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NASB | 1 Corinthians 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 14:5 Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened]. |
Subject: IS TONGUES FOR TODAY? |
Bible Note: Greetings HamsteRulz! 'Logos' simply refers to something which is spoken or revealed. However, both the Greek and Hebrew cultures had a philosopical concept that 'logos' was the creative principle behind everything. For the Greeks, 'logos' was logic or reason and was the framework for all of creation. For the Jews, the 'logos' was God's powerful word which accomplished what was said. John takes this word and gives it a new meaning in John 1. Here is something which I had previously posted about this passage. ******************************** John is a Gospel. This is stating the obvious, but it is useful to remember why he was writing this book. His reason for writing was given in his own words, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31) Therefore, John is trying to convince his audience, both Jews and Gentiles, that Jesus is God and that He alone is the source of salvation. With this in mind, John opens his Gospel with a prologue (1:1-18) which appeals to the current thoughts and ideas of both Jews and Gentiles. Jews at this time had personified the "Word" of God to a new level of meaning - it was God?s creative power. Greeks had a philosophical concept of the "Word" as the creative, rational force from which all things spring. Thus, John creatively says things about Jesus (notice that he doesn?t tell us that the ?Word? is Jesus until v. 14) that would appeal to the religious and philosophical views of both Jews and Gentiles. William Temple describes John 1:1-14 in this way. The Logos , he says, "alike for Jew and Gentile represents the ruling fact of the universe, and represents that fact as the self-expression of God. The Jew will remember that ?by the Word of the Lord were the heavens made?; the Greek will think of the rational principle of which all natural laws are particular expressions. Both will agree that this Logos is the starting point of all thing." However, John?s purpose is to take them beyond this point and demonstrate that Jesus Himself is both the ?Logos ? and God. Thus, throughout John escalates the statements made about the Word. Each one revealing more about the true identity and nature of Jesus. 1) In the beginning was the Word - v. 1: The Word was eternally existent. He did not come into being at any particular point in time. He has always been. 2) The Word was with God - v. 1: Not only is the Word pre-existent, but the Word is in an intimate face to face relationship with God. 3) The Word was God - v. 1: Not only is the Word pre-existent, not only is the Word in an intimate face to face relationship with God, the Word is God. 4) The Word is the Creator of all things - v. 3. 5) The Word is the source of life and light for all men - v. 4. 6) The Word was not recognized by the World - v. 10. 7) The Word was not received by His own creation - v. 11. 8) The Word makes those who do receive Him Sons of God - vv. 12-13. 9) The Word is Jesus, God incarnate - v. 14. ******************************************* So, in John 1, the Word is not a plan. The 'Word' is Jesus. And, John makes it perfectly clear that Jesus did not come into being at the incarnation, but that He had always existed and was in fact God. He is not the "expressed" image of God. He is the "express" image of God. The difference being that 'expressed' seems to indicate that Jesus simply reveals God's nature, while 'express' reveals that Jesus' very nature was that of God. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |