The topic of whether Jesus spoke in tongues is one that generates a lot of discussion and debate among Christians. Those who believe that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift that all believers should seek often point to Jesus as an example of someone who spoke in tongues. However, there are also many Christians who believe that speaking in tongues was a temporary gift of the first century church, and there is no clear biblical evidence that Jesus himself spoke in tongues.
When investigating what the Bible says about this topic, there are a few key points to consider:
1. The meaning of “speaking in tongues”
First, it’s important to understand what is meant by the phrase “speaking in tongues.” In the New Testament, there are two primary Greek words used:
- Glossa – This word most literally means “tongue” or “language.” When Jesus spoke of speaking in new tongues in Mark 16:17, this is the word used.
- Laleo – This word means “to speak out” and is used to describe the supernatural act of speaking in another language by the power of the Holy Spirit, such as at Pentecost in Acts 2:4.
Therefore, “speaking in tongues” can have the literal meaning of speaking in a foreign human language previously unknown to the speaker. It can also refer to a “heavenly language” that sounds like gibberish to human ears when spoken.
2. Jesus’ promise of speaking in new tongues
In Mark 16:17, Jesus says to his disciples, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues.” Here Jesus uses the Greek word glossa, indicating he is referring to foreign human languages.
This statement comes after his commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Therefore, Jesus seems to be promising his disciples that as they spread the gospel to people of other languages and nations, they would be supernaturally gifted to speak those foreign languages – just as the disciples did at Pentecost (Acts 2:4-11).
3. No record of Jesus himself speaking in tongues
Despite Jesus’ promise to his disciples, there is no clear record in the gospels of Jesus himself speaking in tongues, either in a foreign human language or a heavenly prayer language. There are instances where Jesus knows people’s inmost thoughts and hearts (John 2:25) and one occurrence where it says “he spoke in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished” (Mark 1:22). However, it does not specify exactly what he said that astonished them.
Jesus did speak Aramaic, which would have been considered a foreign tongue of the common people under Roman rule. But there is no definitive passage stating he supernaturally spoke in unknown languages by the Spirit’s enablement.
4. Speaking in tongues at Pentecost
In Acts 2, Jesus’ followers “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (v. 4). Verse 6 notes that the crowd recognized them speaking in all sorts of native languages that would have been unknown to the disciples. Therefore, this appears to be an instance of the gift of tongues Jesus promised – supernaturally speaking in a foreign human language.
Some Christians point to this passage as evidence that all believers should speak in tongues. However, other Christians see this as a unique, miraculous event that launched the first century church. There are no commands here for all Christians everywhere to speak in tongues.
5. Speaking in tongues in Corinth
Starting in Acts 10, the gospel begins to significantly spread to Gentiles. Many of the references to tongues in the New Testament come from instructions to largely Gentile churches, like in Corinth. The tongues described here seem to refer more to a private prayer language of “mysteries” to God (1 Cor. 14:2).
Some key points about this passage:
- Paul did not forbid tongues but regulated their use (v. 39)
- Tongues are a lesser gift than prophecy (v. 5)
- Tongues without love are meaningless (1 Cor. 13:1)
- Tongues must be interpreted to edify the church (1 Cor. 14:5, 27-28)
Therefore, even where speaking in tongues was practiced, Paul gave guidelines for orderly worship and entreated believers to earnestly desire the best gifts – especially prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1).
6. Differences between Acts and Corinthians
The tongues described in Acts and Corinthians seem to have some key differences:
- Acts Tongues – Foreign human languages never before learned by the speaker. Resulted in foreigners understanding the gospel.
- Corinthians Tongues – Private prayer language needing interpretation to edify. Associated more with mystery and intimacy with God.
Therefore, they may represent different manifestations of the gift of tongues – one pointing more to evangelism, the other more to personal edification.
7. Tongues as evidence of baptism of the Spirit?
Some Christians teach that tongues are the evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. However, this is nowhere expressly stated in Scripture. Tongues are a possible result of Spirit baptism, but not a uniform evidence experienced by all believers.
At Pentecost, tongues accompanied the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4). But in Acts 10:44-48, Gentiles received the Spirit and were baptized without any explicit mention of tongues.
Therefore, tongues may accompany or immediately follow being filled with the Spirit, but the biblical evidence does not support tongues as the definite sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
8. The purpose of tongues
The New Testament describes several purposes for speaking in tongues:
- Proclamation of the gospel to foreign nations (Acts 2:5-12)
- Giving thanks and praise to God (1 Cor. 14:16-17)
- Praying to God and building oneself up (1 Cor. 14:4)
- A sign to convict unbelievers (1 Cor. 14:22)
Therefore, according to the biblical record, the gift of tongues serves to spread the gospel cross-culturally, to worship and pray to God privately or corporately, and to bring conviction to unbelievers in the church gathering.
9. Interpretation and regulation of tongues
Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians emphasize that tongues must be interpreted orderly to serve the church:
- Tongues without interpretation have no benefit to others (1 Cor. 14:6)
- Everything should be done for edification of the church (1 Cor. 14:12, 26)
- Max of 3 tongue-speakers, one at a time (1 Cor. 14:27)
- There must be an interpreter or the speaker should stay silent (1 Cor. 14:28)
Therefore, even where the gift was practiced, Paul provided guidelines for the proper and orderly use of tongues – with interpretation so that all may be instructed and exhorted.
10. Cessation of tongues
Some Christians point to 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 to argue that tongues and other miraculous gifts (e.g. prophecy, knowledge) ceased with the completion of the New Testament canon. They see tongues tied specifically to affirming new revelation. Now that Scripture is complete, tongues are no longer needed to verify it.
However, continuationists counter that these “complete” gifts await complete fulfillment at Christ’s return. They also point out that prophecy continues, so tongues likely continue as well.
This is a complex debate with reasonable biblical cases on both sides. But it is clear the New Testament writers at least assumed the ongoing use of tongues in church life, as they gave parameters to regulate their practice. The timing of their cessation is disputed.
Summary
In summary, here are some key highlights on the biblical evidence related to Jesus and speaking in tongues:
- Jesus promised his disciples would speak in new tongues, likely meaning foreign human languages.
- There is no definitive record of Jesus himself speaking in tongues.
- Pentecost shows the gift of tongues being used evangelistically, while Corinth emphasizes personal prayer and worship.
- Tongues are not the proven uniform evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
- Even where practiced, tongues must be interpreted orderly to instruct the church.
- There is disagreement on whether tongues have ceased or continue today.
The overall testimony of Scripture seems to be that tongues are a possible but carefully regulated gift in the church that must always be exercised in love to build up others. The Bible neither demands all believers to speak in tongues nor prohibits the use of tongues categorically. As on various theological issues, Christians search the Scriptures and come to differing conclusions on the proper practice of this controversial spiritual gift in the life of faith today.
