A HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF PENTECOSTAL-CHARISMATIC GLOSSOLALIA

The phenomenon of glossolalia, in other words, speaking in tongues is among the controversial issues debated across Christian circles. In a response to the discourse, the paper attempts to discuss the phenomenon from historical and theological standpoints. Grounded in the New Testament, notably in the Acts of Apostles and Pauline writings, speaking in tongues has been a distinct feature of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The study journeys through the development of glossolalia from early Christian traditions where it was seen as both a spiritual gift and a sign of God’s encounter, through its decline during the instiuttionalisation of Christianity, and its resurgence in modern Pentecostal revivals of the 20th century. The necessity of glossolalia in the early church as well as its distinctive features have been examined. Cessation versus continuation debate has also been given a considerable attention by dialoguing with scholars. This study employs a historical-theological approach, tracing glossolalia’s development from biblical foundations to modern Pentecostal revivals. It analyses theological debates, particularly cessationism vs. continuationism, using qualitative textual analysis of biblical, historical, and scholarly sources to provide a comprehensive understanding beyond metaphysical interpretations. The paper concludes by affirming that since glossolalia extends beyond the metaphysical, drawing conclusions based solely on its metaphysical significance is highly likely to be inappropriate.