Questions about Speaking in Tongues

Is speaking in tongues biblical?

Speaking in tongues is certainly mentioned in the Bible. However, what many Christians today practice as “speaking in tongues” is not actually speaking in tongues according to the Bible:

• Unlike biblical tongue-speaking, modern popular tongue-speaking does not involve speaking human languages.
• Unlike biblical tongue-speaking, modern popular tongue-speaking can potentially be exercised by any Christian.
• Moreover, in many churches where modern popular tongue-speaking is practiced, it is not regulated according to the Bible (1 Cor. 14:27–28, 39).

Therefore, speaking in tongues is certainly biblical, but the modern popular practice of “speaking in tongues” is not biblical.

Can every Christian receive the ability to speak in tongues?

In 1 Corinthians 12:30, the Apostle Paul asked,

Do all speak in tongues?

This rhetorical question expects the answer, “No, not all speak in tongues.” In context, Paul was talking about how the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people (vv. 4–10). Like the other spiritual gifts, the ability to speak tongues is distributed by the Holy Spirit “as he wills” (v. 11). Therefore, just as not every Christian can be an apostle, be a prophet, be a teacher, work miracles, or perform healings, so also not every Christian can receive the ability to speak in tongues (vv. 28–30).

Why are so many Christians today able to speak in tongues?

What many Christians today practice as “speaking in tongues” is not speaking in tongues according to the Bible. Therefore, these Christians are not actually speaking in tongues, and they do not actually have the biblical gift of tongues.

Does “praying in the Holy Spirit” mean praying in tongues?

“Praying in the Holy Spirit” simply means to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit—and that can certainly be done in one’s native language. There is nothing in the Bible which indicates that “praying in the Holy Spirit” specifically means praying in tongues, as if the only way to pray in the Holy Spirit is by praying in tongues.

Moreover, while “praying in the Holy Spirit” is something that all Christians should do (Eph. 6:18; Jud. 20), speaking in tongues is something that not all Christians can do (1 Cor. 12:30). This makes it clear that “praying in the Holy Spirit” is not the same thing as praying in tongues.