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Spiritual Gifts
Keith Sharp
The U.S. Census Bureau, in its 2004 religious statistics, lists six denominations
among the largest in the U.S.
that would properly be called Pentecostal or Charismatic. These six
denominations had a combined membership in 2001 of 6,864,000, up from
5,089,000 in 1990. Of course, this doesn’t account for many smaller
denominations that fit this category, nor does it mention the millions who
remain in more traditional denominations yet believe in tongue speaking,
miraculous divine healing, and other miraculous spiritual gifts. Of course,
all have in common the belief they possess one or more of the miraculous
spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit gave to first century Christians. Thus, we
should heed John’s warning concerning all such claimants:
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world" (1 John 4:1),
It is the primary purpose of this study to do just this: test the claims
of those today who claim to use miraculous, spiritual gifts.
Primary Text
In First Corinthians 12:1, the inspired apostle introduced a new section
of his letter by commenting, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren,
I do not want you to be ignorant." There follows, in chapters twelve,
thirteen, and fourteen the most complete discussion of spiritual gifts ever
penned by inspiration. Near the conclusion of this great dissertation, Paul
advised, "But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant" (1
Corinthians 14:38). Paul had given a complete discussion of the subject, and,
if any still did not understand spiritual gifts, he would simply have to
remain ignorant.
Since these three chapters contain such a full revelation of the mind of
God pertaining to spiritual gifts, this study will primarily center in them
as the basis by which to measure the doctrine and practice of modern
Charismatics.
Definition of "Spiritual
Gifts"
The word "spiritual" in First Corinthians 12:1 means "emanating
from the Divine Spirit, or exhibiting its effects and so its
character... produced by the sole power of God himself without natural
instrumentality, supernatural (Thayer. 532). Thus, two related
characteristics of these gifts are discerned from the term
"spiritual." They are the results of the direct work of the Holy
Spirit separate from the word (1 Corinthians 12:4,7; Acts 19:6). Furthermore,
they are supernatural, i.e., miraculous, and not to be naturally explained
(Acts 2:4-21).
The term "gifts," added by the translators in First Corinthians
12:1, but found in the original in verse four, is defined as:
a gift of grace; a favor which one receives
without any merit of his own... extraordinary powers distinguishing certain
Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of
which is due to the power of the divine grace operating in their souls by the
Holy Spirit (Ibid. 667).
Modern Charismatics take their name from the Greek term rendered
"gifts," i.e., "charisma." The biblical usage of
the word emphasizes that the power to perform these miracles lay, not in the
human vessels who actually employed them, but in the Spirit of God who
graciously bestowed them. For instance, although Paul considered himself
personally "not worthy to be called an apostle" (1 Corinthians
15:9); nonetheless, "by the grace of God" (1 Corinthians 15:10), he
was "in nothing... behind the most eminent apostles" (2 Corinthians
12:11).
Spiritual gifts were the abilities, imparted to Christians directly by the
Holy Spirit, to do supernatural or miraculous deeds. They were given by the
Spirit’s grace and not because of personal worthiness on the part of the
recipients. Thus, they were manifestations of the Holy Spirit and were to the
glory of God, not of man.
How Can We Know?
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away
to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that
no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say
that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:2-3).
Ask any Pentecostal, "How do you know you have a spiritual
gift?" Probably the reply will be to the effect "I can feel it! It
is a deep-down, better-felt-than-told experience. And I can speak in
tongues!"
In the above passage the apostle Paul warned the Corinthians against this
very attitude. It is the attitude of subjectivism, looking within oneself, to
one’s own opinions, feelings and experiences for guidance rather than
looking to God’s word as our perfect objective standard. It is walking
by sight rather than by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17).
The apostle reminded the Gentile Corinthians that, when they were pagans,
they were deceived by "dumb" (mute, unable to speak) idols. The
pagan Greeks, and the Corinthians were Greeks, worshiped their many gods
through images (idols) of the gods. These gods had priests and priestesses.
E. R. Dodds, in his book The Greeks and the Irrational, says of the
pagan priestess who spoke as the oracle of Delphi,
"The god entered into her and used her vocal organs as if they were his
own, exactly as the so-called ‘control’ does in the modern
spirit- mediumship (as quoted by Jividen. 42). The ancient pagan religion
these Corinthians had left practiced precisely the kind of
"glossolalia" (tongue-speaking) claimed by modern charismatics. It
was better-felt-than-told, mystical, ecstatic, and unintelligible. The inspired
apostle reminded the Corinthian Christian that charlatans had fooled them by
this practice once, Obviously, the subjective experience of glossolalia could
not be the test of the reception of spiritual gifts.
If tongue speaking is not the test, what is? In verse three Paul
illustrated the answer. The pagans claimed to have miraculous ability, but
they denied that Jesus was Lord. Since they refused to confess the very
Christ who sent the Holy Spirit and to whom the Spirit bore witness (John
15:26), their claims had to be false. On the other hand, one who confessed
Christ could truly claim to be led by the Spirit, since the Holy Spirit,
through the testimony recorded in the word, provides the only evidence we
have that Jesus is Lord. Can we not be led simply by the Spirit-revealed New
Testament to confess that "Jesus is Lord" (cf. John 20:30-31;
Philippians 2:11)?
There is a principle behind this illustration - The Holy Spirit is the
author of all spiritual truth (John 16:13). Anyone actually led by the Spirit
of God. will believe, teach, and practice the doctrine of Christ, the truth
revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:37).
In perusing Frank S. Mead’s Handbook of Denominations in the
United States, a classic work regarding the various religious bodies in
our land, I counted at least 51 separate denominations, all teaching
doctrines that contradict one another, yet all claiming to be led directly by
the Spirit of God. Furthermore, they all offer the same "proof" of
direct, miraculous guidance by God’s Spirit - their own subjective
experiences. How could all these "Spirit filled" preachers and
teachers, all contradicting one another, be led by the same "Spirit of
truth" (John 16:13)? Does the Spirit of truth actually contradict
himself? Is God "the author of confusion" after all (I Corinthians
14:33)?
What do we conclude? Anyone led by the Spirit of truth, whether
miraculously or through the word, will believe, teach, and practice truth and
only truth. Those who claim today to have spiritual gifts obviously fail this
divine test miserably and utterly. Therefore, they fail to meet the first
standard erected by the Spirit of God Himself to determine whether or not one
is led by the Spirit, and their claims must be flatly rejected.
Unity of Source
Unity is a vital facet of the faith. Although there are three Persons in
the Godhead, they are one (Matthew 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 6:4). Even so, though
we as Christians are various members of the Lord’s body, we must be one
(1 Corinthians 12:12—27).
The over-riding purpose of spiritual gifts was to help the first century
church achieve unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:7-13). The ability of these
powers to thus help the church lay in the one source of the gifts.
The general theme First Corinthians chapter twelve is the paramount purpose
of spiritual gifts, i.e., that of unifying the body (verses 12-14, 20, 25).
In verses four through six of this chapter Paul began the discussion of
this purpose by revealing the unity of source of spiritual gifts. He
declared, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities
of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."
In his great sermon on Pentecost, Peter called the marvelous deeds Jesus
wrought to confirm his claim to be the Son of God "miracles, wonders,
and signs" (Acts 2:22). The word "miracle" means
"power" (Vine. 3:75) and refers to the source of Jesus’
deeds; they were the power of God. The term "wonder" is defined as
"something strange, causing the beholder to marvel" (Ibid. 4:228)
and indicates the result of the deed upon the beholders. A "sign"
is that "by which God authenticates the men sent by him"
(Thayer.573) and has reference to the purpose of the mighty works.
Paul also used three words for the miraculous abilities imparted
Christians by the Spirit of God. They are "gifts,"
"ministries," and "activities." "Gifts,"
associated with the Holy Spirit (verse 4), indicated that the Spirit’s
grace was the source of the miraculous power. There were different kinds of
power, but they were all from one Spirit. The term "ministries,"
credited to the Lord (verse 5) refers to "service," (Arndt &
Gingrich. 183) and demonstrated the purpose of the gifts. They were never
given for selfish use but for the edifying of others at a time when the
revelation of the New Testament was incomplete (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12,
19, 26; Ephesians 4:7-16). "Activities" connected with God (verse
;6), referred to the "effect" (Thayer. 215) produced by the
miracles and demonstrated the result of the gifts.
