For many Christians, the subject of speaking in tongues is still shrouded in mystery and controversy, eliciting reactions ranging from mild skepticism to outright rejection. The interpretations and beliefs about this spiritual gift vary widely among different denominations and individuals. But it doesn’t have to be so. The gift of tongues is biblical and hasn’t ended. It’s still available today to all who will believe and ask for it.

In this article, we explore the gift of speaking in tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues, showing what the Bible says about them and explaining how they work in real life. My insights are drawn not just from theory, but also from personal experience. I possess the gift of tongues myself and practice it regularly. While I don’t have the gift of interpretation yet, I’ve had my own tongues interpreted on numerous occasions.

The Bible offers limited references to the subject of speaking in tongues, with mentions found in only a handful of chapters: Mark 16; Acts 2, 10, and 19; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. To understand this topic better, let’s examine all the relevant verses.

The Great Commission

Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, which I will quote in its entirety:

[Mark 16:15-18] Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

In the Great Commission, speaking in tongues is mentioned alongside healing and casting out demons. To me, this underscores its importance to Jesus. Regrettably, when referencing the Great Commission, most Christians tend to focus only on verses 15 and 16, omitting verses 17 and 18. I can’t help but wonder about this great omission. Why leave out the mention of these signs? Could it be because none of these signs accompany them?

The Book of Acts

Just before His ascension to heaven, Jesus told His disciples:

[Acts 1:5] John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

[Acts 1:8] You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Only a few days later, the Holy Spirit came down, exactly as promised.

[Acts 2:4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Greek word for “tongue” is γλῶσσα (glōssa), which can refer to a language or the speech organ. The tongues in Acts 2 were obviously existing languages. In the following verses, the Greek word translated as “language” is διάλεκτος (dialektos), a term used broadly to denote variations in speech, whether distinct languages or variations of the same language within different regions.

[Acts 2:6] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

[Acts 2:8-11] How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language … We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.

The same was experienced later by other believers. Two more instances are recorded in the Book of Acts. In chapter 10, we see Cornelius and his house speaking in tongues when the Holy Spirit fell on them, and that even before they were baptized!

[Acts 10:44-46] While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.

According to Peter, their experience is exactly what happened in Acts 2.

[Acts 10:47] Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

[Acts 11:15-17] As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?

In chapter 19 of Acts, speaking in tongues is experienced by a group of twelve believers in Ephesus when the Holy Spirit comes on them. In this instance, their speaking in tongues is accompanied by prophesying.

[Acts 19:6] And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

From the three instances of speaking in tongues recorded in Acts (chapters 2, 10, 19) we can safely conclude that speaking in tongues accompanied the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Some theologians make a distinction between speaking in tongues as a sign accompanying the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues as a gift, but I’m not quite convinced about this.

1 Corinthians

In chapters 12 to 14, the apostle Paul addresses the use of spiritual gifts within the Christian community at Corinth.

In chapter 12, Paul emphasizes that there are a variety of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. Every gift, whether it’s speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, or others, contributes to the well-being of the whole church.

[1 Corinthians 12:8-10] 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.

This is the first instance where the gift of interpretation of tongues is mentioned. Also, note that the word “various” doesn’t appear in the original Greek.

[1 Corinthians 12:28-30] And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Here, we have a second mention of “kinds of tongues.” Again, the word “various” is not in the original Greek.

Paul’s rhetorical question “Do all speak with tongues?” implies that not all Christians speak in/with tongues and that not speaking in tongues is not a reason to question one’s salvation. Indeed, the Bible doesn’t state anywhere that speaking in tongues is a requirement for salvation.

On the other hand, Paul is not saying here that the gift of tongues is not available to all. He is only saying that not all speak in tongues. The biggest barrier is ignorance and unbelief. Once that barrier is overcome, the gift of tongues is fairly easy to receive.

