By Beth Jones

To read Part One, click here.

To the natural mind, speaking in tongues or in a spiritual language may seem silly. However, as you study the Word of God on this subject, you will see the great benefits of praying in tongues. Let's look at the Word and dismantle some of the myths concerning speaking in tongues.

What are the different kinds of tongues or languages described in the New Testament? The following verses tell us that there are "tongues of men and angels," "different kinds" of tongues, "diversities" of tongues, "varieties of tongues" and "divers kinds" of tongues. Not only are their different languages, but there are different types and purposes for speaking in tongues. Notice these verses (all NKJV).

1 Corinthians 13:1
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

1 Corinthians 12:28-31
"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"

Many people have lumped "speaking in tongues" together into one basket, so to speak. But we can see from Scripture that there are at least two different purposes for speaking in tongues.

The first purpose for speaking in tongues that we can see in the Word of God is the "gift of tongues" which is used for ministry purposes in the local congregation. This gift of tongues requires and interpretation. This might also be called the public manifestation of tongues. This manifestation is used, as the apostle Paul said, for ministry "in the church."

Another purpose for speaking in tongues is for personal ministry or edification. This might be called the private manifestation of tongues and does not necessarily require an interpretation. This manifestation is available for every believer, as the apostle Paul said, "to edify himself."

In the Scriptures listed below, answer with the word "public" or "private" to describe which manifestation of tongues the particular verse implies.

1 Corinthians 12:28-30—public:

"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"

This refers to a public message of tongues in the church. Not everyone has this gift, only those that the Spirit wills will give a message in tongues in public. When this is done an interpretation is required. This is a tongue given in public.

1 Corinthians 14:2—private:

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." This is speaking in tongues privately to God—not to men, but rather speaking from our hearts in tongues to God. In doing this, we are speaking out the mysteries of God’s plan.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15—private:

"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."

The key word here is: Pray! This is describing praying and singing in tongues. This is the private manifestation of speaking in tongues that is available to every believer who is filled with the Spirit. God gives us a "prayer language" where we can pray in the Spirit in tongues. Praying in tongues in Scriptural as we can see in this passage.

1 Corinthians 14:26—public:

"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."

This is describing a person having a message in tongues to give to a public church setting—when you all come together. This type of tongues would generally require an interpretation in a known language so the hearer could understand the meaning of the message.

1 Corinthians 14:4—private:

"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church."

This is when a believer speaks in tongues to God privately and his spirit and inner man is built up, charged up and edified.

1 Corinthians 14:18—private:

"I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue."

This is the apostle Paul letting us know that—in private—he spoke in tongues a lot, more than anyone else! In the church, he wanted his words to be understood, so he would prophesy in the known language.

Can you see two varieties of speaking in tongues here? Public and private.

Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.