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They Speak with Other Tongues
How a skeptical journalist was introduced to the charismatic renewal and to the phenomenon of speaking in tongues.
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 1964
93 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
John Sherrill
41 books28 followersJohn L. Sherrill (born 1923, Covington, Tennessee) and Elizabeth "Tib" Sherrill (born 1928, Hollywood, California) are Christian writers. They have co-authored a number of best-selling books, including:
God's Smuggler with Brother Andrew
The Hiding Place with Corrie ten Boom
The Cross and the Switchblade with David Wilkerson
From 1944 to 1951 John Sherrill was a free-lance writer in Europe. John and Elizabeth Sherrill met aboard ship on their way to Europe and were married in Switzerland in 1947. From 1947 to 1963 Elizabeth was a freelance writer for magazines. In 1970 they founded a publishing company, Chosen Books, dedicated to searching "the world for books that would have two criteria. They would be interesting. They would be helpful." Their first title was The Hiding Place".
Elizabeth has authored more than 30 books - many co-written with her husband. Some of these books have been translated into more than 40 languages.
The Sherrills have three children: John Scott Sherrill, Donn Sherrill, and Elizabeth Flint. They live in Chappaqua, New York.
God's Smuggler with Brother Andrew
The Hiding Place with Corrie ten Boom
The Cross and the Switchblade with David Wilkerson
From 1944 to 1951 John Sherrill was a free-lance writer in Europe. John and Elizabeth Sherrill met aboard ship on their way to Europe and were married in Switzerland in 1947. From 1947 to 1963 Elizabeth was a freelance writer for magazines. In 1970 they founded a publishing company, Chosen Books, dedicated to searching "the world for books that would have two criteria. They would be interesting. They would be helpful." Their first title was The Hiding Place".
Elizabeth has authored more than 30 books - many co-written with her husband. Some of these books have been translated into more than 40 languages.
The Sherrills have three children: John Scott Sherrill, Donn Sherrill, and Elizabeth Flint. They live in Chappaqua, New York.
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March 14, 2020
I stumbled upon this book at a discount bookstore in Cleveland while visiting some friends for a weekend. There were around 10 copies on the shelf, sold at a >50% discount, and the cover had a "Left Behind" series-esque typography and design to it - and I know, all of the above are bad reasons for picking up a book at a bookstore. Nevertheless, the subject matter on glossolalia (i.e. "speaking in tongues") has fascinated me for some time, so I picked it off the shelf and started skimming through it. After reading half a chapter, I set it down and wandered around the bookstore, feeling sheepish that I had picked up the book at all, as if I had skimmed through a tabloid at the checkout line of a grocery store. Nonetheless, after a few laps around the store, I kept thinking about the subject and wound up picking the book off the shelf to purchase it. I brought it home and finished it over the next week.
I am fascinated by this subject because I have personally received this gift of speaking in tongues, and yet have also felt divided on the subject because many theologians and teachers I deeply respect adhere to a more "functionally cessationist" approach to spiritual gifts of the sort. Their belief is that such gifts exist, in principle, but are most prominent in third-world settings and unnecessary at best in the Western church context and easily dismissed. At the same time, I have been a part of a church that has had seasons of fluctuating affinity to charismatic expressions of worship. I also find many things questionable about several prominent charismatic and/or Pentecostal churches, and it is tempting to throw out the baby with the bathwater and do away with any association with certain practices I'm not too fond of.
This book presents a surprisingly balanced (I say so not to discredit the author, but because many books on such controversial subjects are deeply polemic in tone) view on the nature of speaking in tongues, from the criticisms and hesitations of opponents, to the benefits touted by proponents. Much of it is told in narrative form, with stories of the author exploring the topic and engaging in his own journey from being a complete outsider and skeptic to receiving and embracing his own "baptism of the Holy Spirit", which I found helpful especially given several striking similarities to my own journey. Obviously, I may feel this way about the book because it ultimately reaffirms my own views and experiences, so a critical reader is free to disagree.
The end result of reading this book is that it actually makes me far more excited about exercising the gift of speaking in tongues (which I received around 10 years ago), which has been in sparse use as of late - typically, I find myself engaging in it only in particularly spiritually charged environments such as during large, prolonged prayer gatherings with my church. I'm also partially shy about this because my overall impression on tongues after reading 1 Corinthians 14 is that tongues should be avoided in public, though I think I went too far on that recommendation even in private prayer, when the Apostle says, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (1 Cor 14:18, ESV).
In my own words, the major benefits of speaking in tongues seem to be: (1) to enable prayer and praise even when we don't know how to clearly verbalize our requests (1 Cor. 14:14-15, Romans 8:26), (2) for self-edification (1 Cor. 14:4), which may mean a lot of things but I take to entail physical fortification and/or emotional encouragement, (3) to edify the church, but only when accompanied by interpretation (1 Cor. 14:27). I have never personally experienced (3), but (1) and (2) are much in line with my own experience when I choose to pray in tongues - I do generally find myself more refreshed and encouraged at the end of it, and having a clear sense that the act served to glorify and exalt God.
