Speaking in Tongues

What the Bible Says About Speaking in Tongues Do I have to speak in tongues to be saved? Does the Bible say it is wrong to speak in tongues? Is speaking in tongues a genuine gift of the Holy Spirit or not? Is speaking in tongues one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible?Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Speaking in tongues means speaking in a way or in a language that is not normally understood by the speaker or the listeners. The bible mentions two types of speaking in tongues:On the day of Pentecost Jesus' apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues. Those who heard this speech each heard it in his own language, even though they were from many different countries (Acts 2:1-13). Even though the apostles were speaking in an unknown language, the listeners were able to understand, each in his own language. There is no other mention of this type of speaking in tongues in the Bible.

Speaking in an ecstatic language was common among members of the early Christian churches, but no one could understand this form of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2). Sometimes the speaker or another person would interpret the meaning.Both cases were the work of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul classified speaking in tongues as just one of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:6-11, Romans 12:6-8). Paul was thankful for his own gift of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18-19). But Paul told his churches that it was better practiced in private than in church, unless someone could interpret the ecstatic speech (1 Corinthians 14:23, 27-28). The gift of speaking in tongues was less important than the gifts of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:2-5) and love (1 Corinthians 13:1). Nevertheless, speaking in tongues should not be forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:39).

Several other New Testament passages point to speaking in tongues as evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:4-6).However, there is nothing in the Bible saying speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation.