Which Baptist believe in glossolalia

Answer 1

The short answer is that ALL Baptists believe in glossalalia, translated as "speaking in tongues" or "speaking in foreign languages." However... that answer is probably not satisfying. So the question can be broken down further...

1. Which Baptists interpret glossolalia as referring to (miraculously) speaking in a foreign language, and which interpret it as ecstatic babbling?

2. Which Baptists believe that glossolalia as a spiritual gift no longer occuring, which believe it can occur as God chooses, and which believe it is normative?

3. Which Baptists interpret glossolalia in line with the traditional Pentecostal theology where it is a necessary evidence of a second step of spiritual growth, the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

4. Which Baptists interpret glossalalia in line with the common Charismatic or Neo-Charismatic understanding of a common (and perhaps desirable) gift from God, but not signifying a special spiritual status in relationship with God?

5. Which Baptists interpret glossalalia in line with certain splinter Christian groups that teach that it is a necessary evidence of salvation?

Baptists, as a movement, are non-creedal and autonymous so interpretations of glossalalia should (in theory) depend on specific local churches and specific individuals. Most Baptists take the understanding that glossalalia is speaking in foreign languages rather than ecstatic babbling. This is based on the etymology of the term and its description in Acts. They would normally see the phenomenon in I Corinthians as the same since the term is the same and Luke (the writer of Acts) was a disciple of Paul (the writer of I Corinthians). Some believe that glossalalia described in Acts and I Corinthians are two different phenomena. Most Baptists would also see glossalalia as not being tied to salvation or baptism of the Holy Spirit. They would base this on the inconsistent role of glossalalia in the conversions in Acts, and the absence of importance of glossalalia as a sign in the Epistles.

Some Baptists or Baptist churches have embraced a Pentecostal or Charismatic (or Neo-Charismatic) interpretation of glossalalia... again because of the autonymous nature of Baptist churches and the fact that creeds are normally rejected by Baptists.

One group, the "Pentecostal Free-Will Baptists" clearly try to hold onto their identity as Baptists while formally embracing a Pentecostal understanding of glossalalia.