1 Corinthians 12:7-10 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
Firstly however, we need to distinguish between the gift of “other tongues”, which is given to every believer who is filled with the Spirit, and the spiritual gift called “different kinds of tongues”, as mentioned in the scripture quoted above. The context of this passage is teaching on the nine gifts of the Spirit, and “different kinds of tongues” is listed as one of those gifts. It is mainly the believers who have not been baptized in the Spirit, that get these two gifts confused by thinking that there is only one gift of tongues. The spiritual gift called “different kinds of tongues” is not given to every believer however, for it is only given to those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit to speak out a divine message in a church gathering. This particular gift works in conjunction with the spiritual gift called the “interpretation of tongues”. One who has the gift of “different kinds of tongues” will also have the gift of other tongues. The two languages will be completely different however. These individuals will be able to speak with “other tongues” as their prayer language, any time they choose. However, the language of “different kinds of tongues” will only manifest itself through them, when the Holy Spirit anoints them to bring a message to the church. From time to time, the gift of “different kinds of tongues” can also manifest in several varied languages, as the Spirit wills. And so, we see that the gift of “other tongues” is not the same as the gift of “different kinds of tongues”.
Michael E.B. Maher
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