What Is Speaking In Tongues, Is Speaking In Tongues The Foreign Language

12 apostles all speak in tongues. Paul as the apostle for gentiles said: I spoke tongues more than all of you. When Peter heard the whole family of Cornelius speaking in tongues, he confirmed they all received the Holy Spirit as disciples and apostles in Jerusalem. Therefore, no one would forbid to baptize them with water. Then they baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus. If we want to be saved, we must believe what is told through bible and believe the truth.

Speaking in tongues is different from the interpretation of tongues. No one could understand the tongues except it is interpreted. Some people say: speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language. Actually it is a wrong to regard interpretation tongues as speaking in tongues. Does nobody knows the foreign language? We all shall think about this question.

If we take tongues as the foreign languages, it will betray the several statements from the bible.

1." Speaking in tongues, no one could understand."

No one could understand when people speak in tongues. Only after the tongues is interpreted, people could understand its meaning. When the tongues is interpreted, it becomes the language of each listener whichever country they come from. It is the interpretation of tongues to make the listener understand it rather than the speakers speak foreign language. On the day of Pentecost, 120 people including Peter started speaking in tongues. Three thousand people coming from about 16 countries and area heard their tongues as their home town languages. This is the result of interpretation of tongues through which God open their ears to make everyone understand.

The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.(Isaiah50:5 NKJV)

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ...He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification....Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ...If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. (1 Corinthians14:2,4-5,13,27-28 NKJV)

2.Peter spoke in tongues and people thought he got drunk

On the day of Pentecost, Peter with other disciple spoke in tongues. People around teased them and thought they were full of new wine. They laughed at them by saying they got drunk. Let us think about a question. If speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language, will other people tease you got drunk? If speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language, for example you speak French in Italy. When you find a group of people in Italy speaking French, will you run together with other people to them? Will you feel strange? Will you laugh at the French-speaking group and think them full of wine? Will you laugh at them by saying they get drunk?

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts2:1-3 NKJV)

So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (Acts2:12-15 NKJV)

Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear....Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts2:33,38 NKJV)

3,People misunderstood Paul was crazy when he spoke in tongues.

Paul said: When all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, with say they are out of their minds.

If speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language, will the uninformed people or unbelievers say you are out of mind when you speak foreign language?

If speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language, for example to speak English in China. You live in China and believe in Jesus. But you cannot speak English. By chance you arrive at a certain church and find them all speak English. When you enter that church, will you comment them as crazy people?

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1 Corinthians14:23 NKJV)

4, Italian people spoke in tongues and they received the Holy Spirit just as Peter.

Italian citizen Cornelius' whole family spoke in tongues. When Peter heard them speaking in tongues and said they have received the Holy Spirit just as he had. If speaking with tongues is to speak foreign language, which foreign language Cornelius spoke so that Peter commented they had received the Holy Spirit as he. Did Italian person Cornelius speak Italy? Is that the tongues spoken by him from Holy Spirit to be the same as Peter? Could Hebrew Peter could speak Italy? Or was Cornelius able to speak Hebrew language? Or did Hebrew Peter hear Italy Cornelius speaking Hebrew and confirmed he had received the Holy Spirit since Cornelius spoke the same tongues as Peter?

To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? ” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.(Acts10:43-48 NKJV)

5, Speaking with tongues is a sign to unbelievers.

As Paul said: speaking in tongues is a sign not to believers but to unbelievers. Prophesying is not for unbelievers but for believers.

If speaking in tongues is to speak foreign language, would you speak foreign language to an unbeliever? You will not. But you shall preach gospel to him by known language to make him understand. Will the unbelievers understand foreign language? If you are a German, will you speak Chinese as a proof of believer to an unbeliever in German to testify Jesus? While to a believer, you will not speak Chinese to him but speak German. For example in German, to a Chinese believer, you don't speak (foreign language)Chinese to him but only speak German since speaking in tongues is not for believers? Is this explanation correct? Is it full of contradiction, betraying the bible and wrongly preaching the word of God?

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. (1 Corinthians14:22 NKJV)

6, If there is no interpreter, let him speak to himself and to God.

Paul wrote letter to Corinthian church and command believers: During gathering, if anyone speaks tongues, there must be one who can interpret. If there is no interpreter, what shall he do? Let him speak to himself and to God.

If speaking with tongues is to speak foreign language, there is no interpreter in church, do you only speak to yourself and to God? Why you don't speak local language to yourself and to God?

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. (1 Corinthians14:27-28 NKJV)

Speaking in tongues is not so speak foreign language but speak with the twisted tongues. The tongues appear like fire and produce the amazing sound. Speaking in tongues, is to speak to God only instead of men. No one could understand tongues but it tells mystery in spirit. After the tongues are interpreted, then it could be understood. By then, anyone else would understand it as their native languages whichever country or district they come from. Speaking in tongues is the prayer in Spirit which will not edify the understanding but only the speaker's spirit. We need distinguish speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. Speaking in tongues is a must sign following the truth which testify the word of truth.

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;...And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.(Mark16:17,20 NKJV)

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (1 Corinthians14:2 NKJV)

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Corinthians14:14-15 NKJV)