Grace Thoughts
Order in the Court of the King! (Tongues-3)
We are looking at one of the ‘divisions’ in the Corinthian church. The reason we’re looking at it in this series is to see how God is ‘orderly’ in all He does and how He expects members of His Church to also do all things ‘decently and in order.’
‘Order’ in the Church
As I mentioned in the last part of our series, I didn’t find any mention of anyone interpreting or translating the supernatural gift of ‘tongues’ (languages) in the Book of Acts. Everyone in Jerusalem heard ‘tongues’ in their native (national) language without anyone interpreting. However, I did find ‘interpretation of tongues’ in 1 Corinthians. Why did Paul mention it there? Was it because they were Gentiles and the other mentions in Acts affected only Jews? No, because the ‘tongues’ mentioned in Acts 10 concerned Gentiles as well –
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46
That event in Peter’s life happened years before Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, so the addition of ‘interpretation’ of tongues was apparently new – even for Gentiles. What was going on in the Corinthian church that people who spoke in tongues would need a translator/interpreter? It seemed like something had changed, but what? and why?
Love and Spiritual Gifts
Paul wrote about ‘tongues’ twice in 1 Corinthians 13 –
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. vs 1
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. vss 8-10
I found verse 1 interesting from the aspect of the importance of ‘love’ among Christians. Chapter 12 is a demonstration of how ‘unloving’ and ‘prideful’ some members were in the Corinthian church. Paul asked if everyone had all of the spiritual gifts (which they don’t), then wrote this –
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31
He had already told us the ‘best gifts’ when he wrote – ‘And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.’ So, what was this ‘more excellent way’ Paul wanted to show the Corinthians? Next sentence –
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
I think you’ll agree with me that any Christian who could speak with the tongues of men and of angels, have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge, have all faith so they could remove mountains, bestow all their goods to feed the poor, and give their body to be burned, would be looked by other Christians as a ‘super Christian.’ They’d probably flock by the thousands at some arena to hear ‘super Christian’ give a talk about being a ‘super Christian.’ He’d be a Christian celebrity to top all celebrities.
However, the Apostle Paul wrote that even this ‘super Christian’ would be no more than senseless noise, be nothing, and profit nothing if he didn’t have ‘love.’ That’s how important love is, and it’s the point Paul was making to the Corinthians about their ‘division’ over spiritual gifts. Gifts are important in the Church because the Holy Spirit gives them for His purposes, but love is even more important. Remember that ‘love’ is the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ that Paul wrote about to the Galatian churches (Galatians 5:22). Loving each other, caring for each other, building up each other – that’s what set Christians apart from the rest of the dog-eat-dog world they lived in than, and it’s still the same today. Love for God and others gives Christians the proper ‘decency and order’ that God expects from His people.
Stop or Go?
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 caught my attention because of Paul’s statement that ‘tongues’ would ‘cease.’ What did that mean? I know this is controversial, but stay with me. It’s part of learning how to address ‘divisions’ among Christians. It’s not always easy and often takes time, but if Christians want to solve problems in the Church they’re going to need to put in the effort and time. It will be worth it.
The word ‘tongues’ was the same – glōssai, language. The Greek word translated “they will cease” is – pausontai. It means ‘to make or cause to cease, to hinder, to stop.’ This gets a little complicated, but I learned as a young Christian that grammar played an important part in the translation and understanding of many Greek words. Grammatically, the word pausontai is a verb in the future tense, indicative mood, passive voice, and third person plural.
The reason I mention that is because of something I heard early in my Christian life – that Paul had predicted ‘tongues’ would come to an end by some event or force acting upon it (passive voice). The Greek grammar seemed to support that idea, but the question was when it would happen. Paul wrote – ‘But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.’ He continued to write – ‘When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.’ vss 11-12
So, what was the ‘perfect’ that was to come? What was the ‘in part’ that would be done away? And why did Paul write about putting away childish things when he became a man? Also, what’s up with the mirror – For ‘now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.’? It all seemed to fall within the same context, so I wanted to get a better understanding about it.
