What is the "gift of tongues"?
1 Cor 12 lists "Divers kinds of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues", but no "gift of tongues". When people say "gift of tongues" are they referring to the two "tongues" listed in
1 Cor. 12? Paul explains the correct usage of "tongues" in Chapter 14. To understand this, one keeds to understand the different (divers) kinds of tongues Paul refers to.
1)
Unknown tongue- Commonly referred to as "prayer language" or "praying in the Spirit". (
1 Cor 14:2, 4. 14-15)
2)
Prophetic tongues- The "giving out a message in tongues", so common in Pentecostal churches, is directly related to "the gift of prophecy". (14: 23:24) A person stands and delivers a message in tongues to the church that is to be interpreted. (NOTE:
1Cr 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret. The one that speaks in tongues should pray that
he or she may interpret the message- however, at times, one speaks in tongues, another person interpretes because "the interpreation of tongues" is a different gift as "divers kinds of tongues)
To understand this gift of "divers kinds of tongues" we should also include what we refer to as "the initial evidence", a term, I should add that isn't found in the Bible. Most Pentecostals believe one speaks in other tongues at the inception of the Holy Ghost as shown in
Acts 2:4. Cornelius' household "spoke in tongues" and by this Peter knew that had recieved the Holy Ghost (
Acts 10)
So here we have 3 "kinds of tongues
1. "
Other tongues " (
Acts 2:4) "The intial evidence"
2. "
Unknown tongues" (
1 Cor 14:2- Spiritual prayer language.
3. "
Prophetic tongues "- addressed to others, to be interpreted.
Now, back to "divers kinds of tongues"- Most Pentecostals believe all who recieve the HG speaks with "other tongues (1). However, Paul makes it clear that all do not speak in "unknown tongues" (ie., "prayer language" (2) [1Cr 12:30]. Then there are times when a message is given out in tongues, which Paul relates to as "prophecy". This is to be interpreted (3).
Now the question- While I find no biblical reference to the term, "gift of tongues" I do realize Mizpeh and others are referring to the more biblical term "divers (different) kinds of tongues". Therefore, wouldn't the gift of "divers kinds of tongues" be the ability to operate in two or more of the three types of "tongues" Paul speaks of? (ie, "other tongues, unknown tongues and/ or prophetic tongues)