Tongues, Speaking in — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Supernatural manifestation of speech in a language not known to the speaker; the Greek term is glossolalia.

Tongues-speaking was first manifested in the early church on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled 120 Christians meeting together. They burst out in praise to God in a multitude of different languages. According to Acts 2:8-11, the audience of Jerusalem could understand them, since they were communicating the gospel in the hearers’ own languages. (Verses 9-11 list about 16 nations whose representatives in Jerusalem hear the disciples speaking in their own language.) In subsequent occurrences, when a group of people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the book of Acts indicates that they spoke in tongues (10:46; 19:6). But not all spoke in tongues when they received the Spirit (see 8:15-17), so it wasn’t the unique sign for having received the Holy Spirit. The Scripture teaches that all believers are baptized by the Spirit as they become integrated into the body of Christ, the church (1 Cor 12:13). The genuine evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit is the “fruit of the Spirit” as defined in Galatians 5:22-23.

Show passage in OET: ACT 2:8–11

OET-RV ACT 2:8

8 So how come we’re hearing them speak the languages of the countries where we were born?

OET-RV ACT 2:9

9 There’s people here from Parthia, Maday (Media), Eylam, Mesopotamia, Yehudah (Judea), Kappadokia, Pontos, Asia Minor,

OET-RV ACT 2:10

10 Frugia, Pamfulia, Mitsrayim (Egypt), Libya (near Kurainai (Cyrene)), and visitors from Romai (Rome),

OET-RV ACT 2:11

11 Kraitai (Crete), and Arav. Some are Yehudim and some are non-Jews who’ve converted to Youdaismos. And we can hear them talking about God in our languages.”

OET-LV ACT 2:8

8 And how are_ we _hearing each in _the own language of _us, in which we _were _born?

OET-LV ACT 2:9

9 ones_from _Parthia, and ones_from _Maʸdia, and ones_from _Elam, and the ones dwelling _in the Mesopotamia, Youdaia and and/both Kappadokia, Pontos and the Asia,

OET-LV ACT 2:10

10 Frugia and and/both Pamfulia, Aiguptos/(Miʦrayim), and the parts of_ the _Libuaʸ which along Kuraʸnaʸ, and the ones Ɽōmaios visiting,

OET-LV ACT 2:11

11 both Youdaiōns and converts, ones_from _Kraʸtaʸ and ones_from _Arabia, we _are _hearing them speaking, the great things of_ the _god the in _our tongues.

Show passage in OET: ACT 2:9–11

OET-RV ACT 2:9

9 There’s people here from Parthia, Maday (Media), Eylam, Mesopotamia, Yehudah (Judea), Kappadokia, Pontos, Asia Minor,

OET-RV ACT 2:10

10 Frugia, Pamfulia, Mitsrayim (Egypt), Libya (near Kurainai (Cyrene)), and visitors from Romai (Rome),

OET-RV ACT 2:11

11 Kraitai (Crete), and Arav. Some are Yehudim and some are non-Jews who’ve converted to Youdaismos. And we can hear them talking about God in our languages.”

OET-LV ACT 2:9

9 ones_from _Parthia, and ones_from _Maʸdia, and ones_from _Elam, and the ones dwelling _in the Mesopotamia, Youdaia and and/both Kappadokia, Pontos and the Asia,

OET-LV ACT 2:10

10 Frugia and and/both Pamfulia, Aiguptos/(Miʦrayim), and the parts of_ the _Libuaʸ which along Kuraʸnaʸ, and the ones Ɽōmaios visiting,

OET-LV ACT 2:11

11 both Youdaiōns and converts, ones_from _Kraʸtaʸ and ones_from _Arabia, we _are _hearing them speaking, the great things of_ the _god the in _our tongues.

Show passage in OET: ACT 10:46

OET-RV ACT 10:46

46 as they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Kefa said,

OET-LV ACT 10:46

46 For/Because they _were _hearing of _them speaking with _tongues, and magnifying the god.
Then Petros answered,

Show passage in OET: ACT 19:6

OET-RV ACT 19:6

6 Then Paulos placed his hands on them and prayed and the holy spirit came down onto them and they started speaking in other languages and speaking messages from God.

OET-LV ACT 19:6

6 And of_ the _Paulos having _laying _on on _them his_hands, the the holy spirit came on them, and they _were _speaking with _tongues and were _prophesying.

Show passage in OET: ACT 8:15–17

OET-RV ACT 8:15

15 so then they prayed for them to receive the holy spirit.

OET-RV ACT 8:16

16 (The holy spirit hadn’t fallen on any of them at that point, but they had only been immersed into the name and authority of the master Yeshua.)

OET-RV ACT 8:17

17 So Kefa and Yohan placed their hands on the new believers and they received the holy spirit.

OET-LV ACT 8:15

15 who having _come _down, they _prayed for them, so _that they _may _receive the_ holy _spirit.

OET-LV ACT 8:16

16 For/Because it _was not _yet having _fallen _on on no _one of _them, but they _were_ only _being having _been _immersed into the name of _the master Yaʸsous.

OET-LV ACT 8:17

17 Then they _were _laying _on their hands on them, and they _were _receiving the_ holy _spirit.

Show passage in OET: CO1 12:13

OET-RV CO1 12:13

13 Yes, in one spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether we were Yehudim (Jews) or Hellains (Greeks), whether slaves or free, and we all were given one spirit to drink. MEANING?

OET-LV CO1 12:13

13 For/Because also in one spirit we all into one body were _immersed, whether Youdaiōns, or Hellaʸns, or slaves, or free, and all one spirit were _gave _to _drink.

Show passage in OET: GAL 5:22–23

OET-RV GAL 5:22

22 But the end result of having God’s spirit is to show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

OET-RV GAL 5:23

23 gentleness, and self-control—none of Mosheh’s laws are against any of these!

