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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. |
Subject: Am I ignorant |
Bible Note: Greetings John! May I address the six "proofs"? 1) There are two problems with this "proof". First of all, the gift of tongues did not come from the apostles, but from the Holy Spirit. Secondly, there is not a single verse which states that some gifts would end with the Apostles. This is sheer speculation, not a proof of anything. 2) This 'proof', at best, is an argument from silence. The 'letters' of the New Testament are occasional documents. The only reason 'tongues' is mentioned in 1 Corinthians is because there was a problem with them at Corinth that needed to be addressed. Had the problem not existed, we might not have a single passage dealing with tongues. Regardless, arguing the fact that some books do not mention them does not proof that spiritual gifts have ceased. :-) 3) There is a lot of difference of opinion concerning 1 Cor. 14:21-22. It has been so difficult to interpret over the years that some have even argued that there is a textual error in the passage. Regardless, there is nothing in the passage that says 'tongues' will cease at the end of the Apostolic age. Again, this is a 'proof' of nothing. 4) This point really bothers me. Are we to argue that a gift that the Holy Spirit has given in somehow worthless? Paul certainly did argue that praise or message which are understood edify those who hear, while those which are not understood do no edify. However, no where does Paul use the term 'inferior'. In fact, he specially equates an interpreted tongue with prophecy (1 Cor. 14:5). This gift was certainly being abused, but it is still a gift of God. And, Paul specifically states that he wanted them to us this gift, as he himself did, and that no one was to forbid the use of this gift. Either way, this 'proof' proves nothing about gifts ceasing with the Apostles. Even if tongues were an 'inferior' gift, that says nothing about when it would cease. 5) This is an argument from silence. Even if they did cease historically, there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that they were supposed to cease. One could just as easily argue that the church did not use a gift that God wanted them to use, if we are going to argue from silence. :-) 6) There is so much to address in this point that I will just have to address a few. a) It is a presupposition that the gifts have ceased, not a fact. So, a 'proof' based upon a presupposition is nothing but a pretext. b) No where does Scripture states that 'healings' will cease with the apostles. This is another presupposition. I have a much higher standard for a 'proof' than a listing of presuppositions, circular arguments, and eisgesis. For instance, a single Scripture that states these gifts would end with the apostles would be nice. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |