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Why does He encourage
them to seek prophecy over tongues? Everyone can understand prophecy,
but tongues requires interpretation. The spiritual gift of prophesy edifies,
but tongues without interpretation does not (1 Cor. 14:3-5). From verses
6-19 the apostle Paul repeatedly reminds the Corinthians that tongues
does not edify without an interpretation.
Three verses later (1 Cor. 14:22-24) the Holy Spirit says
that tongues are a sign to unbelievers and prophecy is a sign to believers.
Prophecy edifies both the unbelievers and believers. Tongues without
interpretation in the church was prohibited by Paul.
The Corinthians desired a more visible gift - tongues.
Apparently, they minimized the other gifts, especially prophesy. In response,
the Holy Spirit through the apostle rebuked them for their preference
for tongues with this comment,
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. (NASB) 1 Cor. 14:18-19 They had missed the point that edification through the teaching of the
Word of God was more important.
Tongues Will Cease. Is prophecy preferred
as a spiritual gift over tongues? 1 Cor. 14:39 tells us that we should
desire to prophesy more than to speak in tongues.
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. (NASB) 1 Cor. 14:39 Even though prophesy is preferred, tongues are not to be prohibited.
That is, prophesy is the greater gift. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 also indicates
that prophesy is preferred.
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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 The first clue that prophesy is preferred in this passage is found in
Paul’s statement that the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge “will
be done away” but tongues will “cease.” Paul continues
by saying that we know and prophesy in part and that the partial or “part” will
be “done away” when the perfect comes. Tongues will cease
but prophecy and knowledge “will be done away” when the perfect
comes.
Tongues Will Cease. The Greek word translated
as “cease” in this verse is the middle form of PAUO. It means “to
cease, auto-cease, come to an end, cause to stop, and stop on its own.” The
word has the idea of something stopping on its own but not permanently.
For example, on one occasion we are told that Jesus had “finished” speaking
(Luke 5:4), and on another occasion the wind and waves “stopped” (Luke
8:24). But, Jesus spoke sometime later, and the wind and waves still
exist today. Therefore, we conclude that tongues will cease on its own
at some time in the future with the possibility that it could reoccur
at sometime in the future. A word of caution is now in order. It is an
error to conclude that tongues will resume at some time in the future,
and it is also an error to conclude that it will not. Scripture does
not support either conclusion. The answer is found in the events of history.
We will revisit this question later. This passage teaches that tongues
are not as permanent as knowledge and prophecy.
Prophecy Will Be Abolished. In contrast
to tongues the same passage tells us that prophesying will be “done
away.” The Greek word translated as “done away” is
the passive form of KATARGEO. The word means “to make idle, to
make inoperative, to render useless, to destroy, abolish, pass away,
vanish away, and nullify.” The Greek word is composed of a prefix “KATA” which
makes the word very strong and implies a strong decisive or cataclysmic
event that destroys. That is, while tongues will stop on their own, knowledge
and prophecy will be abolished only by a direct action of God.
What is prophecy? A survey of the various passages in which
the Greek word PROPHETEUO is translated as “prophesying or to prophecy” in
the New Testament reveals that the word can refer to a prediction or
it can refer to someone speaking for God. Here are two verses to illustrate.
Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name . . .” (NASB) Matt. 7:22 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” (NASB) Matt. 26:67-68 These two verses capture the range of meaning of the Greek word. The
basic meaning of the Greek word is, “to tell forth,” or “to
speak for God.” It does not necessarily mean predicting the future,
but it does mean speaking for God. Moses’ seventy leaders also
prophesied without apparently predicting the future (Num. 11:16-26).
When the prophets spoke for God, sometimes they predicted the future.
The prophets spoke “forth” for God and sometimes they predicted
the future.
The gift of knowledge is supernatural knowledge about the
Bible - the Word of God. Someone who has this gift has deep knowledge
of the scriptures and great understanding. A Bible College, Bible Institute,
or seminary education does not give someone this gift. A lay person can
have this gift and know more than the pastor who has been formally educated.
1 Corinthians 13:8 says that this gift will be “done away” too!
What is the message? The message is that “forth telling” for
God will come to an end when the perfect comes. There are two major views
in reference to “the perfect.” Some believe “the perfect” is
the completed Word of God, that is, the Bible. They believe the perfect
is the Word of God containing all of the books of the Bible: Genesis
through Revelation. The second major view is that the perfect is Jesus
Christ.
This view states that when the Bible or the perfect
was completed, prophecy and knowledge would end. But this cannot be supported
from any passage in the New Testament. It also does not agree with the
idea of seeing something face-to-face in 1 Cor. 13:12. Notice the
three locations where the phrase “in
part” occurs.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (NASB) 1 Cor. 13:9-12 The last verse is connected to the first verse and so is everything
in between. Note that tongues is not included in the “in part” but
prophecy and knowledge are included. The “part” will disappear
when we see “face-to-face” and
then we will be fully known. A book cannot see us or know us, not even
a sacred book.
The second and correct view says that Jesus Christ is the
"perfect." First, Jesus Christ was the perfect man in every respect (Heb.
5:9; 7:28). Second, Jesus is coming again (John 14:3; Acts 1:3-6). Jesus
promised that He would return. If we combine both truths together, we
discover that Jesus Christ is the perfect and He is coming back. Prophesying
will be abolished at Jesus’ second
coming and, consequently, so will prophecy. The spiritual gift of knowledge
will continue until Jesus returns. When He comes, prophecy and knowledge
will be unnecessary.
Tongues and Prophecy Compared. Why did
the Holy Spirit promise that prophecy would continue until Jesus returns
but did not make the same promise about tongues? What is implied by the
fact that tongues will cease on its own, but prophecy and knowledge will
be abolished only at the end of the age? The answer is that tongues 1)
will cease on their own, and 2) will not continue until the end of the
age. The contrast of the two Greek verbs, PAUO and KATARGEO, and the
fact that the Holy Spirit takes special effort to tell us that two of
the three spiritual gifts will continue until Jesus’ return reveals
that tongues is not as necessary as prophecy and knowledge. Tongues will
not last as along as knowledge and prophecy. The gift of tongues is temporary,
but not that of knowledge and prophecy.
Summary. The Holy Spirit has given us spiritual
gifts. Each Christian has a different mix of gifts. All Christians do
not have the same gift. For example, each Christian does not have the
gift of teaching, the gift of tongues, the gift of knowledge, or the
ability to prophesy. All of the spiritual gifts are miraculous gifts
since they are given by the Holy Spirit. They are supernaturally given.
It is a miracle when someone who never had the ability to teach, supernaturally,
becomes a dynamic, empowered speaker.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 reveals that prophecy and knowledge
are the more important of the three gifts of tongues, knowledge and prophecy
since knowledge and prophecy will continue until the second coming of
Jesus Christ. Tongues will not. It will cease on its own. Yet, many
desire tongues - a visible gift - more than any other.
So, the apostle rebukes them in 1 Cor. 14:20, calling them
babes in their thinking. They had forgotten that the edification of the
saints was more important. Tongues only edify when they are interpreted.
Prophecy always edifies. They had missed the point that edification of
others was more important. They were self-serving in their pursuit of
tongues. Prophecy would continue until Jesus’ return and tongues
will cease. |
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| The Spirit's Ministry - Tongues and Prophecy | |||||