There is no shortage of speaking in tongues verses in the Bible. While verses that talk about speaking in tongues may not be as many as those that talk about other issues, their quantity is sufficient to help us embrace the gift.
As a believer who speaks in tongues, it is important to know Bible verses about speaking in tongues. The devil fights hard against the gift of speaking in tongues and unless you are rooted in scripture, you can easily lose faith.
In this article, I will only pick three Bible verses that talk about speaking in tongues. I find these three verses very important when it comes to speaking in tongues.
Speaking in Tongues Bible Verses
1. Speaking in Tongues Verse: Acts 2:4
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4
This verse in the book of Acts is one of the most important scriptures about speaking in tongues because it records the very first time people spoke in tongues.
It would be difficult to believe that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit if there was no record of when it first happened.
It is the same way the Bible begins by telling us the story of how Adam and Eve sinned. The rest of the Bible is a ripple effect of what happened after the sin.
Speaking in tongues was promised. Jesus mentioned that those who would believe in Him would speak in new tongues in the book of Mark 16:17.
Since we know that God never does anything on earth without letting His prophets know, the case of speaking in tongues was no different.
Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit. He made it clear that the Spirit of God would come to comfort us and lead us into all the truth.
The fact that Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a helper meant that the Spirit of God was coming to help us.
Speaking in tongues is how the Holy Spirit helps us to pray; Romans 8:26 affirms this truth.
The verse in Acts 2:4 about speaking in tongues should always be at your fingertips because it is the genesis of the practice of speaking in tongues.
If you can point a verse in the Bible when speaking in tongues began, you can defend why you speak in tongues.
2. Speaking in Tongues Verse: 1st Corinthians 14:2
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries by the Spirit.
1st Corinthians 14:2
1st Corinthians 14 can be nicknamed ‘The speaking in tongues chapter’. Many of its verses address speaking in tongues even though they compare speaking in tongues to prophecy.
Verse 2 of 1st Corinthians is especially important because it clarifies one of the most contentious issues about praying in tongues.
Many people argue that speaking in tongues must be interpreted. Others claim that speaking in tongues must be a language that already exists on earth.
This scripture confirms that speaking in tongues can be a language that people do not understand. The Bible says that whoever speaks in tongues speaks to God.
While the verse does not specify that speaking in tongues is always not understood, it is clear that failing to understand what someone speaking in tongues is saying is Biblical.
If you speak in tongues and people attack you because they do not understand what you are saying, use this scripture as your defense.
The verse concludes by mentioning that through the Spirit of God, the person speaking in tongues utters mysteries. It makes sense that mysteries are expressed to God through speaking in tongues; mysteries are hard to describe in human languages.
3. Speaking in Tongues Verse: 1st Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1st Corinthians 13:1
This Bible verse is very crucial to anyone who has the gift of praying in tongues. This verse helps us set our priorities right when it comes to speaking in tongues.
Praying in tongues can easily become a religion. This scripture makes sure that does not happen.
Apostle Paul makes it clear that love is superior to speaking in tongues and all other gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean that the gift of tongues is worthless, it only means that love should always have a greater priority than speaking in tongues.
There are believers who misunderstand this scripture and conclude that speaking in tongues is worthless. How can the gift of the Holy Spirit be worthless?
If you have the gift of tongues, this verse is a reminder that your tongues only make sense when you are operating in love.
This is simple logic. Our love relationships also begin with love before we start buying one another gifts. When there is love in a relationship, gifts make sense. When there is no love in a relationship, gifts serve no purpose.
In this case, we are to make sure we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our strength and our neighbors as ourselves anytime we speak in tongues.
If our love dwindles, it is better we stop speaking in tongues to restore our love before we continue praying in tongues.
Speaking in Tongues Bible Verses Conclusion
These are only a few of the many verses in the Bible that talk about speaking in tongues. Understanding these verses is important if you have the gift of tongues.
Not only will you be able to practice the gift of tongues efficiently but you will also be able to regulate yourself from making the gift of tongues a religion.
Above all these scriptures, treasure your relationship with the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives us gifts and teaches us love.
A relationship with the Holy Spirit will guarantee you understanding when you read scriptures and balance when you practice speaking in tongues.
May God help you!