Languages, Not Babble.

Having a religious experience is not proof itself that the experience was based in reality. All around the world, for thousands of years, people have been having powerful spiritual encounters.. nevertheless “do not believe every spirit; but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1) Still today; Hindus and Buddhists, Muslims and atheists and pagans.. even the Mormons report a “burning in the bosom.” So we must exercise strong spiritual discernment when considering emotionally charged religious experiences.

“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15) We are commanded to “Examine all things;” hold firm onto what is good and abstaining from all appearances of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) Paul writes to the church in Corinth “God is not a God of confusion; all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:33,40) ..It’s pretty ironic that’s found in 1 Corinthians 14 (iykyk)

Jesus warns His followers, many false prophets will arise and perform “great signs and wonders” to lead people astray (Matthew 24:24) .. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?’ But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.” (Matthew 7:22) So Jesus says there are many who will perform prophesy and exorcisms and miracles… but they are practicers of evil. This is reiterated about the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

Every time we see the word “tongues” used in the bible, it’s always referring to actual languages or the literal organ inside your mouth. 100% of the time. From Genesis 10:5 “the coastlands of the nations were divided into their lands, everyone according to his tongue, according to their families, by their nations” to Revelation 7:9 “there was a great multitude which no one could count, from all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..” it’s always speaking about a language. The biblical words for “language” and “tongue” are inherently the same words in both Hebrew and Greek. The original biblical authors used these words interchangeably. Hebrew scriptures used the word לָשׁוֹן (lashon) translated as both “tongue” and “language;” and in the Greek New Testament, the word translated as “tongue” and “language” is γλώσσα (glossa)

In Acts 2:4, the disciples are described as speaking in “other tongues,” while verse 6 records that the crowd heard them speaking in their own “language“. The original Greek word for both instances implies known, intelligible languages or dialects.

So, do I believe in the gifts of the spirit? Absolutely. Do I believe that “speaking in tongues” is a gift of the spirit.. well, that depends: are we talking about xenoglossia or glossolalia? Languages, or babble? That’s the important distinction to make.

Xenoglossia is the supernatural ability to speak in a known human language, unknown by the person who is speaking. So if I, who has never studied one minute of French, went to France and began speaking like normal but the words coming out of my mouth were perfect French ..or if I found myself in a community of French-speaking people and, as I was trying to witness to them, the words coming out of my mouth were unwillingly translated into French.. That would be xenoglossia.

And I would argue, every single biblical example of “speaking in tongues,” it is speaking about this xenoglossia. The phenomenal ability to specifically preach or teach God’s Word to foreigners or foreign nations; for the expressed purposes of miraculous global evangelistic outreach.

Glossolalia on the other hand, is described as a ‘fluid vocalization of speech-like syllables that lack comprehensible meaning.’ It’s associated with trance-like states, where the speaker believes to be under divine control. But the problem is, linguistically, glossolalia is not even a structured language. It is made up of repetitive, melodic sequences of syllables that utilize the speaker’s existing native language sounds. Neurological, psychological, and phonological studies have shown that glossolalia is a learned vocal behavior. It is a (sub)conscious choice, and a highly controlled form of personal expression. The most definitive evidence comes from the University of Toronto, whose linguistic research conclusively demonstrates that glossolalia lacks any fundamental structural, grammatical, or semantic properties required to be considered as a language.

In glossolalia, theres no correlation between spoken syllables and a concrete idea. Someone might repeat the exact same sequence of sounds, but assign entirely different interpretations to it each time. It also exhibits strong phonetic borrowing and limitation, which means the individuals are only using sounds that are strictly bound by the speaker’s geography and upbringing. These aren’t independent or unlearned phonetics, they are sounds produced by a recycled, simplified version of the speaker’s existing linguistic inventory. When analyzed mathematically, its “information density“ is near zero. Linguistically, it functions more like musical chanting or rhythmic “gibberish” than structured speech.

A study was conducted to determine if glossolalia contained any mystical language structure. A group of secular language students were asked to invent an artificial language in laboratory settings. The pseudo-speech produced by the students were found phonetically identical to glossolalia recorded in religious services. Which means, glossolalia is just a natural vocal behavior that any human can instantly produce when instructed to.

The practice of glossolalia is truly ancient, and can be found in various forms across many world religions. But historians explicitly note these trance-like vocalizations have always been connected to shamanism, voodoo, and antique pagan oracles.