There are various stories made through the book that convinced me more thoroughly of the value of the gift because they reminded me directly of my own experience. First, the book describes how the first experience of the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" involved a mountaintop experience of a spiritual high lasting 3-6 months. I recall that after the worship gathering when I first received the gift, I had a hard time speaking in normal English for the following 24 hours - I would look at myself in the mirror and attempt to speak normally and find gibberish flowing out of my mouth, which was a bizarre experience. I also had an incessant desire to sing praise music and pray, and it resulted in me spending several hours daily doing both for around 2-3 months, only interrupting the time when absolutely necessary. Second, the book describes a "heat sensation" when a person prays for another. I have definitely experienced this both as the one praying and as the recipient of the prayer, though my memory is hazier on the specific occurrences. Third, one of the accounts of spontaneous worship in the book remind me of my own rich, spiritual experiences of joining with other believers in my church in song. Finally (and the one that brings chills up my spine), is that the author, John, recounts the time he received this "baptism of the Holy Spirit" and speaks of the deep sense that both him and his wife, Tib, perceived that God was telling each of them the same message, though they were in completely different locations: "Look neither to the right nor to the left, but only straight ahead." Reading this absolutely shocked me because it is the exact same message, almost verbatim, to the words that I sensed God speaking to me the day I received the gift. It also convinced me that perhaps I was meant to pick up this book for a reason.
The book describes how Christians' viewpoints on glossolalia range from (dogmatically) necessary, to helpful, to unnecessary/unhelpful. I am very antagonistic to those who preach it as dogma - whether as necessary evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit or of salvation - particularly given that Paul seems to regard it simply as one among many giftings. I think this is the harm I have been so intent on avoiding that I have been in danger of committing the opposite vice of deeming it unnecessary and unhelpful. This book has reminded me how it is not "necessary" by any means, but can be an immensely helpful means to glorify God by bringing him wordless praise and intercession as well as to encourage other believers in various circumstances.
I am fascinated by this subject because I have personally received this gift of speaking in tongues, and yet have also felt divided on the subject because many theologians and teachers I deeply respect adhere to a more "functionally cessationist" approach to spiritual gifts of the sort. Their belief is that such gifts exist, in principle, but are most prominent in third-world settings and unnecessary at best in the Western church context and easily dismissed. At the same time, I have been a part of a church that has had seasons of fluctuating affinity to charismatic expressions of worship. I also find many things questionable about several prominent charismatic and/or Pentecostal churches, and it is tempting to throw out the baby with the bathwater and do away with any association with certain practices I'm not too fond of.
This book presents a surprisingly balanced (I say so not to discredit the author, but because many books on such controversial subjects are deeply polemic in tone) view on the nature of speaking in tongues, from the criticisms and hesitations of opponents, to the benefits touted by proponents. Much of it is told in narrative form, with stories of the author exploring the topic and engaging in his own journey from being a complete outsider and skeptic to receiving and embracing his own "baptism of the Holy Spirit", which I found helpful especially given several striking similarities to my own journey. Obviously, I may feel this way about the book because it ultimately reaffirms my own views and experiences, so a critical reader is free to disagree.
The end result of reading this book is that it actually makes me far more excited about exercising the gift of speaking in tongues (which I received around 10 years ago), which has been in sparse use as of late - typically, I find myself engaging in it only in particularly spiritually charged environments such as during large, prolonged prayer gatherings with my church. I'm also partially shy about this because my overall impression on tongues after reading 1 Corinthians 14 is that tongues should be avoided in public, though I think I went too far on that recommendation even in private prayer, when the Apostle says, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (1 Cor 14:18, ESV).
In my own words, the major benefits of speaking in tongues seem to be: (1) to enable prayer and praise even when we don't know how to clearly verbalize our requests (1 Cor. 14:14-15, Romans 8:26), (2) for self-edification (1 Cor. 14:4), which may mean a lot of things but I take to entail physical fortification and/or emotional encouragement, (3) to edify the church, but only when accompanied by interpretation (1 Cor. 14:27). I have never personally experienced (3), but (1) and (2) are much in line with my own experience when I choose to pray in tongues - I do generally find myself more refreshed and encouraged at the end of it, and having a clear sense that the act served to glorify and exalt God.
There are various stories made through the book that convinced me more thoroughly of the value of the gift because they reminded me directly of my own experience. First, the book describes how the first experience of the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" involved a mountaintop experience of a spiritual high lasting 3-6 months. I recall that after the worship gathering when I first received the gift, I had a hard time speaking in normal English for the following 24 hours - I would look at myself in the mirror and attempt to speak normally and find gibberish flowing out of my mouth, which was a bizarre experience. I also had an incessant desire to sing praise music and pray, and it resulted in me spending several hours daily doing both for around 2-3 months, only interrupting the time when absolutely necessary. Second, the book describes a "heat sensation" when a person prays for another. I have definitely experienced this both as the one praying and as the recipient of the prayer, though my memory is hazier on the specific occurrences. Third, one of the accounts of spontaneous worship in the book remind me of my own rich, spiritual experiences of joining with other believers in my church in song. Finally (and the one that brings chills up my spine), is that the author, John, recounts the time he received this "baptism of the Holy Spirit" and speaks of the deep sense that both him and his wife, Tib, perceived that God was telling each of them the same message, though they were in completely different locations: "Look neither to the right nor to the left, but only straight ahead." Reading this absolutely shocked me because it is the exact same message, almost verbatim, to the words that I sensed God speaking to me the day I received the gift. It also convinced me that perhaps I was meant to pick up this book for a reason.
