speaking in tongues

By Edwin Christiaan

Are the tongues heard in many modern Christian and Charismatic churches truly the biblical gift given by the Holy Spirit, or are they something else entirely?

After spending many years within this movement and later re-examining Scripture, it becomes clear that much of what is practiced today as “speaking in tongues” does not align with what the Bible actually teaches.

The Biblical Gift of Tongues

In Scripture, speaking in tongues is consistently described as the supernatural ability to speak in a real, human language unknown to the speaker.

This is most clearly seen on the Day of Pentecost:

“Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability… and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”
Acts 2:4–6 NLT

The people present - coming from many different nations - each heard the message in their own native language. This was not unintelligible speech, but a clear and miraculous sign demonstrating God’s power.

The purpose of tongues is also clearly defined:

“Speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers.”
1. Corinthians 14:22 NLT

Tongues were meant to serve as a divine sign pointing unbelievers to God, not as a common or expected practice among believers for personal expression.

Tongues Are Real Languages, Not Gibberish

The Apostle Paul reinforces that tongues are actual languages with meaning:

“There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.”
1. Corinthians 14:10 NLT

Because of this, Paul emphasizes that tongues must be understood in order to be beneficial:

“If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying?”
1. Corinthians 14:9 NLT

This is why interpretation is essential:

“Anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.”
1. Corinthians 14:13 NLT

Without interpretation, tongues do not edify others. In fact, Paul warns:

“If unbelievers… come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.”
1. Corinthians 14:23 NLT

For this reason, he gives clear instruction for order within the church:

“No more than two or three should speak in tongues… and someone must interpret… But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent.”
1. Corinthians 14:27–28 NLT

Not Every Believer Speaks in Tongues

A major misconception in many modern church movements is the idea that speaking in tongues is evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit—or even necessary for salvation. Scripture does not support this.

The Bible teaches that all believers receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation:

“When you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:13 NLT

However, spiritual gifts are distributed individually:

“It is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.”
1. Corinthians 12:11 CEV

Paul makes this unmistakably clear by asking:

“Do all speak with tongues?”
1. Corinthians 12:30 NKJV

The implied answer is no.

While tongues is one of many spiritual gifts, it is not given to every believer, nor is it presented as a requirement for salvation or spiritual maturity.

Praying in Tongues vs. Praying in the Spirit

Another common confusion is equating “praying in tongues” with “praying in the Spirit.”

Praying in tongues, when genuine, refers to speaking in a real language unknown to the speaker, often requiring interpretation.

Praying in the Spirit, however, is something broader. Scripture describes it as a posture of dependence on the Holy Spirit:

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.”
Ephesians 6:18 NLT

It means being guided by the Holy Spirit in prayer - seeking God’s will, relying on His wisdom, and aligning one’s heart with Him. This does not require speaking in tongues.

Paul explains this dependence beautifully:

“The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”
Romans 8:26–27 NLT

A Misunderstood Practice Today

In light of Scripture, the unintelligible and repetitive speech often heard in modern Charismatic settings does not match the biblical description of tongues.

Biblical tongues:

• Are real human languages
• Serve as a sign to unbelievers
• Require interpretation in gatherings
• Are given to some, not all believers

When these elements are absent, what remains is something very different from what is described in the New Testament. 

Conclusion

Speaking in tongues is a genuine gift from God, but it is often misunderstood and misrepresented. It is not something that can be learned, practiced, or “activated.” It is not evidence of salvation, nor is it meant to be a universal experience among believers. Rather, it is a specific, Spirit-given ability to speak in real languages for the purpose of communicating God’s truth, especially as a sign to unbelievers.

When understood biblically, the true gift of tongues points clearly to God. When imitated or redefined, it risks creating confusion and misrepresenting the very message it was meant to proclaim.