Paul is describing face-to-face encounter with Jesus. This is what he means by “the perfect”—knowing Jesus fully in His glory. Are we currently experiencing this kind of encounter with Jesus? Are we beholding Him in His glory? During our lives on earth, our experiences with Jesus are like the reflection in a dim mirror. But in the age to come, we will know Jesus as He knows us. This experience of deepest intimacy with Jesus is the sign that “the perfect” has come. Though this journey begins on earth, it will not be completed until we behold Him face to face in eternity.

The Four Types of Tongues

Another question I am frequently asked is, “John, why does 1 Corinthians 12:30 say, ‘Do all speak with tongues?’ Doesn’t this mean that not everyone speaks in tongues?” Yes, it does. However, in this passage Paul is referring to a specific type of tongue; not all believers operate in this type of tongue. To understand this, we must examine the four different types of tongues discussed in the New Testament.

For the sake of our discussion, I will refer to these tongues as being for public or private use. Two types are for public ministry. By “public” I mean that they involve one individual ministering something of the Spirit to another person or group of people. In contrast, the two “private” tongues connect us as individuals directly to God—either by increasing our intimacy with Him or by enabling us to intercede according to His perfect understanding. Let’s take a look at each of these.

One: Tongues As a Sign to Unbelievers

The first type of tongues is for public demonstration.

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:22)

These tongues occur when the Holy Spirit transcends our intellect and gives us the ability to speak another language of this earth, specifically a language that we do not know how to speak from our own experience or education. This is the type of tongue that operated through the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:5-11 NIV)