Years ago when I was in a small church, we were having a conversation about the gifts which God endued on the apostles at Pentecost. This, however, was before I had received the Holy Ghost myself. Our belief at that time was that some received the gifts while others did not. One fellow in our group immediately spoke up in protest. His belief was that the gifts (especially speaking in other tongues) went out when the canon of scripture was instituted. Many in the Baptist denomination have this same idea, so we were not surprised at his response.
What proof did he have? The Bible does say, as he stated so wonderfully, that “tongues will cease.” Furthermore, the Bible also says “when that which is perfect (referring to love) is come, then that which is part (tongues, apparently) will be done away with” (1 Corinthians 13:10). On the other hand, neither he nor anyone to his knowledge had these gifts; therefore, this reasoning must be on track. Let us examine this.
Here is his biblical reference:
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1Co 13:7-11)
After examining these, I can see several problems here. First, this entire chapter (1 Cor. 13) talks about love. The chapter before this one talks about the gifts of the Holy Ghost while the chapter following talks about speaking in other tongues. Why in this order? Could it be that the church at Corinth had become so infatuated with the gifts that they had forgotten he was a God of love and not just fancy gifts? Furthermore, the gifts were meant to be used for ministry and not to impress others. Could it be the apostle was saying that without love prophesy, tongues, and knowledge would become useless?
The next problem I see is in verse 10. It says “when that which is perfect is come”; this clearly refers to love as the first part of the chapter proves this point perfectly. When the perfect is come, that which is in part will be done away with. Okay what is in part? The previous verse says we prophesy in part (prophesy), and we know in part (knowledge), but where is tongues? It never says tongues would be done away with. Could the apostle be saying that as love grows, prophesy and knowledge would become less important, but tongues would not be affected in this?
My last problem here is in verse 11. The apostle talks about maturity. He states how he spoke, thought, and understood as a child at the beginning but eventually he matured spiritually and things became clearer. I too had this problem when after years of teaching I realized some things I taught in the beginning became clearer as I matured spiritually, and therefore, my initial interpretation was wrong. Could it be the apostle was criticizing their immaturity and at the same time exposing their ignorance to this immaturity?
Regardless, I have spent many years maturing, and one of the first things I have learned is that people will believe what they will regardless of proof or persuasion. Do I believe in tongues for today? In 2012 I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (testimony), and now I too speak in tongues. Did it go out with the canon of scripture or the first century church? I speak in tongues every day, so apparently it did not. What do you believe?
@AllThingsBiblical2022
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