Is Speaking in Tongues still available today?

I like to look at the broader context of 1 Cor. 13, I personally think it reveals what "that which is perfect" refers to:


8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.


I believe verse 12 is referring to when we see Jesus face to face...I don't see how we could "know as we are known" before then. We won't need prophesy or tongues or any of the other gifts then either, because those things are for our earthly comfort, edification, and gospel-spreading. And until that day comes, the church still needs comfort, edification, knowledge, and Divine help spreading The Gospel.

We gladly recognize the spiritual gifts of giving, administration, pastorship, helps, etc..... why pick and choose which gifts we "like" or think are still "useful" and say the others must have already ceased?

I guess you missed it.

I could start a thread the would drive everyone here bunkers: Is God One or Three? But I don't think I should.

I was thinking of starting a thread too, I'm way overdue to be called a heretic .

Event? Not as such. You're thinking Acts 10; I'm thinking 1 Corinthians 12.

Yes. To bring unbelievers to the foot of the Cross and be saved. And there was Interpretation also, which strengthened is Spirit the Body of Christ as a whole.

that is what many hold to and I think that is closer to the text meaning yet 1cor chapter 12, 13 , and 14 must be kept in context. those trying to say the gifts are no longer for today are only using once verse in chapter 13. and trying to make it say what it doesn't because a bias they have.

i've seen the "act" a couple of times & i don't know anyone who has ever seen "tongues" as real. i'm not saying speaking in tongues is not real. around here, no one does it, speaks of it or questions it. or asks for it. but once, when i saw it, i think anyone in the world would have said it was gibberish. you could just tell. by course, when the apostles were illuminated with the H.S., it was totally real. there's such a huge controversy on this. i know charles stanley didn't believe in it & he is many people's favorite preacher.

he was Baptist, so most don't, no shocker there . LOL. Good thing one's experience does not nullify the word of God.

Well "I can promise you" that you're whole argument and demeanor seem a little disconnected from the realities of this topic and conversation.

I cannot find your exact problem with what I said, you just accuse me in a manner that suggest you have some kind of special power to detect my heart and relationship status with God through very few words of text on a site, which you have honestly completely misunderstood and misrepresented according to the way you've responded to them.

I am also a little puzzled when you say "I don't feel my relationship with God, although certainly emotions are a part of it".
I cannot say the same, I "feel" born again. I know what it's like to be spiritually dead, we all do of course, but I do "feel" Him now, every second of everyday that I've been spiritually resurrected and reconciled to His Spirit. You don't "feel" that?
At that time when I thought I was a Christian falsely, when I repeated the prayer up front and the pastor declared me "born again", I didn't "feel anything", nor was I changed or know Jesus. I just thought I had because #1 we can't know what being spiritually alive is like when we've never been in that state, #2 why would I doubt I had when my pastor had told me I was.

No it wasn't until I hit my knees in complete broken defeat with NO hope. Not until He granted me repentance and showed me the true extent of my greatness and glory. This left me on the ground broken not at all thinking about God, to be honest I thought I'd already "done that" and found the whole Jesus thing lacking. No when He granted me repentance in truth, when He opened my eye to the truth of my accomplishments and greatness on earth after 33 years, it left me on the floor in a puddle of my own tear saying "I can't do this anymore".

The next day I woke up all new. It didn't really dawn on me until lunch that next day, but in that second I KNEW whatever this was in me was from God, and that Jesus was His Son. I was made new. All new priorities, and all new life people that knew me could not deny, I was a new man overnight light a road to Damascus level change. I felt that and feel it every day. So when you say that you don't "feel" your relationship with God. I don't get that. I see the emotions.
That seems to be what you came at me with, because you got upset with what I wrote and seem to have responded before even finishing it. Maybe not, but your biggest offense seems to be addressed the last half of my comment. Even in my reply to you I asked your question right back, about is the Holy Spirit in the Hindu when he's speaking tongues, and that went completely ignored along with every other point I made the whole time. It seems you have more a problem with what you think I believe than what I've actually said. I'm not sure how to keep a conversation like that going. Or think it should keep going.

So I was not trying to insult anyone, only ask the questions that I think should be asked before jumping into any spiritual practice wholesale without any discernment. So many of my brothers and sisters practice tongues and I love them and they love me. You have no idea what I really believe because the way you've represented my view is completely off. It seems you just thought I'm "one on that side", read half my comment, then rebuked what you think I believe, without even asking me a single question first, because you felt offended so quickly.

I know I said a lot, and honestly expect you'll read very little of it and think even less of what you do read, but regardless I will at pay you the respect of reading your whole comment responding to the things you actually say, and not just label you as "one of that team" then attack what "I" think you believe.

Here is some more thought:

I will be the first to admit that satan and his devices can mimic this wonderful gift, but those who operate in it that way bare no fruit.

