What does the Bible really teach about speaking in tongues? In this episode, Jonny and Hank dig into the gift of tongues from a biblical perspective — walking through Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19, and 1 Corinthians 12–14 to examine whether tongues in Scripture refers to known languages or a private prayer language.
Hank shares a personal story from his college years visiting a charismatic church, then unpacks:
- What tongues meant in Acts 2 (the Day of Pentecost)
- How Luke's authorship and timeline shape the interpretation of Acts
- 1 Corinthians 13 and the "tongues of angels" — literal or rhetorical?
- Whether tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit
- Paul's instructions for order in the church (1 Corinthians 14:27, 14:23)
- Early church history: Gregory of Nazianzus, Chrysostom, and the origins of the modern private prayer language movement (Charles Fox Parham, Agnes Ozman, 1901)
- Romans 8:26 and the Spirit's intercession in prayer
This is a respectful, Scripture-first conversation for anyone wondering how to think biblically about tongues, the charismatic movement, spiritual gifts, and the sufficiency of God's Word — without dismissing sincere believers who see it differently.
📖 Key passages covered: Acts 2:4-11, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 8:26, Genesis 11
What is the Gift of Tongues and Is It for Today? Acts 2, 1 Cor. 14, and More | Jonny Ardavanis
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