A Questioning Faith:
What is glossalalia and should we
practice it?
Discussion Flow
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Definition of terms
Biblical witness
Historical Development
Pentecostals and Charismatics
Reflections
Definition of terms
• GlossalaliaGreek word for “tongues”
1. Angelic Language- cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1
2. Unknown human language- xenoglossia
3. Ecstatic Utterance
“Unlearned languages spoken under the
influence of the Holy Spirit.”
• PentecostalsA group of
denominations that
emphasize the work of
the Holy Spirit
• CharismaticsA trans-denominational
movement that places
emphasis on the gifts of
the Holy Spirit
• Baptism with the Holy
Spirit
- Foundational belief
of Pentecostals
Biblical Witness
• Speaking in tongues is technically only found
in New Testament
• Ecstatic language and the presence of the
Spirit are found in a few other places
1 Samuel 10:5-13; 19:18-24
• Both revolve around the
presence of God’s spirit
• Both involve King Saul
“…as you come to the
town, you will meet a
band of prophets
coming down from the
shrine with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre
playing in front of them; they will be in a
prophetic frenzy. Then the spirit of the Lord
will possess you, and you will be in a prophetic
frenzy along with them and be turned into a
different person.”
1 Samuel 10:5b-6
Acts of the Apostles
• Acts 2:4
“All of them were filled
with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other
languages, as the Spirit
gave them ability.”
• Acts 10:44-46
“While Peter was still
speaking, the Holy Spirit
fell upon all who heard
the word. The
circumcised believers
who had come with
Peter were astounded
that the gift of the Holy
Spirit had been poured
out even on the
Gentiles, for they heard
them speaking in
tongues and extolling
God.”
• Acts 19:5-7
“On hearing this, they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid
his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon
them, and they spoke in tongues and
prophesied – altogether there were about
twelve of them.”
Luke’s viewpoint
“Acts treats glossalalia as a
nonambiguous symbol
of the Spirit’s presence
and a sign of the
mission’s success.”
Luke Timothy Johnson
1 Corinthians 12-14
• Paul’s only writing on the issue
• Addresses a particular situation in Corinth
rather than an essay on speaking in tongues
• Paul seems to be supportive of practice
• Paul also seems to be concerned with the way
it has effected corporate worship at First
Church Corinth
Key Pauline Points
1. Content of speech more important than
manner of delivery
-Prophecy is understood by all
-Tongues is not understood without
interpretation
2. Holy Spirit decides which believer receives
which gifts
-Many scholars believe that a spiritual elite
was being validated by speaking in tongues
-Paul emphasizes the gift as one of many
and not a requirement for all believers
3. Gifts should benefit the body of believers
-Tongues is focused on the individual, not
the corporate community
-Paul recommends that tongues normally
be limited to private prayer
4. When gift is given in public, church should
restrict tongues to opportunities when it can
be interpreted.
“Paul does not ‘damn
tongues with faint
praise.’ Rather, he is
concerned to put that
gift into a broader
context, where it can be
used privately as much
as one pleases, but in
the community only in the context of
edification, which requires intelligibility. Hence
it must always be accompanied by
interpretation, those who speak in tongues
must do so in orderly sequence; and in any
case, in the assembly prophecy is preferable.”
Gordon Fee
Summary of Biblical Witness
“Even for the earliest period of Christianity,
therefore, glossolalia appears to be at best a
sporadic and ambiguous occurrence. Two
inferences about that first period are
therefore inadequately supported by the data:
• That tongues was a normal and expected
accompaniment of the Spirit (and therefore,
by implication, an essential component of
authentic Christianity)
• That tongues demonstrates how the first
Christians lived in a charismatic fog of trance
or dissociation.
Luke Timothy Johnson
Historical Development
2nd -3rd centuries
“We have heard many
brethren in the church
having prophetic gifts and
speaking in tongues and
bringing to light men’s
secrets for the common
good and explaining the
mysteries of God.”
Irenaeus of Lyons (ca.
200 CE)
After 200 CE Silence
• Silence can be from:
-Tongues were practiced rarely and
primarily by dissident groups
-Orthodox writers, suspicious of
charismatic activity, ignored manifestations of
popular religion such as glossolalia which did
not meet their increasingly high standards
Historical Perspective
“…by the fourth century, John Chrysostom
confesses himself at a loss to interpret the
passages about tongues in 1 Corinthians,
guessing that Paul must be referring to the
ability to speak different languages. In the
fifth century, Augustine dismisses tongues as a
special dispensation of the primitive church
which is no longer of pertinence.”
Luke Timothy Johnson
“Arguments from silence are notoriously
suspect, but the paucity of evidence for
glossolalia in the second 200 years of
Christianity suggests that it became in
increasingly marginalized activity.”
Luke Timothy Johnson
Pentecostals and Charismatics
• First report of speaking
in tongues is 1901, in
Topeka, Kansas
• Charles Parham,
Methodist leaning
clergy formulated the
doctrine of “Baptism
with the Holy Spirit”
• William Seymor was
taught by Parham, had
to take all classes sitting
outside the classroom
• Seymor becomes
involved with Azusa
Street Revivals in 1906
• LA Times headline:
“Weird Babel of
Tongues, New sect of
fanatics is breaking
loose, Wild Scene last
night on Azusa St,
gurgle of wordless talk
by a sister”
• First two decadesmany interracial
assemblies
• 1924 split along
racial lines
• Late 1950’s –
charismatics began
among many
established churches
• Deeply influenced by
Pentecostals
Basic Beliefs of Pentecostals
• Aligned doctrinally with Evangelicals
• Basic theology flows from Holiness churches
• Affirm a definitive second work of grace
Works of Grace
• First work of grace-Our salvation
• Sign- baptism by water
Works of Grace
• Second work of grace-Our sanctification
• Sign- baptism with the
Holy Spirit
What does this mean?
Pentecostals
• When baptized with the Spirit
• Speak in tongues
• Most believe this must be present
• Others believe that it may be present
• Speaking in tongues becomes a continual act
of the spiritual life
What does this mean?
Charismatics• Do not necessarily believe in a second work of
grace
• Bear witness to their experience: speaking in
tongues
• Sanctification is more a spiritual walk of
growth in the Spirit
Pentecostal Current Situation
• 115 – 400 million
followers worldwide
• 11,000 different groups
• Profound growth in
Third World
Presbyterian Response
• No doctrinal issue with speaking in tongues
per se
• Reformed belief that we receive the Spirit at
baptism, no distinct second work of grace
• Sanctification is not a dramatic second work
but a lifelong continual process
Should we practice it?
• Worship: No- Not a part of our understanding
of proper worship
• If sought, this should be discouraged
• If gift is given, encouraged to practice gift in
private or at charismatic gatherings
• Can be highly problematic in non-Pentecostal
situations
• Paul’s words remain, love is our bottom line