In chapter 13, Paul emphasizes the fact that love is more important than spiritual gifts, including the gift of tongues. While this is certainly true, it cannot be used as an argument for rejecting the gift of tongues and other spiritual gifts.

Paul starts the chapter by mentioning that there are tongues of men and of angels.

[1 Corinthians 13:1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

This implies that not all tongues are human languages. Some disagree about this, claiming that Paul was just using a figure of speech, and they would be right if this were the only verse mentioning non-human tongues. But this is clearly not the case, as we will see in chapter 14. Further on, Paul mentions that spiritual gifts, including the gift of tongues, will cease at one point.

[1 Corinthians 13:8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Some cessationists claim that this happened when the canon of the New Testament was completed, but this utter nonsense because “when the perfect comes,” knowledge will pass away, and we will no longer know in part. Obviously, we are not there yet. This will happen only when Jesus comes back, not before.

In chapter 14, Paul emphasizes the importance of prophecy over speaking in tongues in the context of Christian worship, stressing the need for order and understanding in church services. Without interpretation, speaking in tongues doesn’t benefit the church because no one understands what is said.

[1 Corinthians 14:1-6] Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 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. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

God is saying through Paul that we are to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. Do you desire spiritual gifts? Do you desire to prophesy? If not, have you asked yourself why?

Also pay attention to these words: “I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.” This means that the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophesying are available to all. It is true that not all have these gifts, as Paul said in chapter 12, but that doesn’t mean they cannot have them!

Paul goes on to say that when used in church services, speaking in tongues must be accompanied by interpretation, interpreted tongues being equivalent to prophesying. It’s a means through which God can speak directly to His people.

[1 Corinthians 14:13-19] Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may 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. … I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Later on, Paul reiterates the need for tongues to be interpreted when used in church services.

[1 Corinthians 14:27] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

Paul closes chapter 14 with these words.

[1 Corinthians 14:39] So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Do you earnestly desire to prophesy? Why not? This is what the Bible says, the same Bible you claim to believe is the Word of God. Why do you pick and choose what you want to believe from it?

Unknown tongues

We will now discuss one of the most controversial subjects in the entire Bible: speaking in unknown tongues, that is, tongues that are not existing human languages.

While most won’t outright deny the gift of tongues, as it’s hard to seriously argue for cessationism, they will nonetheless insist that tongues are always human languages like in Acts 2. But that’s simply not true.

We saw tongues of angels being mentioned by Paul.

[1 Corinthians 13:1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels …

If this were the only verse mentioning non-human languages, one would be justified in arguing that it’s just a figure of speech. But what do you make of this verse?

[1 Corinthians 14:2] 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.

Obviously, these tongues are something very different from Acts 2. In Acts 2, the tongues were directed at other people, who understood them. But this is not the case here! These tongues are directed at God and cannot be understood by other people. What is spoken is a mystery because no one understand these tongues, not even the one who speaks them!

The main purpose of such tongues is personal edification.

[1 Corinthians 14:4] The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself.

These tongues are used primarily for personal prayer.

[1 Corinthians 14:14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

Why is the mind unfruitful? Because praying in tongues doesn’t happen in the mind and can’t be understood with the mind. It’s something that completely bypasses that conscious thought process. When we pray in tongues, it’s our spirit that prays, not our mind.

[1 Corinthians 14:15] 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.

Yes, there is such a thing as singing in tongues. The Bible means exactly what it says. This is not metaphorical. I’ve had this experience myself many times. If you are still not convinced that these tongues are not human languages, let me challenge you even more.

Firstly, if tongues are always human languages, where and to whom did Paul speak in tongues in this verse?

[1 Corinthians 14:18] I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Obviously, Paul used his gift of tongues to speak to God in prayer for personal edification.

[1 Corinthians 14:14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays

[1 Corinthians 14:15] I will pray with my spirit

[1 Corinthians 14:4] The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself

Such tongues are used for communicating with God, not with people. In this context, speaking in tongues is praying in tongues.