The priestess at Delphi entered trance states and delivered ecstatic utterances believed to come from Apollo, often ambiguous or unintelligible and interpreted by priests. Classical sources (Herodotus and others) describe inspired speech in altered states, including speaking in unfamiliar or “foreign” sounds while possessed. Dionysian worship involved ecstasy, frenzy, and “loss of normal control” including wild speech and ecstatic vocalization as part of possession experiences. Mystery cults like the Eleusinians, Orphics, and the Mithraics emphasized ecstatic speech or inspired utterances as a sign of contact with deity. Plato and Virgil portray possessed individuals speaking in strange or altered language under divine influence. From Egypt, to the Mediterranean ancient near-East, priests and magicians used “words and senseless noises” believed to convey divine power or messages. From shamanistic traditions in India, to the Han dynasty in China; historical records describe sorcerers and religious practitioners speaking incoherently during trances, healings, or spirit possession. Scholars consistently report ecstatic speech during divinatory practices, indicating this phenomenon is truly cross‑cultural (as well as unbiblical.)

This brings new meaning to Jesus saying: “when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans” (Matthew 6:7) Babbling like pagan.

Within Christendom, it wasn’t reported and codified until the 1900s; which raises more red flags. If this “talking in tongues” is evidence of Spirit-baptism, which they claim is necessary for salvation; then you are essentially saying that the Christian church lacked any true converts for the first 2000 years of it’s existence. To imply every believer will ‘speak in tongues’ is ridiculous; which is why even Paul writes rhetorically to the church in Corinth; “Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30) with the implied answer being “No.” Spiritual gifts are diverse among the church body, which is why different distinct roles and gifts and abilities are given to believers for the common good.

Second, it’s no coincidence that the same people who claim to “speak in tongues” are also completely goofed up on the gospel of biblical salvation. These types practically always believe in a works-based salvation, in which “speaking in tongues” is the evidence of their “baptism in the spirit.” They almost always believe you can lose your salvation, as well. And when it comes to the real charlatans of Christian religion, the snake-oil salesmen of our faith, it’s almost always these frenzied Charismatic and Pentecostal types. That’s not to excuse or ignore the real atrocities committed by men and women within other denominations; that’s only to point out the elephant in the room. Even Pentecostals and Charismatics would acknowledge and recognize a lot of buffoonery inside their own ranks, and that’s why they often overemphasize discretion and caution when it comes to their own churches.. because they’ve seen, firsthand, the quackery and nonsensical spirit it possesses.

“You will know them by their fruit“ (Matthew 7:16) Jesus was the most loving person to ever walk the earth; but even He warned His followers to exercise discretion and discernment, because there would be many “false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) The prosperity gospel, the modalist/oneness views of the Godhead, high-profile financial and sexual scandals, fake healers and deliverance miracles, unbiblical and toxic leadership, fringe prophecy and extra-biblical personal revelations, high-pressure emotional manipulation, theatrical and superficial spiritual experiences… these accusations are not occasional, they are ordinary.

No denomination is without error or indictment.. but there is wisdom and safety in partnering with a tradition that has rich history of being grounded in biblical, New Testament theology. But Pentecostalism is only about 100 years old; the new kid on the block in terms of Christian beliefs and practice; and that alone should raise some red flags. Even in it’s conception, it faced skepticism and criticism from established denominations.

To add insult to injury, it may come as a shock for most casual Pentecostals to learn that Charles Parham, the evangelist widely regarded as the theological father of “Pentecostalism” and the man who originated the core doctrine of speaking in tongues, strictly believed that tongues was a miraculous manifestation of actual known languages that a speaker had never learned personally. He believed this gift was divinely intended to help missionaries preach the gospel globally without needing to learn foreign languages.. not that it was some bizarre “ecstatic prayer” language. And to his point, I couldn’t agree more. That is what the gift of “tongues” is and has always been.

Which is why Paul says “tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers.” (1 Corinthians 14:22)

So, you may be asking yourself, when and how did this concept of xenoglossia shift to what we now know as glossolalia? Well, between 1906 and 1908, following the Azusa Street Revival and the birth of modern Pentecostalism, dozens and dozens of Pentecostals, newly baptized in the spirit, sold their possessions and went off to countries like China and India and various nations in Africa to be missionaries. Upon arrival, they faced a devastating realization.. local populations could not understand a word they were saying! By 1908, these missionaries came back home disappointed and ridiculed. [This is even acknowledged and historically documented in secular news media.]

In an attempt to save the young movement, Pentecostal theologians had to radically adapt their beliefs. Instead of real, human languages used for evangelism; “tongues” was redefined as “heavenly language” and “prayer language;” an angelic and ecstatic dialect used for private prayer and worship. This theological shift came out of necessity in 1909 and was formally codified by 1919, becoming what we know today as official charismatic and Pentecostal doctrine.

So what was Paul talking about in his first letter to the Corinthians? Well, simply put, Paul was talking about xenoglossia, not glossolalia. A lot of confusion comes from 1 Corinthians 14, but some historical context will easily clarify what he’s saying. It’s critical to understand that Second Temple era Judaism required a public translator for all teachings and readings in synagogues and the Temple. This person, called a meturgeman, would translate and explain scripture orally, from Hebrew into the common language (usually Aramaic or Greek.) A meturgeman was a standard and essential presence in virtually all mainstream synagogues across Judea and Galilee. According to early rabbinic law (halakha) codified in the Mishnah, a meturgeman was not optional but a structural requirement for all public services. Anytime the Torah (Pentateuch) or the Prophets (Haftarah) was read aloud, a meturgeman was present.