The book describes how Christians' viewpoints on glossolalia range from (dogmatically) necessary, to helpful, to unnecessary/unhelpful. I am very antagonistic to those who preach it as dogma - whether as necessary evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit or of salvation - particularly given that Paul seems to regard it simply as one among many giftings. I think this is the harm I have been so intent on avoiding that I have been in danger of committing the opposite vice of deeming it unnecessary and unhelpful. This book has reminded me how it is not "necessary" by any means, but can be an immensely helpful means to glorify God by bringing him wordless praise and intercession as well as to encourage other believers in various circumstances.
January 7, 2018
My interest in languages drew me to this book; my problem with the phænomenon of speaking in tongues has always been that I have loved and studied so many languages that I feel I could pretty much fake this experience, and I could never be sure that it was in fact real, that the Spirit of God were speaking through me in unknown languages, and that I myself were not the author of clever and learned gibberish imitative of the patterns and structures of real language.
Sherrill gathers plenty of convincing anecdotes into this short book. If anything like the following were to happen, one might no longer doubt, and I am not even going to pick out the best of the accounts reported in this book.
A man by the name of Harald Bredesen rents a cabin in the Allegheny mountains for the purpose of a solitary retreat; he seeks God in prayer around the clock, keeping his vigil day after day. Sherrill relates Bredesen’s experience as follows:
At last one morning while he was standing outside the cabin praying aloud, a stillness seemed to settle over the hills. Every fiber of Bredesen’s body tensed, as if his whole being were entering into a new plane of awareness. He stopped speaking for a moment. And when he began again out of his mouth came, and here are his words as I wrote them down that day:
“. . . the most beautiful outpouring of vowels and consonants and also some strange, guttural syllables. I could not recognize any of it. It was as though I was listening to a foreign language, except that it was coming out of my own mouth.”
Amazed, curious, and a bit frightened, Bredesen ran down the mountain, still talking aloud in this tongue. He came to the edge of a small community. On the stoop of a cabin sat an old man. Bredesen continued to speak in the tongue which was coming so easily and naturally from his lips. The man answered, talking rapidly in a language which Bredesen did not know. When it became obvious that they were not communicating, the old man spoke in English.
“How can you speak Polish but not understand it?” the man asked.
“I was speaking in Polish?”
The man laughed, thinking that Bredesen was joking. “Of course it was Polish,” he said.
But Bredesen wasn’t joking. As far as he could recall he had never before heard the language. (p.19)
There are many good stories in this book; perhaps I found these so entertaining that I missed the more important point, the deep power of effective prayer expressed by the Spirit, of which there are also several accounts in the book. I recommend it both to those who are interested in praying in the Spirit, as well as to those who are simply looking for good stories that involve languages and the supernatural.
Sherrill gathers plenty of convincing anecdotes into this short book. If anything like the following were to happen, one might no longer doubt, and I am not even going to pick out the best of the accounts reported in this book.
A man by the name of Harald Bredesen rents a cabin in the Allegheny mountains for the purpose of a solitary retreat; he seeks God in prayer around the clock, keeping his vigil day after day. Sherrill relates Bredesen’s experience as follows:
At last one morning while he was standing outside the cabin praying aloud, a stillness seemed to settle over the hills. Every fiber of Bredesen’s body tensed, as if his whole being were entering into a new plane of awareness. He stopped speaking for a moment. And when he began again out of his mouth came, and here are his words as I wrote them down that day:
“. . . the most beautiful outpouring of vowels and consonants and also some strange, guttural syllables. I could not recognize any of it. It was as though I was listening to a foreign language, except that it was coming out of my own mouth.”
Amazed, curious, and a bit frightened, Bredesen ran down the mountain, still talking aloud in this tongue. He came to the edge of a small community. On the stoop of a cabin sat an old man. Bredesen continued to speak in the tongue which was coming so easily and naturally from his lips. The man answered, talking rapidly in a language which Bredesen did not know. When it became obvious that they were not communicating, the old man spoke in English.
“How can you speak Polish but not understand it?” the man asked.
“I was speaking in Polish?”
The man laughed, thinking that Bredesen was joking. “Of course it was Polish,” he said.
But Bredesen wasn’t joking. As far as he could recall he had never before heard the language. (p.19)
There are many good stories in this book; perhaps I found these so entertaining that I missed the more important point, the deep power of effective prayer expressed by the Spirit, of which there are also several accounts in the book. I recommend it both to those who are interested in praying in the Spirit, as well as to those who are simply looking for good stories that involve languages and the supernatural.
May 17, 2021
I have a hard time reading books that aren’t the typical “give me the facts” nonfiction, but this was such an enjoyable read. The author takes you on his investigative journey through the pentecostal movement. This book laid a great foundation for helping me understand where pentecostalism came from, what it actually is, and what can be learned from the movement. This book also just reminded me of how much I appreciate my church that I am a member of; a word-rooted, spirit-empowered church!
