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What is speaking in tongues?

tonychanyt

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Act 1:
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.​

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?​

This phenomenon is called xenolalia: A believer speaks in a human language that he doesn't know.

There is another kind of speaking in tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:
2, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”​

This latter kind of speaking in tongues is called glossolalia: A believer speaks in a non-human language.

What's the purpose of glossolalia?

4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 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.​

1. It edifies the speaker himself.
2. When it is interpreted, it edifies the listeners in the church.

Is glossolalia available today?

I think so. Jesus promised in Mark 16:
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they 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.”​

Does every believer have this gift?

No, 1 Corinthians 12:
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, a and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.​

So it is up to the Holy Spirit to hand out these gifts.

Glossolalia seems to be some kind of spiritual/angelic language, 1 Corinthians 13:
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.​

1 Corinthians 14:
2 For 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.​

Do you have to speak in tongues in order to be saved?

No, not every Christian is required to speak in tongues. Also, some people fake it.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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A believer speaks in a non-human language.
Thanks for sharing. I believe Paul is misunderstood by his hyperbolic language . Christians , especially today, think there is more than one type of the gift known as "speaking in tongues ". Logic tells us that a heavenly language or angel language with no understanding is not edifying to either party. That being said, if a Christian chooses to pray in this manner with no understanding then that is between them and God and not to be shared with others.
Blessings.
 
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tonychanyt

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Amen. See also Anyone who speaks in a tongue EDIFIES themselves and follow up there
 
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tonychanyt

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Hi I am always unsure why you ask questions when you told us the reason point in case "Does every believer have this gift? No"
I employ the Socratic method

Its not Gods word saying "no" you read it and you told us what God really meant. Maybe say "this is what I believe"
Everything that I wrote is my understanding or interpretation. I could be wrong.
 
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Receivedgrace

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The long ending of Mark 16 is not only generally misunderstood it is not on solid ground as not being in the earliest of manuscripts. It is no place to make doctrine and if you drink poison, you are unwise by tempting God.

Angelic languages as supposed by those in the charismatic church are at best foolhardy enterprises.
 
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tonychanyt

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Thanks for sharing. See A manuscript issue with the ending of the book of Mark and follow up there
 
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rocknanchor

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Also, some people fake it.
Hello. May I ask, after making point after point closely paired with God's word do you throw this natural card in? For to judge this or that tongue is false, isn't supported from the text, only prophesy. But, far easier it is to err by teaching others to judge whether the performance was authentic, for by mere identification alone are we commanded to view that gift with only one response, , and would strongly advise no one teach otherwise,

", , do not forbid speaking in tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39)
 
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rocknanchor

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Some people fake it. Some not.
That's God almighty's job whether he can use what is spoken or not since this 'degree of authenticity' so many insist ruling upon, really isn't found in the text. I humbly invite any to show me otherwise. Prophesy, as you know (let the others judge) is the only thing that is. If that's true, and it is, those who maintain "fake tongues" stand in stark opposition to "forbid not to speak with tongues".
 
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tonychanyt

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Are you saying that no one fakes speaking in tongues?
 
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rocknanchor

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Are you saying that no one fakes speaking in tongues?
Due to what have already presented, I could not think of a better moot point. God's word guides our hearts NOT to doubt nor question authenticity in this, (unless we are dull to His word) but welcome, anticipate and earnestly seek without giving place to doubt. HELLO? Anyone else recall His advice on doubt? Yes, love "proves all things" but "does not seek its own", doubt in this case, as described: "forbid not".
 
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tonychanyt

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Sorry that I am slow.
Are you saying that no one has ever faked speaking in tongues nor ever will?
 
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rocknanchor

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Are you saying that no one has ever faked speaking in tongues nor ever will?
Rabbatin jenka lewangee.

"Foolish talk"? Back atcha brother, Are you proposing what just entered my mind to jot that down could not be used by God the Father of lights?
 
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tonychanyt

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Rabbatin jenka lewangee.

"Foolish talk"? Back atcha brother, Are you proposing what just entered my mind to jot that down could not be used by God the Father of lights?
I don't know. But my question is:

Are you saying that no one has ever faked speaking in tongues nor ever will?
 
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rocknanchor

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I don't know. But my question is:

Are you saying that no one has ever faked speaking in tongues nor ever will?
You don't see it, do you? You openly say you don't know yet wish to push me into the roll of God to determine that which you ask. And how am I to know? THAT is what that repetition comes down to. You are the one who brought it up but won't give us examples why. Conversely, contentment with faith is a marvelous aspect to the Christ experience. The application here is quite fitting. Sorry you don't see it that way, truly. Farewell.
 
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Richard T

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Like many Pentecostals and Charismatics, I believe that tongues are the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that every believer can receive. This is different from the gift "Various kinds of tongues" which is imparted as the Holy Spirit wills. In context this is born out. Notice too the office "diversities of tongues" It appears in context that Paul is speaking to those who are set in the church.

1 Corinthians 12:28-30 (KJV)
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

When Paul says "All do not speak in tongues." he is talking about the office or the gift "various kinds of tongues" not the ability to pray in the spirit as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, one must clarify what exactly is the gift "various kinds of tongues?" I would suggest it is: (1) the ability to give a tongue for interpretation, (2) the Ability to speak in an unknown foreign language to be understood (3) The ability to interact more with other tongues and nations. (4) various kinds of tongues may also have something to do with a deeper level of intercession, including but not limited to groaning in the spirit. Where the tongues for the baptism of the spirit ends and where the gift various kinds of tongues begins is unknown.

Is two levels warranted? It occurs in prophecy, healings, giving adminsitrations. We all can be led of the spirit, know things to come etc without the gift of prophecy or words of knowledge or wisdom. We all are supposed to give, but what about the ministry of giving? Those ministries and gifts are a higher level. Like others I just maintain that the same can be said of tongues.
 
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Berserk

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Many misinterpret 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 to imply that spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy are reserved for a divinely favored few.
Paul is just saying, "Look around you and you'll see that not everyone exercises the listed gifts."
In fact, Paul wants us all to "earnestly seek the best gifts (12:31; 14:1)" and the context shows that these include speaking in tongues and prophecy.
The gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy are INTENDED for every believer:

"I want you ALL to speak in tongues, but I'd rather that you ALL prophesy (14:5)."
"You can ALL prophesy one at a time (14:31)."

So I pose this pointed question to you who attend churches that never teach speaking in tongues: Why are you defying Paul's apostolic wish?
In my own case, when I spoke in tongues at age 16, it was BY FAR the high point in my life; and you would agree if you had experienced what I experienced. Speaking in tongues was a gateway spiritual drug that immediately led to the experience of other spiritual gifts. A day rarely goes by when I don't receive spiritual nourishment from that fateful day when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. In my next planned post I will share the details of that momentous life-changing experience.
 
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