"Tongues" ~ a specific, secret, divine language; or a synonym for all languages?

The Bible refers to "speaking in tongues".

Some Christians believe that "Tongues" is the divine language of the angels that the Holy Spirit gives them the gift of speaking (but not of understanding).

Other Christians believe that the word "tongues" is used as a synonym for "languages", and that the gift of speaking in tongues was the gift of an ability to speak and understand any human language, which was given to the early Christians so that they could more easily spread the gospels in foreign lands without taking years to study different languages.

Assuming that a God exists and that "speaking in tongues" is a real phenomenon, which version of the gift do you think would be more useful in gaining converts?

This is a video response to Lovingdoubt, check out her channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Lovingdoubt

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[InDaPresenceofGod]

God is Love and He loves us ALL... We all have a choice to believe in Christ and all He's done. Alot of misunderstanding comes when we do not engage in an intimate personal relationship with Him finding out for ourselves and TRUTHFULLY given Him our life and trust, instead of a RELIGION;we truly miss what is so obvious about Him and His love for us. Because He is,,,,We are, and are freely given the things of Him and His Kingdom. No one is an idiot because they chose to believe in Christ.

[TheLizardLass]

@InDaPresenceofGod --- well, thank you for using my comments section to evangelize; but next time try addressing the content of the video. I might have actually been interested if you'd presented an opinion about the topic I was discussing.

[fortheloveofwisdom]

As I understand the Bible, speaking in tongues means speaking in the languages of the listeners, as though they all had Babel fish in their ears. This would be as amazing evidence of God as the Babel fish. But since there is no God to make this actually work, no one actually manifested this gift. So some Christians reinterpreted it as babbling incoherently, which they actually could do, and this reinterpretation allowed them to claim they were speaking in tongues.

[TheLizardLass]

@fortheloveofwisdom --- that's how i think it reads too -- and you came to the same conclusion as me :)

[austinhoywooo123]

wrong!

[TheLizardLass]

@austinhoywooo123 -- wow, what a cogent and well argued answer to the QUESTION I asked. you get a cookie.

[AcieLee1990]

If nothing else speaking in tongues is a prayer and act of worship and praise unto God. Truly there's really no reason for any else to understand what is being said fore they are not target but it is the ear of God. Glory to Him forever and ever.

[AcieLee1990]

God loves you :) I believe you will believe in his love for you too.

[CoastPro2]

@InDaPresenceofGod Well said!

[CoastPro2]

@InDaPresenceofGod I agree great response!! Be encouraged in God!

[InDaPresenceofGod]

No intentions on offending you, i just read through alot of of the comments and thats what came to my spirit to say. I can address the topic straight forward but that wont address the obvious. Tongues/no tongues, if you truly believe in Jesus then all of the facts you think you SEE and HEAR that pulls one away from Him will be overruled by the Holy Spirit that resides in you. When that relationship grows more intimate, you will see how AUTHENTIC your experiences are.God bless & Love You!

[kevrod71]

About a dozen years ago I received the "gift of tounges" as described in the 2nd part of the comment below mine. I used it as a prayer language. To this day, I can still do it. I became an atheist about 5 years ago. Go figure. Maybe I'll post a video in the future about it.

[72Brundlefly]

(continued) It's hard to imagine they would speak the language corresponding to the tribes that were there. Wouldn't it be easier if it was one language (men or angels) spoken by the preacher and then each receiver heard it in their own langauge? Tongues of men doesn't necessarily mean a known language of man in today's world. I've heard of people receiving several different types of tongues, ones for warfare (fighting demons) and ones for prayer and others.

[72Brundlefly]

(continued) Well, it is because God understands it and our Holy Spirit is speaking it to God through us, uttering our most deepest secrets to God. Things which we may not realize or think of are not being told to God through this utterance. It is a more powerful prayer tool. Here's another question I find interesting. On the day of Pentecost in the Bible, how many times did the preachers preach their sermon to the thousands of people that were there so that all languages would understand?