Read
August 20, 2022A fascinating read of one man's journey from objective journalism into full-fledged adoption of Pentecostal practice, experience, and theology. While I cannot refute his experiences, I differ in the theological interpretation of them which makes this book hard (impossible?) to provide a star-rating to. It is a gripping read, a well-told story, with lots to digest and chew on. I believe it to be a valuable resource in understanding the rise of the Pentecostal movement in North America yet cannot whole-heartedly recommend it to any reader who does not share that specific purpose as I would caution them not to embrace all the teachings here-in.
Read
February 16, 2019This was really interesting. It looks at the 20th century Pentecostal movement from the eyes of a skeptic, giving an overview of what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit, a history of revivals around the world, and many personal stories and anecdotes from those who have been involved in these movements.
December 10, 2023
Written by a journalist, this book provides a lot of history of the gift of tongues within the Church. I was blessed and inspired.
November 1, 2023
I read this book as part of preparation for a life group I was doing on the subject of speaking in tongues. I had heard good things about this book and was interested, and excited, to read it and see what kinds of historical evidence it brought for tongues in history. I got so much more out of the book as I read.
Sherill begins his book by talking about a time in his life when he had “acknowledge” of Jesus but didn’t really personally know Him. In the first chapter, “The Leap,” he talks about how he came into a personal relationship with Jesus. It was an incredible, formative experience for him. I see this as the set up for the rest of the book and the claims of the book about speaking in tongues.
In chapter 2, the author recounts an interview he had with a pastor who had the experience of speaking in tongues. Two people witnessing him speak in tongues told him he was speaking in a language unknown to him but known to them. The author and his wife further investigated by attending a Pentecostal church for a three-hour service in which they witnessed the gifts of speaking in tongues and interpretation in action. It was an experience they were not familiar with.
In chapter 3, the author describes how his curiosity is getting the best of him, so he and his wife visited an old friend from a college they respected. This professor had traveled the globe and reported on the Pentecostal movement. He gave them quite an impression. The author decided to start a file on “tongues stories.” To his surprise, a publisher gave him the opportunity to do the research you wanted to do on the subject but didn’t have time to pay the bills and research it. The publisher gave him the opportunity.
Chapter 4 tells the story of the beginning of speaking in tongues in the early 1900s. He makes history come alive in the way he tells it. Although I am very familiar with the history of the unaccustomed movement, it was interesting to hear it the way he describes it. He concludes the chapter by giving a first-hand account of a teenage girl God spoke through to a visiting Jewish man. It’s quite interesting story!
The author speaks in Chapter 5 about how in the beginning, walls went up between the intercostals and the denominations against them. It was obvious by the numbers that many were leaving these mainline denominations are going to Pentecostal groups. Instead of asking why, the denominations tried to destroy the time cost movements.
Chapter 6 continues the story of how closed doors became open to hear more about how the baptism in the Spirit was reaching intellectuals and high church officials and ministers of Episcopalian and Presbyterian people. Even the laypeople were affected. The experience of the Spirit had moved from the poor and needy to the influential and wealthy. The author received so many open invitations to interview people who had received this experience. This was in the beginning of the Charismatic movement, sometimes referred to as the second wave.
In chapter 7, the author has an amazing experience with the woman who spoke in tongues as part of her prayer language. It causes him to look at where speaking in tongues appears in Scripture and in human history. He documents his findings in this chapter. They happen in different denominations and movements, many times in revival settings, and in different countries.
Chapter 8 asks the question, “Why would anyone want to speak in tongues?” The author had a couple of questions still in his mind about speaking in tongues. He discovered a wide range of opinions on whether speaking in tongues was required to be baptized in the Spirit. He also found that there were different reasons Spirit-filled believers gave him for speaking in tongues.
Chapter 9 tells the story of how the author took his insights and tried to explain speaking in tongues by human means. He reviewed some of the evidence he had gathered, examples of people’s stories of how they were understood by other humans. He even took it before language experts.
Finally, he was challenged by one of his friends to experience speaking in tongues for himself.
Before he decides to take this man up on his offer, Sherill wants to do a little more research in chapter 10. He searches the Bible for references to the Holy Spirit and finds Him in both the Old and New Testaments. He is especially interested in how the Spirit uses speaking in tongues. In chapter 11, the author talks about his personal experience of receiving the baptism in the Spirit in a special room to him.
Chapter 12 was the author’s explanation of speaking in tongues and how it applied to daily Christian living and ministry. He gives a great explanation of these applications. It’s interesting to hear how other people explain the baptism in the Spirit. The author gives advice to those who have been baptized in the Spirit and those who have not in chapter 13. I think he presents some great thoughts that I can agree with.
In the epilogue, the author shares an update after 40 years from the first edition of the book. He talks about the questions people have asked him and his wife over the last 40 years. The answers to these questions are inspiring and they have a full and interesting life in which the prayer language of speaking in tongues comes in perfect situations where it is needed.
