This is an older topic, but I remembered today that I had drafted an email on this topic not that long ago. You can find the email below. But first I should probably direct you to some definitions: Glossolalia and Xenoglossia. Essentially the difference lies in if the language is an actual human spoken language, or something supernatural.

This is a copy of the email I had drafted, certain parts such as names have been removed but it is essentially the original message. I have changed to using eBible’s eBibleicious on my blog, you may hover over the scripture reference to read the text.

We’ve been discussing this evening tongues on the day of Pentecost.

Reading through Acts 2 (mainly Acts 2:4-7) it would seem to indicate that people round about heard their own language; while later Paul writes to the people at Corinth that no man understands tongues. What we are wondering essentially is: Is tongues a unlearned foreign language or something else (supernatural etc…)?

This email was drafted as a question this first part is the premise of this post. Continuing:

We do not know how we should pray to God, so the spirit makes intercession for us, it is not the spoken words (language) that communicates our needs, it is the spirit. Hence the language to someone filled with the spirit is a manifestation of the intercession. While to someone who is un-gifted / unlearned tongues (the language) is a sign:
… for tongues are as a sign to the unbeliever … 1 Corinthians 14:22.

On the day of Pentecost, people round about required proof this was the manifestation of Gods/Jesus promises of ‘new tongues’; therefore it was required that at least some of the languages (spoken words / manifestation of the spirit making intercession) be understood by the people. That in itself is a miracle.

So, the manifestation of the spirits intercession, tongues, the spoken words, may or may not be an unlearned foreign tongue and may or may not be something else (supernatural etc…). However, the words are not important, knowing them does not give you a connection to God, only the spirit does. The words are a miracle for the unbeliever, the connection to God is the miracle for the believer.