In the first part of this study, we discovered that the gift of tongues in Acts 2 was the miraculous ability to speak real, known languages—given to spread the gospel across cultural and linguistic barriers. That moment at Pentecost wasn’t just a spiritual outpouring; it laid the foundation for everything else the Bible says about tongues.
Now, in this section, we’ll consider Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian church on speaking in tongues, how they were to be used in worship, and how we can apply those principles today.
What Did Paul Mean by an “Unknown Tongue”? – 1 Corinthians 14:1–5
Having seen that tongues are real languages, you might be wondering, what is this “unknown tongue”?
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue… no man understandeth him… but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (v. 2)
“Unknown tongue” means that the language is unknown to the listeners, not supernatural. It’s mysterious only to those unfamiliar with the language.
Consider Daniel 5—“mene mene tekel parsin” was mysterious to Babylonian leaders but a real Aramaic message Daniel interpreted.
Paul further explains in verses 6–11 that communication must be clear and edifying:
“Except ye utter… easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?” (v. 9)
And he quotes Isaiah 28:11:
“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.” (v. 21)
Revelation 14:6 gives us a powerful picture of the gospel message going to the entire world:
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Revelation 14:6)
The phrase “tongue” here refers to language—not speech patterns or ecstatic utterance, but actual spoken languages of people groups around the world.
The Greek word used is γλῶσσα (glōssa)—the same word used in:
- Acts 2, when the disciples spoke in real human languages at Pentecost,
- 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul gave guidelines on the use of tongues in the church.
In every one of these cases, the word glōssa consistently refers to intelligible, spoken human languages. This confirms again that the gift of tongues was about communicating the gospel across language barriers, just as Revelation 14 shows: the everlasting gospel going out to “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”
Order in Speaking in Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:26–33
Paul sets guidelines for worship:
“If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three… and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence.” (v. 27–28)
He explicitly says God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. That means tongues in church must be structured, interpreted, and edifying for everyone.
Paul adds:
“I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding… than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
This tells us:
- He likely spoke countable individual languages.
- But he cared more about clarity and teaching, especially in church.
Do All Speak in Tongues? – 1 Corinthians 12:27–31
Paul makes a point in 1 Corinthians 12:27–31:
“Now ye are the body of Christ… diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? … do all speak with tongues? … But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
He’s using a rhetorical question: Of course not! Tongues are only one gift among many, given by the Holy Spirit as He wills. So speaking in tongues should never be seen as the proof of spiritual maturity or salvation.
To strengthen that message, Paul continues in chapter 13 by showing that love is far more essential than any gift, including tongues. He begins with a striking example:
“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.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1)
This isn’t Paul teaching that believers speak in the language of angels. Rather, he’s using a hypothetical example—a form of hyperbole—to make a deeper point. Just as he says in the following verses:
- “If I have all faith so that I could remove mountains…”
- “If I understand all mysteries…”
- “If I give my body to be burned…”
These aren’t literal claims about himself—they are rhetorical devices, meant to highlight that even the most extraordinary abilities mean nothing without love.
So, Paul is not suggesting that we actually speak angelic languages, nor is he introducing a new kind of tongue. His point is simple: without love, even the most impressive-sounding gift becomes nothing more than empty noise.
Key Differences Between Biblical Tongues and Modern Tongues
| Characteristic | Biblical Tongues | Modern Tongues (Common Today) |
| Understanding | The speaker or an interpreter understood it (1 Cor. 14:27–28). | Neither speaker nor listener understands it. |
| Nature of the Tongue | Known human languages (Acts 2:8–11). | Unknown, unintelligible sounds or gibberish. |
| Purpose | To edify and communicate gospel truth across languages (Acts 2, 1 Cor. 14). | Personal spiritual experience or expression. |
| Interpretation Required | Yes, or the speaker must remain silent (1 Cor. 14:28). | Often no interpreter present or required. |
| Orderly Use in Worship | Two or three maximum, must be interpreted (1 Cor. 14:27–33). | Often chaotic, mass participation without interpretation or structure. |
| Origin | Divine gift distributed by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12). | Often taught, mimicked, or practiced into through conditioning. |
After the Apostolic Age – Why the Gift Faded
The gift of tongues had a clear purpose in the early church: to spread the gospel across linguistic barriers. At Pentecost and in other instances, it allowed Spirit-filled believers to communicate the message of Jesus to people from various nations, in their own languages.
As the gospel took root across the Roman Empire and beyond, churches were planted in local regions where leaders could preach and teach in their native tongue. Eventually, the need for miraculous language intervention declined.
Paul later wrote:
“…the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven…”
(Colossians 1:23)
This wide gospel reach explains why the gift of tongues is not commonly seen throughout later parts of the New Testament or early church history—it had served its initial evangelistic purpose.
However, this does not mean that God no longer works through this gift. There have been powerful testimonies throughout history—even in recent times—of missionaries or believers in unfamiliar territories suddenly being able to speak or understand a foreign language, enabling them to share the gospel or minister to others.
Where the gift of tongues was once used to instantly bridge communication gaps, God now often equips His people through preparation and the many tools available for global missions—including interpreters, Bible translations, and cross-cultural training.
The Bible gives us a clear standard for testing spiritual experiences. Paul wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). And Isaiah reminds us, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
This means we’re not called to accept every spiritual manifestation just because it’s popular, deeply emotional, or passed down through tradition. God calls us to test everything—including the modern practice of ecstatic speech often called “tongues”—by the truth of His Word..
Worship that is pleasing to God must be “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). That means even our expressions of worship—no matter how sincere—must align with what God has revealed in His Word. When there is a battle between truth and emotions, truth must lead. That’s the safeguard God has given us.
Conclusion – Tongues with Purpose, Not Confusion
From Acts to Paul’s letters, from the Spirit of Prophecy to church history, the message is consistent: tongues were real languages. They were given for the spread of the gospel, required understanding and interpretation, and were never meant to be a display of spiritual superiority.
The modern confusion around tongues is largely because people ignore the biblical foundation laid in Acts 2 and explained in 1 Corinthians 12–14.
Paul said it best:
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
(1 Corinthians 14:40)
God desires clarity, not chaos. The true gift of tongues is to propagate a message. A message meant to reach every tribe, nation, and tongue with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for taking the time to go through this study. If it blessed you, please consider sharing it with someone else who might also be encouraged by it.