This book is an interesting one because the author begins as an objective investigative reporter but becomes an insider as he experiences the baptism in the Spirit first-hand. His perspective is unique among the books I have read so far. He has an easy-to-read style and is a great storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone interested in hearing some of the history of Spirit baptism and personal stories the author includes as part of his research. It will help you see his process of moving from skeptical to experiencing it for himself.
Sherill begins his book by talking about a time in his life when he had “acknowledge” of Jesus but didn’t really personally know Him. In the first chapter, “The Leap,” he talks about how he came into a personal relationship with Jesus. It was an incredible, formative experience for him. I see this as the set up for the rest of the book and the claims of the book about speaking in tongues.
In chapter 2, the author recounts an interview he had with a pastor who had the experience of speaking in tongues. Two people witnessing him speak in tongues told him he was speaking in a language unknown to him but known to them. The author and his wife further investigated by attending a Pentecostal church for a three-hour service in which they witnessed the gifts of speaking in tongues and interpretation in action. It was an experience they were not familiar with.
In chapter 3, the author describes how his curiosity is getting the best of him, so he and his wife visited an old friend from a college they respected. This professor had traveled the globe and reported on the Pentecostal movement. He gave them quite an impression. The author decided to start a file on “tongues stories.” To his surprise, a publisher gave him the opportunity to do the research you wanted to do on the subject but didn’t have time to pay the bills and research it. The publisher gave him the opportunity.
Chapter 4 tells the story of the beginning of speaking in tongues in the early 1900s. He makes history come alive in the way he tells it. Although I am very familiar with the history of the unaccustomed movement, it was interesting to hear it the way he describes it. He concludes the chapter by giving a first-hand account of a teenage girl God spoke through to a visiting Jewish man. It’s quite interesting story!
The author speaks in Chapter 5 about how in the beginning, walls went up between the intercostals and the denominations against them. It was obvious by the numbers that many were leaving these mainline denominations are going to Pentecostal groups. Instead of asking why, the denominations tried to destroy the time cost movements.
Chapter 6 continues the story of how closed doors became open to hear more about how the baptism in the Spirit was reaching intellectuals and high church officials and ministers of Episcopalian and Presbyterian people. Even the laypeople were affected. The experience of the Spirit had moved from the poor and needy to the influential and wealthy. The author received so many open invitations to interview people who had received this experience. This was in the beginning of the Charismatic movement, sometimes referred to as the second wave.
In chapter 7, the author has an amazing experience with the woman who spoke in tongues as part of her prayer language. It causes him to look at where speaking in tongues appears in Scripture and in human history. He documents his findings in this chapter. They happen in different denominations and movements, many times in revival settings, and in different countries.
Chapter 8 asks the question, “Why would anyone want to speak in tongues?” The author had a couple of questions still in his mind about speaking in tongues. He discovered a wide range of opinions on whether speaking in tongues was required to be baptized in the Spirit. He also found that there were different reasons Spirit-filled believers gave him for speaking in tongues.
Chapter 9 tells the story of how the author took his insights and tried to explain speaking in tongues by human means. He reviewed some of the evidence he had gathered, examples of people’s stories of how they were understood by other humans. He even took it before language experts.
Finally, he was challenged by one of his friends to experience speaking in tongues for himself.
Before he decides to take this man up on his offer, Sherill wants to do a little more research in chapter 10. He searches the Bible for references to the Holy Spirit and finds Him in both the Old and New Testaments. He is especially interested in how the Spirit uses speaking in tongues. In chapter 11, the author talks about his personal experience of receiving the baptism in the Spirit in a special room to him.
Chapter 12 was the author’s explanation of speaking in tongues and how it applied to daily Christian living and ministry. He gives a great explanation of these applications. It’s interesting to hear how other people explain the baptism in the Spirit. The author gives advice to those who have been baptized in the Spirit and those who have not in chapter 13. I think he presents some great thoughts that I can agree with.
In the epilogue, the author shares an update after 40 years from the first edition of the book. He talks about the questions people have asked him and his wife over the last 40 years. The answers to these questions are inspiring and they have a full and interesting life in which the prayer language of speaking in tongues comes in perfect situations where it is needed.
This book is an interesting one because the author begins as an objective investigative reporter but becomes an insider as he experiences the baptism in the Spirit first-hand. His perspective is unique among the books I have read so far. He has an easy-to-read style and is a great storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone interested in hearing some of the history of Spirit baptism and personal stories the author includes as part of his research. It will help you see his process of moving from skeptical to experiencing it for himself.
September 1, 2018
It’s sad that so many good books that are considered “charismatic” are passed over simply because of the abuses of some in the movement. In “They Speak with other Tongues” you won’t find health and wealth gospel garbage, you won’t find a disregard for the scriptures, you won’t find egocentric figures, but a God-honoring and Bible saturated examination and reporting of the experience of the gift of tongues. I’m thankful that there is a resurgence in our day of the pursuit of the Spirit and an acceptance of the full range of the gifts he imparts. This book, now roughly 60 years old, should be necessary reading for those who are convinced of the aforementioned and especially for those who are skeptical. It has stood the test of time and continues to have a great impact on the church even today. Thank you Sam Storms for mentioning it!