OET-LV GAL 5:22

22 But the fruit of _the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

OET-LV GAL 5:23

23 gentleness, self-control, against the such things, there _is no law.

Jump to OET ACT 2:8–11 section.

Jump to OET ACT 2:9–11 section.

Jump to OET ACT 10:46 section.

Jump to OET ACT 19:6 section.

Jump to OET ACT 8:15–17 section.

Jump to OET CO1 12:13 section.

Jump to OET GAL 5:22–23 section.

In the days of the early church, some Christians spoke in tongues and some didn’t. According to Paul, speaking in tongues, when practiced in the church meetings, required interpretation. If no one could give an interpretation, it was to be practiced as a private devotional exercise, for one’s own edification. As a means of private worship, the practice of glossolalia is tantamount to speaking to oneself and to God (1 Cor 14:28). However, under certain conditions formulated by Paul, glossolalia may become one of the spiritual gifts to be used in ministry to the church for the common good. In this case, the main concern is that the public use of glossolalia not be reduced to praying in tongues or speaking in tongues without interpretation.

Show passage in OET: CO1 14:28

OET-RV CO1 14:28

28 But if there’s no translator, they should be silent in the assembly, and save it for between themselves and God.

OET-LV CO1 14:28

28 But if not may _be an_interpreter, him _let _be _keeping _silent in the_assembly, and to _himself him _let _be _speaking and to_ the _god.

Jump to OET CO1 14:28 section.

In order to establish firmly the public practice of glossolalia as a ministry to the church and to prevent its abuse as a quest for personal fulfillment, Paul put forth a set of rules designed to control its corporate exercise (1 Cor 14:27-33):

Show passage in OET: CO1 14:27–33

OET-RV CO1 14:27

27 If there’s any speaking in other languages, it should be two or three people at most, taking turns and someone should translate.

OET-RV CO1 14:28

28 But if there’s no translator, they should be silent in the assembly, and save it for between themselves and God.

OET-RV CO1 14:29

29 But let two or three people prophesy, and then the others should evaluate what was said.

OET-RV CO1 14:30

30 However if something is revealed to someone still seated, then the first person should stop speaking,

OET-RV CO1 14:31

31 because you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone can be instructed and encouraged.

OET-RV CO1 14:32

32 The prophet’s spirits are under the control of the prophets,

OET-RV CO1 14:33

33 because God isn’t a god of disorder, but of peace.
¶ As in all the assemblies of believers,

OET-LV CO1 14:27

27 If _also with_a_tongue anyone is _speaking, by two or the most three, and each in _turn let _it _be, and one let _be _interpreting.

OET-LV CO1 14:28

28 But if not may _be an_interpreter, him _let _be _keeping _silent in the_assembly, and to _himself him _let _be _speaking and to_ the _god.

OET-LV CO1 14:29

29 Prophets two and or three let _be _speaking, and the others let _be _distinguishing.

OET-LV CO1 14:30

30 But if to _another may _be _revealed something sitting, the first let _be _keeping _silent.

OET-LV CO1 14:31

31 For/Because you _all _are _being _able one _by one all to _be _prophesying, in _order _that all may _be _learning, and all may _be _being _exhorted.

OET-LV CO1 14:32

32 And spirits of _prophets, to _prophets is _being _subjected.

OET-LV CO1 14:33

33 For/Because not is of _disturbance the god, but of _peace.
As in all the assemblies of _the holy ones,

Jump to OET CO1 14:27–33 section.

1. A limit of one, two, or three persons is set for participation in tongues per worship session.

2. The one, two, or three tongues-speakers are to make their contribution in sequence, “one at a time” or “in turn,” never simultaneously.

3. Before a worshiper decides to speak in tongues, he or she is to secure an interpreter. Should no such person be available, he or she is to refrain from speaking in tongues.

4. The person speaking in tongues should not be the one to provide the interpretation (1 Cor 12:10).

Show passage in OET: CO1 12:10

OET-RV CO1 12:10

10 Another might be given the ability to do miracles, and someone else given prophecy. Another might be given ability to distinguish spirits, and someone else given the ability to speak other languages, and to yet another the ability to translate languages.

OET-LV CO1 12:10

10 on _the _other _hand to _another actions of _miracles, to _another prophecy, to _another distinctions of _spirits, to _another kinds of _tongues, on _the _other _hand to _another translation of _tongues.

Jump to OET CO1 12:10 section.

5. If there are too many believers speaking in tongues and not enough interpreters, the former should pray, instead, for the power to interpret (1 Cor 14:13).

Show passage in OET: CO1 14:13

OET-RV CO1 14:13

13 So then, let anyone who’s speaking in another language, pray that they will be able to translate it.

OET-LV CO1 14:13

13 Therefore the one speaking in_a_tongue, let _be _praying that he _may _be _interpreting.

Jump to OET CO1 14:13 section.

6. When the contribution in tongues has been interpreted in intelligible language, it becomes a prophecy that needs to be evaluated by the recipients.

7. The genuineness of the experience is to be tested by those who have the ability to distinguish between spirits (1 Cor 12:10) so that they can test everything, hold fast to what is good, and abstain from every form of evil.

Persons participating in worship should be in control of their conduct at all times. They may not appeal to ecstatic states to excuse disorderly conduct or infractions to the rules of worship. Disorder and confusion are not inspired by God, since he is a God of peace and unity.

The gift of tongues is not to be desired or sought after. Only the “higher gifts” involving communication through directly intelligible speech are to be earnestly desired (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1, 5 OET CO1 14:1 · OET CO1 14:5). However, should the gift of tongues be present, it should not be stifled, provided it can be used according to the rules and for the common good.