That You All...

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #124d Written 03APR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Chapter 14: Part Four—That You All...

by dave c

First Corinthians 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 (NASV).

I have read a number of “interesting” interpretations for First Corinthians 14:5 in study Bibles and commentaries. My favorite is that Paul was saying that he wished that everyone could speak several languages—say, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Pah-l-e-a-s-e! According to that logic, everyone today who can speak English and Spanish (for example) are exercising a spiritual gift. Chapters 12, 13, and 14 are primarily a discussion of the gifts of the Spirit, and within that, the gift of tongues is most definitely a reference to an extraordinary, miraculous utterance, and not the ability to speak a number of earthly languages.

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (NIV).

What Luke describes as “...To speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” on the day of Pentecost is distinctly different from what Paul describes as “speaking in tongues” in Chapters 12 through 14 of First Corinthians. The event in Chapter Two of Acts states three times that all the God-fearing Jews gathered together that morning from every nation under heaven heard (and obviously understood) the followers of Christ speaking in their own native language. What did Paul say in the second verse of Chapter 14? 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 (NIV). In spite of what the ungifted teach and preach, based upon the simple, straightforward statements of Luke and Paul, speaking in tongues as a gift of the Holy Spirit does not require that a human language that is unknown to the speaker is being spoken. Quite the contrary.

While what Luke depicts as the first disciples speaking to the crowd in other tongues could be considered “a gift of hearing” on the part of the individual members of that crowd gathered at 9:00 am in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago, Paul says that no one understands the mysteries being spoken to God from the spirit of he who is speaking in tongues. There is speaking in other tongues as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit working to assist people who could not otherwise rationally understand each other, and there is speaking in tongues as a gift of the Spirit where not even the individual who is speaking understands what is being said to God as the intended audience. These are two different out-workings of the Spirit in and through believers that involve speaking and listening. Surely, surely this is made apparent by a simple reading of what is written in these verses of Scripture.

First Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours (NIV). When Paul says, “I wish you all spoke in tongues,” to whom is he speaking? The answer is readily found in the introduction to his First Epistle to the Corinthians. He is, of course, writing to that church of 2,000 years ago, but he is also writing “to those sanctified in Christ Jesus...together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”. That means you and me, if we meet those qualifications.

Finally, regarding the mistaken teaching that because Paul says that prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, then we shouldn’t do the latter—I’d like to make two points. 1. Prophecy is greater unless there is an interpretation, in which case (deductively) they are at least equal in importance. 2. Do we, as individuals and as corporate worshipers, earnestly seek prophecy or speaking in tongues, or any other miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit for that matter? If the answer is, “No”, then shame on us. Please read verses 14:1-5 again. Paul is telling us that he wishes we all spoke in tongues, that we pray to interpret, and that we prophesy. Why should we be doing those things? So that the church may receive edifying. If our churches are not growing, are not being edified, perhaps we should prayerfully reconsider inherited theological limitations that deny the immediate Scriptural power of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt (1Th 5:19&20; NIV).

[Poimen]

Dave,

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Even though I believe the tongues of Pentecost and the gift of tongues to be the same.
Outside of that I thought your article was well stated and masterfully framed.