Cessationism
I talked to people on both sides of the division (disagreement) about whether tongues had ceased or were continuing. They called the disagreement ‘cessation vs continuation.’ I was told that a ‘cessationist’ believed spiritual gifts like ‘tongues, healing, and miracles’ had ‘ceased’ with the death of the last apostle (John). The reason, they explained, was that the ‘perfect Word of God’ was complete and there was no more Scripture that would be written. They believed some special supernatural gifts (e.g. tongues, healing, miracles) would end when God’s Word was complete. They said those gifts were no longer needed as ‘sign gifts’ after the Apostle John finished writing. They said that, ‘But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away’ fit their interpretation well. They also believed their view (cessationism) fit well with the idea of a man putting away ‘childish’ things – because the Word of God was matured and completed. Cessationists pointed to Paul’s words, ‘Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known,’ as evidence that he was addressing the fact that God’s Word was still being written when he addressed the Corinthians. When Paul and the others finished writing the New Testament, tongues would ‘cease.’
Continuism
On the other hand, ‘continuists’ explained that they believed all of the spiritual gifts, including tongues, healings, and miracles, ‘continue’ to this day – just as they did in the 1st century AD. They viewed that the ‘perfect’ that was to come was when Christians would see Jesus ‘face to face’ in the future. The Greek word for ‘perfect’ is teleion, which is an adjective meaning ‘having reached its end, complete, mature, full grown, of full age.’ The grammar for teleion is ‘nominative neuter singular.’ It is preceded by the definite article to (the). Continuists pointed to that as evidence of the ‘perfect’ being something or someone specific. They also said that Paul’s, ‘Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known,’ was evidence of how Christians would know Christ fully when they saw Him face to face.
Tongues vs Prophecy
I continued reading and found that Paul’s focus on ‘tongues’ did not end with Chapter 13. In fact, Paul’s presentation reached a high point in Chapter 14. He blended his ‘love’ theme into spiritual gifts graciously and powerfully –
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. vs 1
Paul said that Christians should ‘pursue’ (diókó, chase aggressively, earnestly pursue) love, and ‘desire’ (zéloó, jealously desire, burn with zeal, completely intent upon) ‘spiritual gifts‘ (pneumatikos, spiritual, relating to the invisible realm of the spirit). Then Paul used the comparative adverb ‘especially’ (mallon, more than, what is better) to refer to the spiritual gift of prophecy where a Christian would ‘prophesy.’ The grammar of the verb prophéteuó is ‘present tense, subjunctive mood, active voice, second person plural.’ The word means ‘to tell forth, speak forth, forth telling.’ A person with this spiritual gift might declare a truth, or foretell something that would happen at a future time. Most of the uses of the word in the New Testament concerned the ‘telling forth’ of a truth God had revealed to them.
As you read 1 Corinthians 14 you’ll see that Paul valued ‘prophecy’ way above ‘tongues.’ Why?
- For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him – vs 2
- But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men – vs. 3
- He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself – vs 4
- but he who prophesies edifies the church – vs 4
- I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied – vs 5
- for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification – vs 5
Paul made it abundantly clear that tongues needed interpretation to be helpful to the ministry of the church –
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. vss 13-19
I noted that what Paul described as ‘tongues’ in 1 Corinthians was quite different than what I had seen in Acts. Was it a matter of how much time had gone by since Acts 2? Well, what about Acts 19 when the Paul laid hands on Jews who had only experienced the baptism of John the Baptist? ‘The Holy Spirit came upon them and ‘they spoke with tongues and prophesied’ (Acts 19:6). That event was very similar to Acts 2, though it happened more than 20 years after Pentecost. No mention of needing anyone to ‘interpret’ the tongues of those Jewish disciples. However, Paul probably wrote this letter to the Corinthians a couple of years after encountering those men in Acts 19. The timeline doesn’t support the idea that ‘tongues’ changed because of a lengthy passage of time. Something else introduced the idea of tongues needing an interpreter.
Paul also wrote –
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. vss 22-25
Now we get some insight into the purpose of tongues and prophecy. Paul wrote that tongues were a ‘sign’ to ‘unbelievers.’ Prophesying was a sign for ‘those who believe.’ It’s important to note how the gifts of ‘tongues’ and ‘prophecy’ would impact people. If ‘uninformed or unbelievers’ came into a church gathering and heard ‘all speak with tongues,’ they would say that the people in the church were ‘out of their mind.’ However, if ‘an unbeliever or an uninformed person’ came into the church and ‘all prophesy,’ the unbeliever or uninformed person would be ‘convinced by all, he is convicted by all.’ Paul said that the gift of ‘prophecy’ would reveal ‘the secrets of his heart’ and so, ‘falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God truly among you.’
