1 Corinthians (Written)

Thursday, 5 February 2015

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. 1 Corinthians 14:22

“Therefore” comes as a result of everything Paul has said to this point concerning tongues. His final note thus far, which is included in this, but to which “therefore” is not limited, was a quote from Isaiah concerning the speaking of a foreign language to the Jewish people who had refused to hear and pay heed to the word of Lord in the language that they knew. Such a tongue (a known, but foreign language) is “for a sign.”

As Paul says elsewhere –

“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:22

The Jews needed a sign and they were given that sign. It came at Pentecost and it was spoken in all the languages of those present at the time. This display was for the benefit “not to those who believe but to unbelievers.” Only God could cause the words of a group of men who didn’t speak the language of the hearers present to have their voices speak in a tongue they understood. It was a validation of the religion which the disciples already professed that was based on the Person and work of Jesus; the gospel that He proclaimed and which they continued to proclaim.

Therefore, churches (and there are many of them) that claim that tongues are an “initial evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism” have fundamentally misunderstood both the purpose of tongues and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. If a person is already a believer, they are sealed with the Spirit and saved. As tongues are a sign not to believers, but to unbelievers, it is obvious that the false tongues they speak are simply an ostentatious display bordering on that which is ludicrous.

Understanding the purpose of tongues, Paul next contrasts that to prophesying. He notes that as tongues are a sign to unbelievers, “prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.” To prophesy is to take the word of God and explain it and declare it in a coherent, reasonable manner. If someone doesn’t believe that the Bible is the word of God, then all the explanation of Scripture in the world will have no effect on the person.

Only after they have accepted that it is what it claims to be does it make any sense to proclaim it to that person. But once a person comes to believe in Christ, then they have a basis for hearing the word explained to them. They will have the desire to know Him, to learn what He commands, and to be obedient to those commands.

A sign then is a validation for something which is as yet unknown; in this case “belief.” Prophesying is an edification of something which is known. If tongues are a sign in hopes of belief, then why would they be spoken in a church which is intended as a place of edification? It makes no sense. Paul will explain this in the next two verses.

Life application: The gathering together of the saints is for the edification of those saints. If unbelievers come in among them, they need to see order, not disorder. They need to see people being edified, not stupefied. Let us consider this as we gather.

I am so abundantly grateful to You Lord. Though I have had many trials in my life, for the most part they have been self-inflicted wounds. But when I stay close to Your word, I find that my life is just where it should be and that things are just as they need to be. The reason for the trials that do come is much clearer and nothing is really out of control. This is why I’m so grateful to You. Your word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet. It makes the dark turn to light and the trials are merely stepping stones leading me to Your door. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:21

Paul now turns to Scripture itself to support his words concerning the use of tongues. He says here, “In the law it is written:” Generally, the books of the law are considered the five books of Moses, from Genesis to Deuteronomy. But in a broader sense, even though Isaiah is a part of the writings known as “the Prophets” he notes that it is a part of “the law.” The reason for this is that the entire time, from the giving of the law until the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, is considered the time of the law. Thus Isaiah’s writings are considered as “the law” in this wider sense.

His quote is from Isaiah 28. However, his citation is not an exact quote, but rather the imparting of the general sense of the words. Isaiah says –

“For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
¹² To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,’
And, ‘This is the refreshing’;
Yet they would not hear.” Isaiah 28:11, 12

Both Isaiah and Paul clearly indicate real languages spoken by real people. Further, Isaiah is specifically speaking of the coming of the Assyrians. These people were not of the covenant line and would not be speaking the tongue as a gift of the Spirit, but rather as their normal language. In other words, Paul is once again referring to a known language which is not understood by its hearers. He is not referring to an ecstatic tongue or some type of “prayer language.” Further, the Bible never speaks of, or even hints at, such concepts.

