Expert: Sal - 5/13/2005

Question
What is the Church's position on speaking in tongues?  

Answer
Dear: Johann:

The Catholic Church teaches that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. However, the popular notion of speaking in tongues promoted by Protestant Pentecostals is false. They speak nonsensical gibberish and call it speaking in tongues. This is not from God according to the Bible.

The Catholic Church understands speaking in tongues to mean speaking a human language previously unknown to the speaker. At the first Christian Pentecost this truth was clearly illustrated. “Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamations as the Spirit prompted them” (Acts 2:3-4). The Apostles spoke a language previously unknown to them “These heard the sound (of wind), and assembled in a large crowd. They were much confused because each one heard these men speaking his own language…'How is it that each of us hears them in his native tongue?'” (Acts 2:6, 8). This is clear biblical evidence that speaking in tongues is not Pentecostal gibberish.

Another example of true speaking in tongues occurred before St. Peter baptized in to the Church the first Gentiles. The Gentiles received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues (Acts 10:44-46). Later, Peter explained to the complaining Jews why he baptized Gentiles. “If God was giving them the same gift he gave us when we first believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to interfere with him?” (Acts 11:17). What was the gift that the Apostles received when they first believed at Pentecost? They spoke foreign languages previously unknown to them.

St. Paul teaches at length about true speaking in tongues. He teaches that true speaking in tongues does not consist of uttering nonsensical gibberish. “Similarly, if you do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will be talking to the air” (I Corinthians 14:9). St. Paul also says that what one is saying must build up the Church which gibberish cannot do. “Since you have set your hearts on spiritual gifts, try to be rich in those that build up the Church. Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret” (I Corinthians 14:12-13). Further he points out that one's spiritual gift must be used to teach one's fellow Christians. “Thank God, I speak in tongues more than any of you, but in the church I would rather say five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue” (I Corinthians 14:18-19).  Finally, St. Paul notes that speaking in tongues can help unbelievers to believe because it is a spectacular manifestation of the Spirit. “The gift of tongues is a sign, not for those who believe but for those who do not believe” (I Corinthians 14:22). Yet for the Protestant Pentecostal they speak their gibberish for the benefit of their fellow Pentecostals. Often many in their church are making unintelligible sounds all at once “as the Spirit moves them”. Such action is condemned by St. Paul. “If any are going to talk in tongues let it be at most two or three, each in turn, with another to interpret what they are saying. But if there is no one to interpret, there should be silence in the church, each one speaking only to himself and to God” (I Corinthians 14:27-28).

The Bible clearly supports the Catholic Church's position on speaking in tongues. Just as clearly the Protestant Pentecostal gibberish is condemned by the same Bible.

God Bless You,
Sal