The Holy Spirit gave spiritual gifts as a part of his work of revelation.
The Lord served the first century church through these administrations. God
saw to the effects of the miraculous powers to his own glory.
Just as Jesus’ deeds were described as to their source, effect, and
purpose, so the inspired apostle described spiritual gifts as to their
source, effect, and purpose.
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Jesus’ Deeds
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Spiritual Gifts
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Acts 2:22
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1 Corinthians 12:4-6
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miracles
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source
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gifts
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wonders
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result
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ministries
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signs
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purpose
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activities
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The Gifts Listed
Charismatics sometimes claim many strange gifts, including "the gift
of tears" and "the gift of pimples" (Newsweek). The
real list of the gifts miraculously bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon first
century Christians is contained in First Corinthians 12:7-11.
There was first "the word of wisdom" (verse 8). The term
"wisdom" refers to the "broad and full intelligence" (Thayer.
581). Paul uses the term of "a knowledge of the divine plan, previously
hidden, of providing salvation for men by the expiatory death of Christ"
(Ibid. 582). The phrase "word of wisdom" refers to "the
ability to discourse eloquently of this wisdom" (Ibid).
The "word of knowledge" (verse 8) was "the deeper, more
perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more
advanced (Ibid. 119) and the ability to communicate this knowledge.
"Faith" (verse 9) in this context is not saving faith, for that
comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17), and, of course, all
Christians possess it, else, they would not be Christians (Hebrews 11:6).
Rather, it was the ability to work miracles in general, which required faith
on the part of the one performing the wonder (Matthew 17:19-20; Mark
16:17-18).
"Gifts of healings" (verse 9) was the miraculous ability,
without the aid of the
physician’s art or of medicine, not only to heal the sick and infirm
(Acts3:l-10), but also to raise the dead (Acta 20:9-12). By the way, if you
know a "faith healer" who will attempt to raise people from the
dead, tell him to meet me at the graveyard. Each time he brings life into one
corpse, I will raise two from the dead! And I don't claim to be able to work
miracles.
The "working of miracles" (verse 10) pertained not just to
miracle working ability.
"The word ("working"- KS) does not signify to work simply,
but to work in another" (MacKnight. 186). This was the power to impart
spiritual gifts to others (as MacKnight affirms, Ibid.). The New Testament
uniformly attributes this power to the apostles and to them alone (Acts
8:12-17; 19:1-7; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Since one had to be an
"eye witness" of the raised Lord to be an apostle (Acts
1:21—26), and since Paul was the very last such witness (1 Corinthians
15:8), there are no apostles alive on the earth today. Since there are no
apostles alive on the earth today, there is no one to impart spiritual gifts,
and the gifts by necessity have ceased.
"Prophecy" ( verse 10) was the ability to miraculously speak for
God (cf. Exodus 4:15-16; 7:1-2). A prophet was a spokesman for God, his work
was to prophesy (preach by inspiration), and his message was prophecy (a
message inspired of God).
The "discerning of spirits" (verse 10) denoted the miraculous
ability to distinguish between truth and error and to know another’s
mind, without the aid of his speech (Acts 5:1-11).
The "different kinds of tongues" (verse 10) was the power
miraculously supplied to speak a human language which the speaker could not
have learned by natural means (Acts 2:4-11). In Acts 2:4,6,8,11 the terms
"tongues" and "language" are used interchangeably. When
the apostle declared, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1), he was not indicating there is a language
peculiar to angels. He supposed an hypothetical, even imaginary, case of the
highest order of power to speak in tongues to indicate its emptiness apart
from love. The word "unknown" before the term "tongue" in
the King James Version in First Corinthians fourteen is in italics,
indicating the word was added by the translators and was not a part of the
original text. Thus, the tongues of that chapter are the same as those of
Acts chapter two, real human languages.
