In Spanish the name Peter is "Pedro" the name Peter is Pierre in French, in German the name Peter is Petrus.
You see every language has its own word for the name Peter, it still remains the same person.
In Spanish, the word "Bible" is Biblia, in French the word for God is Dieu! Do you see where I am going with this, every language has its own words different from English but means the same things.
Every language has its own word for our words, an Italian, or German or Spanish person is not going to speak the same words that we speak in English.
Arguing about words is not productive nor is it a sin when we are using translations to say the same thing God said.
We do not speak Hebrew we speak English therefore our word for Jesus Christ is not wrong or sinful. At Pentecost, one person spoke in their language and the people hearing heard in their own language. This was a work of the Holy Spirit.
When tongues were used during the time of Paul's ministry it was for the purpose of getting out the gospel and it was not believers speaking in another language as so many think, it was in their own language and for unbelievers to hear the gospel.
1 Corinthians 14:21-23 "…21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?"
Let's not be arguing over pronuciation, it is a red herring to divide believers. Those who would fight over translations, names, and other useless things will judge others as either non-believers or as lesser Christians than themselves, it's a matter of pride.
Peter and Paul spoke in tongues because they were traveling to many different places to those who did not speak their own language. God clearly said it is better to speak in a language that men can understand than to speak an unknown tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:1-2 "1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort."
In our churches, today tongues is gibberish and not real tongues and for the purpose of self-glorification, a matter or pride to feel superior to others. We know this because of the boasting many do. We have no need for tongues when we are in a place where all the people speak the same language and we have the Bible we can share.
In Pauls day the new testament did not yet exist. When the Bible came to the common man and in most of the languages of the world, there was no purpose for tonges. Not that it has been completely done away with but that it is rare because there is no longer a need. We can all speak the truth of God.
If someone comes to you and says they speak in tongues and they interpret themselves their own words that say the same things the Bible already says, we know this is "humble bragging.," I would ask them why they spoke in a tongue when they could speak the language of the people in the room?
There is such a thing as false tongues to glorify self. These false tongues are babbling and not words from any language, they could even be devils blaspheming God and those who speak it wouldn't even know it.
Be wise brothers and sisters, stop attempting to appear spiritual to others around you and begin sharing the gospel openly without fanfare and pride, this will have value to all the believers in the gathering and to those who need to hear the gospel.
1 Corinthians 14:18-20 "…18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature."
Paul spoke in tongues regularly not for edifying himself but because he was speaking the gospel to unsaved people who did not speak his language. This is clear from the scriptures.
