There is much confusion in the religious world over the gift of tongues. Much of the confusion is caused by a misunderstanding of what the gift of tongues is and its purpose. Many believe that tongue-speaking involves an ecstatic language that no one can understand except God. It is said that tongue-speaking is a sign that follows the baptism of the Spirit; thus, all true believers have spoken in tongues at least once. However, it is also believed that some Christians have received the gift of tongue-speaking which means they speak in tongues regularly. What does the Bible teach on this subject? Is there genuine tongue-speaking today? Is tongue-speaking ecstatic speech or is it something else? We will attempt to answer these questions in this article.
What Is Tongue Speaking?
A study of Acts 2 shows what tongue-speaking is. On the first Pentecost after the ascension of our Lord, the apostles were together in one place, waiting for the promise to be baptized with the Spirit (Acts 1:4,5). Acts 2:4 tells us that the apostles were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.
At that time there were gathered at Jerusalem Jews out of every nation to observe the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:5). When they heard the apostles speaking in tongues, their response was, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (ver. 8). Luke tells us that these Jews were confounded because they heard these men speak in their own language (ver. 6). Notice the contrast between what this text says and what Pentecostalism teaches. Pentecostals teach that tongue-speaking involves ecstatic utterances. The word ecstatic means, “A state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control…” (The American Heritage Dictionary). This is what Pentecostals believe tongue-speaking is. The passage before us, however, makes it abundantly clear that tongue-speaking involves a human language, and Acts 2 is the only passage that specifically tells us what tongue-speaking is—it is simply speaking a language which the speaker has not been taught (ver. 6).
Another passage that confirms this position on tongue-speaking is 1 Corinthians 14. What do we learn about tongue-speaking from 1 Corinthians 14?
1) We learn that the one speaking in tongues speaks mysteries (ver. 2). The fact that this person is speaking mysteries points to the fact that he is not speaking some kind of ecstatic utterance, but rather divine truth. The word mystery refers to the secret thoughts and plans of God which are hidden from man. Paul usually uses this word in connection with God’s plan of salvation which has now been revealed by the Spirit (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1 – 3; 1 Corinthians 2: 7; Colossians 1:25 – 27).
2) We learn that the one speaking in tongues will be viewed as a barbarian (ver. 11). In English, the word barbarian denotes one who is a savage. In Greek, however, it came to mean “A foreigner or one who speaks a strange language.” Anyone who spoke a language other than Greek was called a barbarian. Here we have more evidence that the language Paul is talking about is not just a lot of gibberish or unintelligible sounds. The Greek word barbaros, the word for a barbarian, would not be used in reference to one who speaks meaningless gibberish. That man may be thought of as being insane, but not as a barbaros.
3) We learn from Paul’s use of Isa. 28:11 ff. that tongue-speaking is just a foreign language (ver. 21). Paul often took principles from a passage in the Old Testament to teach New Testament truth. This is what Paul did in 1 Corinthians 14:21. In the context of Isaiah 28:11, we find no reference at all to the miraculous gift of tongues. One may wonder why Paul quotes this particular passage. The situation in the Isaiah passage is this: The Jews rejected what God was saying through Isaiah. Therefore, God would speak to them with other lips. The other lips refer to the Assyrian language that the Jews would be subject to in captivity. If the other lips and other tongues of Isaiah 28 refer to human language, it refers to the same in 1 Corinthians 14.
The tongue-speaking referred to in 1 Corinthians 14 is no different than that which is referred to in Acts 2. In both passages, a human language is under consideration. So, the only evidence that we have regarding what tongue-speaking is leads to the conclusion that it refers to a human language, not ecstatic utterances.