Is Paul's "Praying In the Spirit" the same as Tongues

[RJ]

No!
Praying in the Spirit is mentioned three times in Scripture. 1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” So, what exactly does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

The Greek word translated “pray in” can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.” Praying in the Spirit does not refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying. Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for. Romans 8:26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Some, based on 1 Corinthians 14:15, equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues. Discussing the gift of tongues, Paul mentions “pray with my spirit.” 1 Corinthians14:14 states that when a person prays in tongues, he does not know what he is saying, since it is spoken in a language he does not know. Further, no one else can understand what is being said, unless there is an interpreter 1 Corinthians 14: 27-28. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul instructs us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” How are we to pray with all kinds of prayers and requests and pray for the saints, if no one, including the person praying, understands what is being said? Therefore, praying in the Spirit should be understood as praying in the power of the Spirit, by the leading of the Spirit, and according to His will, not as praying in tongues.

 

[B-A-C]

To me, Paul is taking about two different things in 1 Cor 14.

1 Cor 14:2; For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

But then he also mentions prophecy....

1 Cor 14:3; But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
1 Cor 14:4; One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
1Cor 14:5; Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

He further seems to talk abut the difference of "assembling together" in this case, he says it's a bad thing if everyone speak out in tongues.

1 Cor 14:22; So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
1 Cor 14:23; Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

But to answer your question... can you pray in the Spirit without speaking in tongues? Yes, I believe you can.
But the flip side would be... can you pray in the Spirit without speaking a language you know? I would also say yes to this. Many people in the Bible apparently did.

It has been asked here on TJ... have you ever heard someone speak in tongues in a service,
It was also asked if there was (always) an interpretation.

I answered yes, to the first question.. and "not always" to the second question.
So I would ask you... have you ever heard tongues and an interpretation in your church?

 

[RJ]

I answered yes, to the first question.. and "not always" to the second question.
So I would ask you... have you ever heard tongues and an interpretation in your church?

If you are talking to me, I have already answered that question.
Like, so many things B-A-C, we disagree. Tongues and what the intent of Tongues is today, is no different.
God bless you and your understanding of scripture and your continued spiritual growth!

 

[Ophel]

In answer to the OP's title question:

Yes.

 

[Curtis]

To me, Paul is taking about two different things in 1 Cor 14.

1 Cor 14:2; For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

But then he also mentions prophecy....

1 Cor 14:3; But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
1 Cor 14:4; One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
1Cor 14:5; Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

He further seems to talk abut the difference of "assembling together" in this case, he says it's a bad thing if everyone speak out in tongues.

1 Cor 14:22; So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
1 Cor 14:23; Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

But to answer your question... can you pray in the Spirit without speaking in tongues? Yes, I believe you can.
But the flip side would be... can you pray in the Spirit without speaking a language you know? I would also say yes to this. Many people in the Bible apparently did.

It has been asked here on TJ... have you ever heard someone speak in tongues in a service,
It was also asked if there was (always) an interpretation.

I answered yes, to the first question.. and "not always" to the second question.
So I would ask you... have you ever heard tongues and an interpretation in your church?

Praying in the Spirit can be either in "tongues" or in a "known language". If it is in a known language then it would by one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, either by a word of "knowledge" or a word of "Wisdom" or "prophecy". But it would be as the Spirit wills and not what man wills.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Praying in the spirit and known language are different.
Praying in the spirit is tongues

Now then you can be led by the spirit in prayer in a known language
Praying in the spirit is the one language satan can not understand.