By Pastor Dave Farmer
Summary
A final thought on the misconceptions of speaking in tongues from 1 Corinthians 13.
Review
Paul gives high praise to the Christian virtue of love. This love is the hallmark of Christianity when that way of life is practiced. If we as Christians do not follow the mandate that our Lord Jesus Christ gave in John 13:34, 35, then we say nothing (verse 1), we are nothing (verse 2), and we do nothing (verse 3).
After elevating Christ-like love, Paul describes it by listing fourteen characteristics of that love. What does this special kind of love look like when seen in the life of a believer? If we want to become more like Christ, we must love others as He loved us, John 15:9. This is necessary for human expressions of love share some of the same characteristics as the Christian virtue of love. Sometimes, deeply religious people display the characteristics of kindness, generosity, love, and compassion for others. This can lead to some false conclusions about true spirituality. Paul provides a tool for evaluating our attitude and actions so that we may know for certain if we are fulfilling the plan of God.
"Love never ceases" is Paul's opening thought in this section. Love will endure throughout the period we call the Church Age. 1 The lifestyle of love is paramount, for it existed on day one of the Church Age and will be there on its last day. It is permanent, but some things are not. What is temporary? Certain spiritual gifts are temporary; actually, there are three in this category that are presented: The gift of prophesy, the gift of speaking in tongues, and the gift of knowledge. Paul teaches two fundamental doctrinal principles:
First, the Church age is divided into two time periods. The basis for this division is related to the New Testament Canon, which was in the process of being written but will be completed around A.D.99. We refer to them as the (1) pre-canon period, 30 - 99 A.D. (2) The post-canon period, 99 A.D. to present. 2
At the time of writing 1 Corinthians, in 55 A.D., all spiritual gifts given by God the Holy Spirit were operational. Paul wrote this epistle during the pre-canon period before the temporary gifts were withdrawn. For this reason, he will not preach a message: "Stop prophesying or no more speaking in tongues." The problem at Corinth was not spiritual gifts but that the congregation was immature and exercising the gifts in a carnal manner.
1 Corinthians 3:1–3
1] And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2] I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3] for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
The Corinthians need to get back to basics. Spiritual gifts have their place, but the development of love in action and attitude must have FIRST place. This is a spiritual priority for all believers. Our Lord Jesus Christ said love supersedes all virtues, for it is the Mark of Christianity. It will set us apart. It will be so powerful that it will reveal the true and living God and glorify Him wherever and whenever it exists.
John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:35
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our new verses of study are on the concluding two illustrations that Paul gives contrasting the knowledge we possessed in the pre-canon period with the post-canon period. The second analogy contrasts our knowledge from Scripture with eternity.
The Pre-Canon Period Contrasted With The Post-Canon Period.
1 Corinthians 13:11 3
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
He labels the pre-canon period as the period of infancy and the post-canon period as the period of maturity. In the period of maturity, the temporary gifts of wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, tongues, and the credential gifts for establishing Apostleship, such as miracles, casting out demons, and healing, would all be superseded by the completion of the Canon of Scripture. Sadly, too many Christians today are seeking after speaking in tongues, believing it to be evidence that they are spiritually mature. They feel they are living on a different spiritual plane, and it's higher and superior. They must remember the words of this analogy and "put away childish things."
1 Corinthians 13:12 Expanded Translation 4
For we see, at this present time, by means of a mirror an obscure form, but in eternity face to face. At this time, I know in part but at that time, I shall know (Jesus) as also I was fully known (by Him).
What an amazing passage of comfort and joy! To be invited into our Heavenly Father's kingdom and home is unique and gracious. The words truly express the fact that we are brought into a face-to-face relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is beyond anything we could hope to imagine. What absolute grace! Paul brings eternity into full view, and we will be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, face to face. This Bible doctrine has captured Paul's heart and mind as he lives daily in the light of eternity.
So, in this final contrast, Paul employs the figure of a mirror as a metaphor for the content of our knowledge when we have the completed Canon of Scripture with that of the eternal state, I know in part, but then face to face. The difference between our knowledge of what Scripture provides and what we will know in eternity is like looking into a mirror and seeing an obscure figure.
Corinth was the center of mirror manufacturing in the ancient world. They were made of brightly polished metal. 5 But even the best would only reflect an obscure form. Our mirrors today do an excellent job of reflecting a likeness to the one looking into them. However, we must remember that the mirrors of the ancient world were not that good and subject to the weather. You had to keep polishing them, for they quickly became dull.
The mirror metaphor in the Bible can be found in two other places in the New Testament, and in each passage, the mirror is the Word Of God, 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:23-25. The principle taught by the mirror is the more you spend time in the Word of God, the better your understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Summarizing
In the pre-canon period, we have SOME knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the Old Testament mirror plus temporary spiritual gifts that provide an oral message about His Person and Work. This message and teaching will become part of the New Testament canon.
In the post-canon period, the completed knowledge period, we have a BETTER knowledge of Christ. We have the Old Testament Mirror and the New Testament Mirror, the sixty-six books that make up God's complete and connected revelation to man. We have the whole mirror, but it is still a mirror. When we are in eternity, the mirror will be replaced with the actual image of Christ, not just the reflection of Christ. Rather than the Written Word, we will be face to face with the Living Word.
The Charismatic community needs to understand this passage correctly. There is the constant refusal to allow Scripture to be Scripture. Here is what I mean. One leading Charismatic pastor says:
ls indeed tongues for today? Doesn't Paul say tongues will cease? Well, yes he does! But he also says that knowledge is going to pass away, that prophecy is going to fail. Well, we haven't seen a cessation of knowledge; we haven't seen an end of prophecy. Nor have we seen a cessation of tongues. 6
This is the typical approach of charismatic interpretation. Because of their experience (they speak in tongues, people receive prophecies from God, etc.), 1 Corinthians cannot mean what it clearly and plainly states. I do not doubt that people have had visions, dreams, prophecies, and emotional experiences. Yet it is only God's Word and not personal experience that is the ultimate criteria for the Christian Way of Life.
Our brothers and sisters in the Charismatic community must face the Lord and explain to Him why they have added to Scripture. Why have they felt that the Word of God is inadequate and insufficient for all matters of faith and practice? Why do they need visions, dreams, added prophecies, added knowledge and added wisdom which is not found in Scripture? I can only warn you:
Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this books And if any may shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
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ENDNOTES
1 The Church Age is a period of human history predicted by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18) and occurs between two extraordinary events. It began on the Day of Pentecost 30 A.D., 50 days after the crucifixion of our Lord (Acts 2; 11:15). It terminates with His coming to gather together all of His people, in heaven and on the earth, into a distinct and eternal body, which we call the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
2 See "The Doctrine of the Pre and Post Canon Periods of the Church Age."
3 See the Exegesis 1 Corinthians 13:11.
4 See the Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 13:12.
5 Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 536). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
6 Rev. Pat Roberson, The Holy Spirit In Your Life, (Cassette four, Side A) "Speaking in Tongues," Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. Virginia Beach, Virginia.