Bible Question:
As I mentioned previously, I've gotten myself a new book, entitled "Bible Commentary" of the King James version of the Bible. It was written and compiled by 21 of the best minds in the Bible community. But I'm convinced it is a good commentary, as it does a good job of representing all sides on the controversial verses as shown below. The particular verse I'm referring to is from 1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. As you all know, I've been suggesting that the miraculous phase of Christianity ended with the death of the Apostles and those on whom they laid their hands for that special empowerment. Now I'd like to quote from the commentary on verses 8-11. Unlike the leaf or the flower, love never fades and falls off. The significance of the Greek word (pauo) indicates that tongues would soon be "cut off" as their necessity in the process of New Testament revelation ceased. It is important to note that tongues are never mentioned again in the New Testament after this warning. Vanish equals be abolished (in Greek). This is the same word used in reference to prophecy above. This is not knowledge in general but the "gift" of knowledge by direct revelation. For suggests reason. Knowledge and prophecy as we now know it are suited only to an imperfect state of existence. This is best understood in the light of 1 Cor 2:6, in the sense of "mature" or "complete." Conservative Biblical scholars have proposed two main interpretations of "perfect." It may be a reference to the completion of the canon of Scripture, with which partial revelation (by knowledge, prophecy, or tongues) came to an end, culminating in a complete revelation of God's Scripture or it may refer to the maturation of the body of Christ in the sense of Eph 4:11-16. Paul employs the neuter because he does not comtemplate an individual. Thus, the "perfect" cannot refer to the coming of Christ Himself. Once the perfect has been achieved, there will be no need for that which is immature. It will not be needed or accepted and should not be desired. The apostle illustrates his point by likening it to the maturation of a person from infancy to manhood. A child speaks, reasons, and assimilates knowledge at the level of his maturity. End of quote. As you can see, the commentary presents both sides of this controversy so it seems pretty clear why I've taken the former position as it seems too be supported by the rest of the NT with the scriptures I've cited in the past. But I would be interested in what you think of the opinions of these learned men of God. God bless. --Rowdy |
Bible Answer: Rowdy I see this explanation as one sided not addressing both sides of the issues. For instance it totally ignores the fact that missionaries in some occurrences are given that ability to speak a unknown language understood only by their listeners to tell of Jesus. I would consider that "tongues" Nor does it explain situations like the one I related where a Pastor was preaching in English but heard and understood by a women that could only speak Spanish. There are many documented cases of this. Jack Hayford in his book The Beauty of the Spiritual Language relates a similar story. In your quote there is no room for any of these occurrences. Likewise Prophecy and gifts of Knowledge both are in common usage in the church today. Preaching is probably the greatest example of the gift of prophecy when viewed in the true definition of the words. Have there been abuses of these sign gifts? Absolutely but that does not invalidate them. Incidentally all were commonly used in the early church (first second and third century) so while not recorded in the Bible they are a part of church history. Using the silence issue would be grounds for saying all of the gifts ceased at one point in the Bible or another. As none are mentioned again after their last mention. The discussion on Perfect leaves a lot to be desired and once again hinges on many factors that are man controlled rather than God controlled. Such as the closing of the cannon, interpretation of tense, etc. I have a good friend that is a Greek Orthodox Bishop what speaks Greek from birth that will tell you the explanation of the Greek tenses is not as cut and dried as we sometimes make it. Without failure every discussion we have had on a passage has turned into a thirty minute lesson for me on Greek and all meanings the language imparts by tense and verb usage. I have heard the “perfect” discussion many times from those that oppose the sign gifts today but I have also heard rebuttals given that in my opinion nullify their position. Apparently others agree since there are about equal number of well educated and dedicated men on either side of this issue. If the issue could be proven in either camp then it would no longer be an issue. I contend there is a position that satisfies both positions and it is man’s responsibility to find it, otherwise he views the Bible as in conflict with itself or has to apply “special” meanings to words to make his explanation work. That I think is the biggest problem today we try to explain away things in Bible that seem to conflict with other instead of understanding the Whole Bible. By the way I have that commentary also. It is basically a mainline denomination. There is little or no consideration for the Baptist, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, or Holiness positions in it. EdB |