Results 41 - 60 of 61
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: eklektos Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Who was Moses sister? | Ex 15:20 | eklektos | 173857 | ||
Greeting holydancer, Welcome to the forum. Exo 15:20 "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron..." Aaron was the brother of Moses therefore Miriam was also the sister of Moses. Hope this helps in your studies. by Grace eklektos |
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42 | what is a bible mansion | John 14:2 | eklektos | 173843 | ||
Greetings Tin, Down through the time of ages God has shown us His corporate design. In the Tabernacle of the Wilderness, there were the priest of the Tabernacle and the tribe of Levi as attendants to the Tabernacle. The children of God were encamped about the Tabernacle by tribe and by their tribal standards or banners, each tribe having a chief (Num 1:4-16). Certain placements in the camp designated for certain tribes (Num 2:2-31). Each nation that God has structured here on earth has this same corporate design, i.e., President or King and all the offices or placements subordinate thereof. We see the building of the church and the gifts given to men by Christ Jesus (Eph 4:8-16), for church structure, Christ being the Head (Eph 5:23), also as the man is the head of the household. God is not a God of confusion in anything He performs. We see in Revelation even the structure of the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ, the structure of order seen by John and the various glories of it (Rev 21). All of this that God has done has been with order, structure, and placement. Now we come to (John 14:2) KJV "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Christ is telling the disciples that He is going away to prepare a position for them in the Father's Kingdom, corporately as we see it here, a structure by design. We are given a view of this structure in Heaven with God on His throne with the elders around the throne and all the Heavenly Host according to their placement in the Kingdom of God, the Father's House, each being having their own glory. There will be structure in Heaven; Jesus tells us the first will be the last (Mark 9:35). There has been structure before the foundations of the earth and so there will be structure in the Kingdom of Heaven, Our Father's House. Paraphrased John 14:2 - In My Father's House there will be a place for you and I am going to go and prepare for you your position within the structure of My Father's Kingdom. (Mat 16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. by Grace eklektos |
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43 | What is spiritual growth? | John 3:30 | eklektos | 173349 | ||
Dying to self. John the Baptist said it: Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. Paul said it: 1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Dying to self. eklektos |
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44 | Where does the Lord put arms around you | Ps 134:2 | eklektos | 172907 | ||
Greetings Searcher, Undoubtedly, innocence, is a controversial word. Better, I had said humble as is stated in Mat. 18:4 talking about the child, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child ...". Humility seems to be a hard lesson for some grown-ups to attain. The child didn't humble himself, but the nature of the child is humble. They don't go off and plan how to rob a bank or want a new car every year or worry about not getting the raise they expected from their boss or go around and gossip about the neighbors. They run around the house with no clothes and think nothing about it. Their minds just aren't there yet. Their concerns are for the 'now' and everything is new to them and exciting. After five minutes they have forgotten that Billy hit them in the head with that toy. They harbor no hate. Haven't you seen that in their eyes? Human nature is human nature and not all things that we experience are in Scripture. Jesus ate fish, was it cooked? How many cups of water were added to the dough to make the bread? These things are not in Scripture. The child raising its hands is an analogy of a humbled person reaching up to the one that loves him and that the child knows that one. Reaching up to the Lord with our hands is also an acknowledgement that He is all in all (as a child sees its parents) and that our praise and adoration and love is to Him only. There doesn't seem to me that there is much to comprehend here. The act comes from love. You ask me, "Where does the Bible support ... That is how I also see it with the Lord. I raise my hands to Him because I know He is my provider and I trust and love Him; in turn, He lifts me up into His arms and comforts me." Answer: "Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Answer: God is Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and Truth and He has sent us the Comforter. He IS my Comforter. Rom 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:". In my worship I am comforted by His presence. This is no touchy feely thing. He promised, I will not leave you comfortless. He hasn't! I pray that all have experienced the presence of the Lord in their worship. It isn't one sided you know. I hope I have explained this for you. eklektos |
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45 | Praise to him!!! | Ps 134:2 | eklektos | 172896 | ||
Is this what you are seeking? Psa 134:2 (KJV) Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. eklektos |
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46 | What does "ask the liver" mean? | Ezekiel | eklektos | 172868 | ||
I believe you are referring to: Eze 21:21 (KJV)For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. And CDBJ explained it rather well. eklektos |
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47 | Can anyone recommend a good study book? | Bible general Archive 3 | eklektos | 172690 | ||
Any study book that you read will have someone's opinion written within the pages. There is one Book and One only that can bring you Life. There is one Book that will bring you to your knees. There is one Book we are commanded to read. No matter what is said, the final word on the matter is Scripture. The Bible is written in such a way that the words written within mature as you mature. We have much technology and many abilities earlier fathers did not have and yet many are farther away from the Father than those. As Paul states, we have such a cloud of witnesses, we really should be ashamed that we are so far from the Father. Always looking for some easy way to go through the gate. Looking for the path of least resistance. Well, there is only One path and Jesus told us how to learn all there is to know about the Father. "Man shall not live ... but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." We can have Philo, Josephus, Pink, Packer, Spurgon, Graham and these are good and not to be trod upon but they all contain a man's opinion and therefore contain a bias someplace. There is One Book and One only. If one could master the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs and of Job and of the Gospel of John, and ... well, there you go, book after book within the Book. Scripture alone I think is the call. The Holy Spirit is promised to guide us unto ALL understanding, if we are willing. In an hour when we know not what to say, the Holy Spirit is promised to give us the words to speak. Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I Am. In your closet in prayer we see the Father. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Worship Him in Spirit and Truth and you will know Him for He will show Himself to you. "Will ye also go away?" ... "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." Yes, but, ...! eklektos |
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48 | Make a joyful noise | Bible general Archive 3 | eklektos | 157151 | ||
Hello Gospelpearl, Are you thinking of: 2Ch 23:13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. "and such as taught to sing praise"? By Grace, eklektos |
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49 | what does the cross on the side mean? | Bible general Archive 2 | eklektos | 154977 | ||
Hello Lorennp14, It is the logo for the Nelson Publishing Company. Nelson Bible with the cross between the letters N B. by Grace, eklektos |
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50 | A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD BUY. | Is 55:1 | eklektos | 154922 | ||
Hello Fun, The "buy" is figurative or poetic in coming to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Where literally you cannot buy anything from heaven with money but you can buy (figuratively) eternity with your soul when we have given your all to the Lord and come to know His fullness upon your rebirth, presenting ourselves a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1). So in a certain way, by giving all that we have and giving every item that we hold dear for the blessing of Grace that only comes through Jesus Christ, one could say we "buy" salvation. (Those that have an ear let them hear). DO NOT take the "buying" as literally purchasing salvation through something we have done. Plus, salvation really is "without cost" as the text states, for we came into this world with nothing and whatever we do have has come from the Lord anyway, so truly salvation costs nothing. Buy the Lord with your spirit, buy the Lord with your soul and buy the Lord with your body. Compare: Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Compare: Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Heaven" also "I am the True Vine", come buy of Me, hunger and thirst no more. by Grace, eklektos |
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51 | Do angels have a free will as humans do? | Jude 1:6 | eklektos | 154892 | ||
Hello creech9, Yes. Jud 1:6(KJV) "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." " 'But left their own habitation' - To wit, according to the common interpretation, in heaven. The word rendered “habitation” [ ** ] occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means here that heaven was their native abode or dwelling-place. They left it by sin; but the expression here would seem possibly to mean that they became “dissatisfied” with their abode, and voluntarily preferred to change it for another. If they did become thus dissatisfied, the cause is wholly unknown, and conjecture is useless." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible) [** Greek letters omitted - not allowed on forum format] by Grace, eklektos |
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52 | is it animal? | Job | eklektos | 154885 | ||
