could someone explain what speaking in tounges is? and why people do it?

Question

ive never really understood it ....

its not speaking in another language..... i know that much

im asking because my bf is a training anglican priest and i know he sometimes does it during prayers and ive never been game to ask about it....

Answer 1

There is a lot of controversy over the speaking in tongues issue. Basically it is a gift of the Holy Spirit and people speak in another language that they don't know. Sometimes it is a prayer language and sometimes it is a known language. The Bible says that if anyone speaks in tongues in a church setting there must be someone there who can translate for the rest of the people otherwise the person just has to speak quietly to God.

There are also satanic counterfeits of this gift. There have been documented cases of a person who thought they were praising God in an unknown tounge actually cursing Him because of an evil spirit. There are also people who for whatever reason fake having this gift. It could be a religious charlatan on television or it could be someone who belongs to a Pentacostal church where they teach against what the Bible teaches and claim that if a person doesn't show "the evidence" of speaking in tongues then they don't have the Holy Spirit. People in those misguided congregations sometimes fake speaking in tongues because of peer pressure.

1 Corinthians 12:28 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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?


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. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 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.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 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. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Answer 2

The Apostolic Christian faiths have episodes of speaking, using unintelligible words, while they can have other physical manifestations of an experience.

Latter-day Saints believe that speaking in tongues is very different. We believe that any special experiences of tongues or interpretation of tongues will have a specific and faith-promoting purpose. For example, thousands of missionaries go all over the world for two years to preach the gospel in languages other than their own. They spend only 3-6 months learning almost any language spoken on the earth, and are usually fluent by the time that they have been serving a total of 6-9 months .

By contrast, American military interpreters spend 18 - 24 months at the Language Institute in Montery, California to learn any language well enough to function on a proficient level. That would be almost the entire length of a missionary's time to serve! (In fact, representatives from the military have studied the training methods used by the missionaries. When they tried to implement those methods, their students failed miserably.)

We believe that the ability to learn a language that quickly is a miraculous example of the gift of tongues.

Answer 3

It doesn't sound like a uniform language. Most people you've heard it from probably use the same phonemes, because they're probably all English speakers. But glossolalia isn't a language. There's no grammar, there's no vocabulary. I tought myself to do it after seeing it in the video I'll link. The translations are just as fake, and even easier to debunk. Just get someone in there speaking an actual language, and watch the "spiritual translators" fail miserably to get it right. When someone speaks in tongues, one of two things happen. First, they're ecstatic, and know that that's one of the things people do when they feel like they're filled with the holy spirit, so that's how they behave. It's suggestability. Second, they don't feel ecstatic, but they know that's what their friends expect, and that if they don't do it, they'll be treated poorly socially because apparently the holy spirit doesn't fill them, so they fake it.

Answer 4

There are two different meanings to this. The first "tongues" is a known language. It was a necessary miracle because of the different cultures and is not as common because interpreters are available. The second is the Unknown Tongue, this is what is practiced by many Christian groups. Paul teaches that the Spirit of the individual and God are the only ones that knows what is being said. If practiced properly, according to Corinthians, if done in church then God will give another the interpretation.

Answer 5

As I understand it from reading the Bible is that people who speak in tongues are either hearing the word of God or they are hearing the inspired word of God.
In both instances the Bible teaches that those that are so inspired should keep it to themselves unless there is one in the congregation that can interpret the words spoken for others in attendance. So that all should hear and know, lest they be decieved by the deciever.
People do it because it gives them a one up on the rest of those that have not read the words of the " Most High".

Answer 6

Please take your bible and open to Acts 1:8. Jesus told them they shall recieve power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon them: and that they shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth.
Now lets go to Acts 2:1-13. The Holy Spirit came upon all that had gather in the upper room. They began to speak in other tongues. A multitude had gather cause they had heard of what had happened, and they was confounded cause they could hear them speak in a tongue but they understood it in their language. Now who where these people who gathered well turn over in Acts 2:9-13. These are the nations who gathered and heard all the Galilaeans speak in their own language. That is the gift of tongues. It is the ability to speak in a language you have never spoke.
The meaning of tongues has not changed. When you get into Corithians it has the same meaning when you look up what tongues means in the Greek dictionary.

Answer 7

Acts 2 talks about how upon the Holy Spirits first arrival to the disciples in the upper room, gave them power to speak in another tongue or a different language that they had never spoken before in order to preach the Gospel to all the people of different nationalities who were outside of the upper room. By this power 3000 people accepted Christ and the church began. I believe that speaking in tongues is the power of God given to someone in a situation when He wants to use a person to preach the Gospel to someone who speaks in a totally different language. I don't think the Spirit of God wastes His power in mundane situations. He is very specific, using this power to preach or teach people of different languages or to encourage the believer (Christians) during prayer. I have trouble believing the out burst of jumbled "tongue speaking" of no language in particular and without an interpreter present which is what the bible says must happen in order for tongues to be spoken publicly.

Answer 8

Paperlilly,
Speaking in Tongues was a gift of the Holy Spirit that allowed the Apostles to speak with those who were of other languages than their own. They were sent through other lands to preach and to teach a number of people who did not understand their language and they had to be able to communicate with them. It was mentioned at Pentecost in Acts 2 that Peter spoke in tongues because of the people there from so many different nations. There were in excess of 5,000 baptized there (if my memory is correct). This was the beginnings of Christ's Church on Earth. This gift is no longer needed today. There are some people who believe they can speak in tongues but the odd thing is nobody else understands them. Have a great week.
Thank you,
Eds, A Simple Christian

Answer 9

Speaking in tounges, as popularized today is false. Jiberish is not speaking in tongues. It always has a purpose. Any one who starts convulsing and shaking etc. their just worshiping Satan.

Real speaking in tongues is speaking through the power of God to help others of another language or little understanding
understand a message from God. It is a sacred and special miracle brought by faith. Satan uses many people to mock it.

Hope that helps... Have a great day! :)

Answer 10

You speak in a manner no one can understand and it overwhealms you.

Though not encouraged by the disciples, it is a "true" descending of the holy spirit and you supposedly have a gift given when it happens, of clarity or grace.

Happens throughout the ages, to people sensitive to emotional energies. Kinda like weathervanes are there to tell you of a storm just before it happens, speaking in tongues tends to be a form of revelation but no one has every been able to discover the purpose or reasoning of it since true "experiences" mean people cannot discipher the message given, it's more of a "feeling".

So it's reasonable to be confused, most everyone who has it happen to them or witness it cannot figure it out!!

p.s., the only time people were understood is while jesus blessed them with the power or gift.