What was the nature and function of speaking in tongues in the New Testament? Is there any relationship between what functioned in the New Testament and contemporary charismatic glossolalia? What was the linguistic nature of New Testament glossolalia? This article concerns itself with these questions but does not give a direct answer. It does, however, provide a survey of the main views on the matter within New Testament scholarship. It discusses the religious background of the glossolalia in 1 Corinthians.