In the New Testament church, speaking in tongues is seen as what?

In the New Testament church, speaking in tongues is viewed as evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. This understanding is rooted in key passages of Scripture, particularly in the Book of Acts and the writings of the Apostle Paul. For example, in Acts 2, the disciples spoke in tongues as a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which marked a significant moment in the establishment of the early church. Additionally, Paul discusses the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and emphasizes that speaking in tongues is a gift that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, serving as a means of edification for both the individual and the church community.

This aligns with the core belief in many Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, which see tongues not merely as a form of worship but as a powerful sign of divine presence and empowerment that accompanies the believer's experience of receiving the Holy Spirit. The transformative nature of this experience is fundamental to the identity of believers in the New Testament context, reinforcing their faith and empowering them for ministry.