There is a lot of information that has been written about the spiritual gift of tongues over the years, yet the Bible only mentions it in a few places. Many denominations see the gift of tongues as a divine reward for receiving the Holy Spirit and a true sign of the believer. It is construed as a special relationship with God and speaking a language special to Him and to others with the gift.
However, there are two key Biblical truths that contradict the gift to be seen in this way. First, the gift of Tongues was given originally at Pentecost and enabled the Apostles to speak in languages that were not their own in order to spread the Good News. People from other lands understood them clearly and there was no mention of a special language. Secondly, the spiritual gifts are given for the benefit of the whole body. Speaking in tongues as these denominations adhere to are not for the benefit of the body and could ultimately create divisiveness. It could be seen as setting members of the body up as more important than others which is clearly against what Paul teaches.
Reading People
The spiritual gift of tongues is an instrument that the body uses to help communicate inside and outside of the body. A person with this gift is able to “read people” and communicate in a way that is appropriate. The gift of speaking and interpreting tongues is not restricted to languages and cultures, but also crosses generational, racial, and socioeconomic barriers. It is evidence to the believer of God’s intent for all to come to know Christ, and it is a means for those outside of the body to understand that Christ came for everyone including them.
A good way to describe this gift is with the term “ambassador”. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ambassador as a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government. A person with the gift of tongues should be seen as one who can build bridges between believers and non-believers and make those who may see themselves as “different” feel welcome in the body.
Tongues as a Special Language
Those who have the gift of tongues may experience a deep sense of connection to the Holy Spirit, and may feel as though they are praying or worshiping in a way that transcends human language. The gift may be used for personal prayer and worship, or in public settings such as church services or other gatherings.
It’s important to note that this interpretation of the gift of tongues can be controversial and is not universally accepted or practiced in all Christian denominations. Some Christians believe that the gift of tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, while others do not view it as a necessary or primary gift.
In his writings, Martin Luther was critical of the gift of tongues, which he saw as a potential source of confusion and disorder in the church. He believed that the gift of tongues described in the New Testament was a miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages for the purpose of spreading the Gospel to people of different cultures. But he also believed that the gift had ceased to be a common occurrence after the early church era.
Regardless of one’s views on the gift of tongues, it is important to approach it with humility and discernment, and to use spiritual gifts in a way that honors God and benefits others.
Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Tongues
Martin Luther had a complex view on the spiritual gift of tongues, which he saw as both a genuine gift of the Holy Spirit and a potential source of confusion and division within the Church.
On the one hand, Luther believed that the gift of tongues, as described in the book of Acts, was a genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. He saw it as a supernatural ability to speak in languages that one had not learned, and as a sign of God’s grace and mercy at work in the world.
However, Luther also recognized that the gift of tongues could be misused or misunderstood. He cautioned against those who sought after the gift of tongues for their own glory, or who used it as a way to elevate themselves above others in the Church.
Luther also believed that the gift of tongues was not necessary for salvation or for the Christian life. He saw it as one of many gifts that God could give to His people, but not as a requirement for faith or obedience.
John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Tongues
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed in the spiritual gift of tongues as a genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in the world.
Wesley saw the gift of tongues as a supernatural ability to speak in languages that one had not learned, and as a sign of God’s grace and mercy at work in the world. He believed that this gift could serve a variety of purposes, including as a means of evangelism and as a way of edifying the Church. He also emphasized the need for discernment in the use of spiritual gifts, and for the exercise of these gifts in a way that would build up the Church and advance the Gospel.
Wesley encouraged believers to pray for the gift of tongues, but also to approach it with humility and discernment, and to use it in a way that would glorify God and benefit His people.
The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Tongues
In the Catholic Church, the spiritual gift of tongues is considered to be one of the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, along with gifts such as healing, miracles, and prophecy.
According to Catholic teaching, the gift of tongues is a supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to certain individuals for the purpose of building up the Church and advancing the Gospel. The gift of tongues is seen as a means of praising and worshiping God in a way that transcends human language and understanding, and as a way of edifying the Church and bringing others to faith.
The Catholic Church recognizes that the gift of tongues can take many different forms, including the ability to speak in languages that one has not learned, the ability to speak in a spiritual language that is not understood by others, and the ability to interpret or translate spiritual language into human language.
People with this Gift:
- Ability to pick up foreign languages easily
- Communicate in ways that are outside of the norm in order to reach people
- A special empathy for unbelievers and a strong desire to reach them
- Missionary work comes naturally to them
- Able to read people in a deep and meaningful way – look beyond the outer self and to the inner one
- Can be a sign for unbelievers, or at least a medium to reach unbelievers
- Breaks down barriers between different cultures and races.
Bible References
| Mark 16:15-18 | Christ states that speaking in new tongues will accompany those who preach the good news. |
| Acts 2:1-12 | Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost |
| Acts 10:44-46 | Gentiles hear Peter speaking in tongues |
| Acts 19:4-7 | Paul places his hands on disciples and they speak in tongues |
| 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 | Gift of tongues mentioned by Paul |
| 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 | Gift of tongues compared to other gifts |
| 1 Corinthians 13:1 | Without love, speaking in tongues is worthless |
| 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 | Paul gives details on the gift of tongues |
The Spiritual Gifts Project is always looking for personal perspective about the spiritual gifts. If you would like to share your experiences and help further all of our understanding about a particular spiritual gift, please visit our feedback page.
- Zondervan, 1468-1469
Other Gifts
- Spiritual Gift of Knowledge
- Spiritual Gift of Discernment
- Spiritual Gift of Faith
- Spiritual Gift of Miracles
- Spiritual Gift of Helping
- Spiritual Gift of Healing
- Spiritual Gift of Exhortation
- Spiritual Gift of Compassion and Mercy
- Spiritual Gift of Giving
- Spiritual Gift of Servanthood
- Spiritual Gift of Leadership
- Spiritual Gift of Wisdom
- Spiritual Gift of Administration
