Speaking in Tongues

""Blosser and Sullivan here complete their magisterial, biblical, and historical treatment of the meaning of miraculous speaking in 'tongues.' They muster significant evidence pointing toward the conclusion that the tongues are foreign languages, not unintelligible vocalization. The pastoral implications of their conclusions are large indeed, since they challenge a central pillar of the Protestant and Catholic Charismatic movement, even if the fruitfulness of the movement arguably does not depend upon glossolalia. It is now up to charismatic Christians to respond or recalibrate."" --Matthew Levering, James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary ""Blosser and Sullivan's Speaking in Tongues series is poised to challenge established views within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. . . . The implications of this series are far-reaching for core Pentecostal and Charismatic doctrines, particularly the relationship between speaking in tongues and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. . . . Their thorough historical analysis provides a compelling case for reevaluating the nature of speaking in tongues . . ."" --Joshua H. M. Chan, review in Pneuma (Dec. 2024) ""Pentecostals and Charismatic scholars should welcome the challenge that Blosser and Sullivan bring. . . . If the notion of tongues as glossolalia or some form of ecstatic utterance is indeed an invention of nineteenth-century higher critical thought that then filtered down to the popular level where early Pentecostals adopted it, then Pentecostals should admit the novelty of such a theory."" --Dale M. Coulter, Professor of Historical Theology, Pentecostal Theological Seminary ""I am very pleased to see the publication of Speaking in Tongues. We owe the authors an enormous debt of gratitude for taking the time and putting in the painstaking scholarly effort to provide us with this tremendous resource of theological reflection on the practice of 'speaking in tongues.'"" --Randall B. Smith, Professor of Theology, University of St. Thomas, Houston ""At last, an authoritative yet accessible history of the charismatic gift of 'tongues!' This meticulously researched and even-handed study peels back layer after layer of church history to reveal the fascinating metamorphosis of the 'gift of tongues' since the earliest Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian New Testament. A most worthy and welcome successor to Ronald Knox's classic Enthusiasm!"" --Neil J. Roy, Former Editor, Antiphon ""Here is a book I wish we had fifty years ago when I came into the Catholic Charismatic renewal, for it sheds a clear light on the history of 'praying in tongues' within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Its critical but sympathetic treatment of the subject illuminates and clarifies what a vibrant charismatic spirituality truly is. It is a must-read."" --Adrian Reimers, Professor of Philosophy, Holy Cross College, Notre Dame ""Members and proponents of the Charismatic Renewal movement, for many of whom I have the greatest respect and admiration, may find this book uncomfortable to read. . . . Nonetheless, it deserves to be read carefully and dispassionately in the spirit of respectful dialogue in which it is offered. . . . Blosser and Sullivan are methodical in their scholarship, providing ample documentation in support of their claims with detailed analysis."" --John Joy, Dean of Faculty, St. Ambrose Academy, from his review in Antiphon (2023) ""What makes this book stand-out is the authors' comprehensive approach and linguistic prowess, combined with more recent scholarship. The contributions, for example, of Dr. Victor