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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# | |||
61 | tongues | Eph 4:14 | eklektos | 153980 | ||
Tongues, Gift of - Part 3 of 3 4. Religious Emotionalism: Paul's treatment of the tongues in 1 Cor 12 through 14 is a classical passage for the evaluation of religious emotionalism. Tongues are a divine gift, the exercise is not to be forbidden (1Co 14:39), and Paul himself is grateful that he has the gift in an uncommon degree (1Co 14:18). Indeed, to those who treat them simply with scorn they become a “sign” that hardening is taking place (1Co 14:21-23). Yet a love of them because they are showy is simply childish (1Co 14:20; 1Co 13:11), and the possessor of the gift is not to think that he has the only thing worth obtaining (1 Cor 12). The only gift that is utterly indispensable is love (1Co 13:1-13), and without it tongues are mere noise (1Co 13:1). The public evidential value of tongues, on which perhaps the Corinthians were inclined to lay stress, Paul rates very low (1Co 14:21-23). Indeed, when exercised in public they tend to promote only the self-glorification of the speaker (1Co 14:4), and so are forbidden when there is not an interpreter, and they are limited for public use at all times (1Co 14:27, 1Co 14:28). But the ideal place for their exercise is in private: “Let him speak to himself, and to God” (1Co 14:28). The applicability of all this to modern conditions needs no commentary. Ultra-emotionalistic outbreaks still cause the formation of eccentric sects among us, and every evangelist knows well-meaning but slightly weak individuals who make themselves a nuisance. On the other hand, a purely intellectual and ethical religion is rather a dreary thing. A man who has never allowed his religious emotions to carry him away may well be in a high state of grace - but he has missed something, and something of very great value. 5. The Cessation of Tongues: 1 Cor 13:1-3 – Paul reports the excellency of love above the power of speaking the languages of men and of angels; above the power of understanding all mysteries; above all faith, even of the highest kind; and above the virtue of giving all one’s goods to feed the poor, or one’s body to be burned. All these endowments would be valueless without love. 1 Cor 13:4-7 - statements of the characteristics of love; or its happy influences on the mind and heart. 1 CoR 13:8-13 - a comparison of love with the gift of prophecy, and with the power of speaking in tongues, and with knowledge. In this portion of the chapter, Paul shows that love is superior to them all. It will live in heaven forever and these gifts are but earthly and will cease when all things are restored and will constitute the chief glory of that world of bliss. How that now, in this world, he sees dimly and only knows in part and can only speak of those things to come in part, (1Co 13:10) “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” When we are with Him and all things have been put under His footstool, of all these gifts, love will remain. Literature: Wright, “Some New Testament Problems” (1898) Walker, “The Gift of Tongues and Other Essays” (1906), have collections of material. Of the commentaries on 1 Corinthians those of Heinrici (latest edition, 1896), Lietzmann (1907) and J. Weiss (1910) are much the best, far surpassing Robertson and Plummer in ICC (1911). For the Greek material, see Rhode's Psyche. Gunkel, “Die Wirkungen des heiligen Geistes” (1888, 2nd reprint in 1909), was epoch-making. For the later period, see: Weinel, “Die Wirkungen des Gelstes und der Geister” (1899). Lake, “The Earlier Epistles of Paul” (London, 1911). Inge, “The Quarterly Review” (London, 1914). by Grace, eklektos |
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