A couple of other examples of what Paul is referring to can be found in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah as follows:

“The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand…” Deuteronomy 28:49

“‘Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar,
O house of Israel,’ says the Lord.
‘It is a mighty nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.'” Jeremiah 5:15

Paul’s quoting of Isaiah, as well as the other OT references, show us that because the people wouldn’t listen to the loving words of the Lord, which they understood, He would speak to them in harsh words by people whom they didn’t understand. Paul will explain the purpose of this in the next verse.

Life application: The words of Scripture are given to the world for our edification and instruction. We have them translated into our language for this purpose and we are to apply them to our lives, not ignore them. Let us therefore cherish these precious words and let them guide our steps at all times.

Lord, You have taken portions of  human history and condensed them into a book which is intended to show us our miserable state in relation to You and what You have done to correct that. You have ensured that this word was carefully maintained and faithfully translated into languages all around the world. It stands as a wonderful letter of love and hope… and yet we ignore it. How can it be that we are so unwilling to acknowledge and receive such a gift. Forgive us! Turn our hearts towards You! Help us to pursue Your word and apply it to our lives. Amen.

 3 February 2015

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20

In the previous verse, Paul told the Corinthians that he would rather speak five intelligible words for edification than ten thousand in a tongue. Based on this, he tells those at Corinth (and thus us!)  to “not be children in understanding.” In other words, their use of tongues was self-centered, attention-seeking, and childish. There was no edification of others; there was only an immature display of “look at me.” Instead of hoping for growth in others, there was only hope for fame and applause. Thus, their actions are to be considered childish.

The word translated as “understanding” is different than the word found in 1 Corinthians 14:15. Here it is the Greek word phrḗn. It is used twice in this verse and nowhere else in the New Testament. It indicates the inner parts of a person, specifically the midriff. It is where our English word for “diaphragm” comes from. As the diaphragm regulates breathing, it is an exceptional choice of wording for this particular issue of tongues. As the diaphragm regulates breath, and it is the breath which then goes on to produce sounds, Paul must have decided on phren as a sort of play on words, tying “understanding” in with “tongues.” It denotes “reasoning power on the reflective side” rather than on the intellectual side.

In contrast to thinking like children concerning tongues when they should be thinking like adults, he says that they actually should have such an attitude in the area of malice. In malice, they should be as “babes.” Because he is using malice in contradistinction to their attitude concerning tongues, it indicates that he viewed their reasoning behind the use of tongues as malicious. If edification wasn’t the intent of the tongues, then there was something darker behind their use; division and one-upmanship. Paul viewed this as malicious and he is asking them to consider their ways.

In order to do this, he finishes this thought with, “but in understanding be mature.” There are three categories in this verse: babes (infants), children, and the fully grown. In malice (because of their inappropriate use of tongues), Paul desires them to be as mere infants; and concerning tongues as a gift, he desires them to grow up from infancy into mature adults by seeking higher gifts. In so doing, they will be grown-up in their understanding (their phren). In using their diaphragms for edification rather than ostentation, they will become adult believers who are useful to the body.

Life application: Even the inner parts of our bodies should be used in a mature manner, bringing edification to others and glory to God.

Lord, you have given me Today to live. I will never have another Today, even if I have a ten thousand more days. Because Today is unique, help me to use it wisely. I know the paths I cross may never be crossed again, and some of the people I meet may be only Today and not on any other day that I live. Help me to use this precious period of 24 hours wisely, redeeming the time for Your glory. I pray that You will be satisfied with my conduct at the end of Today. Amen.

Monday, 2 February 2015

…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. 1 Corinthians 14:19

Oh that people would simply read the Bible! How does the church wander into such strange and unbiblical doctrines? If we would but open the word of God and, without presuppositions, read and apply it to our lives, we wouldn’t prohibit certain foods, we wouldn’t mandate certain days for “Sabbath observance,” and we wouldn’t act childish as we applied our tongues to the wind in an incoherent manner! Paul’s words in this verse are so obvious that they appear to need no commentary at all, and yet they have been so utterly ignored that commentary is needed.

