The Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues is often espoused in today’s evangelical world as a “stamp” of God’s approval on the individual. In some cases, as with Kenneth Copeland, the gift of tongues is their proof of anointing as a prophet of God. In other cases, it’s a testimony of being a true or approved child of God. In both instances, it’s used by modern Christianity to show some level of preference or favor from God.
How Scripture answers "What is the gift of tongues?"
The gift of tongues, as defined in Scripture, is a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit7 that was given by the Spirit13 to apostles first2, and then by the laying on of their hands to others who had been baptized4. In practice, the gift of tongues was someone speaking the gospel message to an unbeliever who spoke a different language25. It was miraculous in that the speaker did not know the language they were speaking2 and would otherwise require an interpreter to understand it36.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
They [the apostles] were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues other than their own as the Spirit directed them.
It is the day of Pentecost and Jews have made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem from all different nations (vs 5). The apostles have what appear to be “tongues as of fire” (vs 3) resting on each one of them to the amazement of the crowd. They are able to speak in everyone’s native tongue (vs 6) and Peter begins to preach to them of Jesus.
Applying Acts 2:4 to this question...
Speaking in “other tongues”2 was enabled by and through the Holy Spirit.
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
And at this sound (mighty wind vs 2) the crowd came together and were confused since they each heard them speaking (the apostles) in their own language. In amazement, they were acknowledging that they were Galileans, yet each person could hear them speak in his/her native tongue.
It is the day of Pentecost and Jews have made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem from all different nations (vs 5). The apostles have what appear to be “tongues as of fire” (vs 3) resting on each one of them to the amazement of the crowd and Peter begins to preach to them of Jesus.
Applying Acts 2:6-8 to this question...
The apostles were Galilean, therefore not educated in all of the foreign languages represented that day, yet each person heard their words in “his own native language”.
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
Anyone that speaks in a tongue [without an interpreter] is only speaking to God, since nobody can understand the utterances he is making in the Spirit.
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about orderly worship (really beginning all the way back in chapter 10). Beginning in chapter 12 and through this chapter 14, he is addressing speaking in tongues and mostly comparing/contrasting this gift of the Spirit and its appropriate use with the gift of prophesying. In particular, they were using miraculous gifts of tongues improperly (with no interpreter – vs 27). Since there was no interpreter, it was not useful for the “building up” of the church (vs 5), therefore it wasn’t to be done (without an interpreter).
Applying 1 Corinthians 14:2 to this question...
Paul is NOT introducing the idea that speaking in tongues was some sort of “Spirit language” or “mystery language”. His point is that without an interpreter, it’s a pointless “mystery” since only God understands it. Importantly, it’s even a mystery to the one uttering it! He also reiterates the fact that this is only done through/by the Holy Spirit.1
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John in order to pray and lay their hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit — He had not yet fallen on them because they had only been baptized in the name Jesus. So they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this he offered the apostles money so he too could impart this power.
The disciples scattered from Jerusalem (vss 2,4) following the stoning of Stephen (chapter 7). As a result, there were Samaritans, including a ‘sorcerer’ named Simon, who had been baptized (apparently by Philip from Acts 6). While “the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did” (vs 6), Simon’s magic was apparently a distraction or even a competition. “They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (vs 10)
Applying Acts 8:14-19 to this question...
The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were originally possessed only by the apostles and passed on to others only through the laying on of their hands.
Of note, these were baptized believers that were receiving this power from the apostles.
In the Law it is written, By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
In the Law [of Moses] it is written that God will speak to this people through foreigners with an unfamiliar language, and even then they still will not listen. As a result, speaking in tongues is a sign intended for unbelievers, not for believers, while [the gift of] prophecy is the opposite.
Beginning in chapter 12 and through this chapter 14, he is addressing speaking in tongues and mostly comparing/contrasting this gift of the Spirit and its appropriate use with the gift of prophesying. In particular, they were using miraculous gifts of tongues improperly (with no interpreter – vs 27). Since there was no interpreter, it was not useful for the “building up” of the church (vs 5), therefore it wasn’t to be done (without an interpreter). Here he quotes Isaiah 28:11 and the later part of 28:12 (which is a similar thought to what Moses said in Deuteronomy 28:49). In both cases, the respective contexts are talking about the judgment/captivity of the people.
Applying 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 to this question...
Speaking in tongues is a miraculous sign intended for unbelievers. Specifically, being able to communicate God’s word to someone with whom you otherwise could not communicate due to a language barrier.
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
Therefore, anyone with the gift of tongues should pray [to God] for the power to also interpret. For if I [Paul] pray in a tongue, my spirit is praying but my intellect isn’t benefiting. What should I do then? I will pray with both my spirit and my mind, just as I will sing praises with my spirit and with understanding.
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about orderly worship (really beginning all the way back in chapter 10). Beginning in chapter 12 and through this chapter 14, he is addressing speaking in tongues and mostly comparing/contrasting this gift of the Spirit and its appropriate use with the gift of prophesying. In particular, they were using miraculous gifts of tongues improperly (with no interpreter – vs 27). Since there was no interpreter, it was not useful for the “building up” of the church (vs 5), therefore it wasn’t to be done (without an interpreter).
Applying 1 Corinthians 14:13-15 to this question...
Paul uses the example of prayer and singing to illustrate the need for anything we do to be done with understanding. Therefore, speaking in tongues should only be done if someone is there that can interpret.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Through the same Holy Spirit one is given various gifts including wisdom, an utterance of some special knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, the ability to distinguish spirits, different tongues, and the ablity to interpret them. All of these are given by the same Spirit, distributed individually as He desires.
Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth addresses many serious and difficult issues they were facing. Division among the body was a recurring theme – addressed in chapter 1 as following after certain prominent men (instead of Christ) – and here in chapter 12 as boasts in various spiritual gifts.
Applying 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 to this question...
Speaking in tongues is listed among the various spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, given as He wills.
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