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Speaking in Tongues

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Spiritual Life › Speaking in Tongues

The question

I read 1 Corinthians 14 and it talked about speaking with a language only God can understand. If I understand correctly, this is different than what happened at Babylon and on Pentecost when God made His disciples have different languages even though they never learned that language. Our Church addressed speaking with tongues when they have different languages but not having a specific language to talk to with God like 1 Corinthians 14 said: "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." Please explain to me our Church views on speaking with tongues to God.

The answer

We glorify God in prayer. There is no mention of any of the prophets of the Old Testament or anyone in the New Testament, including any of the Lord's disciples, apostles, evangelists, or even the Lord Himself praying in an unidentifiable language. Speech is a gift that God gave only to angels and humans that heaven and earth may communicate and praise Him with understanding. What is meant by 1 Corinthians 14:2 that you quoted refers to if a person that prays or preaches in a real language but it is foreign to others who do not understand it, then only God can understand it. Thus, throughout 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14, St. Paul assertively clarifies the meaning and purpose of speaking in tongues to be understood so that the prayer and message edify others:

"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. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say 'Amen' at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified" (1 Corinthians 14:15-17).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2591 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.