What are the differences between the Eastern Orthodox and Pentecostal churches?

The Eastern Orthodox Church or, more correctly, the Christian Orthodox Church, was founded in the year 33 AD on the Day of Pentecost by Jesus Christ. This church has continued to exist from then, in an unbroken line of succession of Apostles/Bishops, known as Apostolic Succession. This is what gives the Orthodox Church its authenticity and its legitimacy, as it was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself over 2000 years ago.

The Pentecostal movement has a very recent history, and began as an evangelical movement in the early 1900s. Its two main founders were the controversial preacher, Charles Fox Parham, and the African American preacher, William J. Seymour, from Los Angeles, California.

The Pentecostal movement places great emphasis on "speaking in tongues" as being very important, however, the Orthodox Church believes that there is no Biblical foundation for such claims. For example, the Orthodox maintain that Christ Himself never told His disciples to speak in tongues. This is considered to be one of the lesser gifts of the Holy Spirit and is not essential for salvation. St Paul says the greatest of all the gifts is love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

The Bible says, "In the church, I would rather speak five words that can be understood, in order to teach others, than ten thousand words in strange tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:19) St Paul tells us that speaking in tongues is only a sign for the unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22) and that unless you speak words easy to understand, you will simply be speaking into the air (1 Corinthians 14:9).

The Orthodox Church follows the Biblical teaching that we must be baptized in order to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5) and in order to receive forgiveness of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

First answer by Romiosini. Last edit by Romiosini. Contributor trust: 56 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 7 [recommend question]