In the New Testament, tongues appear as a work of the Spirit in specific events and as one of the gifts in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul regulates their use in the gathering: without interpretation, the speaker must remain silent in the church, while speaking in tongues must not be forbidden. These texts do not establish speaking in tongues as a required sign of receiving the Holy Spirit.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- Acts 2:1–13: On the day of Pentecost, the gathered disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues; Jews from different countries heard each one in his own language and heard about the mighty works of God. This is an account of one event.
- Acts 10:44–48 and 19:1–7: When the Spirit came upon those listening to the word in Cornelius’s house, they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God; in Ephesus, after baptism and the laying on of Paul’s hands, the disciples spoke in tongues and prophesied. These are also accounts of specific events.
- 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, 27–31: Various kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues are listed among the manifestations of the Spirit, which He distributes as He wills. Paul asks whether all speak in tongues and whether all interpret, as part of a series of questions about how people have different gifts.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1–5: The one who speaks in another tongue speaks not to people but to God, because no one understands; in the spirit he speaks mysteries. He edifies himself, while the one who prophesies edifies the church. Paul wants everyone to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy, unless there is interpretation.
- 1 Corinthians 14:13–19: The one who speaks in a tongue should pray for interpretation; Paul says that his spirit prays, but his mind is unfruitful, and resolves to pray both with the spirit and with the mind. He speaks in tongues more than all of them, but in the church he would rather speak five words with his mind, so that he may instruct others.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26–33, 39–40: In the gathering, each person may have a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, or interpretation—all for edification; two or three should speak in a tongue, one at a time, and someone should interpret; without an interpreter, the person should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. Paul instructs believers to earnestly desire prophecy and not to forbid speaking in tongues, but to do everything properly and in an orderly manner.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 uses the expression “tongues of men and of angels” in discussing the supremacy of love; by itself, it does not establish a separate type of “angelic prayer language.”
- In 1 Cor. 13:8, Paul says that tongues will cease, and in 13:10 he speaks of the coming of perfection; the text does not directly date when tongues will cease.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
9 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Acts 2:1–13
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one accord. 2 Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then divided tongues, as of fire, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5 Now there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, the multitude gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect. 7 And they were all amazed and astonished, saying to one another: Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that we each hear our own dialect in which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the great works of God? 12 And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another: What does this mean? 13 But others, mocking, said: They are full of sweet wine.
1 Corinthians 12:7–31
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healings by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, various kinds of tongues; and to another, the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” would it therefore not belong to the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” would it therefore not belong to the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged each part in the body just as He wished. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many parts, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you”; nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, to the rest, 23 and those parts that seem less honorable in the body we treat with special honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 whereas our presentable parts have no need of this. But God has composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that all the parts may care for one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individually His parts, 28 and God has appointed in the Church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then miracles, then gifts of healings, helping, administration, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:1–5
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people but to God; for no one understands him: he speaks mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their edification, exhortation, and comfort. 4 The one who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church [of God]. 5 I wish that all of you spoke in other tongues, but even more that you prophesied, because the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:13–19
13 Therefore, the one who speaks in an unknown tongue should pray for the ability to interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What should I do, then? 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. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with your spirit, how will the one who occupies the place of the uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank my God: I speak in other tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, so that I may instruct others, than countless words in an unknown tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:26–33
26 What should you do, then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, an unknown tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be two or at most three, and in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him remain silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern. 30 But if a revelation comes to another who is seated, let the first one be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets, 33 because God is not a God of disorder but of peace. This is so in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:39–40
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues. 40 But let everything be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Acts 10:44–48
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 The believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter said: 47 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
Acts 19:1–7
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. Finding there some disciples, 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus Christ.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking other tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
1 Corinthians 13:1–10
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and possess all knowledge and all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all I possess and surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, love does not boast, it is not proud, 5 it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, 6 love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth; 7 it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