Hello csk_trk, Here is more information about your question: "...the crocodile be established as the "leviathan", and the behemoth as the river horse, the transition from the one to the other would appear very easy; since, as Pliny says, there is a sort of a kindred between them, being of the same river, the river Nile, and so may be thought to be better known to Job than the whale; though it is not to be concealed what Pliny says, that whales have been seen in the Arabian seas; he speaks of one that came into the river of Arabia, six hundred feet long, and three hundred and sixty broad. There are some things in the description of this creature that seem to agree best with the crocodile, and others that suit better with the whale, and some with neither..." (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible) Looking at the Scriptures in another version. (Contemporary English Version) Job 41:1 Can you catch a sea monster by using a fishhook? Can you tie its mouth shut with a rope? Job 41:2 Can it be led around by a ring in its nose or a hook in its jaw? Job 41:3 Will it beg for mercy? Job 41:4 Will it surrender as a slave for life? Job 41:5 Can it be tied by the leg like a pet bird for little girls? Job 41:6 Is it ever chopped up and its pieces bargained for in the fish-market? Job 41:7 Can it be killed with harpoons or spears? Job 41:8 Wrestle it just once-- that will be the end. Job 41:9 Merely a glimpse of this monster makes all courage melt. Job 41:10 And if it is too fierce for anyone to attack, who would dare oppose me? Job 41:11 I am in command of the world and in debt to no one. Job 41:12 What powerful legs, what a stout body this monster possesses! Job 41:13 Who could strip off its armor or bring it under control with a harness? Job 41:14 Who would try to open its jaws, full of fearsome teeth? Job 41:15 Its back is covered with shield after shield, Job 41:16 firmly bound and closer together Job 41:17 than breath to breath. Job 41:18 When this monster sneezes, lightning flashes, and its eyes glow like the dawn. Job 41:19 Sparks and fiery flames explode from its mouth. Job 41:20 And smoke spews from its nose like steam from a boiling pot, Job 41:21 while its blazing breath scorches everything in sight. Job 41:22 Its neck is so tremendous that everyone trembles, Job 41:23 the weakest parts of its body are harder than iron, Job 41:24 and its heart is stone. Job 41:25 When this noisy monster appears, even the most powerful turn and run in fear. Job 41:26 No sword or spear can harm it, Job 41:27 and weapons of bronze or iron are as useless as straw or rotten wood. Job 41:28 Rocks thrown from a sling cause it no more harm than husks of grain. This monster fears no arrows, Job 41:29 it simply smiles at spears, and striking it with a stick is like slapping it with straw. Job 41:30 As it crawls through the mud, its sharp and spiny hide tears the ground apart. Job 41:31 And when it swims down deep, the sea starts churning like boiling oil, Job 41:32 and it leaves behind a trail of shining white foam. Job 41:33 No other creature on earth is so fearless. Job 41:34 It is king of all proud creatures, and it looks upon the others as nothing. "...To convince Job of his own weakness he is here challenged to subdue and tame this leviathan if he can, and make himself master of him, and, since he cannot do this, he must own himself utterly unable to stand before the great God..." (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible) by Grace, eklektos |
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53 | Radical Boycott??? | John 17:15 | eklektos | 154771 | ||
Hello Brazos, Just how far do you want to go with this? The electric companies supply all of those things you listed. You could stop paying your bill! Our Government supports some of these activates. You could stop paying your taxes! You pay rent or buy your house from agents or landlords that support such activates. You could stop making payments! You can't drive your car because the oil companies also supply gasoline to the drug lord's vehicles! Personally I have selected not to do business with Target stores, for two reasons: 1.) they do not support Toys 4 Tots. 2.) they do not support Salvation Army bell ringers in front of their stores. Jesus prayed, Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. God sends the rain on the just and the unjust. We are planted in the same field, earth, and along with us grow the tares. We grow together until Jesus commands His angels to reap the harvest. We are told not to hob-knob with the ungodly. The disciples bought the Passover lamb sacrifice, most likely in the marketplace and the marketplace sold strong drink (Mk 14:12). God knows our needs in this culture. But, if you must, there are many Amish communities around, for they also feel that calling. And, yet, their buggies use the asphalt roads laid down by the ungodly governments. There are specialty shops that directly use ungodly practices, porn stores, tattoo parlors, cat houses, saloons, etc., that would destroy your witness if someone you were trying to reach for Jesus saw you coming out of them, but general stores are not usually associated with the lusts of the world. You will have to decide this, for what is not of faith is sin. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and use what God has given you to do it. by Grace, eklektos |
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54 | Three scores and ten | Ps 90:10 | eklektos | 154479 | ||
