Is Speaking in Tongues still available today?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
If we officially turn on Israel I am grabbing my gear and looking for a place to camp in the mountains.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
1cor chapter 14:1-5

14 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.


Context
8 For to one ""is given"" through the Spirit

10 to 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.

Supernatural Gift.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,163
1,791
113
Paul said, no human can understand it. What does that mean to you? If you're a natural man who follows science and cannot understand speaking in tongues, what does that mean to you?
No he doesn't say no human can understand it. He says no one understands it. He's describing the way it works, not redefining what the Greek word for 'language' means.

The Gospels use the same word to say no one puts a new patch on an old garment. That doesn't mean that humans don't patch old garments but that God does. That's not what the word means.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,163
1,791
113
But I already said that part about 10 times now in past 8 pages.
I said it takes the Supernatural Gift of Interpretation to understand.
Because the church doesn't know the 'tongues of men and of angels' that are spoken. So someone needs to interpret so others can be edified.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
No he doesn't say no human can understand it. He says no one understands it.
So human and no one are not the same thing?
He's describing the way it works, not redefining what the Greek word for 'language' means.
Not even close. We know how it works we just don't understand what's being SAID when it happens.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
Because the church doesn't know the 'tongues of men and of angels' that are spoken. So someone needs to interpret so others can be edified.
I've said that 10 times now. You just don't pay attention.
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
1,603
804
113
I believe there are safeguards written into the instructions but when they are ignored, as so often happens, then it is anyone's guess as to what is true and what is not true. You may very well already be familiar with what I say here.
Yup - I've been in and around Pentecostal /Charismatics for the last 60 years, so there's little or nothing I haven't seen. BUt I DO AGREE, that the safeguards as listed in the 1 Cor 14 text aren't GENERALLY applied. In the cases I've PERSONALLY observed, the interpretations I've heard have been "Biblical", and of general interest.

There's been no "interpretations" that demanded significant action like: "Find john Smith and give him $6,000.

I remember hearing of a wartime case in England, where a prophetic word was spoken, instructing everybody to vacate the building, which was destroyed in one of the bombings shortly thereafter.

There was a case decades ago where my Wife was given a "Personal prophesy". SO we filed it in "Pending" and waited for confirmation. A month later another person independent from the first one, and not connected with us in any way spoke the SAME Prophesy to her. That's what you start taking it seriously. Anybody that commits resources on the basis of an unconfirmed "prophetic Word" is a FOOL.

In several cases, when I spoke an interpretation, another in the Congregation told me that They had the same Word, but were not burdened to speak it.

and there was a "hat trick" where a tongue was spoken, and the fellow to my laft began to interpret. As he did, I was burdened to interpret, and when he stopped in mid-message, I picked it up and spoke for 20-30 seconds, and then the flow of words stopped, and immediately the fellow on my right started speaking and finished the message. That's only happened once.

God isn't a "One trick Pony". Unless our Ministers, and Missionaries are all bald faced LIARS, the following occurs:

Tongues are spoken, understood by nobody, and there's an "Interpretation" in the common language either by the tongues speaker, or by somebody else.
Tongues are spoken, understood by a person, or persons in the congregation, AND interpreted, matching what the ones who understood heard.
Tongues are spoken, and understood by people in one or more languages.
The Common language is spoken, and understood by people in one or more different languages.

We had a fellow in Ohio, who'd "go off" in tongues as regular as clockwork in the service, and EVERY ONE Of his utterances was the same very simplistic, and always the same length. SO naturally I wrote him off as a PHONY. UNTIL the first time I was burdened to interpret, HE was the tongues speaker. SO - I learned not to be so judgmental.

Bottom line - IF you're burdened to speak in tongues in a service, you don't have to worry about interpreting, because God's already got somebody lined up to do it - it might be you.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
Yup - I've been in and around Pentecostal /Charismatics for the last 60 years, so there's little or nothing I haven't seen. BUt I DO AGREE, that the safeguards as listed in the 1 Cor 14 text aren't GENERALLY applied. In the cases I've PERSONALLY observed, the interpretations I've heard have been "Biblical", and of general interest.

There's been no "interpretations" that demanded significant action like: "Find john Smith and give him $6,000.

I remember hearing of a wartime case in England, where a prophetic word was spoken, instructing everybody to vacate the building, which was destroyed in one of the bombings shortly thereafter.

There was a case decades ago where my Wife was given a "Personal prophesy". SO we filed it in "Pending" and waited for confirmation. A month later another person independent from the first one, and not connected with us in any way spoke the SAME Prophesy to her. That's what you start taking it seriously. Anybody that commits resources on the basis of an unconfirmed "prophetic Word" is a FOOL.

In several cases, when I spoke an interpretation, another in the Congregation told me that They had the same Word, but were not burdened to speak it.

and there was a "hat trick" where a tongue was spoken, and the fellow to my laft began to interpret. As he did, I was burdened to interpret, and when he stopped in mid-message, I picked it up and spoke for 20-30 seconds, and then the flow of words stopped, and immediately the fellow on my right started speaking and finished the message. That's only happened once.

