Praying in Tongues and Speaking in Tongues - A Biblical Examination

"Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV)

Since arriving in the United Kingdom, I have found myself in rooms where many voices rise together in prayer, each seeking God in the language of the Spirit. Sometimes this happens in Sunday worship, sometimes in the quiet of a midweek gathering. These moments have not led me to doubt, but to a deeper longing to understand what the Scriptures say. When our experiences stretch us, the surest path is always to return to the Word. That is where I invite you to walk with me now.

One gift expressed in more than one way

Scripture does not divide tongues into separate gifts. Rather, it reveals one grace, expressed in more than one direction. Paul describes both speaking in a tongue and praying in a tongue.

Speaking in a tongue refers to an audible expression heard by others in the room.
Praying in a tongue refers to a Godward expression, the heart reaching toward the Lord in the Spirit.

Both flow from the same gift. Paul does not separate them, but simply names their different uses.

Commentaries on Bible Hub confirm this pattern. GotQuestions also points out that the New Testament presents one gift with various applications.

Private prayer in tongues

Paul valued praying in tongues as part of his own devotion. He writes that when he prays in a tongue, his spirit prays, even if his mind remains unfruitful. He sings and prays with both spirit and mind.

This is communion with God. Quiet. Personal. Intimate.

Private does not mean disorderly. Private means it remains between the believer and God. That kind of prayer carries spiritual value, and Scripture neither forbids nor diminishes it.

Public tongues in the gathered church

When the sound fills the room, private devotion becomes public speech. Paul gives clear guidance for these moments.

At most two or three.
One at a time.
Someone must interpret.
If no interpreter is present, the person should remain silent and commune with God inwardly.

Paul’s instructions are for the sake of the whole body. Clarity builds up the church. Edification matters more than intensity.

The broader evangelical landscape

Evangelicals may differ in their understanding of the gifts, but most share the same concerns.

Cessationist or highly cautious voices believe tongues belonged to the apostolic era and view modern tongues as something different. They generally discourage corporate tongues in any form.

Continuationist evangelicals who value biblical order accept that the gift may still operate. They affirm private prayer in tongues and insist that public expressions must follow Paul’s instructions.

Classical Pentecostal theology often distinguishes between a public message in tongues and a personal prayer language, yet still holds that public worship must reflect the order Paul describes.

Across these views, certain themes remain: love, clarity, understanding, and the building up of the church.

One could argue… “If everyone is praying to God, why does it matter?”

This reasoning is understandable. When every voice is lifted to God, interpretation may seem unnecessary, especially in prayer meetings or home groups.

Yet Paul’s words help us see more clearly.

Intelligibility still matters.
Edification still governs practice.
Outsiders and weaker believers still matter.
The character of God still matters.

A whole room praying quietly in tongues for a while can remain reverent.
But when the room is filled with loud, extended expressions, we move away from Paul’s vision of harmony in the body.

This does not question the sincerity of those who gather. It simply calls us back under the gentle guidance of Scripture.

Discernment and repetitive forms of tongues

Some gatherings include repetitive, almost mechanical patterns. Studies show that glossolalia often repeats small clusters of sounds. Communities can reinforce these rhythms without meaning to.

Not every sound is the biblical gift. Even those open to the Spirit’s work admit that emotion, habit, or group influence can shape what we hear.

Jesus warned against empty repetition.
Paul encouraged prayer with spirit and understanding.
Discernment guards both sincerity and truth.

A healthier way forward

We can honour the Spirit and honour Scripture together. The two are never at odds.

Value private devotional use of tongues.
Respect Paul’s guidelines for the gathered church.
Remain open to the Spirit while holding firmly to the Word.
Do not allow pressure to shape your expression.
Do not reject genuine experiences either.
Test everything. Hold fast to what is good.

Mature believers and churches hold spiritual fervour and biblical clarity together. They welcome the Spirit’s fire and the Word’s wisdom. That balance keeps us rooted, steady, and fruitful for the journey ahead.

Jacques Munnik