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NASB | Romans 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:13 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. |
Bible Question:
Scripture ... 1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. The next two verses indicate no gift is given to everyone Then verse 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. ... and why do you want to make an expection? ... even in your verbs - seek vs desire you do. The church had a problem with tongues (1 Cor 14) and they were copying the estatic speech of the pagans - what some churches do today. Wlerin are there other expections you make? |
Bible Answer: Okay, various kinds of tongues is last in v28, and given FIRST apostles, etc, I see your point. As to seek vs. earnestly desire (NAS) in v 31, the Greek is zeloute, that is, "covet, be jealous of, set one's heart on." (abridged, from A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament, by Barclay M. Newman). What verse do you base "seek" on? I am nearly certain that the meaning is very close, if not the same. Also, note 14:12-14 (NAS): "Since you are ZEALOUS of spiritual [things], SEEK to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore, let one who speaks in a tongue PRAY that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." Zealous is from the same word as "earnestly desire". But, truly, we are to worship in spirit and in truth, not in spirit only, nor in truth only. However, perhaps I misunderstand what you mean by seek. If you mean seek as a sign of salvation, then certainly we agree, it should not be so sought, nor any of the other gifts for that purpose (Luke 10:20 for one example. The NAS also has numerous references on this verse). However, I meant seeking in order to edify the body (1 Cor 14:5). As to the ecstatics... I don't see that in chapter 14. Yes, MacArthur (among others) does, but Paul does not condemn the exercise of tongues, even in the church so long as there is interpretation and order, and peace (14:26b,27,31,40). I know of no biblical reference to pagan use of tongues. |