According to Pentecostals, the evidence of the baptism of The Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues. True?

Question

Why do Pentecostals hold to this belief? What about other gifts like, prophecy, healings, miracles. Wouldn't these other gifts be evidence of the baptism of The Holy Spirit?

Answer 1

In general, yes. Although many Pentecostals distinguish the "baptism" of the Holy Ghost from receiving the Holy Ghost at conversion. Other Pentecostals teach no difference between the two and believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost is identical with the birth of the Spirit (hence conversion) as described in John 3:5.

As to "why" they believe such requires a much longer discussion because Pentecostals do not hang on one or two verses of the Bible. Also, since Pentecostalism is not monolithic, the "why" would depend upon who you are asking. For example, in general Trinitarian Pentecostals teach a substantially different doctrine of speaking in tongues than their Oneness (Monarchian) counterparts.

As to the "gifts," you're probably referring to I Corinthians 12. Please remember that "faith" is also a gift. According to the Bible, faith is necessary for salvation, but there is an added gift of faith (see I Cor. 12:9) which is similar to but distinct from that which is necessary for salvation. Similarly, Pentecostals (many of them, at least) teach the gift of tongues described in I Cor. 12 is similar but distinct from that which comes with the birth of the Spirit.

Answer 2

It is a sign that one is filled with the Holy Spirit. But there are other signs.

The real test if someone is filled with the Holy Spirit can be tested with a question, "Have you ever been in worship service, and the love of God just filled you and you just praised God in love & truth from the heart? And your arms reached up to God? You felt your inner spirit praising God so strongly in love?" Well if this hasn't happened to you, then you haven't yet been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Most born again Christians receive the gift of tongues, when submitting their vocals to Gods Spirit, when praising God aloud. If it isn't speaking in a different language, it could be praising God spiritually in ones own language. I have witnessed this gift of wonderful praise and is also a sign of spirit filling. And also a word of prophecy spoken in the spirit is a sign of filling. Also a word of faith that produces healing miracles is a sign of baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the speaking in tongues is a usually a first sign. It is a gift that teaches us how to praise God and have a prayer life with God. It is sooo necessary to grow in Christ. Some don't submit their vocals to Gods spirit. And also may not get filled with the Holy Spirit until they do.


Also, it is being overfilled with the Holy Spirit, bubbling out, spilling over. So that is filling inside to bubbling over flow out. And it comes out verbally praise of known language or praise in Holy unknown language. I believe speaking, singing, shouting or voicing the overflow is an important element.


James H is wrong about most Pentecostal beliefs. That isn't what most Pentecostals believe. I grew up in a Pentecostal Church. Pentecostal is Believing in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit will be poured out on all nations as His Word is preached to all lands. The old will dream dreams, the young will see visions. Right now, that is happening. Especially in the unchurched lands where people haven't been taught the truth about Jesus. It just takes a persons honest heart seeking God. God looks at the heart.

Gradstu.. has a really clear & true answer.

Answer 3

I believe these other gifts you mention are all evidence of The Holy Spirit baptism...although it only mentions speaking in tongues in acts 2: v 14 Peter talks about Joel ch2 v28...God pouring out His Spirit...

Added: can i just say, go with your own experience and let The Lord show you...
I wouldn't listen to any denominations teaching, mans teaching(faulty) God's teaching True) although i do know your asking about Pentecostals...just my opinion.. I agree with the poster below where he says the Holy Spirit baptism and speaking in tongues is different from the one in Corinthians...hope this makes sense..shalom

Answer 4

I am Pentecostal. Speaking in Tongues IS having the holy spirit. But your right though. But God says these signs will follow them that belive. Mark 16:16
the diffrence would be Tongues is having the holy ghost.
after having the holy Ghost, then these signs (prophecies, healing) follow...those are gifts, that follow holy spirit....hope i helped....if you want to know more then you can email me at [e-mail]
peace!!

Answer 5

Hi, I'm a Christian. One time I saw my
x-mother in law speak in tongues. I though I would vomit. It was some sort of gibberish, and she proclaimed being "born again".
Well, since then, which was many, many years ago, I've become quite familiar with the Biblical manuscripts as well as the languages. In the Book of Acts, where they spoke on Pentecost Day, it was anything BUT unknown. In fact, it was understood by every person there - and, there were many visitors from other lands;
many people understood the speech clearly, and even right down to the dialect of the community they came from;
That is the tongues that is speaken of in Scripture; Man can't fake that.
If someone speaks in a tongue that is
not able to be understood, then either the person is faking it, or else it is Satanic.
There is no in-between here. Now, I am not speaking of a Russian, Italian, french, etc. -you understand.
Because the only other tongues spoken of in Scriptures is concerning when you go to another land to witness for God, you are told to take an interpreter, of course.
But the Tongues in the Book of Acts should not be spoken at this time. It will be the Holy Spirit who speaks through Gods elect to witness against the Antichrist - thats the only time you should see someone speaking in the Pennecostal tongue. The manuscripts are quite clear about this.
Now I don't claim to speak for God, so it would be arrogant for me to say God will definitely never speak thru anyone in tongues - hey, God can do whatever He wants, of course, but I am just saying that Christ told us that He foretold us all things, and as far as what He told us about the Pennecostal tongue - it won't happen until Antichrist comes here. Thats whats written.
If all the Pentecostals are speaking in "tongues" and nobody has any of the other gifts of God, I would have to wonder why, since it would be bazaar at very best if one person spoke in tongues, but to have several would mean as Christians we would have to question Gods Word, or else question whether these folks are fake.
I would like to hear one of them "speak in tongues" - I am at least smart enough to be able to pick up the prime roots of baal, and I would love to hear them just one time, because I frankly think its satanic.

Answer 6

For the most part, yes. I don't know if it's "all" Pentecostals...but that is certainly the teaching of one of the biggest Pentecostal denominations - the Assemblies of God.

I think they would say "tongues" were the "first" evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Check the Assemblies of God website.

Answer 7

Yes this is true, and the other gifts are specific to a specific person or persons, i dont think that the other gifts are considered to be baptism of the Holy Spirit

Answer 8

The doctrine of speaking in tongues as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes from all the scriptures that refer to individuals receiving the Holy Spirit also spoke in tongues. A common misconception is the belief that if you do not speak in tongues you do not have the Holy Spirit. This is not scriptural.

in response to those who say that tongues has to be a human language, Paul said in 1 Cor. 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels . . . "
If it were just human tongues, why would he say "of men and of angels"?

Answer 9

I have heard many so-called Pentecostals "speak" in tongues... I have never heard one speak in any known language of earth.... as the evidence of speaking in tongues i from the experience of The Apostles on the day The Church was commissioned... then they should be speaking in some language that is understood by at least someone around them... as the "tongues" that The Apostles spoke in were known languages of the day and were understandable to those around them who were from many different lands and spoke many different"tongues"... they were not speaking in some completely unknown babbling gibberish that no one had ever heard before... in my opinion the "tongues" phenomena is nothing more than self induced hysteria....a common occurrence when the emotions get out of control

Answer 10

Non-Christian religions also can demonstrate these gifts, including healing, so it is nothing new.

The problem with speaking in tongues is they don't use any language anyone can understand. It is claimed that it is the language of the angels, but what use would beings of energy have for a language that requires the presence of air to be heard, or ears to hear it?

At the time of the first Christians, speaking in tongues was necessary if the house to house work was to expand quickly beyond Israel. It can take years to learn a new language, let alone preach in one. With the gift, they were able to go out and preach to all the people of many lands.

Today, that is no longer needed, as there are Christians in all lands, including one who are still doing the house to house work.