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This is not a topic to debate whether tongues are for today.
The purpose of this topic is to explore the different kinds of tongues.
If you have other kinds to add to the list, you are welcome to share.
This list of five are the basic ones that I know about.
I have seen many uniformed comments about tongues on the forum.
Many have the idea that there is only one kind of tongues.
This topic is intended to inform those with a limited understanding of this subject.
Five Different Kinds of Tongues
1) Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
2) Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
3) Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
4) Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
5) Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
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Scriptural Support
> Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
> Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
> Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
1 Corinthians 14:5
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
> Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
1 Corinthians 14:15
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
> Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
No scriptural example for this except the outpouring at Pentecost.
But some have made the valid point that the tongues spoken were not evangelistic, but rather praise and worship. The final effect of it was evangelistic, but not the tongues themselves. And I don't personally accept the interpretive hearing theory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--- EDIT ---
The purpose of this topic is to explore the different kinds of tongues.
If you have other kinds to add to the list, you are welcome to share.
This list of five are the basic ones that I know about.
I have seen many uniformed comments about tongues on the forum.
Many have the idea that there is only one kind of tongues.
This topic is intended to inform those with a limited understanding of this subject.
Five Different Kinds of Tongues
1) Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
2) Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
3) Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
4) Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
5) Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scriptural Support
> Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
> Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
> Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
1 Corinthians 14:5
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
> Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
1 Corinthians 14:15
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
> Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
No scriptural example for this except the outpouring at Pentecost.
But some have made the valid point that the tongues spoken were not evangelistic, but rather praise and worship. The final effect of it was evangelistic, but not the tongues themselves. And I don't personally accept the interpretive hearing theory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--- EDIT ---
Additional kind of tongues recommended by poster Francis Drake.
6) Warrior language, tongues of angels used as a weapon directly against "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph6v12b)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--- EDIT #2 ---
I added these descriptions on another topic.
Five Different Kinds of Tongues
1) Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
Described as intimate and worshipful. Useful for personal time with God and for use quietly (not addressing the whole congregation) in corporate worship gatherings. Posture is heavenward reaching, either with hands raised or lowered with palms up in receiving mode.
2) Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
Described as other-focused. Usually accompanied by hands raised toward subject of prayer, or with hands laid on. (ask permission first) Prayer is forceful and seeking discernment and divine assistance.
3) Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
Forceful, in full voice to be heard by whole congregation. Should only be done with permission of church leadership at the gathering location. Posture should allow for speaking clearly to the whole room.
4) Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
Similar to Personal prayer language. But singing rather than speaking. See number one above.
5) Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
Similar to Prophetic prayer language. But no need for interpretation. See number three above.
6) Warrior language, tongues of angels used as a weapon directly against "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph6v12b)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--- EDIT #2 ---
I added these descriptions on another topic.
Five Different Kinds of Tongues
1) Personal prayer language - Speaking to/with God
Described as intimate and worshipful. Useful for personal time with God and for use quietly (not addressing the whole congregation) in corporate worship gatherings. Posture is heavenward reaching, either with hands raised or lowered with palms up in receiving mode.
2) Intercessory prayer language - Praying for others in the Spirit
Described as other-focused. Usually accompanied by hands raised toward subject of prayer, or with hands laid on. (ask permission first) Prayer is forceful and seeking discernment and divine assistance.
3) Prophetic prayer language - Addressing the whole church/preferably with interpretation
Forceful, in full voice to be heard by whole congregation. Should only be done with permission of church leadership at the gathering location. Posture should allow for speaking clearly to the whole room.
4) Singing in the Spirit - Singing in tongues/worship activity
Similar to Personal prayer language. But singing rather than speaking. See number one above.
5) Evangelistic language - Speaking the message of God to a people in their own language (not yours)
Similar to Prophetic prayer language. But no need for interpretation. See number three above.
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