We see a bilingual precedent as far back as Ezra in the post-exilic period (Nehemiah 8:8) when the Levites helped translate the Law as Ezra read it aloud. This was because, after the Babylonian exile, Hebrew become less and less used; as Aramaic (and eventually Greek) became the primary language used by the Hebrew people. Many Jews simply could not understand Hebrew directly, and so an immediate translator was needed to ensure comprehension of the scared scriptures. This became a universal synagogue institution well before the time of Jesus and the apostle Paul.

The meturgeman was one of the most important positions in Jewish religion; and recognizing their role is crucial in discerning how “tongues” and “interpretation” would have functioned in the 1^st century church. The early Christian churches evolved directly out of Jewish synagogue structures, which is why Paul suggests an interpreter of tongues. “If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and each in turn, and let one interpret.” (1 Corinthians 14:27) This exactly mirrors the ancient blueprint for synagogue readings found in the Mishnah (Megillah 4:4) which strictly ruled that no more than three verses of the Prophets could be read before the meturgeman had to step in and translate. Which is why Paul enforces this same concept to maintain order within Christian assemblies.

He goes on to write “But if there is no interpreter, let him remain silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:28) which is also reflective of the meturgeman tradition. In the historical synagogue, if a qualified meturgeman was not present in the congregation to translate the text, the public formal reading of the Torah could not legally happen. Even the Greek word Paul uses for interpreter is the same word used in the Greek-speaking Jewish Diaspora for the office of meturgeman.

What Paul is describing in his letter to Corinth is simply translating known human languages. It could be learned languages shared among a growing diversity of believers within the early Christian church.. or it could be languages miraculously spoken to convict or edify gentiles who are visiting the church.. but it is always known human languages. It’s the exact same phenomenon we see in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2:4) Because “dwelling in Jerusalem were Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, the crowd came together and were confounded, because each man heard them speaking in his own language.” (Acts 2:5-6) Jewish foreigners were visiting Jerusalem for the holy feastday, and God was planting gospel seeds that would spread to the surrounding nations like wildfire. “They were all amazed and marveled, saying to each other, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each in our own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the mighty works of God.”” (Acts 2:7-11) I need you to focus on that phrase, “each in our own native language.” This was miraculous because, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?” (verse 7) Then it specifically lists 16 or more different (known, human) languages being spoken. This wasn’t gibberish. This wasn’t ecstatic utterances. This wasn’t an angelic prayer language. This was clear preaching, proclaiming the mighty works of God; as a sign post that the gospel would spread to the whole world.

Praise the Lord for xenoglossia.

I’m sure there are many well-intended individuals who would protest this critique, because it doesn’t align with their own lived personal experience. And my intention is not to belittle or dismiss that. But, having a religious experience is not proof itself that the experience was based in reality.

If you, or somebody you know has/does speak in ecstatic utterances; I compassionately urge you to really pray and research and seek God about it on your own. Don’t ask your Pentecostal cousin.. don’t even take my word for it; just look up all the historical evidence I’ve tried to carefully lay out. Ask yourself: “is there any chance I’ve been misguided?” Is there any chance that the experience was a conditioned emotional response? Was it maybe a learned, highly encouraged social behavior used to fit into a religious community; rather than a miraculous intervention?? It doesn’t mean you’re dumb, or bad, or you’re demon possessed.. it could just mean that you’ve been manipulated into doing something that you were taught was necessary for your salvation! And that’s what bothers me the most, is to consider how many people have been taken advantage of or lied to.

Maybe you find deep comfort in a “prayer language,” but allow me to encourage you that God knows what you are going to say even before you say it (Psalm 139:4) After Jesus says “when you pray, do not babble like pagans do,” He finished the teaching by admonishing them to remember: “your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.” When we are overwhelmed, or at a lost for words, “the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) This can be literally unspoken, wordless prayers. But it could also be similar to when Jesus said “do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20, also Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11-12)

It’s okay to be emotional about the things of God. And I’m a firm believer that God will pour out His Spirit on us; for power and strength, peace and joy. But going into a trance and uttering ecstatic speech is not Godly. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:32 “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” The bible says “a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) When God gives us spiritual gifts, they are for a specific purpose: to build up the church, to serve others, and to ultimately glorify God. They are never for personal status, recognition, or self-gain and aggrandizement.

If you have truly trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you have been “baptized” and indwelled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:12-14) which is a seal of our salvation. That same Spirit gives us all different gifts and abilities (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) but the purpose is always to do the work of God.

Anything else is just noise.