The Quick Answer
Speaking in tongues is a supernatural prayer language given by the Spirit—sometimes in known human languages for evangelism (like at Pentecost), and sometimes in unknown languages for private prayer and edification. Paul makes it clear that not everyone receives this gift, and that’s completely fine—God distributes different gifts to different believers, and whatever gift you receive is valuable and meant to build up the church.
Unpacking the Question
This question explodes onto the scene in Acts 2:1-13, when the Holy Spirit crashes the disciples’ prayer meeting and suddenly they’re speaking languages they never studied. But the conversation doesn’t end there—Paul dedicates three entire chapters in 1 Corinthians 12-14 to addressing how tongues works in the church, and he reveals something crucial: tongues isn’t just for public evangelism. It’s also a private prayer language that edifies the believer.
Here’s what’s at stake: some churches have made tongues the litmus test for salvation or Spirit baptism, leaving believers feeling like second-class Christians if they don’t speak in tongues. Others have dismissed tongues entirely as obsolete or suspicious. But Paul’s teaching is crystal clear—tongues is a real gift, it’s valuable both publicly and privately, but it’s not given to everyone, and that’s by design. The Spirit distributes gifts “as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11), and every gift matters.
What the Ancient Words Tell Us
The Greek word is glōssais (γλώσσαις), which means “tongues” or “languages.” At Pentecost, Luke is clear that these were recognizable human languages—Parthian, Median, Elamite dialects that Jews from the diaspora immediately identified (Acts 2:6-11). But Paul introduces another dimension when he writes about “tongues of angels” in 1 Corinthians 13:1.
Now, some argue Paul is just using hyperbole here, but look at the context. Paul is describing the supremacy of love, but he’s using real categories: prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving. Why would he suddenly throw in a fictional category? Angels in Scripture speak—they communicate with God and with humans. The idea that there are heavenly languages isn’t strange in a biblical worldview. Paul himself describes being “caught up to the third heaven” and hearing “things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). There are mysteries in the spiritual realm we don’t fully grasp.
Grammar Geeks
When Paul says “he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God” (1 Corinthians 14:2), the Greek construction emphasizes the directional nature of this speech. It’s theō lalei (θεῷ λαλεῖ)—“speaks to God.” This isn’t primarily horizontal communication with people; it’s vertical communication with God. That’s why interpretation is needed for public worship but not for private prayer.
What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?
Picture two different scenes. First, Pentecost: Jerusalem during the harvest festival, packed with Jews from every nation. These Galilean disciples suddenly declare God’s mighty works in languages they never learned, and it’s not gibberish—it’s perfect Parthian, flawless Egyptian Greek, impeccable Latin. The crowd is divided: some are amazed, others mock them as drunk. This is clearly evangelistic tongues—languages meant to reach people who need to hear the gospel.
But then picture Corinth: a church gathering where someone stands up and speaks in a language nobody recognizes. Paul doesn’t say “that’s not real tongues” or “that’s demonic.” He says it’s real, but without interpretation it only edifies the speaker, not the church. He calls it “mysteries in the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). The speaker’s spirit is praying, even though their mind doesn’t understand the words (1 Corinthians 14:14).
Did You Know?
In Jewish tradition, there was already a concept of ecstatic prayer and prophetic utterance. The prophets would sometimes be “in the Spirit” and speak mysteries. The Psalms talk about groaning too deep for words (Psalm 38:9). Paul’s audience would understand that sometimes the Spirit prays through us in ways that transcend our normal cognitive faculties.
The original audience would see two legitimate expressions of tongues: the evangelistic gift that communicates the gospel across language barriers, and the prayer language that allows believers to commune with God in ways that bypass human limitation. Both are supernatural. Both are real. Both are valuable.
But Wait… There’s More to This
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Paul says “I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15). He’s not saying praying in tongues is bad—he does it more than all of them (1 Corinthians 14:18)! He’s saying there’s a place for both. In private prayer, tongues edifies your spirit. In public worship, intelligible speech edifies the church.
“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:4
This isn’t Paul criticizing self-edification—it’s Paul explaining the function. When you pray in tongues privately, your spirit is being strengthened, refreshed, built up. Paul values this! But in a corporate gathering, the goal shifts to building up everyone, which requires either interpretation or intelligible prophecy.
Think about it this way: when you pray in your native language, you’re limited by your vocabulary, your understanding, your ability to articulate what’s in your heart. Sometimes you don’t have words for the groan in your spirit. Paul describes the Spirit Himself interceding for us “with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Tongues can be one way the Spirit enables that kind of prayer—prayer that goes deeper than our cognitive understanding.
