A
Bible Study
Jackson
Snyder, August, 2002
1. Earnestly desire the pneumatikoi, especially that you may
prophesy. 2. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for
no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 4.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. 14.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is
unfruitful.
This tongue is so-called “prayer language.” They words are a mystery because “my spirit” prays. But the effect of such praying is self-strengthening because there is direct communication spirit to spirit.
3. On the other hand, he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification and encouragement and consolation. 4b. He who prophesies edifies the church.
This tongue is prophecy, word of wisdom or knowledge or a message to the assembly in English or a tongue that is interpreted. This type of inspired speech not only builds up the individual, but also and more importantly the assembly.
18. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; 5. I want you all to speak in tongues.
There is no prohibition to speaking in tongues. Paul does it and wants everyone to do it. But he doesn’t make it a spiritual ‘test’ for anybody.
5b.
But even more [I want you to] to prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he
who speaks in tongues, unless some one interprets, so that the church may be
edified. 19. In the assembly I would rather speak five words with my
mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 6.
Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit
you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
To be “greater” means to be of greater value in usefulness to the assembly. The assembly needs:
· revelation (revealing the mind of Yahweh),
· knowledge (knowing how to do things like evangelism or knowing about things, like if there’s a witch in the assembly),
· prophecy (in this case, revealing the future in times of danger)
· teaching (what I’m doing now).
12. So with yourselves; since you are eager for
manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the assembly. 13.
Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to
interpret. 15. What am I to do?
The
intention of such manifestations of the Spirit is primarily for the building up
of the church of which you are a part, not just for your own personal
edification. However, you are to pray
for the ability to speak in tongues and for
the ability to interpret and for the inspiration and boldness to prophecy.
(What is the difference between prophesying and being prophetic?)
15. What am I to do? 15b. I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also.
This makes perfect sense.
22. Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23. If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
What
kind of a sign? A sign of madness
not a badge of high spirituality!
24. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25. the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Many a time has a prophecy or an interpretation dealt with an individual in the congregation. “The secrets of the heart are disclosed.”
26. What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
An
order of service!
27. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. 28. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. 39. So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40. but all things should be done decently and in order.
If the tongue is to be interpreted (the tongue talker needs to be willing to GIVE the interpretation or needs to know someone can), then it is to be given before the congregation. Else, the tongue talker may do so quietly. Each person regulates his own VOLUME!
37. If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Evidently,
the correct use of tongues and prophecy in the assembly as promoted by Paul was
itself a prophecy, a “Thus says Yahweh…”
Has
Tongues passed away with the Apostles?
The verses most often
cited for this is 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
The
largest protestant denomination and others base their entire teaching against
the use of tongues on this verse. They
say that “when the perfect comes” is referring to the time when the teaching of
the original Apostles died out the completed New Testament was canonized. The “perfect” of “complete thing” is the New
Testament. We understand perfection in
this case to mean the resurrection of the dead and the restoration of all
things. Tongues have not yet ceased;
knowledge has certainly not been done away with. To attribute tongues and prophecy to the devil is certainly a
blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
The
question I put to you is, “Do we want to practice tongues with interpretation
and prophecy in our Sunday morning church service?”