Don’t miss this because it’s very important to the conclusion I’m going to share with you at the end of this study. Unbelievers would hear everyone in the church speaking in tongues and think they had lost their minds. However, unbelievers would hear everyone in the church prophesying and fall down on their face, worship God, and report that God was among them. Why? Because ‘prophecy’ (telling forth) reveals the secrets of a person’s heart. Tongues does not do that, according to what the Apostle Paul taught.
Paul then addressed the importance of ‘order in the church’ as pertained to tongues and prophecy. His point is powerful because we learn something very important about how God views Christians gathering together to worship Him and learn of Him –
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. vss 26-33
God is ‘not the author of confusion but of peace.’ When people gather to worship and study the Bible, they need to remember that. Everything done in a church gathering should be ‘for edification.’ If someone speaks in a tongue, two or three people at most should speak, ‘each in turn, and let one interpret.’ However, if there is no interpreter present, ‘let him keep silent in the church.’ Nobody should ‘speak in tongues’ without an interpreter present, and then only two or three members of the church should speak in tongues. Two or three prophets may speak, and others can judge what they say. Prophets should speak one at a time, ‘that all may learn and all may be encouraged.’ Also, if the Holy Spirit reveals something to another person with the gift of prophecy, the first person should keep silent. The prophets were to speak one at a time so there would be clarity and no confusion. That’s ‘order in the church.’
Remember what Paul wrote earlier? He would rather speak five words ‘that would rather speak five words ‘with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.’ Think about the comparison the apostle just gave us. Five vs. ten thousand. That’s huge, and it’s huge for a purpose. Paul was making an important point about how much more important ‘forth telling’ was compared to ‘tongues’ that could only be understood if someone with the gift of ‘interpretation’ was available to explain what the ‘speaker in tongues’ was saying.
Unfortunately, I have witnessed many church meetings where hundreds of people were speaking in tongues with no one interpreting. Even as a believer, it sounded to me like those people had lost their minds. Plus, it’s absolutely unbiblical. Paul made it very clear that only two or three people in a church gathering should speak in tongues and only if someone with the ‘interpretation’ gift was there to ‘interpret.’ Paul said, ‘But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.’ That’s pretty clear. No interpreter available, no tongues – ‘keep silent in the church.’
Conclusion
I think it’s clear from what Paul wrote the Corinthians that he was addressing a serious ‘division’ in the church about the use of spiritual gifts. Some of the church members were being unloving, unkind, and downright rude to other members of the church. Paul was not going to have that in a church because it is an affront to Jesus Christ, the Builder of His Church. No matter how prideful these Christians were about their spiritual gifts, none of it mattered if they didn’t have ‘love’ for each other.
If you are a ‘cessationist,’ meaning you believe ‘sign gifts’ like tongues, healing, and miracles ‘ceased, stopped’ at the end of the apostolic period (when the Apostle John died), then 1 Corinthians 14 may not be something that you’ll use to convince anyone about what you believe.
However, if you are a ‘continuist,’ meaning you believe ‘sign gifts’ like tongues, healing, and miracles ‘continued’ past the apostolic period and are still active to this day, I highly recommend you wrap your heart, soul, and mind around 1 Corinthians 14. If you will not allow Paul’s clear direction about how tongues and interpretation are to be under the ‘control of the Holy Spirit’ in church settings, then you have stepped outside God’s clear direction. You are disobeying God even as you think you are worshiping and serving Him.
The Apostle Paul concluded this section about spiritual gifts by writing –
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40
I agree with Paul’s conclusion. Prophecy is the more needed spiritual gift for what God is doing in the world to reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ, so ‘desire earnestly to prophesy.’ At the same time, ‘do not forbid to speak with tongues,’ but make sure you follow Paul’s direction about speaking and interpreting tongues to the letter.
‘Let all things be done decently and in order.’ The context is spiritual gifts, but I believe that’s a good thing for us to consider for ‘all things.’ Everything we do as Christians should be done ‘decently and in order.’ God is decent and orderly in everything He does. That’s His Nature. Why would Christians want to do anything that is against God’s Nature?
Think about it.
[Podcast version of this study coming soon.]
Next Time
We’ll look at the importance of a particular group of people in bringing ‘order’ into God’s Church in the next part of our special series, Order in the Court of the King!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts