If you study the new testament, you will see that there are 3 types of Tongues. Or, maybe more accurately, there are at least 3 different contexts of Tongues in the New Testament.
1) Acts 2, the day of Pentecost, all the various people from different areas, countries, tongues, heard the Disciples preaching about God in their own language, which astonished everybody.
a) Either the Disciples were granted the ability to speak foreign languages for the sake of the audience(s),
or
b) God caused all the people to "HEAR" in their own language, regardless of which language the Disciples were actually speaking.
IN either case, the 1st context in a language of earthly understanding for the sake of furthering the Gospel.
2) According to 1 Corinthians 13 & 14, Paul speaks of Tongues of angels (a mystery language to the one who is praying in tongues). This type of tongues is a prayer offered to God, which builds up (edifies) the believer who is praying.
1 Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Cor 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
and
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
3) Tongues with Interpretation - for the benefit of the church (assembling of 2 or more believers) to hear a word of God for their benefit.
1 Cor 14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
and
1 Cor 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret;
1 Cor 14:28 but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
Lastly,
Paul wrote:
1 Cor 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy;
and
1 Cor 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
1) Acts 2, the day of Pentecost, all the various people from different areas, countries, tongues, heard the Disciples preaching about God in their own language, which astonished everybody.
a) Either the Disciples were granted the ability to speak foreign languages for the sake of the audience(s),
or
b) God caused all the people to "HEAR" in their own language, regardless of which language the Disciples were actually speaking.
IN either case, the 1st context in a language of earthly understanding for the sake of furthering the Gospel.
2) According to 1 Corinthians 13 & 14, Paul speaks of Tongues of angels (a mystery language to the one who is praying in tongues). This type of tongues is a prayer offered to God, which builds up (edifies) the believer who is praying.
1 Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Cor 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
and
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
3) Tongues with Interpretation - for the benefit of the church (assembling of 2 or more believers) to hear a word of God for their benefit.
1 Cor 14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
and
1 Cor 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret;
1 Cor 14:28 but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
Lastly,
Paul wrote:
1 Cor 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy;
and
1 Cor 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
