Carl Pollard
Recently, Wesley Huff (christian apologist) made comments about speaking in tongues that sparked a lot of discussion online. And honestly, this is a subject Christians need to handle carefully because emotions, experiences, and traditions often shape people’s views more than Scripture does. The real question is simple: what does the Bible actually teach about tongues?
The clearest place to begin is Acts 2. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). Then the crowd responded, “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (Acts 2:8). Luke even lists different nations and languages present that day. Thats important because it defines biblical tongues for us.
In Scripture, tongues were real human languages miraculously spoken by people who had never learned them. The purpose was communication. The people heard “the mighty works of God” in their own languages (Acts 2:11).
Tongues also served as a sign confirming God’s revelation. Hebrews 2:3–4 says God bore witness to the gospel through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Before the New Testament was fully revealed and circulated, miraculous gifts confirmed the message and the messengers.
Paul also explains in 1 Corinthians 14 that tongues served as a sign to unbelievers, especially unbelieving Israel, connecting it to Isaiah 28 where foreign languages symbolized judgment.
And then there’s Corinth. There we find a church abusing spiritual gifts. Their worship assemblies had become disorderly and self-centered. Paul spends much of 1 Corinthians 12–14 correcting that behavior.
One verse often brought into this discussion is 1 Corinthians 14:4. “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” Some use this verse to argue for a kind of private prayer language. And yet the context shows Paul correcting selfish use of gifts in the assembly. His whole emphasis in the chapter is church edification. He tells them to, “strive to excel in building up the church” (14:12), and “let all things be done for building up” (14:26).
Paul is pointing out the problem, uninterpreted tongues only benefited the speaker while prophecy benefited everyone. That’s why he says if there’s no interpreter, the speaker should remain silent in the church (14:28). Biblical tongues involved understandable communication that could be interpreted.
Another common argument comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…” Some will claim this proves ecstatic heavenly speech. And yet the context shows Paul using exaggeration throughout the chapter. He also says, “if I have all knowledge” and “if I have all faith so as to remove mountains.” Paul’s point is that even the greatest imaginable abilities mean nothing without love. He emphasizes love rather than defining a heavenly prayer language. And throughout Scripture, angels always spoke understandable language when communicating with people.
So, do tongues still exist today? Paul said, “As for tongues, they will cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8). The New Testament shows miraculous gifts connected to the apostolic age and the revealing of God’s Word. Hebrews 2:3–4 connects miracles to the confirmation of the gospel message. Acts 8:18 also shows miraculous gifts being passed on through the apostles hands. As the apostolic age came to an end and God’s revelation was completed in Scripture, those miraculous sign gifts faded. Even early Christian writers acknowledged that miraculous gifts had largely stopped.
Today, modern charismatic practices often look very different from the biblical pattern. Scripture describes tongues as understandable languages spoken orderly and interpreted in the assembly. Modern practices often involve repetitive sounds, simultaneous speaking, and speech that doesn’t correspond to identifiable human language.
But keep in mind, this discussion isn’t about attacking sincere people. Many are genuine and passionate in their faith. And yet Christians must always let Scripture define spiritual truth. The New Testament consistently points Christians toward holiness, truth, love, faithfulness, and spiritual maturity (Gal. 5). Those things remain the clearest evidence of God working in someone’s life.
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