Subject: Gift of speaking in tongues for all? |
Bible Note: Greetings Kalos! Just to add another perspective on Rom. 8:26, Leon Morris makes the following comments. "There is no way of deciding the question with finality, but perhaps there is a little more to be said for the view that the groans are uttered by the believer. The Spirit is not said to groan, but to intercede 'with' or 'in' groans, and these may well be those of the beleiver. Paul seems to be saying that when we cannot find words in which to express our prayer and can do no better than make inarticulate sounds, the Spirit takes those sounds and makes them into effective intercession." Now, Morris is not pentecostal. So, he also says, "Some exegetes regard this as a form of praying in 'tongues'. Thus Kasemann thinks it makes sense if 'what is at issue is the praying in tongues of 1 Cor. 14:15' (p. 241). But there seems little reason to hold such a view. Charismatic praying may well be included, but Paul's words are wide enough to cover 'all praying of Christian men' (Cranfield)." The text simply isn't clear enough to be definitative either way. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |