In my previous post, “Speaking in Unknown Tongues,” I talk about the mystery of unknown tongues. Today, I am going to talk about the two categories of tongues. I believe not understanding these two categories are the reasons why some people believe speaking in tongues is not for us in today’s society. Also, not having this understanding is why there is much confusion surrounding tongues.
These two categories can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:1. Paul tells us there are tongues of men and there are tongues of angels. Now each category of tongue has its own rules and I believe this is where everyone gets confused.
The Tongues of Angels
The tongues of angels are considered to be divine tongues. When most people begin their topic on tongues they start with 1 Corinthians 14, which mostly talks about the tongues of men, which are languages of human beings all over the world. They never really mention the tongues of angels.
These divine tongues is what I believe Paul was talking about when he said we speak to God, who alone can understand what is being said. We are speaking mysteries in the power of the Spirit. It edifies us and no one else. It builds us up. Sometimes, we need to encourage ourselves just like King David encouraged himself in the Lord when he felt overwhelmed. There is nothing wrong with that.
Our time alone with God is precious. It’s alright if we speak in our native language or in our divine language when we are alone with him. He understands it all. Sometimes, we don’t know what to pray for, but the Holy Spirit does and if he wants to pray in his own language, that should be alright too.
Praying to Yahweh Elohim in tongues is biblical and has not stopped. If it had, like some people think, then a lot of other things that Yeshua talked about should have ceased also. Let’s look at Mark 16.
Speaking with New Tongues
In Mark 16:15-18, Yeshua tells us that these signs will follow them who believe: in his name (1) they will cast out devils, (2) they shall speak with new tongues, (3) they will take up serpents, (4) if they drink any poison it will not hurt them, and (5) they will lay hands on the sick, who will then recover.
As you can see, there are four other signs that follow believers besides tongues. If tongues wasn’t suppose to survive through the ages then neither should the other signs. What would have been the point of putting tongues in this group of signs if it was only for the time of the apostles? That makes no sense. When Yeshua said that we will speak with new tongues (languages) he didn’t put a time limit on it. Tongues are for today just like laying on of hands.
The word “new” in front of tongues leads me to believe that Yeshua was talking about divine languages. The Greek word for “new” is “Kainos.” One of its meanings is “new; of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, and unheard of.” If it hasn’t been heard of before or it is something entirely new, this could be divine languages.
However, Yeshua could have been talking about the languages of men also because something can be new to us without it really being new – having just come into existence.
Proof of Salvation
Whichever way he meant it, one thing is for sure in my eyes, he did not mean that in order to prove your salvation you had to speak in tongues. A lot of people believe that this scripture proves that by speaking in tongues you have the Holy Spirit. If that was the case, then you’re not saved if you don’t cast out devils or lay hands on the sick and they recover. Let’s not even talk about snakes and poison because I’m not trying to do either one.
These were signs for unbelievers to become believers. Signs were always for unbelievers. They were to prove that God was really with the person who was preaching the Good News and could be trusted that he was telling the truth. It was to prove that God cared about them and wanted them to become a part of his family. This was the purpose of Mark 16:15-18.
Scientific Proof of Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in tongues is not only for today, but science has proven that it is not us making up gibberish. The frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain that controls our language, was active when a person prayed in English. However, it was inactive when a person spoke in tongues. He even compared Buddhist Monks’ brain scans during their meditation.
Check out the video here: Speaking in Tongues Medical Study Proves Holy Spirit Praying. It’s a little over 8 minutes long. It was on Nightline.
When you’ve finished watching it let me know what you think about it by commenting below. Also, do you feel like there are two categories of tongues?
Prayer Time
Our Heavenly Father, who is in heaven,
Thank you for your word. Help us to draw closer to you and learn more about you.
In Yeshua the Messiah’s name, Amen.
Scripture Reference
“Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV)
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV)
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18 KJV)
Further Reading
Speaking in Unknown Tongues
Do the Tongues of Men Still Exist?
One of the problems with the idea that speaking an unknown language to GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT is that in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul makes it clear that all gifts of the SPIRIT are for the edification of the whole Church, not the individual. Another problem is that Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 makes it clear that he always prays in knowledge of what he is praying for. A third problem is that we are fighting against demon spirits, and who knows what an individual is saying if the noises he is uttering are unknown on to him on earth. He may be saying “lord satan…,” there is no way of knowing. Forth, there is one HOLY SPIRIT, why would there be unlimited individual unknown languages? If it was truly from the HOLY SPIRIT it would be the same language for everyone. If not you are saying that the HOLY SPIRIT cannot miraculously manage to inspire the same language from everybody! If we cannot know what we are praying for, maybe we need to spend some time and inspect our hearts before we start doing what the pagans did to worship their false gods, which was speaking ecstatic noises. One more point, GOD does not imitate satan and speaking ecstatic noises was done first by pagans to their false gods. Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures does it say men or angels spoke or prayed in an ecstatic noise language, but the practice was well known in pagan ritual, and they did it regularly.
Yes, it is true that 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of the gifts for edification. I did mention that is one of my articles on Speaking in Tongues. However, I am speaking of a reference made by Paul concerning the tongues of angels and what Yeshua said about speaking in new tongues. This portion of scripture is talking about publicly speaking in tongues, which is different from speaking in private to God. “For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit.” As I said before there is not unknown languages. Also, I don’t dare give the devil credit for something he did not create. He is only a copycat. I personally, cannot tell the all knowing, all powerful God how to do his job. If he wants everyone to speak the same I’m okay with that. If not, that’s okay also. If you can please give me a reference that says that pagans spoke first, I would appreciate it. I’m open to being wrong, but I must do my own research.