SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD?

They "Started to Speak With Different Tongues"

In the Bible, we read of some men and women who were given power to speak languages that they had never learned.  This first occurred on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., a few weeks after the death of Jesus Christ.  On that day in Jerusalem, some 120 disciples of Jesus "become  filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues." Visitors from foreign lands "were bewildered, because each one heard  them speaking in his own language." -Acts 1:15; 2:1-6. 

The Bible mentions other early followers of Jesus who had this wonderful ability. For example, empowered by holy spirit, the apostle Paul could miraculously speak in numerous tongues.  (Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 14:18) But any such gift of God's holy spirit should logically have a good purpose. So, what purpose did speaking in tongues serve in Bible times? 

A Sign of God's Backing

When writing to Christians in the city of Corinth, some of whom apparently could speak in tongues, Paul explained that "tongues are for a sign . . .to the unbelievers." (1 Corinthians 14:22) Hence, along with other miraculous abilities, the power to speak in tongues was an indication to observers that the newly formed Christian congregation had God's approval and backing.  The miraculous gifts were like a street marker pointing out where truth-seekers  should now go to find God's chosen people. 

Significantly, the Bible does not mention that Jesus or any of the pre-Christian prophets miraculously spoke in tongues  that they had not learned.   The gift of tongues  bestowed upon Jesus' disciples, then, evidently had some additional objective.

Next time: SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS IT FROM GOD? - A Tool to Spread the Good News

From the Watchtower magazine, 2010