Hello Ezekiel1, 23 verses for "threescore and ten" in the KJV (Gen 46:27) And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. (Gen 50:3) And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. (Exo 15:27) And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Num 33:9) And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there. (Deu 10:22) Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. (Jdg 1:7) And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. (Jdg 8:30) And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. (Jdg 9:2) Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. (Jdg 9:4) And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. (Jdg 9:5) And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. (Jdg 9:18) And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) (Jdg 9:24) That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. (Jdg 12:14) And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. (1Sa 6:19) And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. (1Ki 5:15) And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; (1Ch 21:5) And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. (2Ch 2:2) And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them. (2Ch 2:18) And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work. (2Ch 29:32) And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. (2Ch 36:21) To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. (Psa 90:10) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Zec 1:12) Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? (Act 23:23) And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; by Grace, eklektos |
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55 | what does the word pentecostal mean | Acts 2:4 | eklektos | 154477 | ||
Hello Shema, Noting or pertaining to any of various Christian groups, usually fundamentalist, that emphasize the Biblical activity of the Holy Spirit, stressing holiness of living, expressing their religious feelings uninhibitedly or unashamedly, by speaking in tongues and allowing the Holy Spirit to use His gifts through the church. by Grace, eklektos |
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56 | Blood of unsaved on us if we don't share | 1 Cor 9:16 | eklektos | 154408 | ||
Hello StarHigh, Actually it is about the prophet's (Ezekiel) duty to the House of Israel. (Eze 33:1 NASB) And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (Eze 33:2 NASB) "Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, (Eze 33:3 NASB) and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, (Eze 33:4 NASB) then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. (Eze 33:5 NASB) 'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. (Eze 33:6 NASB) 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.' (Eze 33:7 NASB) "Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. (Eze 33:8 NASB) "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. (Eze 33:9 NASB) "But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life. by Grace, eklektos |
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57 | is it wrong fr younger man to marry oldr | 2 Cor 6:14 | eklektos | 154322 | ||
Hello smurfrenee, Answering as to the Biblical viewpoint: If both parties are Christian. 2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Then there is nothing wrong. If either have been divorced you might get more insight from this website: http://www.carm.org/questions/divorce.htm by Grace, eklectos |
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58 | Is "repeating that word" meaningless? | Eph 4:14 | eklektos | 154000 | ||
Not necessarily, it could be phrase, "Blessed is the Lamb" or "Holy art Thou O Lord". It is not, at all times, a prayer, it may be a praise. As Paul states it is without understanding to him but not to God. 1Co 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." 1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Paul says he will do both, "with the spirit" and "with understanding". Have you ever been in that deep of prayer where you couldn't even talk and just groaned or couldn't get the words out properly and the words were garbled because of the intensity of the burden you were under for someone, some direction or something? That is being ‘in the Spirit’ but God understood your want. Also, it is most unfortunate that the NASB in italics inserts "his" for "the". 1 Co 14:2 "but in (his) spirit he speaks mysteries". View the Amplified: 1 Co 14:2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. Both translations come from the same publisher. by Grace, eklektos |
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59 | tongues | Eph 4:14 | eklektos | 153982 | ||
Hello Kennyittis, Tongues, Gift of - Part 1 of 3 1. Basic Character of 1 Corinthians 14: A spiritual gift mentioned in Act 10:44-46; Act 11:15; Act 19:6; Mar 16:17, and described in Act 2:1-13 and at length in 1 Cor 12 through 14, especially chapter 14. In fact, 1 Cor 14 contains such a full and clear account that this passage is basic. The speaker in a tongue addressed God (1Co 14:2, 1Co 14:28) in prayer (1Co 14:14), principally in the prayer of thanksgiving (1Co 14:15-17). The words so uttered were incomprehensible to the congregation (1Co 14:2, 1Co 14:5, 1Co 14:9, etc.), and even to the speaker himself (1Co 14:14). Edification, indeed, was gained by the speaker (1Co 14:4), but this was the edification of emotional experience only (1Co 14:14). The words were spoken “in the spirit” (1Co 14:2); i.e. the ordinary faculties were suspended and the divine, specifically Christian, element in the man took control, so that a condition of ecstasy was produced. This immediate (mystical) contact with the divine enabled the utterance of “mysteries” (1Co 14:2) - things hidden from the ordinary human understanding. In order to make the utterances comprehensible to the congregation, the services of an “interpreter” were needed. Such a man was one who had received from God a special gift as extraordinary as the gifts of miracles, healings, or the tongues themselves (1Co 12:10, 1Co 12:30); i.e. the ability to interpret did not rest at all on natural knowledge, and acquisition of it might be given in answer to prayer (1Co 14:13). Those who had this gift were known, and Paul