PLEASE NOTE: This lesson is extremely long. It is not recommended that you skim through the contents or attempt to perform a brief overview. The following information requires attentive study and contemplation.
 

The issue of whether or not speaking in tongues is indeed the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit within a born again Christian is the topic of many religious debates. However, it usually takes years of holistic Bible study for one to be able to rightly divide the word concerning this issue. The scriptures that speak to the issue of “speaking in tongues” are written in different books of the Bible within varying contexts. So, topical study on this issue can be particularly challenging. Coming to the proper conclusion is not a matter of interpretation, but rather having full knowledge of the different circumstances involved with “speaking in tongues”. Once you know all the facts, the fog clears and the answers are easily revealed.
 
 

Two Different Types of Tongues

The first thing any Bible student needs to know about the issue of “speaking in tongues” is that there are two different ‘types’ of tongues, if you will – “new” tongues and “diverse” tongues. One is the evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and one is a spiritual gift bestowed upon only some Christians. If you are not aware of the distinction, reading the scriptures concerning tongues can be confusing. To make this study simpler for all who read it, I wanted to establish this premise upfront, working to organize the scriptural references in such a way that makes sense during the study and just at the end. This helps to make the distinctions clear throughout the lesson and will empower you to compare the two types of tongues without confusion.
 
 

New Tongues

Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues…” The Greek word used here for “new” is “kainos”, and denotes that the tongue is not new to the speaker, but new altogether, a tongue not spoken by any nation or people. This reference is often connected to 1 Corinthians 13:1, when Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Again, the distinction is made between human tongues (unlearned foreign languages) and spiritual tongues, with Paul being a speaker of them both. The “new tongues” that Jesus says his believers will speak are the tongues referred to by Christians today who speak of “the evidence” of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This experience is not only shared by born again Christians today, but is recorded on more than one occasion in the Book of Acts.
 

In Acts 10 we find the story of Cornelius, a Gentile who had converted to Judaism and was a devout worshipper of God. Because he was committed to God in all that he knew, God revealed to him that there was a need for further action, and that he should call upon the Apostle Peter to show him the way. God then reveals to Peter in a vision that salvation was offered not only to Jews, but to Gentiles as well, which defied Jewish belief. When Peter came and preached to Cornelius and his family, something very significant happens, and it is recorded in Acts 10:44-48:
 

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Notice verses 45 and 46 – the only reason that the Jews knew they had received the Holy Ghost was because they spoke with tongues; the tongues were the evidence that the Holy Spirit had truly fallen upon them. Furthermore, there is no mention of any particular tongue that they spoke. In accordance with the prophecy of Jesus and with respect to the “diverse” tongues that we will explore in the next section, since there is no interpreter and no recognition of the tongues that were spoken, the tongues must therefore be the “new tongues” referred to in Mark 16:17.
 

In Acts 19, Paul meets with a group of John’s disciples living in Ephesus, and as they fellowshipped he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 19:2). When they responded saying that they had never heard of the Holy Ghost, Paul asked them how they were baptized, since the receiving of the Holy Spirit is a part of the plan of salvation (Acts 2:38) which includes repentance and baptism, a group of three necessary and connected actions, working in tandem with one another. When the disciples of John revealed that they had only been baptized with John’s baptism of repentance (Matthew 3), Paul commanded (not suggested) that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and in Acts 19:6 it is recorded that “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.” Their speaking in tongues, along with prophesying, was evidence that they had received the Holy Spirit. Note, however, that the verse does not say they either spoke with tongues or prophesied. The prophecy was an added plus, if you will, to the baseline evidence of speaking with new tongues. Again, there is no denotation of specific language spoken by those men, nor an interpreter, therefore proving the tongues to be “new tongues.”
 

“Speaking in tongues”, as it is commonly referred to in Pentecostal churches, is a general term used most often to describe the experience of speaking in new tongues. This spiritual reaction to receiving the Holy Spirit is not the same as but still connected to the spiritual gift of speaking in “diverse tongues”. For instance, in John 3, Jesus prophesies to Nicodemus, telling him in verses 7 and 8, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Note that Jesus says everyone who is born of the Holy Spirit is like the wind, producing a sound that has both an unknown origin and destination. There is a distinct, intentional correlation here with the initial falling of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) which came as a “rushing mighty wind” (Acts 2:2). However, this special event involved diverse tongues as opposed to new tongues, and will be discussed in the next section. John 3, however, is a perfect analogy to the evidence of new tongues, being that they originate not from the mind of the speaker, but from the spirit, and since they cannot be interpreted, only God knows what they mean. It can actually be considered a spiritual loophole of sorts, where God, in his infinite wisdom, helps his children to speak the words they need to, despite their not knowing them. Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and the Spirit of God sometimes prays for us when we do not know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). The reference in Romans speaks specifically of “groanings that cannot be uttered” and not of speaking in tongues (which is utterance by definition), but the concept of God praying to himself through human flesh is confirmed here. So, reexamining John 3, Mark 16, and Acts 10 and 19, we see that similarly God, by his Spirit, causes men to speak a spiritual language that did not originate from them and is not meant for their own understanding, but for God (Jude 1:21).
 

