Speaking in tongues refers to the Christian belief that a person can be given the ability by the Holy SpiritThe third element of the 'Trinity' (God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is active as God's presence and power in the world. to speak in a language unknown to them. The origins of this belief can be found in the New TestamentThe second part of the Christian Bible containing 27 books consisting of four types of literature: letters (epistles), gospels, history and prophecy..
In Acts 2 the disciples of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of PentecostA period 50 days after Easter to celebrate the day on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. The birthday of the Church..
The disciples were together in one room. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind was heard and tongues of fire came down and rested on the disciples. Wind and fire are Old TestamentThe first part of the Christian Bible which corresponds to the Hebrew Bible but is arranged differently. symbols for the presence of God. For example, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and Godâs presence was like a wind in the book of Ezekiel.
After this experience the disciples were suddenly able to communicate in different languages, none of which they had previously known. This is referred to as speaking in tongues.
Some believe that speaking in tongues is the ability to speak in human languages for the purpose of telling the message of Jesus. This is supported by the account in Acts where those visiting Jerusalem could hear the disciples speaking in all different human languages.
Others believe that speaking in tongues refers to some kind of spiritual or heavenly language. This is supported by Paul writing in 1 Corinthians where he refers to speaking in the tongues of angels.
Today some Protestant churches believe that speaking in tongues is still a gift from the Holy Spirit. However, other Protestant churches reject this idea, believing the gift of tongues was only for the time of the early Church.