Mark 16v17: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.
1 Corinthians 14v22: 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

The Lord Jesus tells us that one of the signs of them that believe are that they shall speak with new tongues. This is not new as in the sense of brand new, never heard before, but tongues which the individual has not learnt before. Paul tells us that they are a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not. That is that tongues are a sign to the non-believer that this person speaking a new tongue has a gift from God. They are not a sign to fellow believers of some sort of special holiness, as the Corinthians seemed to be thinking.

Acts 2v4: And they [the disciples] were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began, to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2v6-8: Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold are not all these whcih speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts 2v11: Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Here on the day of Pentecost, we have an example of this sign gift in practise. The disciples speaking were Galileans and yet those from far off lands could understand them in their own tongues. These tongues must have been the foreign languages but the disciples would not have known them before, they were given them by God to tell forth the Gospel.

Acts 10v46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God, Then answered Peter
Acts 19v6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesised. As the Holy Ghost came upon these believers they were blessed with the gifts of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12v8-10: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1 Corinthians 12v29-30: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Here Paul twice lists the various gifts with which the believers have been blessed with. There are two types of tongues listed. The first is divers kinds of tongues, the second the interpretation of tongues. On the day of Pentecost the apostles could speak in a number of diverse languages but we don't actually read that they could interpret them as well as speak them.

1 Corinthians 14v23: If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Paul here reminds the saints at Corinth who so desired the gift of tongues that if they were all speaking in tongues and those that are unlearned or unbelievers came in and heard it they would see it as madness and not as a gift of God.

1 Corinthians 14v6: Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Corinthians 14v14: For if I pray in, an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14v19: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
1 Corinthians 14v26-28: How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctinre, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretaion. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most, by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Even the apostle Paul could not profit his fellow believer just by speaking in a foreign tongue, it needed another gift as well to be profitable to them. What good is it to others, if he prays in a language they cannot understand? He reminds us that it is better to speak 5 words that can be understood then 10,000 that cannot be. Then Paul reminds us of the need for order in our church, especially where tongues are concerned. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, it should only be two or three, in an orderly fashion with an interpreter. If there is no interpreter then that man should keep silent in the church, speaking only to himself and to God.

1 Corinthians 13v1: Though I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels; and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. The "and of angels" part is in the superlative, so the sense of the verse is actually:
Though I speak with the tongues of men, and even if I could speak with the tongues of angels ...
Paul here is emphasing the point that without love then words are worthless. I have read that these two instruments give just an empty sound, often used for worshipping idols. Giving the idea that words without love are empty and of no profit to believers.

1 Corinthians 13v8-10: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies; they shall fail; whether be tongues; they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This verse reminds us that love will never fail, but tongues will one day cease. (There is no mention in Scripture of when that day will be, or how we will know it has passed for we are only told in v9-10 that, that which is in part (knowledge and prophesy) will pass away when that which is perfect is come.

So to conclude. It is clear from Scripture that the gift of tongues is foreign languages not known to the believer but those of other men somewhere in this world. They are a sign gift to enable non-believers to hear the Gospel in their own language.

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