“FAITH IS, THEREFORE, THE CERTAINTY OF WHAT IS HOPED, THE CONVICTION OF WHAT IS NOT SEEN.”
The Expression "Speaking in tongues" refers to the miraculous ability of some first century Christians to speak a language without having learned it (Acts 10:46). Those who knew the language could easily understand the speaker (Acts 2:4-8). This was one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God gave to the first Christians (Hebrews2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:4,30).
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Where and when did the gift of speaking in tongues begin? The first time this miracle occurred was in Jerusalem on the day of the Jewish holiday of Pentecost. About 120 disciples of Jesus were gathered “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues” (Acts 1:15; 2:1-4). A crowd of people “from every nation” heard the disciples speak to them “in their own language” (Acts 2:5, 6). What purpose does speaking in tongues serve? 1. Demonstrate that God supports Christians. Previously, God had already demonstrated with miracles that he supported his faithful servants, such as Moses (Exodus 4:1-9, 29-31; Numbers 17:10). Speaking in tongues has the same purpose: to show that God supports the Christian congregation. The apostle Paul wrote: “Tongues are a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers” (1 Corinthians 14:22). 2. Empower Christians to give a complete testimony. Those who heard Jesus' disciples at Pentecost said, “We heard them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God” (Acts 2:11). So another important purpose of this gift is to enable Christians to give “full testimony” and make “disciples of people of all nations,” just as Jesus had commanded them (Acts 10:42; Matthew 28:19). . About three thousand people who saw this miracle and heard the testimony of the disciples became Christians that same day (Acts 2:41). Is it a permanent gift? Scripture gives us to understand that no, the gifts of the holy spirit, including the gift of speaking in tongues, were temporary. The Bible says: “Love never ceases to be; but prophecies will end, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will end.” 1 Corinthians 13:8. Has this gift disappeared? The gifts of the Holy Spirit were usually transmitted to other Christians in the presence of the apostles, who usually laid their hands on them Acts 8:18; 10:44-46. Apparently, those who received the gifts of the Spirit from the apostles did not transmit them to others. Acts 8:5-7, 14-17. Let's take an example. A government employee may grant a driver's license to one person, but that person does not have the legal authority to grant it to another. Likewise, the gift of speaking in tongues may have disappeared when the apostles and those who had received the gift from them died. However, God can temporarily give that gift to whomever and wherever he wants but for a specific purpose. What about those who claim to speak in tongues today? Considering that the miraculous gift of speaking in other languages without first having studied them may have disappeared towards the end of the first century, today, no one could affirm with certainty that God has granted him the gift of speaking in other languages because he would have to test it according to Acts 2:8-11
GLOSSOLALIA: I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, patiently bearing with one another in love, eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body, and one Spirit, as you were also called in the same hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
(From the Greek "glossa", language, and "lalein", meaning to speak) According to linguists, it is the fluid vocalization of syllables without any understandable meaning, ecstasy and language disorder, ecstatic expression. It is a common phenomenon, practiced by many religions, both pagan and "Christian." Glossolalia is the opposite phenomenon to the gift of tongues mentioned in the Bible. XENOGLOSIA: (From the Greek "xenos": foreigner or stranger, and "glossa", which means language or language). It is a God-given gift through which a person can speak or understand an existing language without having previously learned it. An example of xenoglossy in the Bible (the only one, moreover), is the one mentioned in Acts 2, 1-6. Those who were in the upper room experienced xenoglossy as a miracle or sign of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:11: Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our tongues the wonders of God - Revelation 17:15: He also said to me: The waters that you saw where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. - 1 Corinthians 14:21: In the law it is written: In other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; and even then they will not hear me, says the Lord.
THE GIFT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES (OTHER LANGUAGES) WE CANNOT CONCLUDE THAT IT IS EXPIRED BECAUSE THE BIBLE DOES NOT TACTILY EXPRESS IT "and tongues will cease" according to 1 Corinthians 13:8, (this verbal form is in the future or probably already fulfilled or is soon to be fulfilled).
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SEE THROUGH THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THIS GIFT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST (this gift was not for everyone, but was given to some, because not everyone spoke in tongues, see: 1 Corinthians: 14:5).
HOWEVER, IT IS POTESTATIVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO USE THIS GIFT IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS TO MAKE HIS MESSAGE KNOWN TO THE UNBELIEVER ACCORDING TO 1 Corinthians 14:22, AS LONG AS THERE IS ONE ALSO HAS THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES ACCORDING TO 1 Corinthians 12:10 & 1 Corinthians 14:5-13-27-28