Some time ago, the Biblical Research Institute was asked to comment on speaking in tongues. A response was needed to address questions posed by the press. Here is the answer given at that time. We are aware of the fact that the issue should be addressed in a more comprehensive way in the future. For now, we just want to share with you our brief response, hoping that it may be useful to you.

“The phenomenon of speaking in tongues is announced in Mark 16:17 and realized in the Book of Acts, where it is found several times and always is the gift of a foreign language. The foundational passage is Acts 2. At Pentecost, the phenomenon of speaking in tongues occurred for the first time. It clearly refers to the gift of speaking a foreign language without having studied it and communicating clearly and effectively the gospel. Adventists agree that the original use of speaking in tongues was the gift of proclaiming in a foreign language the good news of Jesus Christ.

Paul uses the same expression in 1 Corinthians 12-14 when he discusses spiritual gifts in the church. These gifts are given to all believers, i.e., each individual believer has received at least one spiritual gift. However, the Holy Spirit is sovereign in distributing these gifts, and not a single gift is mentioned as being given to all believers alike. Adventists are divided on how to understand the gift of speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians. Some suggest that it is a language not spoken by humans which benefits primarily the one who practices it. Others understand it as an abuse of the gift of speaking a foreign language. They argue that it would be strange to use the very same term for different phenomena in the New Testament, especially since the apostle Paul is connected to it in Acts 19:6 and employs it in his own writings. Also the term heteroglossoi (1 Cor. 14:21) may help to define the word “tongue” pointing in the direction of a real foreign language.

In general, Adventists have been careful not to interpret and practice the gift of tongues in the way Pentecostal churches and the charismatic movement are practicing it. In other words, Adventists do not believe that what they see in the Pentecostal and charismatic movements corresponds to the biblical gift.”