Hopefully this lesson thus far has helped you understand the concept of “new tongues”. New tongues are indeed the evidence that one has received the Holy Spirit, and are thereby necessary in the salvation process. They are necessary not in and of themselves, but because they are God’s confirmation to both the saints and the person who is born again that they have indeed received the Spirit.
 
 

Diverse Tongues

The Bible also refers to “diversities of tongues” and “divers tongues”, which gets many Bible students confused about the purpose and necessity of “new tongues.” Why? Because it may not be apparent that there is a distinct difference between the evidence of speaking in tongues and the spiritual gift of speaking in diverse tongues, or previously unlearned foreign languages. Those who oppose the necessity of speaking in new tongues to salvation incorrectly use scriptures referring to the spiritual gift of diverse tongues in order to make their case. The most widely used verses for this purpose are 1 Corinthians 12:30 and 1 Corinthians 14:5. However, to use those passages in this way is to take them out of context in an attempt to contest a fact that is proven through scripture, as we established in the previous section. Although diverse tongues and new tongues share a connection because they are given spiritually by God and executed in a similar way, they are still different, serving two distinguishable purposes, and can be easily differentiated one from the other.
 

The initial “falling” of the Holy Spirit on the New Testament church on the Day of Pentecost was signified by the disciples of Jesus speaking in diverse tongues. The reason it happened this way is simple: the Feast of Pentecost was an international Jewish celebration where the attendees spoke various languages. So, as a show of God’s power and a sign to the unbelieving Jews, God gave his disciples the ability to speak in the native tongues of those in attendance without ever having learned (Acts 2:6-12). This event presented the Apostle Peter with his opportunity to preach the first Christian sermon (Acts 2:14-36) and then give the Jews who wanted to convert to Christianity (Acts 2:37) the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19, Acts 2:38-40). The evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by the speaking of new tongues (Acts 10:45-46, 19:6) was more appropriate as a sign to those who were already born again because there is no need for interpretation and as a spiritual language, it’s origin and authenticity is spiritually discerned (Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, 1 John 4:13). The Acts of the Apostles support the fact that new tongues were a sign for the saints of God, the believers themselves. Apostle Paul, however, explains in 1 Corinthians that the spiritual gift of diverse tongues is for the edification of the church and a sign for unbelievers, just like on the Day of Pentecost; in both cases interpretation is/was required because these tongues are naturally discerned.
 
 

Settling the Dispute – 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14

It is in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 that most of the confusion lies for Bible students who do not yet believe in the validity of new tongues as a sign of regeneration by the Holy Ghost. While it is very much possible to believe God without understanding what he is asking you to do and act on faith alone, sooner or later it is necessary for Christians to gain an understanding on topics as relevant as speaking in tongues. So, while I have believed that it was right for years, as a teacher, I must be able to support through scripture what I know instinctively through the Spirit (2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 3:15). This meant going back to the seemingly murky waters of tongue talking and all that it entailed to find definite answers to the hard questions. What I have learned is that more often than not, when a dispute exists over the meaning of any particular scripture, it is because one or more parties has not considered the context of the scripture, so its true meaning becomes skewed. This is abundantly clear concerning 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.
 

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul, after praising them for keeping the ordinances that they had been taught, sites some more grievances he has with the church at Corinth, noting how they have been out of order concerning the assembling of themselves together and the Lord’s Supper. Since there was no Bible full of epistles at that time, the various Gentile churches learned how to conduct themselves by the Spirit of God and the word of God through the apostles who oversaw their operations. Topics of a spiritual nature always required further explanation, seeing as how matters of the Spirit were so new and required a deep understanding of who God is in order to separate the works of the flesh and emotions from the works of the Spirit of God. In this vein of continues to teach the fledgling church right from wrong in chapter 12, opening with these words: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” Right away we see that he is about to lecture on the specific topic of spiritual gifts – this is the context. If you have read the book of 1 Corinthians you know that he continues to discuss spiritual gifts all the way through to the end of chapter 14. Even chapter 13, often called “The Love Chapter” of the Bible, is written within this context; Paul is warning the Corinthian church that no matter how many spiritual gifts they were blessed with, if they did not have love, they would not be effective, nor would they be approved by God. Therefore, we can clearly see that 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 are written within the specific context of the subject of spiritual gifts.
 
 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Paul opens the spiritual gifts portion of his letter to the Corinthian church with this passage:
 

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

When you read this passage with knowledge of the context, it’s not confusing at all, is it? There is clearly a gift of diverse tongues being discussed here. Further proof for the skeptic can be found in the Greek text. The words “divers kinds” in verse 10 is the Greek word “genos”, which means “nationality or descent from a particular people.” This meaning is as opposed to the “kainos” tongues in Mark 16:17 that Jesus spoke of which are not indigenous to any people. So, the tongues in question here are not spiritual, but natural tongues, foreign languages. Of course, the only way that speaking foreign languages would be a spiritual gift is if the speaker had not previously learned the language. Furthermore, the only way God would get the glory out of such a display of power is if someone were there to interpret what is spoken. On the Day of Pentecost, the foreign attendees were the interpreters. In the absence of such a situation, God must also endow someone with the gift of interpretation.
 