November 2, 2019
Awesome book - Motivates you to Pray More In Tongues
Loved this book and all of the testimonies in it. Seeing how much attack came against the Pentecostal movement in the beginning and even the authors own personal experience 3 months after receiving the baptism in the spirit , encourages me to keep going , praying in the spirit daily. It is in my opinion the most powerful form of prayer , apart from worship. You will love this book .
Loved this book and all of the testimonies in it. Seeing how much attack came against the Pentecostal movement in the beginning and even the authors own personal experience 3 months after receiving the baptism in the spirit , encourages me to keep going , praying in the spirit daily. It is in my opinion the most powerful form of prayer , apart from worship. You will love this book .
March 7, 2021
Forever my #1 favorite. An essential read for any Christian who desires to believe the entirety of the Gospel and who yearns to understand who the Holy Spirit is, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, especially given that the author was a skeptic himself. Its impossible to not be convicted of this truth by the end of the book & it sets a fire in your heart to pursue this intimately personal God given phenomenon, blessing & gift.
September 7, 2021
Incredible, for those who don't speak in tongues it's informative and useful. For those who do it's a wonderful encouragement to use the gift
January 21, 2025
I found this book invaluably refreshing. Many are turned off to the gift of tongues because of the shallow emotionalism that so often accompanies it. I realized while reading these pages, that I was becoming one of them after watching my own family blindly grasp tongues then seemingly be let down. I found myself aching for them and pulling back from a gift that had been so clearly beneficial in my walk with Christ.
This book, written from a skeptical viewpoint addressed all my growing concerns and questions along with many I hadn’t yet articulated. I am grateful I found it when I did.
I also found the almost dormant gift of tongues within me affirmed multiple times. Examples: testimonies of others reaching “language barriers” in prayer and using tongues to be able to express more. I’ve experienced that and the release tongues brings multiple times but never had help putting those words to it. Or when they didn’t know how to pray in a given situation either for lack of words or lack of information so they switched to tongues and found utterance for what the Spirit had put on their heart. Again I’ve experienced this repeatedly but didn’t have others testimonies to back it up.
And can I take a moment to comment that the author’s research is extensive!! He went to no small length to logically prove tongues and therefore, because the gift is both logical and spiritual, it took an extensive research journey before he found himself able to face what he addresses in one of the last chapters, what many of the miracles in the Bible required, a simple act of humble faith.
The writer wraps up his book with down to earth examples of applications for those of us going to churches that aren’t Pentecostal. That last chapter gave me a deep rested hope that, with wisdom, the Body of Christ can be one even when something as earthshaking as tongues happens to us. We need both. We need structure and we need freedom. And we can receive what it takes to grow into both.
I wish I could give it 6 stars but all I can say is this book has the potential to scale the walls of denomination, highly benefiting any dedicated Christian that gives it a read.
This book, written from a skeptical viewpoint addressed all my growing concerns and questions along with many I hadn’t yet articulated. I am grateful I found it when I did.
I also found the almost dormant gift of tongues within me affirmed multiple times. Examples: testimonies of others reaching “language barriers” in prayer and using tongues to be able to express more. I’ve experienced that and the release tongues brings multiple times but never had help putting those words to it. Or when they didn’t know how to pray in a given situation either for lack of words or lack of information so they switched to tongues and found utterance for what the Spirit had put on their heart. Again I’ve experienced this repeatedly but didn’t have others testimonies to back it up.
And can I take a moment to comment that the author’s research is extensive!! He went to no small length to logically prove tongues and therefore, because the gift is both logical and spiritual, it took an extensive research journey before he found himself able to face what he addresses in one of the last chapters, what many of the miracles in the Bible required, a simple act of humble faith.
The writer wraps up his book with down to earth examples of applications for those of us going to churches that aren’t Pentecostal. That last chapter gave me a deep rested hope that, with wisdom, the Body of Christ can be one even when something as earthshaking as tongues happens to us. We need both. We need structure and we need freedom. And we can receive what it takes to grow into both.
I wish I could give it 6 stars but all I can say is this book has the potential to scale the walls of denomination, highly benefiting any dedicated Christian that gives it a read.
May 27, 2021
I read the twentieth anniversary edition of this classic Christian book, which was recommended by my pastor. I have been working on a book about spiritual gifts and did not have a lot about the gift of tongues. While I don't agree 100% with the Pentecostals that tongues is THE evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I did get some great info from this book and really enjoyed it.
Rather than being a dry, boring textbook about the subject, They Speak with Other Tongues was an engaging read for several reasons. First, I appreciated that this book was approached with a reporter's objectivity. Sherrill wasn't trying to convince me of anything; on the contrary, he was admittedly skeptical about the topic when he first began his research. Second, he and his wife, Tib, did a great job of researching and outlining the history of the resurgence of tongues in contemporary Christianity. And third, the author combined his research and interviews with a sort of diary of his journey from traditional Episcopalian non-charismatic Christian to a tongues-speaking, Spirit-filled believer.