1Cor. 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

Speaking in Tongues is just simply unknown tongues to the recipient. I assure you TRUE Holy Ghost filled believers are speaking a language either known or lost language, but a language spoken on earth at one point, or could be angelic.

1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

Two main points of Speaking in Tongues to answer you statement (mangled gibberish that no one understands, including the person speaking it)

1. When in services praying between you and God.

Tongues unknown to the recipient, but known somewhere on earth now or in the past or angelic. I know of someone in their own prayer time, who was overheard by someone in the congregation who knew the language being spoken in Tongues and can testify they are the wonderful works of God. So not complete gibberish.

Act 2:8-11 "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11.Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."


2. When in services spoken aloud followed by interpretation.

Tongues unknown to everyone in the congregation hints the need for interpretation.

I won't lie I do not think that is what biblical tongues is at all. I also don't believe the way it's practiced today is very glorifying to Jesus. Not that it's bad or evil necessarily, just that it's kind of pointless and chaotic. I mean what's the point in the big picture? Honestly I feel it's more likely to turn someone away than to draw them into it.

With all the false ways and misuses of the Gift can very easily stir someone new to the faith, just look for those who practice it and if they bare no fruit of the Spirit than stay away. True biblical use of the Gift will always draw people to God.

1Cor. 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

our personal prayer language between us and God Alone (When completely Unknow to anyone i.e. Angelic language) hints the word mysteries not even Satan know what is being said.

I think what a lot of people fail to realize is, that when interpretation is Given to Unknown tongues spoken, both are operating in Speaking in Tongues. God is doing the Speaking, you are the vessel, you have the choice to yield to the Spirit or not.

1 Corinthians Chapter 14

3."But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

4."He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."

Those who praise God to themselves in Speaking Unknown tongues edifies (lifts up their soul), but when done with congregation silent and interpreted the entire Body of Christ is Edified/lifted up.

5."I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."

Here Paul desires that everyone would be baptized with the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues. But desired them to seek the Interpretation. Because that would be the majority language of the congregation and edifies the entire Body of Christ.

6."Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?"

7."And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"

8."For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

9."So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air."

Those who try to be purposely heard in the congregation, speaking in tongues, are speaking into the air and foolishness if not interpreted. They are out of The Spirit's order and should keep silent to themselves.

10."There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification."

11."Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me."

There should never be confusion during a church service where everyone is Speaking in Tongues at the same time. The only exception is during a pray meeting, song service or altar call. Other than those times the Pastor should sit them down. We are in a battle for the souls of this world and sometimes get very expressive in our prayers, but we cant be silent, we are the Army of God against the forces of darkness.

12."Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."

13."Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."

It's great for your soul to be edified, but far great for the entire Body of Christ, than just yourself, so pray that you may interpret.

14."For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful."

15."What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

16."Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?"

When I pray in tongues my spirit is lifted, but I don't understand the words spoken, but at the same time I don't need to, I just know my soul is being edified.

17."For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified."

18."I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:"

19."Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."


20."Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men."

21."In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord."

22."Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."

Speaking in Tongues signifies to the unbeliever the God is True. But Interpretation of Tongues Spoken is for the edification of those already saved.

23."If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"

Absolutely, if that is the way that Church is operating, I say yes.

24."But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:"

25."And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth."

In other words, if Tongues spoken are interpreted, they bring people to their knees in repentance from a convicted heart that has been exposed before God. Now understand that the interpretation is also Speaking in Tongues, what God wants the Congregation to hear.

26."How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."

27."If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret."

Anything else would be out of order of the Spirit and pointed out by the Pastor. And that by course means not all at once but one at a time. Anymore than three tongues spoken one is out of order.

28."But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God."

I am not responsible for your feelings. Your salvation is wonderful and so is the salvation of a five year old child as was mine. God is and has always been very faithful in the upbringing of said child as He is with all who are His.

You cannot use personal experience as some sort of measuring stick to qualify the experience of others nor as judgement for their response to the gospel.

That would be that you excuse what you said and do not seem to grasp the magnitude of what you say here:

In my 1st post to you I asked you a question about the above which you have not answered. However, you do not see the insult and the general broad brush painting of your conception of the gift of tongues and the fact many in this forum and throughout the world actually do speak in tongues?

This is what I asked in that post: So have you concluded then that all who speak in tongues, as the Holy Spirit indwelling them allows, are practicing pagan arts?

Be responsible for what you wrote and the answer it engendered. People flippantly brush off what they do not understand because it does not (according to them) apply to them personally.

Hardly. Try to stick to the topic and stop the personal jabs. They are not helping you.

