There are three expressions to the gift of speaking in tongues. Here’s how I’ve termed them:
1: The Personal Tongue
2: The Proof Tongue
3: The Prophetic Tongue
Though you won’t see those exact terms in the Bible, when you study the Scripture, you’ll clearly see that there are, in fact, three expressions to the gift of speaking in tongues.
The Personal Tongue
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church (1 Corinthians 14:1-4).
The personal tongue does not benefit others, but that doesn’t mean it holds no value. The Bible says, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.” The personal tongue is for self-edification, and it’s a heavenly language. Those who use it aren’t speaking an earthly dialect; they are speaking mysteries—only God can understand them.
This personal expression of the gift of tongues strengthens you personally.
The Proof Tongue
The second expression of the gift of tongues is the proof tongue. Now this is the expression of tongues that is heard as an earthly language. We see this demonstrated in Acts 2:
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers (Acts 2:4-6).
Many heard their own languages being spoken by the believers. It was a true miracle. The Holy Spirit supernaturally empowered the believers to be heard speaking in earthly languages they did not know. The gift was a sign to the unbelievers; thus, I call it the proof tongue.
The Prophetic Tongue
The prophetic tongue is the expression of the gift that is used in the context of a church assembly. This gift, when used, commands the attention of the assembly of believers. Because this expression of the gift can disrupt the flow of a church service if misused, Paul put some regulations on it:
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).
The prophetic tongue is meant to be spoken aloud in a gathering of believers. The tongue is then to be supernaturally interpreted so that the believers present can be helped by the prophetic message.
Now, allow me to embolden the lines of distinction between the three expressions of this gift:
The personal tongue benefits the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).
The prophetic tongue benefits the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26).
The proof tongue benefits the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22).
The personal tongue requires no interpreter or interpretation to be beneficial to the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).
The prophetic tongue requires an interpreter to benefit the Church (1 Corinthians 14:26).
The proof tongue requires no interpreter for the interpretation to be understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).
The personal tongue is understood by no one but God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
The prophetic tongue is understood by the Church with the aid of an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27).
The proof tongue is supernaturally understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).
One gift, three expressions. Each expression serves a different purpose.
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