[1 Corinthians 14:28] If there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

Secondly, pay attention the word “new” in this context:

[Mark 16:17] These signs will accompany those who believe: … they will speak in new tongues …

Note that the verse says “new tongues,” not “other tongues.” New means something that didn’t exist before, so these are tongues that didn’t exist before. This is an often-overlooked detail.

Thirdly, if tongues are always human languages like in Acts 2, what’s the purpose of the gift of interpretation? Have you ever asked yourself this question? There wasn’t any need for interpretation in Acts 2.

Interpretation of tongues

As we have seen, interpretation of tongues is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. Let’s look at these verses again.

[1 Corinthians 12:10] To another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

[1 Corinthians 12:30] Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

[1 Corinthians 14:5] The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

[1 Corinthians 14:13] One who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

[1 Corinthians 14:26-28] When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church.

In chapter 14 interpretation of tongues is mentioned in the context of church worship, but that’s not the only application of this gift. A person with the gift of interpretation can interpret a message in tongues whenever and wherever they want, not only in a church service.

Interpretation can be done live or on a recorded message, and there are different flavors of this gift. Some people are more verbal, usually receiving the interpretations as words. Others are more visual, receiving the interpretations as visions. The same person can receive both types of interpretation, even at the same time.

What do tongues contain? When the interpretation is in verbal form, three scenarios are possible:

I’ve had my tongues interpreted many times, usually as recorded messages. Typically, in the first half of the message my spirit prays to God, and then in the second half, God speaks to me. Remarkably, on one occasion, the interpretation took the form of poetry. There have been a few times when I felt compelled to speak in tongues very loudly, even shouting. During two such instances, I recorded myself for about a minute and later had these recordings interpreted. In both cases, I was engaged in spiritual warfare, rebuking demons and commanding them in the name of Jesus.

Kinds of tongues & my own experience

These are the only two verses mentioning “kinds of tongues” in the entire Bible, both in 1 Corinthians 12.

[1 Corinthians 12:10] to another, kinds of tongues

[1 Corinthians 12:28] God has appointed in the church … kinds of tongues

The Greek expression is γένη γλωσσῶν (genē glōssōn), where γένος (plural γένη) means ‘kind’ or ‘type.’

Just as the Bible says, one person can speak in more than one type of tongue: “to another, kinds of tongues.” As one cherishes and practices the gift of tongues, God may give them several kinds. This aligns with my own experience as well.

I received the gift of tongues on April 9, 2017, the same day I was baptized on Jersey Island, UK. Later that day, I was in my hotel room with the brother who baptized me, talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. He suggested I watch a YouTube video by Derek Prince called “Receive the Holy Spirit.” So, I did. Towards the end of the video, Derek invited his audience to join him in a prayer to receive the Holy Spirit. I followed along, speaking the words out loud. To my amazement, I effortlessly began speaking in tongues as soon as the prayer ended.

From the start, I spoke in tongues often, multiple times each day. In the summer of 2020, during the pandemic, I was speaking in tongues while working one day and began to notice the sounds changing. It soon became clear to me that I was speaking in a different kind of tongue. Roughly a year later, I received a third kind, and then, after another year, a fourth kind. This is what the four kinds of tongues sound like based on my language knowledge:

  1. Like a Semitic language (Hebrew, Arabic)
  2. Hard to tell…
  3. Like an African language
  4. Like Finnish

This has been quite fascinating for me, especially since I have an interest in languages and can speak, understand, or read several of them with varying degrees of proficiency.

Practical aspects

A person who speaks in tongues can freely decide how fast to speak, when to start and when to stop, but there is no control over the specific sounds that are produced. The process completely bypasses the mind. Those who can speak multiple kinds of tongues can freely choose which type to speak. It’s similar to having a selector switch between various signal sources. One can also speak in tongues silently, without opening the mouth. The sounds simply appear in the mind, but they don’t originate in the mind. It’s hard to explain how this happens.