I Corinthians 12: following is what the Bible states, written by Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles. If people wish to discuss the gifts or tongues in particular, is there a reason the discussion cannot follow what the Bible says or do people prefer to simply go on about their personal experience or prejudices or whatever? Serious question. If the latter, I'm going to leave the "discussion" because this has been covered multiple of multiple times here and usually with the same people (if they are still here).

The Bible is the final authority.

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slavesd or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,e yet one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And 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. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

the only issue I take with your post here is you do what many do on both sides of the topic take one verse from different chapters and try to build a positional point.

The context is missing when you do that for example:



"1Cor. 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."


You used this as your text but what does 1cor 14:1, 3-5 say?

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification


Verse two cannot be fully understood without verse one or 3-5

There was a preacher who said he prayed with Charles Stanley, and Charles Stanley spoke in tongues. He told another preacher... who wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but that man went on TV and mentioned Charles Stanley speaking in tongues. So when people called First Baptist in Atlanta asking about it, they gave the answer 'Charles Stanley does not speak in tongues."

I don't remember all the preacher's names, but I spoke with someone who had researched this.

Jesus Christ is the Word robed in flesh if that's what you're asking me.

What about the intervening 13 chapters of 1 Corinthians? It is a fine example eisegesis to take a verse from here, a verse from there, to prove a point.

To respond to this let me say:
1. You will notice in the King James Bible that the word "unknown" is in italics. Which means that the translators believed they were helping the reader, whereas it has led to a lot of confusion. Had they simply written language or languages all this controversy would not have come about.

2. In Scripture the Greek words are either glossa or glossais. A strict translation would be "language", and as we know from Acts 2 there were about 15 human languages spoken
on the day of Pentecost SUPERNATURALLY.

3. In the 17th century the words "tongue" or "tongues" were also being used commonly for human languages. But today (and in some modern translations) that word should simply be "language".

4. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, all references to "tongues" are to languages. Not "lost languages", since Paul expected a translator to translate what what spoken within the church gatherings.

5. It is obvious that Paul said "tongues of angels" hyperbolically, to make a point. In the Bible you will not find angels speaking in any other languages than actual human languages -- either Hebrew or Aramaic. Greek is the language of the NT, but the people recorded as being spoken to by angels were all Hebrews.

6. When Paul says that tongues are for "a sign" to unbelieving Jews, he is quoting Isaiah 28:11,12: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people [Israel]. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. [Notice what is said at the end "Yet they would not hear]. So on the day of Pentecost, when Jews from all over the Roman empire had gathered in Jerusalem, every Jew (and there were probably 20,000) should have repented and been converted after seeing and hearing this "sign'. But only 3,000 souls were saved that day. Why? Because many "would not hear" the Gospel of Christ. Some mocked, and as we know the religious leaders in Jerusalem persecuted the Hebrew Christians.

7. Paul explains the significance of supernaturally spoken languages 1 Cor 14:21,22: In the law [the Tanakh or OT] it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. So believers do not need such a sign. They believe on Christ even though they have not seen Him. Neither do Gentiles need this sign.

8. At the same time Paul makes it clear (in I Cor 12-14) that the spiritual gift of "tongues" is for all Christians during the apostolic period. He also insists that there must be an interpreter to interpret what was spoken. Yet he compares tongues to prophesy and states that prophesying is far, far better than tongues.

9. Paul went on to say that three of those spiritual gifts described would CEASE or be done away with (1 Cor 13:8-10). They were not to continue indefinitely. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. "That which is perfect" is not stated as "He who is perfect " (Christ). "That which is perfect" also means "that which is complete" and Paul prophetically anticipated a complete Bible.

10, Modern tongues are called "glossolalia" or ecstatic utterances. You will not find that word in the Greek NT, since biblical tongues were not ecstatic utterances. And even pagans were practicing such utterances. "Glossolalia occurred among adherents of various ancient religions, including some of the ancient Greek religions." -- Britannica.

I definitely agree with that.....and I think the biggest reason so many reject tongues and prophesy is because they have only seen them demonstrated contrary to the guidelines in 1 Cor. 12, 13, &14.

Or they have only seen "tongues" demonstrated by those who were faking it or even posessed by an unclean spirit. So they see that and their discernment properly registers it as "wrong". But true tongues used in the proper context is uplifting and beautiful.

In my personal experience (which I realize doesn't count for anything but I'm going to testify it anyway), I have never seen tongues demonstrated in a church service. But I did once feel a deep overwhelming conviction to pray....so I tried to pray but realized I had no idea what to pray about. Like, my mind was completely blank (which literally NEVER happens for me...it was really weird). I was kind of freaking out about it, but then I remember that some people mention tongues as a prayer language.....so I quieted myself to see if any words/syllables came to mind. They did...I prayed them quietly in my spirit. It felt peaceful and uplifting. After a few minutes of that I felt like the prayer was over, and the words stopped. To this day I have no idea who or what I was praying for. But it was a good experience.