Wait, That’s Strange…
Paul explicitly asks “Do all speak in tongues?” in 1 Corinthians 12:30, and the expected answer in Greek is “No.” Yet he also says “I want you all to speak in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:5). How do we reconcile this? Paul wants all believers to be open to whatever gifts the Spirit wants to give, but he’s equally clear that the Spirit sovereignly distributes different gifts to different people. His desire doesn’t override God’s distribution.
Why Not Everyone Gets Tongues (And Why That’s Good)
This is crucial: Paul uses the body metaphor deliberately in 1 Corinthians 12. “If all were a single member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). The body needs eyes, hands, feet—different members with different functions. Not everyone speaks in tongues for the same reason not everyone is an apostle or prophet or teacher.
Here’s what this means practically: if you don’t have the gift of tongues, God hasn’t shortchanged you. He hasn’t withheld His love. You’re not a second-class Christian. You have different gifts that are equally necessary for the body to function. Maybe you have the gift of mercy, or teaching, or administration, or hospitality. These aren’t lesser gifts—they’re different gifts, distributed by the same Spirit, for the same purpose: building up the church.
And honestly? This should relieve pressure on both sides. If you speak in tongues, you don’t need to feel spiritually superior or pressure others to have your gift. If you don’t speak in tongues, you don’t need to feel inadequate or fake it to fit in. The Spirit knows what He’s doing. Trust His distribution.
Did You Know?
Church history shows that tongues didn’t cease after the apostles. The Montanists in the 2nd century, the Desert Fathers in the 4th century, mystics throughout the medieval period, and revival movements across centuries all documented experiences of tongues. It wasn’t always mainstream, but it never disappeared entirely.
Why This Matters Today
Here’s the bottom line for churches: create space for all the gifts, including tongues, but don’t make any single gift the requirement for membership or spiritual maturity. Paul’s instructions are clear—if someone speaks in tongues in a worship gathering, there should be interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). If there’s no interpretation, that person should keep it between them and God. In private prayer? Go for it. Paul does it constantly and finds it edifying.
For individuals: if you have the gift of tongues, use it. Let it build up your spirit. Let it deepen your prayer life. But remember Paul’s priority—love is greater than any gift. If your gift makes you proud or divisive, you’ve missed the point entirely. And if you don’t have the gift of tongues, celebrate the gifts you do have. Search Scripture to understand your spiritual gifts, and then use them fully for God’s glory and the church’s good.
The modern debate often creates false dichotomies: either tongues is everything or it’s nothing. Either it’s required for salvation or it’s demonic. Paul’s teaching is more nuanced and more pastoral. Tongues is real, valuable, and active wherever the Spirit is at work. But it’s one gift among many, distributed sovereignly, and always meant to be used in love.
Bottom Line
Speaking in tongues is a supernatural prayer language—sometimes recognizable human languages for evangelism, sometimes unknown languages for private prayer and edification. Not everyone receives this gift, and that’s by God’s design. Whatever gift the Spirit gives you is precious and purposeful. Don’t despise tongues if others have it, and don’t despise yourself if you don’t. The goal isn’t collecting gifts; it’s using whatever gifts you have to love God and build up His people.
Related Questions
You might also wonder:
Is speaking in tongues required to be saved or Spirit-filled?
Absolutely not. Salvation comes through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), and the Spirit distributes gifts as He wills, not as a requirement (1 Corinthians 12:11). Being Spirit-filled means being controlled and empowered by the Spirit, which can manifest in many different gifts.
Can tongues be learned or faked?
Real tongues is a supernatural gift, not a learned behavior. However, Paul’s concern for order and authenticity (1 Corinthians 14:32-33) suggests that even in his day, there could be disorder or abuse of the gift. The test isn’t the sound—it’s the fruit. Does it edify? Does it flow from love? Does it build up the church?
What’s the difference between tongues for evangelism and tongues for prayer?
At Pentecost, tongues served an evangelistic purpose—people heard the gospel in their native languages (Acts 2:6-11). In Corinthians, Paul describes tongues as prayer language that edifies the speaker (1 Corinthians 14:4). Same gift, different functions depending on context and the Spirit’s purpose.
Dive Deeper
Internal Links:
- Acts 2:1-13 – The Pentecost event where tongues first appears
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – Paul’s teaching on the diversity of spiritual gifts
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 – Paul’s complete instructions on tongues and prophecy
- Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit interceding with groans too deep for words
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 – Tongues of angels and the supremacy of love
External Scholarly Resources:
- Fee, Gordon D. God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul – Comprehensive examination of Paul’s pneumatology including detailed analysis of tongues
- Keener, Craig S. Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today – Biblical and practical study of spiritual gifts
- Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC) – Detailed exegetical commentary on Paul’s teaching about tongues
- Ruthven, Jon. On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Postbiblical Miracles – Historical and theological examination of spiritual gifts throughout church history
