Revelation, Knowledge, Prophecy, & Teaching

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #124e Written 16APR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Chapter 14: Part Five—Revelation, Knowledge, Prophecy, & Teaching

by dave c

First Corinthians 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? (NASV). Please note that Paul says, “If I come to you speaking in tongues”. If I come to you...It is significant that the Apostle to the Gentiles is not discussing a situation where he is alone in his ‘prayer closet’. As one who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit to be in a position of leadership within the Church, Paul is stating that when he is with a fellowship of believers he should always bring an intelligible word in order for them to benefit from his presence and gifting. This does not preclude a private, personal prayer language ‘in tongues’. That he provides us a list of various forms for an intelligible word is equally significant. Perhaps we should take a quick look at each.

Revelation. (#602) * (p 885) “apokalupsis; revelation, uncovering, unveiling, disclosure. One of three words referring to the Second Coming of Christ (1 Cor. 1:7; 2 Thes. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7, 13). The other two words are epiphaneia (2015), appearing (1 Tim. 6:14), and parousia (3952), presence, coming (2 Thess. 2:1). Apokalupsis, a grander and more comprehensive word, includes not merely the thing shown and seen but the interpretation, the unveiling of the same. The epiphaneiai (pl.), appearings, are contained in the apokalupsis, revelation, being separate points or moments therein. Christ’s first coming was an epiphaneia (2 Tim. 1:10); the apokalupsis will be far more glorious.” A revelation, then, is the spiritually given experience of a/the truth (generally, as the gospel of Jesus Christ, and/or specifically as a point within that gospel)—and the rationally communicated interpretation of that event.

Galatians 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ (NIV). Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better (NIV). In writing to the churches of Galatia and Ephesus, Paul is writing to Christians everywhere and throughout the end times of the Church Age. Want to know God better? Try praying for a revelation.

Knowledge. (#1108) * (p 892) “gnosis; knowledge, from ginosko (1097), to know experientially. Present and fragmentary knowledge as contrasted with epignosis (1922), clear and exact knowledge which expresses a more thorough participation on the part of the subject. Present intuitive knowledge is expressed by the verb oida or eido (492) (Luke 1:77; 11:52; Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 13:2; Col. 2:3; 2 Pet. 1:5, 6).” As expressed here, gnosis-knowledge involves limited experience with a subject—it is not mere ‘head knowledge’, and it is not exhaustive in scope. First Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit (NIV). So, a message of knowledge is a Spirit given bit of experiential information as related to a particular situation.

Prophecy. (#4394) * (p 934) “propheteia; the prophetic rank or work, the office or gift of a prophet. In Romans 12:6 it is classed with diakonia (5087), ministry or serving, and didaskalia (1319), teaching as a charisma (5486), the result of God’s grace or divine enablement to be exercised within the church (1 Cor. 12:10, 13:2, 1Thess. 5:20; 1 Tim. 4:14; Rev. 11:6; 19:10.). Elsewhere it means prophecy, that which is prophesied, foretold (Matt. 13:14; 1 Cor. 13:8; 14:6, 22; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Rev. 1:3; 22:7, 10, 18, 19). A prophecy is something that any believer may proclaim as telling forth God’s Word. This, however, does not make him a prophet (prophetes [4396], which is used in the NT in a very restrictive sense). Prophets are placed side by side with the apostles as the foundation of the NT Church (Eph. 2:20; 3:5), and also with the evangelists who were he successors of the prophets (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). A prophet prophesies, but one who prophesies is not necessarily a prophet.” It is noteworthy that this definition states that prophecy is a “divine enablement to be exercised within the church…something that any believer may proclaim as telling forth God’s Word.” And Paul tells us to eagerly seek spiritual gifts—especially prophecy (1Co 14:1).

Teaching. (#1322) * (p 896) “didache; in an act. sense it means the art of teaching, instructing, tutoring (Mark 4:2; 12:38; 2 Tim. 4:2); in a pass. sense, teaching which is given, that which anyone teaches (Matt. 7:28). In an absolute sense, it denotes the teaching of Jesus (2 John 9, 10), the Lord (Acts 13:12); and the Apostles (Acts 2:42; Titus 1:9). ” "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mt 28:19&20; NASV).

It should be noted that while the first two examples of intelligible speech tend to be directed inwardly from God to the individual, and the second two involve speaking outwardly concerning information and/or inspiration that God has provided—Paul is using all four as examples of his bringing an understandable word to believers. This is an encouragement, then, for us to prayerfully seek and to share His good gifts with each other as the Holy Spirit instructs.

*AMG Publisher’s The Complete Word Study New Testament (1992), edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., Chattanooga, TN, U.S.A..