The Role of Tongues in Salvation Debates
The role of "tongues" in discussions about salvation is a complex topic, primarily rooted in interpretations of New Testament passages, particularly in the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians. The term "tongues" (Greek glossolalia) generally refers to speaking in languages unknown to the speaker [1].
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:4). This event is described as the various peoples present in Jerusalem hearing the disciples speak in their own native languages, proclaiming "the wonders of God" [2]. This initial manifestation of tongues served as a sign, demonstrating the presence of the Holy Spirit and indicating that salvation was to be extended to all nations [2].
In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul discusses the gift of tongues within the context of spiritual gifts in the church. one tradition states, "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe" (1 Corinthians 14:22 KJV) [3]. This verse suggests that tongues function as a sign for unbelievers, potentially to authenticate the divine message. However, Paul also emphasizes the importance of interpretation when tongues are spoken in a church setting, so that the congregation can be edified [3]. Without interpretation, he implies, speaking in tongues is less beneficial than prophecy for believers.
Different Christian traditions hold varying views on the relationship between tongues and salvation. Some traditions, particularly within Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, view speaking in tongues as an initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is often understood as a distinct experience subsequent to salvation. While they do not typically assert that tongues are necessary for salvation itself, they consider it a significant spiritual gift and a sign of a Spirit-filled life.
Other traditions, such as many Reformed and Baptist denominations, tend to interpret the gift of tongues as primarily referring to the miraculous ability to speak unlearned human languages, as seen on the Day of Pentecost [2]. They often believe that the primary purpose of such miraculous gifts, including tongues, was to authenticate the apostles' message during the foundational period of the church. Therefore, they may view the cessation of these specific miraculous gifts, or at least their widespread manifestation, after the apostolic age. In this view, tongues are not considered a normative experience for believers today, nor are they linked to salvation or the reception of the Holy Spirit. Salvation, in these traditions, is understood as being "by grace... through faith" (Ephesians 2:8-9) [5], a gift of God received through Christ [4].
The Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian belief, affirms that Jesus Christ "for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man" [10]. This creed, widely accepted across ecumenical Christianity, emphasizes Christ's work as central to salvation, without mentioning tongues. Similarly, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) describe baptism as a "sign of Regeneration or new Birth" and an instrument through which believers are "grafted into the Church," receiving "forgiveness of sin, and... adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost" [9]. This articulation of salvation focuses on baptism, faith, and the Holy Spirit's work, without connecting it to the gift of tongues.
Augustine, a significant patristic figure, discussed the internal renewal of believers, stating that "we put off the old man and put on the new" through the remission of sins and spiritual transformation [6]. This emphasis on moral and spiritual change as evidence of new life in Christ does not directly link to the phenomenon of speaking in tongues. John Calvin, a key figure in the Reformed tradition, emphasized God's grace and Christ's work in salvation [7], a perspective echoed by Charles Hodge, who reviewed various theories concerning salvation through Christ [8]. These theological frameworks focus on the atoning work of Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit as the means of salvation, rather than on specific spiritual gifts like tongues.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Language — Of all mankind one at first -- Ge 11:1,6. Called Speech. -- Mr 14:70; Ac 14:11. Tongue. -- Ac 1:19; Re 5:9. Confusion of A punishment for presumption, &c. -- Ge 11:2-6. Originated the varieties in. -- Ge 11:7. Scattered men over the earth. -- Ge 11:8,9. Divided men into separated nations. -- Ge 10:5,20,31. Great variety of, spoken by men -- 1Co 14:10. Ancient kingdoms often comprehended nations of different -- Es 1:22; Da 3:4; 6:25. Kinds of, mentioned Hebrew. -- 2Ki 18:28; Ac 26:14. Chaldea. -- Da 1:4. Syriack. -- 2Ki 18:26; Ezr 4:7. Greek. -- Ac 21:37. L”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tongues, Gift of — Granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have argued that it was merely an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. But the words of Luke (Acts 2:9) clearly show that the various peoples in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost did really hear themselves addressed in their own special la”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 14:22 — Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 9.--THE BEGINNING OF RENEWAL; RESURRECTION CALLED REGENERATION; THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD WHO LEAD LIVES SUITABLE TO NEWNESS OF LIFE. (part 2): still children of the world; but inasmuch as they are also admitted into a new state, that is to say, by the full and perfect remission of their sins, and in so far as they are spiritually-minded, and behave correspondingly, they are the children of God. Internally we put off the old man and put on the new; for we then and there lay aside lying, and speak truth, and do those other things wherein the apostle”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:2 1:26 1:27 1:31 2:7 2:7 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:23 3:7 3:9 3:12 3:15 3:15 3:15 3:22 4:4 4:7 4:10 4:13 6:3 6:5 6:6 6:18 7:21 8:21 9:6 12:12 12:17 14:18 14:18 15:1 15:1 15:5 15:17 16:9 17:7 17:7 17:10 17:10 17:13 17:15 17:27 18:2 18:23 20:3 20:7 21:1 21:12 21:24 22:1 22:8 22:16-18 23:4 23:19 24:7 24:10 26:27 27:28 27:38-39 28:12 28:20 29 30:2 31:19 31:20 31:40-41 32 32:10 32:13 32:29-30 33 34 36:22 37:18 37:28 37:33 38:18 42 43 43:14 45:5 47:9 47:9 47:29-30 48:14 48:16 49:5-6 49:18 Exodus 2:12 3:2 3”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 114: § 6. Concluding Remarks . In reviewing these several theories concerning the method of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, it is important to remark, — 1. That it is not to be inferred because certain writers are quoted as setting forth one particular theory, that they recognized the truth of no other view of the work of Christ. This remark is especially applicable to the patristic period. While some of the fathers speak at times of Christ’s saving the world as a teacher, and others of them say that He gave himself as a ransom to Sa”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 269: Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be reta”
- Nicene Creed (Ecumenical) “Nicene Creed (Ecumenical, 325/381 AD), Section 2: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and”