Did Jesus Christ speak in tongues? For centuries, the concept of speaking in tongues has been a fiercely debated aspect of Christianity. Some believe Jesus Christ himself spoke in tongues according to ancient accounts while others don’t. In this blog post we’ll tackle these questions and much more.
Answer: Did Jesus Christ speak in tongues?
The Bible did not record that Jesus spoke with tongues. We saw in Luke 4: 17 how he read out loud the book of Isaiah, which was written in Hebrews.
That He can read means that He can as well speak the Hebrew language. Furthermore, He must have known how to speak Aramaic language because He uttered “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani”. This means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matt 27:46).
And the probability of Jesus knowing how to speak the Greek language is very high considering how there were many Greeks in Judea at that time during His earthly ministry.
These are Biblical shreds of evidence that we have of Jesus Christ speaking in other languages; Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Although it is possible that he could speak more languages than those mentioned, we do not have more Biblical support on the languages He spoke. However, there is no proof that Jesus ever spoke in tongues.
Who was the first person to speak in tongues in the Bible?
Tongues started after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus mentioned that believers would speak in tongues in Mark 16:16-17.
He said, these signs shall accompany those who believe in Him (belief in His finished work on the cross)…they shall speak with new tongues. So, speaking in tongues is a testament to the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It was after His ascension that the gift of tongues was given.
Thus, it was first spoken by the believers on the day of Pentecost.
Who spoke in tongues in the Bible?
The disciples of Jesus, who stayed with Him and believed in the message that He preached, are the ones who spoke in tongues in the Bible at the advent of the Spirit of God. The Bible says in Acts 2:1- 4, that the disciples were gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (50 days after the ascension of Jesus).
They were in one accord and with one mind, they prayed together.
Before their coming together, Jesus already asked them to wait in Jerusalem until they are endowed with power from on high (Luke 9: 49, Acts 1: 4-6). He asked them to wait, which is the Greek word menō, which means to remain, to continue in one place, to wait in anticipation. They were in anticipation of the fulfillment of the promise of God, the father.
And the Bible says, they were all gathered in one accord in one place, and suddenly the Spirit came and sat on them, and they were all filled. They received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.
What is the difference between praying in tongues and speaking in tongues?
There is no difference between praying and speaking in tongues. Both of them imply giving utterances verbally. And you can use them interchangeably. In one of our previous articles, we talked about speaking in tongues and praying in the spirit.
Does speaking in tongues come from God?
Speaking in tongues is from God. 2 Timothy 3: 16 says, All Scripture is God’s breathed and so is the explanation of it. God will not inspire something He doesn’t approve of. Jesus mentions in Mark 16: 17 that those who believe in Him shall speak with tongues in his name. And the words of Jesus Christ are the words of God because He is the son of God (Hebrews 1: 3).
Can everyone speak in tongues?
The Bible is so crystal clear on those who can speak in tongues. Acts 2:4 says they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Anyone who has the Spirit of God in them can speak in tongues, as we’ve seen in the aforementioned Bible passage.
In Ephesians 1:13-14, Apostle Paul clarified it, “In whom ye also trusted, subsequently, ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
As long as you have the Spirit of God inside of you, you can speak in tongues.
Did Paul ever speak in tongues?
Yes, Apostle Paul spoke in tongues. He even gave a testimony of how he spoke in tongues more than the believers. This is found in his message to the Church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 14: 18. He taught expressly on the subject of tongues in the context of the church.
Conclusion
Jesus did not speak in tongues. Instead, he spoke about those who believe in him receiving the ability to speak with new tongues. If Jesus said it, then it must have been important, and He wants you to have it. Desire to use God’s gift of tongues in you today in your communication with Him.
