By Pastor Dave Farmer

Topic #18 The Fourth Argument

Summary 

   The fourth argument is from Scripture, 1 Corinthians 14:21, 22. Paul reminds us that Scripture is the final authority in settling all disputes in matters pertaining to our faith.

1 Corinthians 14:21 Expanded Translation

In the Law [Old Testament Canon] it stands written [Isaiah 28:11] “By means of foreign languages and by means of the lips of strangers, I will speak to this people, and even in this way they will not obey me," says the Lord.  1

I.   Paul Appeals To Them Through The Scripture

   Paul's standard practice was to turn to the Word of God to answer questions and solve problems.2   He sought to impress upon the people when he instructed that it was not his will but God's holy and perfect will that was to be obeyed.

   As we prepare to study the fourth argument, it is extremely important to keep the subject of the entire chapter before us. Let us recall that Paul is seeking to change the practices in public worship at Corinth.  The misuse of the gift of tongues was a grave concern to him.  Each argument is like a two-edged sword that strikes down every idea, all human viewpoint thinking, and anything that would deviate from the one true purpose for assembling worship.  Edification!  Edification! Edification!  Not education but Spirit-filled and Spirit-led teaching from the Scriptures taught by the pastors.

   All other ministries and services that the church performs, that bless the people and the community, must flow from the spiritual growth of the congregation.  This is where real power resides, real spiritual dynamics. In the case of Corinth, it did not reside in the utilization of the gift of tongues but in the Word of God that was resident and abiding in the souls of the believers.  Bible doctrine is understood and applied.  This is the source of true spiritual transformation; as Paul writes, "The Word of God is alive and powerful..." Hebrews 4:12.  Turning now to the fourth argument, Paul quotes from Isaiah 28:11. This passage was previously studied in "The Prophetic Perspective of Tongues."3

   As Paul appeals to Scripture, it is natural to think of the Law as a reference to the five Books of Moses, also called the TORAH.  However, there are times, and this is one of them, when the Law represents the entire Old Testament, as in John 10:34; 12:34.  Again, the Book of Isaiah is not in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament Canon, but in the Prophetic section. 

   He turns to Scripture, "It stands written."  This is an expression we cannot gloss over this expression, for it is far too important.  Paul places the verbal idea of GRAPHO to write in the perfect tense.  This is a dramatic perfect, which looks at an action taking place in the past and coming to the point of completion, and the completed results have a present impact.  The action in the past is completed.  Thirty-six books of the Old Testament have been written, and the result is the collection of works forming the Canon of the Old Testament.  The dramatic perfect focuses the action on the completed work now existing.  It continues because "the Word of God lives and abides forever," 1 Peter 1:24,25 quoting from Isaiah 40:6-8.  What has been written is permanent.  Jesus said that "the smallest letter or even the strokes that form the letters will outlast the world we live in, Matthew 5:18.  In Paul's mind, the Word of God was not only eternal but binding and authoritative. 

   In the prophecy of Isaiah, we have God's prediction that there will be a day in the future when He will speak to the Jewish people using Gentile language.  Four principles grow out of the Isaiah passage that help us clarify Paul's thinking at this point.

First, A Great Sign Will Be Given

   Paul interprets this prophecy as containing a sign [semeion].  A sign is a unique event manifesting the power of God.  This is similar to Isaiah's earlier prediction of the virgin birth, Isaiah 7:14. Isaiah wrote this about 728 B.C.  Beginning with that date, we ask what future historic event was so miraculous, so unmistakably the Hand of God, that it reached the level of a sign to the nation of Israel? 

Second, A Gospel Message Will Be Given

   The second principle is that it must be a great evangelistic event.  God says that a message would be given to Israel in the future [any time after 728 B.C.] and that message would bring salvation to the Jews, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary, here is repose" Isaiah 28:12.  A message of rest would be preached, but what kind of rest?  I think the words of our Lord Jesus Christ can help us here, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. This is an invitation to a Salvational rest.  Rest is a picture of reconciliation with God, resulting in a peace that passes all understanding. Only one recorded event in Scripture after 728 B.C. could reach the level of a sign, and that was on the Day of Pentecost in 33 A.D. 

  The Jews attending the temple celebration of Pentecost heard the gospel in Gentile languages, just as the prophet foretold eight hundred years earlier.

Acts 2:7-11

7]  They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

8]  “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

9]  “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10]  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews, and proselytes,

11]  Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”

     Does this rise to the level of a sign? Imagine what has just happened.  Jews heard the gospel in a Gentile language from a person who did not speak their language.   Egyptian Jews heard the wonderful words of eternal life spoken in perfect Coptic by a Galilean Jew who did not know that language.  This is what the gift of speaking in tongues is all about.  It is the Spirit-given ability to speak fluently and flawlessly in a language you knew or had learned, unknown and untaught to you.  

   Despite the great blessings the gospel brings to those who receive Christ and even the great success of so many won to Christ, it was a small number compared to the many who rejected it. This, too, is part of the prophecy. In Isaiah 28:12, we are told by God, "but they would not listen."  Their rejection triggers the following condition necessary for the prophecy to be fulfilled.

A Grievous Judgment Given

   Isaiah's prophecy continues with a warning of dire consequences, "they will stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive" Isaiah 28:13.  This language refers to the fifth cycle of discipline.4    The fifth cycle is described as the final form of God's discipline for disobedience, the destruction, and the dispersion of the Jews.  This aspect of the prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when a Roman army attacked Jerusalem, destroyed the city and the temple, and carried off the survivors into slavery.  This cycle of judgment has already occurred twice in Israel's history.  The first time was in 732 B.C. when Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  A second time in 586 B.C., when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took the people captive.  Now, once again, the handwriting is on the wall. They have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. 

A Grace Period Is Given

   The Day of Pentecost was a sign of coming judgment unless the nation repented and returned to their God.  They rejected Christ, hanging Him on a cross, and they will ignore the great sign of being evangelized in Gentile languages.  Yet grace always proceeds Judgment.  They would have forty years to change their minds.  As the Church is established during this period, Paul will do all he can to present the gospel to the Jews.  As he writes this letter, he is reminded of the true purpose of the gift of tongues. It was a sign-gift that was a warning to the Jew of coming discipline.

II.         Paul Applies The Scripture

  So, based on what the Scripture says under divine inspiration, what conclusions are we forced to reach?  Here is his application:    

1 Corinthians 14:22

So then, tongues [gift of foreign languages] continues being a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, but prophesy [is] not for unbelievers, but rather for believers."

   First, the purpose of the gift of tongues is revealed to be given for a ministry to the unbeliever, "but directed toward unbelievers."   As Paul was writing, the gift of tongues had not been withdrawn.  Its purpose was to warn the Jews of the coming discipline.  After 70 A.D., the sign would no longer be needed, and this gift would cease.

   Secondly, prophecy was "for believers, but not for unbelievers."  Unbelievers cannot understand the church's doctrines [1 Corinthians 2:14] but can understand the gospel through the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.  It is a matter of common grace that the Holy Spirit makes the gospel clear when given.  Furthermore, the gospel given in any language is a blessing and a benefit to all who need it. Bible doctrine, which comes through prophecy, is designed for believers so that they may grow spiritually.

Summary

1. Isaiah predicted a great sign, the gospel being presented to the Jews in their own birth language, but they refused to listen, Isaiah 28:9-13; 53:1.

2. Judgment would come to Israel because of this rejection, Leviticus 26:17-33.

3. This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost 33 A.D. Acts 2:1-13.

4. The gift of tongues was an extraordinary gift.  Each time a believer spoke through this gift, it was a miracle because it would be in a language not known to them and not previously learned.

5. Paul is calling attention to the gift of tongues because it was being misused.  It was the wrong audience.  It was never to be intended for believers. It was an evangelistic gift for unbelievers who needed a clear gospel presentation.  It would be clearest in the birth language.  It was a spiritual gift designed for the community and not the church.  It was an outreach gift, much like the gift of evangelism is today.

6. Paul's last thought in this argument is the value of prophecy.  The negative accentuates the positive.  The true purpose of worship in the church. Here, we have the teaching of the Word of God proclaimed in the vernacular of the congregation.  Only in this way can the principle of edification be fulfilled, which is the God-given design for spiritual worship in the church.

7. Paul speaks of edification in a very precise manner.  Edification is a big word everybody uses for everything done under the sun.  For Paul, edification means one thing and only one thing: spiritual growth.  It is through the pastor's teaching that he communicates God's message that is found in the Word of God.

8. I believe this is a truthful saying and worthy of all acceptance that if you are a Christian and you have no Church that you are regularly attending and no pastor teaching you, you cannot live a life that is pleasing to God.  You will not be able on your own to reach the high ground of spiritual maturity which is your duty and responsibility.  See the February 2016 Issue, which explains God's design for the Christian Way of Life. 5  

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ENDNOTES

1  See Appendix C for the exegesis of 1 Corinthians 14:21, 22.

2  Paul uses "It is written" 30 times in his epistles. "Lean not on your understanding, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" is Paul's mature attitude.

3  See The Prophetic View of Tongues, Topic #2. 

4   The Fifth Cycle of Judgment can be found in the Reference Section.

5  See Topic# Topic # 17.