but supernatural tongues inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Paul explains, "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries" (1 Corinthians 14:2); also, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" (1 Corinthians 14:14).

When you speak in tongues, your mind cannot grasp the meaning of the sounds, syllables, and words that are said. You can have no understanding of a language that you've never learned or heard spoken before.

What's more, we're not just given one tongue but many tongues. Paul says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels … (1 Corinthians 13:1). With an estimated 7,168 human tongues being spoken on Earth,¹ you can only imagine the multitude of angelic tongues spoken in the Kingdom of Heaven!

Some well-meaning people have dismissed the gift of speaking in tongues as simply gibberish, saying it's just made-up sounds. However, any natural language can also sound like gibberish if you're totally unfamiliar with it.

Speaking in unknown tongues requires an act of faith, and it cannot be compared to learning a natural language. Tongues bypass the understanding of the mind and to the uninitiated ear can sound similar to foreign languages.

How Tongues Work: The Spirit-to-Spirit Connection

The following drawing illustrates my understanding of what happens when you step out in faith and supernaturally speak in an unknown tongue.

When a believer speaks in an unknown tongue, the Holy Spirit communicates with their spirit, which in turn instructs their brain to speak words of an unknown spiritual language, as the Holy Spirit supplies them.

This spiritual language is one the person has never heard before, so their mind has no understanding of the words being formed on their tongue. Similarly, listeners also have no understanding of the words being spoken because it's a spiritual language they have not heard before either.

The words spoken in tongues are intended for God's understanding alone. They are called "mysteries" by Paul. The one speaking in an unknown tongue is not meant to understand the words being spoken, just as no one else is meant to understand them.

The gift of speaking in tongues offers a form of private communication between the individual and God. You could call it a direct line!

Three Divine Manifestions of Tongues

The Scriptures reveal three manifestations of tongues, each an expression of God's grace, and each serving a specific purpose to edify ourselves, the Body of Christ, and unbelievers or uninformed.

Tongues for Strengthening the Individual

When believers spend time praying in tongues privately, they commune with God and their prayer always reflects His perfect will. Inner healing, stronger faith, and blessings result. In fact, private prayer in tongues is a key component in strengthening our faith (Jude 1:20).

Tongues for Strengthening the Church

When the Holy Spirit prompts believers to speak a message in an unknown tongue in a public setting, He also prompts them to immediately give an interpretation of the tongue so that the Body of Christ is edified and encouraged to worship.

Tongues for a Sign to Unbelievers

Paul says, "Tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers…" (1 Corinthians 14:22). Tongues spoken by believers when prompted by the Holy Spirit can serve as divine evidence, leading nonbelievers and the uninformed to God's Truth.

Personal Edification: The Purpose of Speaking in Tongues

The Foundation: Why Tongues Edifies You

Have you ever wondered why we should speak in an unknown tongue when we cannot understand its meaning? And, why Paul would declare, "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all" (1 Corinthians 14:18)?

Paul offers us insight by saying, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…" (1 Corinthians 14:4). Do you know that the gift of tongues is the ONLY gift of the Holy Spirit that's specifically given to edify ourselves? The other gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of interpretation of tongues, are designed to edify and bless others.

Paul's dedication to tongues invites us to explore its rich significance and potential in our own spiritual journey. The gift of tongues could be considered the greatest gift for the believer because it enables self-edification and significant strengthening of faith.

That's partly because speaking in an unknown tongue requires an act of faith each time it's practiced. By exercising our faith in this way, we can increase and strengthen the measure we have.

The Process: Building Faith Through Tongues

To excel in the gifts of the Spirit and effectively minister to others, it's crucial that we build up our faith through praying in the Holy Spirit as Jude encourages: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God …" (Jude 1:20–21).

This might help to explain why tongues is so often the first gift to manifest after receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit. As we actively exercise our supernatural prayer ability, our faith increases, enabling us to exercise other gifts of the Spirit and minister to others.

Therefore, the gift of tongues plays a significant role in strengthening our faith and keeping us grounded in Christ. After all, we need to be full of faith to accomplish God's plan for our lives and to reveal His Kingdom to a waiting world.

