Speaking in Tongues was Given to Share Jesus Christ!

God gave the disciples 
of Jesus Christ the gift of 
"speaking in tongues" 
(meaning speaking in 
other languages that they 
never knew) so that they 
could share with people 
from foreign lands how 
to get saved through 
faith in Jesus Christ's 
death and resurrection 
from the dead.  
Bold in Scripture verses 
is for emphasis.

Acts
2:4 And they were all 
filled with the Holy Ghost, 
and began to speak with 
other tongues, as the 
[Holy] Spirit gave them 
utterance.

2:5 And there were dwelling 
at Jerusalem Jews, devout 
men, out of every nation 
under heaven.

2:6 Now when this was 
noised abroad, the 
multitude came together, 
and were confounded, 
because that every man 
heard them speak in his 
own language.

2:7 And they were all 
amazed and marvelled, 
saying one to another, 
Behold, are not all these 
which speak Galilaeans?

2:8 And how hear we every 
man in our own tongue, 
wherein we were born?

2:9 Parthians, and Medes, 
and Elamites, and the 
dwellers in Mesopotamia, 
and in Judaea, and 
Cappadocia, in Pontus, 
and Asia,

2:10 Phrygia, and 
Pamphylia, in Egypt, and 
in the parts of Libya about 
Cyrene, and strangers of 
Rome, Jews and proselytes,

2:11 Cretes and Arabians, 
we do hear them speak 
in our tongues the 
wonderful works of God. 

The gift of tongues was 
given to magnify God, 
not men who were the 
disciples of God!

Acts 10:46  

For they heard them speak 
with tongues, and magnify 
God. ...

The gift of tongues was 
given to prophesy - to 
share God's Word with 
people who speak 
other languages than ours.

Acts 19:6  

And when Paul had laid 
his hands upon them, the 
Holy Ghost came on them; 
and they spake with 
tongues, and 
prophesied.

The Holy Spirit also gave t
he gift of 'interpretation of 
tongues' - meaning that 
the interpreter would 
translate what the person 
who was 'speaking in 
tongues' said so that the 
whole congregation could 
understand what they 
were saying and would 
learn by it. 

1 Corinthians 12:10  

To another the working of 
miracles; to another 
prophecy; to another 
discerning of spirits; to 
another divers kinds of 
tongues; to another the 
interpretation of tongues:

Paul says that he wished that 
you all spoke with tongues, 
BUT HE SAID ONLY if you 
interpret the tongues so 
that the whole church 
may be edified by it (may 
learn by it or be 
encouraged by it).

1 Corinthians 14:5

I would that ye all spake 
with tongues, but rather 
that ye prophesied: for 
greater is he that 
prophesieth than he that 
speaketh with tongues, 
except he interpret, 
that the church may 
receive edifying.

Paul says what good is it 
to you if you speak in 
tongues except that you 
reveal the interpretation, 
the knowledge, the 
prophesy, or the doctrine?
In other words, 'speaking 
in tongues' was not 
supposed to be for your 
benefit but for the benefit 
of the whole congregation.

1 Corinthians 14:6  

Now, brethren, if I come 
unto you speaking with 
tongues, what shall I 
profit you, except I 
shall speak to you 
either by revelation, 
or by knowledge, or 
by prophesying, or 
by doctrine?

Paul says 'speaking in 
tongues' is supposed to be 
a sign to unbelievers, a 
way to share the gospel 
of Jesus Christ with 
people who speak in 
a foreign language.

1 Corinthians 14:22  

Wherefore tongues are 
for a sign, not to them 
that believe, but to them 
that believe not: but 
prophesying serveth 
not for them that believe 
not, but for them which 
believe.

What good is 'speaking 
in tongues' if it doesn't edify 
others? Tongues were not 
given to edify you (or to 
make you feel like you 
are special because of 
this gift), but to glorify 
God, spread the gospel 
of Jesus Christ, and to 
edify the church!

1 Corinthians 14:26(b)

...Let all things be done 
unto edifying.

Paul says if anyone 
speaks in an unknown 
tongue, let someone 
interpret the message, 
or else keep silent in 
the church!

1 Corinthians

14:27 If any man speak in 
an unknown tongue, let it 
be by two, or at the most 
by three, and that by 
course; and let one 
interpret.

14:28 But if there be no 
interpreter, let him keep 
silence in the church; and 
let him speak to himself, 
and to God.

Paul explains all these 
messages about 'speaking 
in tongues' because God 
is not the author of 
confusion in the churches! 
Sinful men who 
misinterpret scripture 
verses and teach 
misinformation about 
speaking in tongues and 
what purpose God wants 
us to use this gift for. 

This gift was to share 
the gospel and bring 
people to Christ and/or
to edify the church with
a prophecy. This gift was 
not given to you so you 
can be proud you have 
this gift. It is not about 
you. According to God's 
Holy Word, "speaking in 
tongues" is about God 
Almighty and bringing 
others into his kingdom 
so they go to heaven!

1 Corinthians 14:33  

For God is not the author 
of confusion, but of peace, 
as in all churches of the 
saints.