allowed the public exercise of “tongues” only when one of the interpreters was present (1Co 14:28). As the presence of an interpreter was determined before anyone spoke, and as there was to be only one interpreter for the “two or three” speakers (1Co 14:28), any interpreter must have been competent to explain any tongue. But different interpreters did not always agree (1Co 14:26), whence the limitation to one. 2. Foreign Languages Barred out: These characteristics of an interpreter make it clear that “speaking in a tongue” at Corinth was not normally felt to be speaking in a foreign language. In 1Co 14:10 English Versions of the Bible are misleading with “there are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world,” which suggests that Paul is referring directly to the tongues. But (tosaúta) there should be rendered “very many,” “ever so many,” and the verse is as purely illustrative as is 1Co 14:7. Hence, foreign languages are to be barred out. (Still, this need not mean that foreign phrases may not occasionally have been employed by the speakers, or that at times individuals may not have made elaborate use of foreign languages. But such cases were not normative at Corinth.) Consequently, if “tongues” means “languages,” entirely new languages must be thought of. Such might have been of many kinds (1Co 12:28), have been regarded as a fit creation for the conveyance of new truths, and may even at times have been thought to be celestial languages - the “tongues of angels” (1Co 13:1). On the other hand, the word for “tongue” (glóssa) is of fairly common use in Greek to designate obsolete or incomprehensible words, and, specifically, for the obscure phrases uttered by an oracle. This use is closely parallel to the use in Corinth and may be its source, although then it would be more natural if the “ten thousand words in a tongue” of 1Co 14:19 had read “ten thousand (glossai).” In no case, however, can “tongue” mean simply the physical organ, for 1Co 14:18, 1Co 14:19 speaks of articulated words and uses the plural “tongues” for a single speaker (compare 1Co 14:5, 1Co 14:6). by Grace, eklektos |
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60 | tongues | Eph 4:14 | eklektos | 153981 | ||
Tongues, Gift of - Part 2 of 3 3. A State of Ecstasy: A complete explanation of the tongues is given by the phenomena of ecstatic utterances, especially when taken in connection with the history of New Testament times. In ecstasy the soul feels itself so suffused with the divine that the man is drawn above all natural modes of perception (the understanding becomes “unfruitful”), and the religious nature alone is felt to be active. Utterances at such times naturally become altogether abnormal. If the words remain coherent, the speaker may profess to be uttering revelations, or to be the mere organ of the divine voice. Very frequently, however, what is said is quite incomprehensible, although the speaker seems to be endeavoring to convey something. In a still more extreme case the voice will be inarticulate, uttering only groans or outcries. At the termination of the experience the subject is generally unconscious of all that has transpired. For the state, compare Philo, ‘Quis rerum. divin., li-liii. 249-66’: “The best (ecstasy) of all is a divinely-infused rapture and 'mania,' to which the race of the prophets is subject.... The wise man is a sounding instrument of God's voice, being struck and played upon invisibly by Him.... As long as our mind still shines (is active)...we are not possessed (by God)...but ... when the divine light shines, the human light sets.... The prophet ... is passive, and another (God) makes use of his vocal organs.” Compare, further, the descriptions of Celsus (Origen, “Contra Celsus”, vii. 9), who describes the Christian “prophets” of his day as preaching as if God or Christ were speaking through them, closing their words with “strange, fanatical, and quite unintelligible words of which no rational person can find the meaning.” The Greek papyri furnish us with an abundance of magical formulas couched in unintelligible terms (e.g. Pap. Lond., 121, “Iao, eloai, marmarachada, menepho, mermai, ieor, aeio, erephie, pherephio,” etc.), which are not infrequently connected with an ecstatic state (e.g. Reitzenstein, “Poimandres”, 53-58). Interpretation of the utterances in such a state would always be difficult and diversities of interpretation would be unavoidable. Still, with a fixed content, such as the Christian religion gave, and with the aid of gestures, etc., men who felt that they had an understanding of such conditions could undertake to explain them to the congregation. It is to be noted, however, that Paul apparently does not feel that the gift of interpretation is much to be relied on, for otherwise he would have appraised the utility of tongues more highly than he does. But the popularity of tongues in Corinth is easily understood. The speaker was felt to be taken into the closest of unions with God and hence, to be an especial object of God's favor. Indeed, the occurrence of the phenomenon in a neo-convert was irrefragable proof that the conversion was approved by God (Act 10:44-48; Act 11:15; Act 19:6). So in Mar 16:17 the gift is treated as an exceptional and miraculous divine blessing (in this verse “new” is textually uncertain, and the meaning of the word, if read, is uncertain also). Moreover, for the more selfish, the gift was very showy (1Co 13:1 suggests that it was vociferous), and its possession gratified any desire for personal prominence. by Grace, eklektos |
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