If you are unfamiliar with the gift of tongues or wanting to learn more about this phenomenon, I highly recommend this book. Although originally published in the 1960's, it's still relevant and remains in print today. If you are trying to explain the gift of tongues to someone, then this would be a good choice, as well, since the author is not pushy about the topic, but merely presents the facts as they came to him.
Rather than being a dry, boring textbook about the subject, They Speak with Other Tongues was an engaging read for several reasons. First, I appreciated that this book was approached with a reporter's objectivity. Sherrill wasn't trying to convince me of anything; on the contrary, he was admittedly skeptical about the topic when he first began his research. Second, he and his wife, Tib, did a great job of researching and outlining the history of the resurgence of tongues in contemporary Christianity. And third, the author combined his research and interviews with a sort of diary of his journey from traditional Episcopalian non-charismatic Christian to a tongues-speaking, Spirit-filled believer.
If you are unfamiliar with the gift of tongues or wanting to learn more about this phenomenon, I highly recommend this book. Although originally published in the 1960's, it's still relevant and remains in print today. If you are trying to explain the gift of tongues to someone, then this would be a good choice, as well, since the author is not pushy about the topic, but merely presents the facts as they came to him.
March 18, 2023
I've become obsessed with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. They wrote The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom, Brother Andrew's God's Smuggler, David Wilkerson's The Cross and the Switchblade and probably my favorite, The Happiest People on Earth. They also started Chosen Books publishing company.
I decided to read everything they've written and this personal memoir is riveting. He uses Scripture, his own experiences and MOUNTAINS of research and interviews from other people. Totally fascinating. A great read.
I decided to read everything they've written and this personal memoir is riveting. He uses Scripture, his own experiences and MOUNTAINS of research and interviews from other people. Totally fascinating. A great read.
October 28, 2025
From what I understand, the author wrote this book over the course of many years, during which he was converted from a sceptic to a tongue-speaking believer. This change is evident in the book having absolutely no solid identity. Is it a genuine academic attempt to understand the phenomenon of glossolalia? Nope. Is it a defence of the Pentecostal position from careful Biblical exegesis? Definitely not. Is it a chronology of the history of Pentecostalism? Not quite. Is it the story of the author's personal journey with Pentecostalism? Probably.
The problem is that the book has no idea what it's actually trying to achieve. Because of this, it achieves very little meaningful. However, I found a particular story about a cannibalistic African tribe intriguing, so I researched the tribe further, only to discover no one else in the world had ever heard of them. The author was clearly just fleeced by whoever relayed the anecdote to him.
In fairness, the book is not at all painful to read. Some of the stories were interesting, if not occasionally touching. However, I do not know what I am supposed to take away from the fact that a South African Pentecostal leader helped the author pack dishes.
If the book was any longer I would certainly review it even worse.
The problem is that the book has no idea what it's actually trying to achieve. Because of this, it achieves very little meaningful. However, I found a particular story about a cannibalistic African tribe intriguing, so I researched the tribe further, only to discover no one else in the world had ever heard of them. The author was clearly just fleeced by whoever relayed the anecdote to him.
In fairness, the book is not at all painful to read. Some of the stories were interesting, if not occasionally touching. However, I do not know what I am supposed to take away from the fact that a South African Pentecostal leader helped the author pack dishes.
If the book was any longer I would certainly review it even worse.
July 13, 2025
I grew up reading a lot of books, primarily fiction. Lately, I've gotten myself into theology and non-fiction books among other genres. I dont usually write reviews because they tend to feel like chores.
It would be a sin if I didn't take an effort towards telling you how good this book was. Hands down the best book I've ever read so far.
I was baptized in the Spirit a few years back, but over time, I came across a lot of conflicting thoughts and ideas with my love life being a catalyst to it.
I am a testimony that the Spirit guided me to come across this book and read it. From the beginning to the end, it felt like I wrote this book myself because ever question John had in his mind was the same questions I've been struggling with (start to finish, minus the answers to them).
I can with surety in my heart say that John was guided by The Holy Spirit to write this book start to finish and its just undeniable how real every page and every experience felt!
I hope the whole world finds this book and becomes edified and baptized in the Spirit.
God rest John and Elizabeth's soul. ❤️🔥
Praise the Lord.
It would be a sin if I didn't take an effort towards telling you how good this book was. Hands down the best book I've ever read so far.
I was baptized in the Spirit a few years back, but over time, I came across a lot of conflicting thoughts and ideas with my love life being a catalyst to it.
I am a testimony that the Spirit guided me to come across this book and read it. From the beginning to the end, it felt like I wrote this book myself because ever question John had in his mind was the same questions I've been struggling with (start to finish, minus the answers to them).
I can with surety in my heart say that John was guided by The Holy Spirit to write this book start to finish and its just undeniable how real every page and every experience felt!
I hope the whole world finds this book and becomes edified and baptized in the Spirit.
God rest John and Elizabeth's soul. ❤️🔥
Praise the Lord.
January 11, 2026
This book was amazing. Coming from a Presbyterian background, I was skeptical at first—but wow. The idea that the Holy Spirit still moves today as He did in Acts, transforming disciples into bold apostles, is both beautiful and exciting.