 

Covetousness at Corinth – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

When you read the entire twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians, you can see that there was obviously an issue with the saints favoring certain spiritual gifts over others, causing schism. Paul had to explain that they were all members of the body of Christ, and that each member in a body has its own special function that is necessary for the good of the whole. Verses 27-31 read as follows:
 

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 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 ? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Remember, Paul is still speaking within the context of spiritual gifts. So, verse 30 is obviously not referring to the new tongues Jesus foretold of in Mark 16:17, because the answer to that question would be, “Yes, all of us do.” Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 1:12-16 refers to the fact that the recipients of this letter had already been baptized. We know from Acts 19 that if these people had been baptized that they had already received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in new tongues, so 1 Corinthians 12:30 would not be connected to that experience unless particularly specified. However, the context is specified here; Paul is still talking about the spiritual gift of diverse tongues that he mentioned earlier in the chapter in verse 10.
 

So, if Paul is not implying that all born again Christians do not show the evidence of speaking in tongues, what is he saying here? Paul is setting up his argument against the chaotic, disorderly conduct that comes through covetousness of spiritual gifts and lack of distinction between new and diverse tongues that he will address in detail in chapter 14.
 
 

The Tongues Chapter – 1 Corinthians 14:1-32

If 1 Corinthians 13 can be called “The Love Chapter” of the Bible, then 1 Corinthians 14 could most certainly be called “The Tongues Chapter”. However, to read 1 Corinthians 14 without having read all of the other scriptures that we have covered up until this point would almost certainly cause one to become confused. However, it’s like that in any lecture or class – when you are late and you begin listening in an the middle or towards the end, you are not able to get the full understanding that you need to process the information. Paul talks about both new and diverse tongues in this chapter, so you need to understand the full context and follow it in order to be able to gauge exactly where the lines are being drawn and why.
 

Before I delve into the text, I want to take a moment to remind anyone reading this that the recipients of Paul’s letter were real people, just like us. The difference is that the spirituality that they were experiencing was totally new to them, and they had little, if any point of reference on certain matters, including and especially this concept of speaking in tongues. So, as human beings with little experience dealing in the spiritual, they tended to use their carnal perspective to judge spiritual things. That perspective was simple – some spiritual gifts are “cooler” than others, and speaking in tongues is one of the coolest. Think about it – you can’t mimic the gift of healing; you either have it or you don’t. Prophesying is pretty cool, too, but depending on what you say, it can be taken with a grain of salt or not, since it involves future events. But speaking fluent Russian out of the clear blue sky and then having someone interpret that you were actually speaking the word of God? THAT’S just awesome. So, if you are honest, I’m sure you could imagine how a lot of Christians in Corinth wanted to “activate” such a gift on their own, seeing as they had already spoken in new tongues when they received the Holy Spirit. However, Paul has to explain to them how the gift of diverse tongues is supposed to work and what to do with the new tongues that many of them spoke in a disorderly fashion before the congregation:
 

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy . 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied : for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret , that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped ? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken ? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are , it may be , so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification . 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret . 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth , but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest ? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified . 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children , but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written , With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe , but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe . 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad ? 24 But if all prophesy , and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together , every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret . 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge . 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by , let the first hold his peace . 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one , that all may learn , and all may be comforted . 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

Do you see it? The case Paul is making is not speaking in tongues versus not speaking in tongues, but coveting to prophesy as opposed to coveting the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues because only prophecy edifies the people in and of itself – diverse tongues require an interpreter. It’s erroneous to use this scripture to try and make an argument against new tongues that the Apostle Paul himself did not make! Furthermore, reread verse 28 – you can see that Paul is helping these saints to recognize the difference between new tongues (often called a person’s “personal prayer language” based on 1 Corinthians 14:14-15) and the spiritual gift of speaking in diverse tongues before the congregation. It is inappropriate for someone speaking in the spiritual language that God gives them with his Spirit to stand before the congregation and do so – it is not for the edification of the church. As a new Christian in the very new Christian church, and considering the lack of global perspective in that day and time, it would have been difficult to differentiate between a spiritual tongue and a foreign language for most if not all of these people. When I speak in my spiritual language, I can tell that it is not a human language because I am a student of language – I know what various foreign languages sound like, and I understand linguistics in general. The people of Corinth probably had very little exposure to foreign languages and may not have been able to tell the difference. So, many of them stood up before the congregation whenever the “rivers of living water” began flowing from their bellies (John 7:38) and broadcast what Paul had to explain should have remained private (1 Corinthians 14:28).
 

I hope that this lesson has enlightened you the true meaning of the scriptures sometimes used to discourage people from receiving the true Sprit of God. If you find yourself needing more information on what you must do to be saved according to the Bible, please read the information provided here: http://www.squidoo.com/acts-2-38.

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