6 Bible Verses about Speaking In Tongues

Whilst Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having pass'd through the upper provinces of Asia, arrived at Ephesus, where finding some disciples, he said to them, did you receive the holy spirit, when you made profession of your faith? they answer'd, we have not so much as heard of a holy spirit. what baptism then, said he, did you receive? they replied, the baptism of John.read more.
upon which Paul said, John indeed administer'd the baptism of repentance, but with this admonition, that they should believe in him, who was to come after, that is, in Jesus the Messias. when they heard this, they were initiated by baptism into the christian profession. and Paul having given them imposition of hands, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke foreign languages, and prophesied: the number of them being about twelve.

to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.

Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it. which God has placed in the church, first apostles, next prophets, then teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, assistants, governours, interpreters of languages. are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?read more.
have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret? you are contesting about the superiority of your gifts: but I point out to you a more excellent way.

Social affection will never fail: but as for prophecies, they shall be out of use; as for languages, they shall cease; as for knowledge, it shall vanish away.

for he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God: for no man can understand the mysteries he delivers by the spirit. but he that expounds, speaks to the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men. he that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself alone: but he that expounds, edifies the church.read more.
I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it. for instance, brethren, if I deliver myself to you in an unknown tongue, what good shall I do you, except I deliver to you the meaning of what is said, whether it relate to revelation, to mystical knowledge, to prophecy, or to doctrine. And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune? for if the trumpet give an undistinguish'd sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? in like manner, if you express yourselves in words of obscure signification, you may as well talk to the wind, for how shall any comprehend you? there are, it may be, as many different languages in the world as there are people, and none of them without signification. therefore if I don't know the meaning of the language, with respect to him that speaks, I shall be a barbarian; and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me. But since there is emulation among you concerning spiritual gifts, seek to abound in the exercise of such gifts as tend most to the edification of the church. wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation. for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others. what then is to be done? why, I will pray by the spirit, but my prayer shall be intelligible: I will sing by the spirit, but my hymn shall be intelligible. otherwise if you should give thanks by the spirit in an unknown tongue, the hearer cannot but appear unlearned upon this occasion; how then can he say Amen to thy thanksgiving? since he does not conceive what you say. thy thanksgiving indeed is right, but the other is not all edified by it. I thank God, I speak more languages than you all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words that convey my meaning to the instruction of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not childish in understanding: be as innocent as babes, but use your understanding like men. in the law it is written, " with men of other tongues and other lips, will I speak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord." wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers: but expounding the prophets, not for unbelievers so much as for those who believe. when therefore the whole church is assembled, and all speak different languages, if such as are either unlearned, or are unbelievers should come in, will they not say you are all mad? but if you all expound, and an unbeliever, or one unlearned come in, he is examin'd by all, he is tryed by all: the secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and declare that God is certainly amongst you. what is then to be done, my brethren? when you come together, one of you with a psalm, another with a doctrine, another with a strange tongue, another with a revelation, another with an interpretation: let the whole be done to edification. and if any man do speak in an unknown tongue, let but two speak, or three at the most, and that by turns: and let there be but one to interpret. but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and tacitly address himself to God.

wherefore, brethren, zealously exercise the gift of prophecy, and don't prohibit those that speak in an unknown language. let all things be done with decency, and without disorder.