What is 'talking in tongues'?

Question

Is it a good or a bad thing?

Any scholarly or scientific views would be especially welcome, but I'd like to know what you think, the 'general take' on it, too.

Best Wishes,

A. R.

Answer 1

Talking or 'speaking' in toungues is said to be a gift of the Holy Spirit and a sign that this same Spirit is indwelling in your life. The first record we have of this (termed glossolalia) is in Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles. In St Luke's version of events, the disciples are meeting in a room in Jerusalem, tired and afraid following the ascension of Christ, when the Holy Spirit descends on them in tongues of fire. After this they all start speaking in languages that they cannot understand but that others walking by outside can.

St Paul took up the whole issue of tongues in his first letter to the church in Corinth, addressing problems that church was having and trying to pass on his own wisdom. It is the text of 1 Corinthians speaking of tongues that has caused the msot controversy, but I would suggest you read it yourself to make up your own mind. Basically, what he is saying is that there are many gifts given to the Christian believer, and tongues is just one of many. Perhaps the most controversial piece of advice though comes when he advises the Corinthian church that tongues should only be heard in a church if there is somebody in the smae church with the gift of translation. This is especially troubling if a church member with the gift of prophecy does not also have the gift of translation, as any prophecy from God would then be lost.

The 'general take' is utterly dependent on a person believer's own beliefs, spirituality and learning. Traditionally, the Roman Catholic church has taught that the glossolalia, while being scriptural, no longer applies to the modern world and was only useful for the time it needed to seet up the Christian church. The charismatic or evangelical churches believe strongly in tongues and the gift can regularly be heard in congregations around the world. In between these two we have the more staid chruches, such as high Anglicans, who leave it to individual worshippers and congregations to work out.

The last word on this issue must be left with St Paul though. In one of the greatest works of literature ever written, 1 Corinthians 13, he states that such things as being able to speak in tongues is useless unless we have love one for another. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Answer 2

You can basically say that we still speak in tongues. There are tons of languages and dialects within those languages. A Universal language might emerge. It has in a way, through numbers. Its time to revisit the ancient scrolls and original texts, because much has been lost in translation. As far as the second coming; The more I research it, the more I think that the monotheistic religions of Judaism, (all divisions of)Christianity and Islam need to realize that their core religions are based around the same God, and that various human prophets have delivered His message over the past several thousand years, so various religions have formed. Prophets are given God's word to purify the belief system of His followers and to establish the roots of a religion. All of those religions have truths in them that are jaded by fallacies in practice. The true undiscovered Trinity of our time would be a united Jerusalem. After that happens, then the second coming might happen. I'm a realist too, so I don't expect this within our lifetime, unless we create a miracle. (Yes, We create the miracle, since all of us have control of our own actions, only we are the ones who have the power to stop violence and seek truth!) Peace

Answer 3

What nonsense have I read thus far. Talking in tongues simply refers to the gift of being able to talk more than one language as a consequence of the actions of God.

Let us suppose I had to preach in a country far away, I would have to learn the language. The Holy Ghost assists in this matter, and my tongue is loosened in the new language.

Jesus said: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every nation, kindred and tongue."

It is important to realise that this has to be facilitated to some degree, so the Holy Ghost helps.

What this has absolutely nothing to do with is the incomprehensible spouting of utter gibberish under the guise of missionary work.

Answer 4

It is a language. When you look up the meaning in the Greek it means a language. Like Spanish, French, Etc. Read Acts 2:1-13. Look At where all these people from different nations gathered and they heard the Galilaeans in there own tongue. That is the gift of tongues. It doesnt change meaning either through the rest of the scriptures.
Some claim it to be this jibberish when they get in the Spirit. Well thats unscriptual. Some say its a prayer language that you pray to God well thats unscriptual. Why would God need you to speak in lets say French to him?
Just study it and the word tongues and you will see this as well.

Answer 5

Talking in tongues in the biblical sense, if I understand correctly, is an experience where someone speaks in a foreign language that they previously had no knowledge of. This would today be expected to be an ancient middle east language that they had no education in.

I may be wrong here (check with your priest) but I think it relates to the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after Jesus ascended into Heaven. After the fire they came out and 'spoke to the crowd in each their own language' though they were all from Galilee and their natural language I think would have been Aramaic.

Answer 6

Talking in tongues is the external manifestation of a prayer in spirit. It could be a gift of The Spirit among many.
Many a time it is a form of praise or message which can be interpreted into the language of the community of faith. There are people whose gift is interpretation of such utterances.
It is an utterance of The Spirit.
Mind you, the devil can speak in tongues too, so one has to be careful which spirit is speaking.
When it is The Holy Spirit, then it is a good thing, but if it is the devil, then it is atrocious, hence usually curses.

Answer 7

Talking in tongues has a purpose. In Biblical days when prophets and apostles would speak to the masses of people they did not have the benefit of translation devices. To speak in tongues was to speak in one language and the masses of people could understand no matter what their language happened to be. My take on this now is if it has a need then use it if you have that gift given by the Holy Spirit. If not then don't play around with it, it is not a toy.

Answer 8

Yes, tongues are for today. There are studies that have been done and found that the 'tongue' spoken by various people had parts of speech, syntax, grammar of real languages. In many cases, the language has been a known language.

This is not a "hearing" thing, ie where everyone 'hears in there own language'. If so, how would this edify the speaker? How could we 'speak mysteries?

Read the book "Nine O'Clock in the Morning" for more information on the linguistics.

Yes, it is for today. Seek The Holy Spirit and tongues. Remember Jesus said "If you being evil know how to give good gifts [to your children], how much more will He give us the Holy Spirit to them that ask".

Answer 9

Hi goodfella ...hope you are well!
I have never heard of 'talking' in tongues...
I think the word you may be looking for is 'speaking' in tongues!

Thanks for putting a really good question on the net...i'm interested to read answers too! x

Answer 10

In the Christian faith, talking in tongues is very important. In the Bible, specifically in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit fills the disciples and they talk in tongues. Basically, speaking in tongues is a more personal way of speaking to God. Paul did encourage believers to do this but cautions against doing this in meetings as unbelievers would not know what is happening.

I believe it is a good thing as it is clearly endorsed by God and is inspired by the Holy Spirit.