The Results: Supernatural Guidance and Power

Praying in tongues connects us to God in ways that go beyond what we can naturally understand. The Holy Spirit acts as a communication bridge between us and God, expressing our prayers according to God's perfect will (Romans 8:26–27). This spiritual connection helps us better align our lives with what God wants for us.

This supernatural form of prayer can lead to amazing results in our lives. It often creates unexpected opportunities, brings us into divinely arranged meetings with others, and allows us to experience God's presence in remarkable ways.

As we engage in tongues, we receive guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit. This empowerment helps us fulfill our role to share the gospel of the Kingdom more effectively to those around us.

When you pray in the Spirit and build up your faith, people in need will be drawn to you, attracted by God's anointing within you and the rivers of life flowing through you. You'll start to find yourself praying effectively with signs following and begin to identify with Paul when he says…

"I … did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God … but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).

Corporate Edification: Speaking in Tongues During Worship

While the gift of tongues is the only gift of the Spirit supplied for self-edification, the same gift is also supplied for group edification.

Paul explains, "Brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by [a word of] knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? …Therefore let HIM who speaks in a tongue pray THAT HE MAY INTERPRET" (1 Corinthians 14:6, 13, emphasis added).

When the Holy Spirit prompts a believer to speak a message in tongues to the Body of Christ, followed by its interpretation, all believers present can understand its meaning and be strengthened spiritually.

To be clear, there are two gifts of the Spirit involved, each requiring a step of faith to activate: the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues. It's only when the message spoken in an unknown tongue is interpreted that the Church is edified.

Paul explains, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, UNLESS INDEED HE INTERPRETS, that the church may receive edification" (1 Corinthians 14:4–5, emphasis added).

God gives every believer nine supernatural abilities for ministering to the needs of others, including the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues. As we build up our faith and exercise these spiritual gifts, we can contribute to the edification of the local Church, provided two essentials are met:

1. Believers having their faith built up, and being willing to exercise their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1–5, 12).

2. Leadership encouraging believers to exercise their spiritual gifts when members of the Body of Christ gather (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Spirit Baptism: Why Tongues Isn't the Only Evidence

While speaking in an unknown tongue offers immediate evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it should NOT be considered the ONLY evidence.

There are other "evidences" of being filled with the Holy Spirit, such as manifesting other gifts of the Spirit, manifesting the fruits of the Spirit, an increased boldness in declaring God's Word, a greater love for the things of God, and so on. However, the manifestation of tongues offers a clear and unmistakable evidence that should not be disregarded or downplayed.

The Gift of Tongues Today: Your Role in God's Plan

Paul says, "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all" (1 Corinthians 14:18). This bold statement reveals Paul's reliance on the gift of tongues to build up his faith and sustain himself amid the sufferings he endures for the sake of the gospel.

He acknowledges, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:18–19).

Meanwhile, Satan is sowing seeds of unbelief and apathy concerning tongues to discourage its use among believers. That's because he fully understands the significance tongues has to build up the faith of believers and release God's power within the Church.

God waits for the Church to mature in Christ, "from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

Edified, mature believers walking confidently in the power of God's Spirit carry the potential to dismantle Satan's earthly kingdom, paving the way for the Kingdom of God.

An alive Church strong in faith will fulfill Jesus' prophecy that "'this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come'" (Mark 24:14).

Your Next Steps Forward

The gift of tongues stands ready to transform your spiritual life from ordinary to extraordinary, as you communicate directly with God's Spirit. As we've discovered, this supernatural ability serves several purposes: the strengthening of ourselves, the strengthening of the Church, and a sign to unbelievers.

Your journey with this gift has only just begun. As you practice this supernatural ability, expect divine appointments, unexpected breakthroughs, and a prayer life surpassing human limitations. Be encouraged to pursue this gift with faith and wisdom, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you for His glory and the building up of His Kingdom.

Endnotes

¹ "Languages of the World." Ethnologue.com. SIL International, n.d., Web. 8 Feb. 2024.

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About the Author

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.

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Hi, I'm Don, and my prayer is Kingdom Anointing™ will help you build faith, walk confidently in the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, and realize your full potential in the Kingdom of God.