He begins with “yet.” This is the Greek word alla which indicates a contrast – “but.” The contrast is in relation to what he just said – ” I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet…” Paul spoke many languages, but at Corinth it would be pointless for him to speak some of them. Most Corinthians probably didn’t speak Aramaic. His home dialect of Tarsus would be unknown to them as well. Other than any learned Jews present, none would know Hebrew.

Despite knowing such languages, it would make no sense for him to come in and start speaking in any of them. Their “voice” would have no meaning to the people in Corinth. Without meaning, he would simply be wasting his time by speaking them. And so he tells them that “in the church,” meaning whatever location the group gathered to meet – not a building, but a gathering – he says that he “would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

The words “five” and “ten thousand” are used in a superlative sense. It would be like the modern phrase “one in a million.” In other words, he is telling them of the utter absurdity of speaking in a language that no one else understood; it is a completely pointless waste of breath. If there is no edification; the words would only be a distraction. This is the force and intent of Paul’s words. How is it that churches have so far departed from what is plain, clear, and obvious? It is because the word of God, which is given for our instruction, is either completely ignored or it is selectively taken apart and divided up to meet the agenda of the reader.

What a shame! What sad consequences there will be for those who so abuse this precious gift of God. Let us not be found in such an unhappy position when we stand before Him for our rewards and losses.

Life application: There are many issues in the Bible which are difficult to understand and which result in various opinions concerning doctrine. These require a much deeper analysis in order to grasp. However there are issues which are clear and precise and which should be obvious to anyone who simply takes them at face value. The way to do this is to reject presuppositions and to allow the Lord’s word to fill them with their plainly understood message. In such cases, drop all presuppositions and be a vessel prepared for pure doctrine.

Lord, Your word tells us that it is preferable to speak five words with understanding, than ten thousand words in a tongue. May I apply this to my heart and mind. Help me to never conduct myself in the congregation in any way which would diminish the little time I share with others by uttering unintelligible sounds. Rather, help me always to speak words which edify, words which have meaning to others, and words which glorify You. Help me to be responsible with my tongue, and adult in my spiritual thinking. Amen.

Sunday, 1 February 2015

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 1 Corinthians 14:18

For most of the past seventeen verses, Paul has been speaking of coherent sounds which form understandable languages, not gobbledeegoop. There is no chance then that he now departs from that in order to say something pertaining to unintelligible noises which would ecstatically roll of his tongue. To Paul, edification is the main intent of any words spoken in the church.

Understanding this, we can know that he is not referring to anything similar to the nonsense which is uttered in Charismatic churches today – ecstatic tongues, prayer languages, etc. Nor is he referring to the number of times that he speaks in foreign languages in a church. Rather, he is speaking of known languages that he has acquired, most of which the other congregants would not understand.

Paul would have known Hebrew. He would have learned it in his rabbinical training and used it in synagogues. He would have known Aramaic, the lingua franca of the land of Israel at his time. He would have known Greek, the standard language of the Roman Empire at his time. He also probably knew Latin, a language which was growing in ascendancy during his time. He was raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, and there was probably a regional dialect in that area that he grew up with. In addition to this, he was a tent maker and moved around as he shared the gospel. He probably learned many local dialects as he traveled. In all, his words in this verse are certainly true. He was a man of many languages, and for this he thanked his God. It made him a useful tool in the spreading of the most important message ever entrusted to man.

Life application: Tongues are known languages. When speaking in the church, use a tongue which is known to all.

Lord, I need a vacation, some time away. And so Lord, I will be visiting with You today. I need to have some time alone; and so Lord, I am coming to Your throne. I have to clear my mind of every impure thought; and so Lord, I will come to You as I ought. And in Your presence, I will find rest for my soul. There to You my troubles I will roll. And when I get back to my regular pace, I know I will have energy available to run this race. Thank You for allowing me a vacation in Your presence, O God. I will cherish that time now while I continue my daily trod. Amen.