If you grew up afraid of tongues or “prayer languages”, uncertain about them, or unsure who the Holy Spirit really is—wondering if He’s more of a “ghost” than God’s living Spirit of truth—this book is for you. It thoughtfully and biblically challenges those fears and misunderstandings.
If you grew up afraid of tongues or “prayer languages”, uncertain about them, or unsure who the Holy Spirit really is—wondering if He’s more of a “ghost” than God’s living Spirit of truth—this book is for you. It thoughtfully and biblically challenges those fears and misunderstandings.
November 29, 2018
3.5 stars
An interesting look at the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues from an initial skeptic who explores the biblical teaching. While this is a reprint of an older book, the time difference doesn't dilute the message and this is a great introduction to speaking in tongues (what the bible says and how - particularly in America - the church has treated the gift) if the subject matter sparks any interest for you.
Thanks to Chosen Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
An interesting look at the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues from an initial skeptic who explores the biblical teaching. While this is a reprint of an older book, the time difference doesn't dilute the message and this is a great introduction to speaking in tongues (what the bible says and how - particularly in America - the church has treated the gift) if the subject matter sparks any interest for you.
Thanks to Chosen Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
January 21, 2020
Wow.....what a great resource on Tongues! If you're curious about Tongues, you need this book! It chronicles the author's journey from cold believer and disbeliever in tongues to someone who learned a lot in that journey. He shares insights about the Pentecostals and great revivals like Asuza. It's fun to read about how every questioning was met with resources that provided him with real experiences. God sure smiled through this book!
December 29, 2020
A heart - soring thrill to read. This book is so uplifting, inspiring, and a reminder of the POWER we have as God’s kids and the joy-filled life we should be leading as God’s kids. I never knew how many different denominations SITs and the history of the “revival” of it over the last century was incredible to read. If you are just waiting to speak in tongues yourself and want to know more as to how - please reach out to me. It is truly as easy as breathing and God desires it for all his kids. He truly loves you. You can and will do it too if you so desire.
August 3, 2019
Couldn't put the book down!
I too have been born again with full immersion of water. However I have been waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I found this book very inspirational and will probably read it again. Will continue in prayer that one day I too will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit!
I too have been born again with full immersion of water. However I have been waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I found this book very inspirational and will probably read it again. Will continue in prayer that one day I too will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit!
September 1, 2022
Interesting book. I found myself hoping for the ability to speak in tongues! This book was published in 1964 and still the Pentecostal churches are still mainly invisible. (I once saw an evangelical female preacher speaking in tongues while holding on to a president's shoulder and I wanted to puke.)
December 4, 2024
Pude aprender mais com esse livro e me dedicar a conhecer mais intimamente o Espírito Santo… foram dias de crescimento espiritual durante a leitura, pude desejar um novo nível de contemplação ao senhor que de fato continuo a buscar enquanto vivo as boas novas do evangelho l.
Obrigado pelo livro!
Obrigado pelo livro!
January 7, 2025
If you are already a Christian and Baptised in the Holy Spirit speaking in other tongues there’s nothing in the book that will help you grow spiritually.
This book is really for the skeptic, the Religious, for a Christian who is scared or can’t work out why they haven’t received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and can’t speak in a personal prayer language of speaking in other tongues!
This book is really for the skeptic, the Religious, for a Christian who is scared or can’t work out why they haven’t received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and can’t speak in a personal prayer language of speaking in other tongues!
Want to read
April 22, 2025Personal Reference:
Elizabeth and John Sherrill have authored or coauthored numerous best sellers with sales in excess of fifty million, including The Hiding Place, The Cross and the Switchblade, God’s Smuggler, They Speak with Other Tongues, The Happiest People on Earth, and Return from Tomorrow.
Elizabeth and John Sherrill have authored or coauthored numerous best sellers with sales in excess of fifty million, including The Hiding Place, The Cross and the Switchblade, God’s Smuggler, They Speak with Other Tongues, The Happiest People on Earth, and Return from Tomorrow.
November 29, 2025
Fantastic book on a theme considered strange and out of the stratosphere by many including Christians. Well, they are correct and this book part biographical and part analytical, does a great job of conter balancing the scepticism initially met along with the joy of golossae. Surprisingly good read.
January 22, 2017
A solid study of speaking in tongues. A particularly good chapter on the person of the Holy Spirit. See comments: http://ozhamada-observes.blogspot.com... and http://ozhamada-observes.blogspot.com...
September 20, 2017
The best book I've read on speaking in tongues (as part of Christianity) to date. It's by a reporter who goes to investigate the phenomenon from an outside perspective, to pick it apart and see if it's real. Well worth the short time it takes.
May 25, 2018
The one I read had a different cover and was the 20th anniversary printing. It was a well-done book with lots of research and history with personal experiences mixed in. As one who has been “put off” by pushy Pentecostals but also experienced he Baptism, it was an enjoyable and encouraging read.
July 18, 2019
This book is very powerful. It is a short read that I took my time with. If your even interested in the phenomenon of speaking in tounges, I would read this book. It is essentially written by a sceptic who has a transformation during the writing of this book. It is really cool
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