What Is the Gift of Speaking in Tongues? Is It for Today? What About Praying in Tongues?
1) Direct answer
- The gift of tongues is a real work of the Holy Spirit where a believer speaks a language unknown to them as the Spirit gives utterance.
- Yes, it is for today.
- Praying in tongues is the Spirit praying through a believer; it edifies the individual and should be kept in order when in a public service.
2) Scriptural explanation
- The Bible says, “These signs shall follow them that believe… they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). In Acts 2:4-11 they spoke languages they did not know as the Spirit gave utterance.
- Tongues are one of the gifts God set in the Body (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28). The same chapter asks, “Do all speak with tongues?” (12:30). The obvious answer is no—so tongues are not the evidence of having the Holy Ghost; they are a gift given as God wills.
- In the church, tongues must follow order: “If any speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). God is not the author of confusion (14:33).
- Tongues with interpretation equals edification for the church; tongues without interpretation edifies the speaker (1 Corinthians 14:4-5). That’s why Paul said he would rather speak five words with understanding in the church than ten thousand in an unknown tongue (14:19).
- Praying in tongues: “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue… in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2). “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful… I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also” (14:14-15). This shows private devotion in the Spirit is right, and in public we seek understanding for the sake of others.
- Do tongues cease? The Bible says tongues “shall cease… when that which is perfect is come” and then we shall see “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:8-12). We have not yet come to that face-to-face, so the gifts remain. The same chapter commands, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts” (14:1) and “forbid not to speak with tongues” (14:39).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- It’s not three Gods; it’s one God who sent His Spirit into the Church, and that same Spirit divides gifts as He wills. Not every member does the same thing (1 Corinthians 12:14-21).
- If tongues were the proof of the Holy Ghost, Paul would not ask, “Do all speak with tongues?” Nor would he limit public messages to “two or three.” The new birth is evidenced by the life of Christ and obedience to the Word; gifts are tools for service, not badges of salvation.
- If tongues had ceased, the clear New Testament instructions for their use would be meaningless. But the Bible says, “forbid not,” and “let all things be done decently and in order.” So we receive it, but we keep it Scriptural.
- Praying in tongues is right when the Spirit leads. In a gathering, if there’s no interpreter, keep it between you and God so the Body is not confused. The Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets (1 Corinthians 14:32); the Holy Spirit does not force disorder.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, the Bible sets the balance: love first, the Word as the absolute, desire spiritual gifts, and keep the operation of tongues under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and in harmony with Scripture.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Questions and Answers
54-0515 §143
And you people who's got the Holy Ghost and called into offices, teachers... Now, could you imagine, here's me standing here trying to teach, and here jump a man up, side of me, and start teaching right at the same time, another man standing out here singing a jubilee song? Well, what a confusion! Well, that's the way it is about speaking in tongues. Let it come orderly, just as the Spirit will give it, you can speak with tongues. Now you say, "Well, Brother Branham, I can't help it." Oh, yes, you can. Paul said yo...
Questions and Answers, Part 3
64-0830M §38
Now, in this speaking in tongues and so forth, I wished every one of you spoke in tongues. I sure do. And many times, good Christians... You see, if I tell you that was on the program ... I found someone---not program, excuse me---on the interviews this morning. A person (I guess they're still here in the building) that they... About speaking with tongues... The person is a genuine person, a real person, and they've lived right. And they've heard me say the evidence of the Holy Ghost wasn't speaking in tongues ---a...
Debate on tongues
60-0807 §2
Now, if I was a boy and I was under the tutorship of my father and mother, and you wanted to adopt me and I give you my knife. Now, you've got my gift but not me, see. Now, tongues is a gift of the Holy Ghost. See, no scripture in the Bible that says it is the Holy Ghost. It's a gift of the Holy Ghost. Now watch. On Acts 2:38: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"---because they were marveling, because...
The Mark of the Beast
54-0513 §70
You say, "Do you believe in speaking in tongues?" Yes, sir. "Did you ever speak in tongues?" Yes, sir. I praise God for it. Yes, sir. I've spoke in tongues several times. And I believe it's the power of God. Yes. I don't believe in the initial evidence now, is speaking in tongues. But I believe that the power of God makes you speak in tongues, signs and wonders to follow. Yes, sir. And then the devil put it on a scarecrow up there, somebody that mocked and act like they had the Holy Ghost. And all you Pilgrim Holin...
Questions and Answers
61-0112 §56
But I do believe that a Spirit-filled person that lives under the altar of God, no doubt, sooner or later, will have an experience of speaking in tongues, because that's one of the lowest and least things there is, according to Paul's description. If you'd put them in order, it's the last thing on the line of gifts, see, is speaking with tongues. But now, first, you're baptized... Here, each one of you all are gifts. I'm on the outside. Now, by one door, one Spirit, one door enters this room. Is that right? Now, I...