Dictionary of Bible Themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7900 The life of the church » 7972 tongues, gift of
The divine enabling of a believer to use a language, unknown to the speaker. The gift of tongues may be used to praise God or to utter a message from God that, supplemented by the gift of interpretation of tongues, edifies other believers. Note that “tongues” can simply mean “other languages” at times.
Tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit
It is given to individual believers
Acts 2:4
See also
1 Corinthians 12:11,30
it is not universal among Christians
It was foretold in the OT
1 Corinthians 14:21;
Isaiah 28:11
It is a divine gift in response to faith
Mark 16:17
It may be given through the laying on of hands
Acts 19:6
It is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:44-46
Tongues in relation to other gifts
The need for love
1 Corinthians 13:1
The need for prophecy
1 Corinthians 14:4-6
The need for intelligibility
See also
1 Corinthians 14:9,13,16-19,23
The need for interpretation
1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Corinthians 14:12-13
The transience of tongues
1 Corinthians 13:8
The use of tongues within the church
In prayer and praise
See also
Romans 8:26;
1 Corinthians 14:14-15,26,28;
Ephesians 6:18;
Jude 20
For the benefit of believers
1 Corinthians 12:7-10
See also
1 Corinthians 14:5,16-17,26
In public it needs to be augmented by the gift of interpretation
1 Corinthians 14:26-28
See also
1 Corinthians 12:30; Corinthians 14:5,13
See also
3221 Holy Spirit & prayer
3257 Holy Spirit, gift of
5193 tongue
5374 languages
6257 unbelievers
7966 spiritual gifts
8413 edification