I'm sharing what is recorded in the Word. So you decide.
The Word itself states that truth is established by 2-3 witnesses, This means the details given in 2-3 scriptures about a given topic reveal what is true:
no it doesnt. this is about a testimony given in court against someone.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Matt. 18:16
this is not referring to tongues either
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.2 Cor. 13:1
this is not referring to tongues.
The phenomenon of speaking in tongues appears primarily in three New Testament sections: the Book of Acts, and chapters 12 through 14 of First Corinthians.
1. The Event of Pentecost (Acts 2)
The very first record of tongues is on the Day of Pentecost, when the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages):
Acts 2:4 — "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
Here, the “tongues” were actual human languages spoken so that the diverse crowd of Jews from different nations could hear the gospel in their own native languages (Acts 2:6-11). This was a miraculous sign meant to authenticate the apostles’ message and confirm God’s presence in the birth of the Church.
The tongues in Acts 2 were not gibberish, ecstatic utterances, or unknown “angelic” languages; they were real, recognizable human dialects to communicate truth.
2. Paul’s Teaching on Tongues (1 Corinthians 12-14)
The Apostle Paul addresses tongues extensively in his letters to the Corinthian church, where the gift had become misused and misunderstood. His key points include:
Tongues are one of many spiritual gifts. Paul lists tongues alongside prophecy, healing, wisdom, knowledge, and others (1 Cor 12:10, 28).
Tongues primarily serve to edify the individual speaker if used privately.
“Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves…” (1 Cor 14:4)
In corporate worship, tongues must be interpreted or cease.
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.” (1 Cor 14:27)Without interpretation, tongues create confusion, which God forbids (1 Cor 14:33).
Prophecy is preferred over tongues for church edification.
“I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1 Cor 14:19)
Tongues are not a sign for believers but for unbelievers.
“Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers…” (1 Cor 14:22)This refers to the miraculous use of tongues as real foreign languages, like at Pentecost.
Paul’s detailed teaching makes it clear that tongues were never meant to be a chaotic, emotional, unintelligible experience in the public assembly without interpretation.
Common Fallacies Behind Modern Speaking in Tongues
1. The “Heavenly” or “Angel” Language Myth
Many modern tongues are claimed to be heavenly languages or angelic speech beyond human understanding. This idea has no biblical foundation. The tongues in Acts 2 were actual languages of earth, not mystical, gibberish speech.
Paul mentions the possibility of “tongues of angels” (1 Cor 13:1) but never instructs believers to speak this way or uses it as a norm or test of spirituality. The Corinthians’ experience with tongues was actual languages or unknown human languages, not angelic babbling.
2. Speaking Tongues as a Mandatory Proof of Spirit Baptism
Many Charismatic and Pentecostal churches teach that speaking in tongues is a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit or even necessary for salvation. The Bible nowhere supports this doctrine. Numerous believers in the New Testament received the Spirit without speaking in tongues (Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7).
This teaching pressures believers to produce tongues, often leading to counterfeit manifestations.
3. Private Edification Misapplied as Public Worship
Paul states that tongues can edify the individual but insists that public worship be orderly and understandable (1 Cor 14:4-5, 26-28). Modern practices often glorify loud, repetitive, unintelligible tongues in public services with no interpretation, violating biblical instructions.
4. Emotionalism and Peer Pressure
Many who speak in tongues today do so because of strong emotional experiences, desire for acceptance, or group pressure rather than genuine divine gifting. Glossolalia is well-documented in psychological studies as a learned behavior or an altered state of consciousness without supernatural origin.
5. Lack of Interpretation
Biblical tongues require interpretation in public settings to edify the church (1 Cor 14:27-28). Modern churches often tolerate or promote uninterpreted tongues, causing confusion and disorder contrary to Scripture.
he Spiritual Danger of Accepting False Tongues
Deception by False Spirits1 John 4:1 commands believers to test the spirits. False tongues can be demonic or counterfeit spiritual manifestations aimed at deceiving and dividing the church.
Distracts from True Gospel and RepentanceAn overemphasis on tongues can mislead believers into focusing on emotional experiences rather than genuine faith, repentance, obedience, and the fruit of the Spirit.
Creates Spiritual ElitismClaiming tongues as proof of superior spirituality fosters pride, division, and false assurance.
