What exactly does 'speaking in tongues' consist of?

Question

What is it, what does it sound like, do you have to possess a special connection with God before you're able to do it? Must you be 'saved'? Can you shed some light on this topic for me?

Answer 1

Tongues just means language. It sounds like a different language sounds to your ear. To possess it you have to learn another language that someone can actually interpret. You do not have to be saved to learn a different language or tongue. If no one else can interpret it, it is not biblical and it just jibberish.

Answer 2

I agree with Jean Marie. You see, speaking in tongues was a gift received by the early Apostles not long after Jesus death. The account at Acts 2 we read that they were filled with holy spirit. in Verse 4 it says that "they started to speak with different tongues just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance." Was this gibberish.. or even an unintelligible secret language to be understood only by those that were "saved". No. The purpose was so that people would COME to God. In verse 6 it says that the multitude came together and were bewildered because each one heard them speaking in his own language." The purpose for the gift of speaking in tongues was clearly so that the "multitudes" could hear and UNDERSTAND the kingdom message. The account goes on to be very specific about this, detailing that people from Egypt, Crete, Arabia... all heard the word in their own language. REAL languages.

Then there is what Paul said much later which is of vital importance. At 1 Corinthians 13:8, he said that "Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are TONGUES, they will cease.." So those gifts of the spirit that led people to the small group of Jesus true disciples would end. Today we have God's complete word, a product of his holy spirit. That is what we must pay attention to.

Answer 3

In Acts 2:1-6 we see the first application of the gift of tongues. The disciples went out and spoke to the people in the area in their own languages. This was not an emotional event, rather it was a gift for a certain purpose. It was to convey the gospel to people that would otherwise not hear it.

In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul lists speaking and distinguishing tongues among the spiritual gifts. This is not speaking of one person speaking in a strange language, and another getting up to interpret. The speaking is like that mentioned in Acts 2, to instruct people of the gospel that would not hear it. The interpretation of tongues is for Christians that can supernaturally understand other people's languages.

In 1 Corinthians 14:6-12 Paul warns against standing up and speaking in tongues where there is no one present to understand it. It does not edify anyone, it makes a nuisance of oneself, and it is like talking to the air. The gift of tongues is not a showboat to make people think you are really spiritual. It is a tool, if you are not using it as a tool, it is not appropriate.

Spiritual gifts in Scripture always and only appear with people who are Christians. Whether it be preaching or a gift of helps, or a gift of speaking in tongue or healing or anything else. Always, the person must first be a Christian. Also, every Christian receives at least one, and sometimes several spiritual gifts. It sometimes can take some effort to discover what they are, but they are always there.

There are those who believe that the gift of tongues ceased after the finish of the New Testament, there are also those who believe it continues. I have found good Scriptural defense for both views, I will not try to affect your judgment on the matter with my own understanding, rather encourage you to search Scripture for the answer.

Answer 4

You have to be saved yes, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And tongues is a gift, so it isn't required to use it. It's purpose is for the unbeliever who hears, will be convinced by what they hear and become a believer. Also it is for prayer when a Christian doesn't have the words to pray, the Holy Spirit can pray through the person, and thirdly it is a prayer that is done in accordance to God's will because the Holy Spirit knows the will of God and we don't always know it.Praying in tongues just sounds like another language and it may be heavenly or earthly whatever the Holy Spirit wills it to be.

Answer 5

1 Corinthians 14 is the fourteenth chapter in First Epistle to the Corinthians written by St. Paul to the church in Corinth. It primarily concerns speaking tongues and the role of women in churches. It is commonly cited by those who oppose the ordination of women, along with Galatians 3:28, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-14 (supporters of women in the ministry cite a later passage, 1 Corinthians 16:19).

I see it as a gift. It is when you feel the holy spirit

I found a really lengthy article about speaking in tongue
http://faculty.occ.edu/markmoore/tongues.htm it should help

Answer 6

Many will disagree on this. Pray first then read about it for yourself.
Acts 2 talks of tongues meaning languages. The apostles after receiving the holy spirit went to Jews in Jerusalem that were from other countries that spoke different languages. When Peter spoke to them they ALL understood him. This was a miracle. Not some gibberish special language.
Then in 1Corinth bible says the gift of tongues is for the unbeliever.

Answer 7

biblical tongues prophesied by Joel in chapter 2 was fulfilled in acts chapter2:16, not what you See today. They were languages understood by those of foreign lands Acts 2: 8-11. Tongues today are not a language that is understood by foreign peoples and is not from God. It is a phenomena experienced by many religions and cultures. Pentecostals do it, but so do some pagan religions and spiritualists. It has been done by mental patients and mediums. It has been scientifically documented as a natural psychological phenomena that has nothing to do with God, religion or the supernatural.

Answer 8

Speaking in tongues is a gift from the HOly Ghost and (in my denomination) the only true sign of being baptised in the Holy Spirit. To our ears it does sound like babble, but coincidentally or not every time I hear it anywhere I go...it sounds like the same kind of babble, like there are almost real words in there. Anyway, some people have the gift of interpretation, but a lot fake that. The gift of tongues is merely for God to hear what your heart is saying. Most of the time people that speak in tongues do so spontaneously (in my encounters) and they don't even know what they just said, but they know it comes from their heart. I have not been blessed with the gift (I haven't asked to recieve it) but my husband has, and I gather it is just an AWEsome experience.

The be as simple as possible, tongues is just evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. And yes, you have to be saved.

God bless.

Answer 9

Tongues and speaking in tongues is a very intersting topic. Speaking in tongues, according to the bible is speaking through the power of the holy spirit. People who have claimed to speaking in tongues, say they had no idea what they were saying or what language they spoke in. While some who have spoken in tongues have had it translated by a person who recognizes the diallect. I'm pretty sure you have to be saved to speak in tongues... and speaking from first hand experience; it is something you will never forget.

Answer 10

Paul shows: “Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; WHETHER THERE ARE TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE.” “When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a babe.” Clearly, the miraculous gifts that served the Christian congregation in its babyhood would no longer be necessary upon its maturity. What appears as speaking in tongues today, termed glossolalia, if not the product of emotionalism or mental unbalance, is an instance in which “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light” to deceive.—1 Cor. 13:8, 11; 2 Cor. 11:14, NW

No question about it, Paul did not attach great importance to the gift of tongues. He showed that it profited little unless what was said was translated.

Definition of Tongues: A special ability given through the holy spirit to some disciples in the early Christian congregation that enabled them to preach or otherwise glorify God in a language other than their own.

Not a word do we read about Jesus himself speaking in tongues, nor of his followers being commanded to do so or doing so while he was with them. Their ministry being primarily to the Jews, there was no need of tongues. So speaking in tongues is not included in Jesus’ parting instructions: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”—Matt. 28:19, 20, NW.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do speak many languages, but we do not engage in ecstatic speaking in “unknown tongues.”

Learn More!
www.watchtower.org

Answer 11

It is one of the 9 spiritual gifts,, Does the person that speak in tongues know what he or she is saying, NO, that is why Interpretation of tongues is needded, There is also an unknown tongue when you pray to God sometimes, but not every time. That is between you & God. When I give a message i tongues, Someones interpretated it. & I am left weak & shaking, Did not Jesus say who touch me, because I felt virtue(Strenght) leave me