Christian glossolalysis or Christian glossolalia, also called tongue speaking, tongue language, or "sound language" is a phenomenon within Christianity. It is called in the New Testament as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) and as a sign of believing (Mark 16:17). It is a speaking in a language unknown to the speaker. According to the texts of the New Testament, the gift appeared in the first church frequently. Thus, all spoke in tongues at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), with the result that dozens of international listeners heard of "God's great deeds" in their own language or dialect. Speaking in tongues was seen as an event by which the Holy Ghost manifested itself (Acts 10: 44-46).
The apostle Paul also spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). He explains in the Bible that who speaks in tongues (glossa) does not speak to men but to God. In his letter to the church of Corinth, Paul explains much about glossolalism, such as:
The glossolalization occurred in the church of the first centuries after Christ. There is a mention of Tertullian's church father, among others. After Christianity had gained an equivalent status in the Roman Empire during the time of Emperor Constantine (under a later emperor, it became the state religion), it came less. In Western Europe, speaking in tongues today is practiced in particular in the more charismatic currents of Christianity, such as Pentecostal and Charismatic Movement. Even in traditional churches, there is more and more attention to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and thus also for the gift of speaking in tongues. Also see
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