Can a Person Speak in Tongues Today?
“Tongue speaking” refers to the supernatural
phenomenon of being able to speak in another language
without its having been learnt. Acts 2:4-11 clearly shows
this. Verse 4 tells us that the apostles “began to speak with
other tongues.” Verse 6 identifies these tongues as
languages – “every man heard them speak in his own
language.” Verse 8 says, “And how hear we every man in our
own tongue, wherein we were born.” The apostles were
speaking in tongues, yet they were speaking in known
languages – languages they had never learned prior. This
was not ecstatic utterances and non-intelligible gibberish as
is seen in certain religious bodies today.
The purpose of being able to speak in another language
having never learned it was a miracle. This miracle (an all
miracles) served one purpose: Confirmation of the Word of
God. Mark 16:20 and Heb. 2:3-4 makes this abundantly
clear. Not everyone in the first century had the ability to
speak in tongues (or another language having never studied
it), as is made clear by the rhetorical questions Paul asked
in I Cor. 12:29-30. Specifically, Paul asked, “Do all speak
with tongues?” The implied answer is, “No.”
I Cor. 13:8-10 speaks of the duration of the miraculous –
including tongue speaking. Paul declared, “. . . whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there by tongues, they
shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10)
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part
shall be done away.” Paul emphatically declared that tongues
(the “in part”) “shall cease” (v. 8). But, “when” is the
question. He answered in v. 10 by saying “when that which
is perfect is come.” Contextually, this refers to the
completed and perfect revelation of God’s will to man. When
the completed revelation of truth came, the miraculous
would cease.
No one can speak in tongues today. If one wants to
speak in another language, then they have to study and learn
that language. The purpose of tongue speaking (and all
miracles) has served its purpose. The word of God is now in
its completed and confirmed form.