When one speaks in tongues, that person doesn’t understand absolutely anything of what they say. You may ask: then why speak in tongues if you don’t understand anything? The answer is: because it’s done by faith, because when God gives you a gift, He expects you to use it. Having had my tongues interpreted many times, I know that beautiful things are spoken through tongues. Our prayers to God are heartfelt and genuine, and God speaks thing to us that are very edifying.

Another reason for praying in tongues is that when we pray with our mind, there is only so much we can say to God. Sooner or later, we run out of words and things to say. But when praying in tongues we can go on for hours, until we get tired or fall asleep. My personal record in an experiment I did was eight hours of non-stop praying in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is a gift that must be practiced for fluency to be achieved. It’s like a muscle that needs to be trained. At first, tongues may sound repetitive because the range of sounds and words is very limited, but as one practices, this range expands, just like a child learning his mother tongue.

Unknown tongues are actual languages, not mere babbling. They exhibit all the characteristics of a language, consistently producing the same family of sounds each time one speaks in an unknown tongue. This consistency isn’t possible with babbling. If you’re skeptical, try it for yourself. Unfortunately, there are individuals who merely babble, faking the authentic gift, which greatly damages the credibility and reputation of the genuine gift of tongues.

The gift of speaking in tongues is relatively common, but the gift of interpretation is much rarer. In my experience, those who possess the gift of interpretation often also have the gift of prophecy, although the reverse isn’t always true. Similarly, those with the gift of prophecy usually have the gift of speaking in tongues, but the reverse isn’t necessarily the case.

I also want to emphasize that speaking in tongues is not a proof of spiritual maturity or holiness. I know several people who speak in tongues, yet their behavior and walk with God are far from exemplary. Some are quite lukewarm in their faith, and others even live in habitual sin, risking eternal damnation if they don’t change their ways. In fact, there are many in hell who once spoke in tongues. Often, when people earnestly seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues, they are sincere in their devotion, engaging in prayer, fasting, and living righteously. However, a common mistake occurs after receiving this gift. Some individuals mistakenly believe they’ve reached a spiritual pinnacle and become complacent, neglecting their pursuit of God, embracing worldly pleasures, or becoming lukewarm in their faith. Others develop a sense of pride, thinking they belong to an elite class of believers because they can speak in tongues. These are significant pitfalls that believers should be mindful of.

Conclusions

In this article, we’ve demonstrated that there are two types of Holy Spirit tongues: human tongues, as seen in Acts 2, and unknown tongues, as described in 1 Corinthians 14. The latter is far more common but also more controversial. Tongues can be utilized privately for personal edification or publicly, where they should be interpreted by someone with the gift of interpretation.

Praying in unknown tongues is incredibly effective for spiritual growth and development. It’s one of the most powerful tools God has given His children. The devil is well aware that when we pray in tongues, his defenses are weakened, and his kingdom suffers greatly. This is why he has devised many falsehoods to stop God’s people from receiving and using this gift. This is why there is such great opposition to this gift in so many churches.

If you desire to advance in your spiritual life, I encourage you to let go of man-made theology and traditions, and earnestly seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Praying in tongues not only strengthens you spiritually but also deepens your relationship with God. It is also a key to unlocking other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The gift of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, has not ceased. It remains available today to all who believe and ask for it.

[Luke 11:9-13] Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. … If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Repent of your unbelief, then ask and seek with confidence. Unless you’re living in deliberate sin, God is more than willing to give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, but you must believe and ask. This is how things work in the spirit realm. It’s a straightforward principle: only those who believe receive. Those who don’t believe don’t receive. It’s as simple as that.

[James 1:6-7] The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

So, believe and do not doubt. Unbelieving believers receive nothing from God. They are all talk and no power. Don’t be among them. Be one of those who believe and receive.