God isn't a "One trick Pony". Unless our Ministers, and Missionaries are all bald faced LIARS, the following occurs:

Tongues are spoken, understood by nobody, and there's an "Interpretation" in the common language either by the tongues speaker, or by somebody else.
Tongues are spoken, understood by a person, or persons in the congregation, AND interpreted, matching what the ones who understood heard.
Tongues are spoken, and understood by people in one or more languages.
The Common language is spoken, and understood by people in one or more different languages.

We had a fellow in Ohio, who'd "go off" in tongues as regular as clockwork in the service, and EVERY ONE Of his utterances was the same very simplistic, and always the same length. SO naturally I wrote him off as a PHONY. UNTIL the first time I was burdened to interpret, HE was the tongues speaker. SO - I learned not to be so judgmental.

Bottom line - IF you're burdened to speak in tongues in a service, you don't have to worry about interpreting, because God's already got somebody lined up to do it - it might be you.
And normally there's a quietness to the atmosphere when it happens. You can feel it. Most of the times it's heavy.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,341
113
8 For to one ""is given"" through the Spirit

10 to 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.

Supernatural Gift.
They are supernatural because they are from the Holy Spirit. However, many people are not well-learned in the operation of those gifts in the church setting.

1. those who speak in tongues are to pray that they Interpret
2. Tongues and interpretation of Tongues is = to Propesiying, which is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

If there in no interpretation they are to pray silently as 1cor chapter 14 says
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
They are supernatural because they are from the Holy Spirit. However, many people are not well-learned in the operation of those gifts in the church setting.

1. those who speak in tongues are to pray that they Interpret
2. Tongues and interpretation of Tongues is = to Propesiying, which is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

If there in no interpretation they are to pray silently as 1cor chapter 14 says
Wonderfully explained post (y)
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,341
113
All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used in the fruit of the Spirit "Self-Control."
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,341
113
The most significant errors by my Pentacostel brother and sister when operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are immaturity, unlearned, and lack of self-control.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
I love when the "speaker" proclaims I can feel the Holy Spirit in this place. It makes me become expectant. I've said it myself because we don't know what's going to happen. Sometimes it leads to tongues and interpretation, many times to someone coming to God for the first time. Could be someone going to be healed. But I get excited when I feel or hear those words, I can feel the Spirit of God in this place.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,058
4,341
113
I love when the "speaker" proclaims I can feel the Holy Spirit in this place. It makes me become expectant. I've said it myself because we don't know what's going to happen. Sometimes it leads to tongues and interpretation, many times to someone coming to God for the first time. Could be someone going to be healed. But I get excited when I feel or hear those words, I can feel the Spirit of God in this place.
In the church setting Paul said to desire spiritual gifts and seek the most excellent ones.

Some have thought Paul was suggesting Tongues is a lesser gift than all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is incorrect. All gifts are good from God and PERFECT as they come from HIM.

Paul is saying to choose the best gift needed at the time.


Do you need healing? Then pray for the gift of Healing as you seek God to heal. Tongues don't help one who needs healing
Do you need wisdom or discernment ? as k for that Gift as you seek God for an answer Tongues don't help in that
 
May 1, 2022
565
156
43
I would prefer a question that would be more insightful.

Did the gifts, ministries, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit, end in the first century?

If so, which gifts, ministries, and fruit, are still active today?

That way we can all know what the truth is.

Tongues is such a small part of the overall spiritual blessing, I don't know why tongues receives
so much attention.
I have this thread you can check out. https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...ion-today-and-if-not-why.214294/#post-5252755
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
In the church setting Paul said to desire spiritual gifts and seek the most excellent ones.

Some have thought Paul was suggesting Tongues is a lesser gift than all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is incorrect. All gifts are good from God and PERFECT as they come from HIM.

Paul is saying to choose the best gift needed at the time.


Do you need healing? Then pray for the gift of Healing as you seek God to heal. Tongues don't help one who needs healing
Do you need wisdom or discernment ? as k for that Gift as you seek God for an answer Tongues don't help in that
I visited a church I had never been to because we were traveling. They welcomed me and asked me what brought me here. I said, "Expectancy, I come expectant to feel God in this place." If everyone did that they would have an experience no one could ever truly explain.
 
May 1, 2022
565
156
43
The human translator can ""only translate"" human languages.
The Supernatural Gift can Interpret speaking in tongues, which is the Holy Spirit speaking to God.
The Supernatural Gift can Interpret speaking in tongues, which is the Holy Spirit speaking to God.

IF
I visited a church I had never been to because we were traveling. They welcomed me and asked me what brought me here. I said, "Expectancy, I come expectant to feel God in this place." If everyone did that they would have an experience no one could ever truly explain.
Amen
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
The Supernatural Gift can Interpret speaking in tongues, which is the Holy Spirit speaking to God.
Romans 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought . But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Who is the Holy Spirit talking to when He intercedes for us?
 
May 1, 2022
565
156
43
Why would I acknowledge that when Paul ""specifically said NO HUMAN" could ever understand. That is ALL Forms of human language EVER.

Therefore, speaking in tongues ""cannot"" be a form of human language.
These passages don't necessarily contradict each other. They simply describe different functions of speaking in tongues in different contexts:

  • Acts 2: A miraculous sign for communication and the spread of the Gospel message across language barriers.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:2: A form of personal prayer or praise directed towards God, not meant for public communication within the church assembly.