The "interpretation of tongues" (verse l0) was the miraculous
ability to translate a language the person could not have learned by natural
means.
All these miraculous gifts were given by the same Spirit of God, according
to his own will (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11). They were. thus. not for a
person’s private benefit, but for the spiritual good of all (1
Corinthians 12:7).
I believe it is obvious to every candid reader that these gifts are not what
Pentecostals or Charismatics practice. Furthermore, since there are no
apostles on the earth today to impart these gifts, they must by necessity
have ceased. The modern Charismatic movements are therefore judged to be
unscriptural as well as unreasonable.
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined
according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel
of His will" (Ephesians 1:11). As a part of the deluge of sports
personality stories leading up to the 1974 Super Bowl, one writer described
coach Bud Grant of the Vikings as a man whose every word has a purpose.
Actually, no mere mortal is so purposeful with all that he says, but God is.
He "works all things according to the counsel of His will." His
every word and action are in keeping with his "purpose."
What was the purpose of spiritual gifts? In I Corinthians 12:12-30, the
apostle Paul stressed the unity of the body of Christ which resulted from the
proper use of spiritual gifts. He emphasized, "But now indeed there are
many members, yet one body."(verse 20). This unity was to be achieved by
the works that resulted from the spiritual gifts verses (verses 28-31). The
primary purpose, then, of the gifts of the Spirit was to achieve the unity of
the body of Christ.
But how did the gifts expedite unity? In Ephesians 4:7-13 the apostle
speaks of the "gifts to men" Christ gave "When He ascended on
high." These certainly included spiritual gifts, for they enabled some
to be "apostles" and some "prophets." The purpose was
that "we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ" (versec13). Thus, by attaining maturity of knowledge through
spiritual gifts, the church was to attain "the unity of the faith."
Both apostles and prophets revealed the faith (Ephesians 3:1-6). That
faith was fully and finally revealed by the apostles and prophets of the
first century (John 16:13; Jude 3), and there is none left to be made known
(Galatians 1:6-9). Thus, by "speaking the truth in love" (
Ephesians 4:15), which truth was fully revealed in the first century, we have
"the unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:13), which is "the unity
of the Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3).
When Paul penned First Corinthians, the revelation of the faith was
incomplete. He explained, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in
part" (1 Corinthians 13:9). The spiritual gifts were needed for
edification (1 Corinthians 14:3-26; Romans 1:11). The preeminent principle
governing the use of these gifts in the assemblies of the saints was
"Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26).
The revelation of God’s will to man having now been completed, we
"may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" by study
and application of its inspired precepts (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Thus the entire
purpose of spiritual gifts in the realm of edification is now accomplished by
the inspired Scriptures, and those who seek to be edified by miraculous gifts
today simply lack faith in the sufficiency of the Scriptures which were
written by spiritually gifted men.
Mark reports that those who preached in the first century were
"confirming the word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20).
These signs, partially enumerated by the Lord in Mark 16:17-18.were the
spiritual gifts. Since inspired preachers in apostolic times could not appeal
to a completed copy of the New Testament to sustain their preaching, as
evangelists can today, they confirmed it by miracles (e.g., Philip - Acts
8:5-13). Therefore, these signs confirmed the revelation that it might be the
divine basis of unity.
But we now have a completed and fully confirmed revelation, proven
"both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Spirit" (Hebrews 2:1-4). Thus, people who now seek further
confirmation of the word by "signs" simply lack faith in the
miraculous confirmation of the first century. If the miracles of the Lord and
inspired writers are not enough for them, "neither will they be
persuaded, though one rise from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
The purpose of spiritual gifts was to help accomplish the unity of the
Spirit. They aided the body of Christ by empowering the apostles and prophets
to reveal the faith and confirm that revelation by miracles, thus edifying
the saints. Thus, the "one Spirit" of Ephesians 4:4 implies unity
of revelation. The revelation has both been completed and confirmed, and that
confirmed
revelation is fully adequate to edify. Thus, spiritual gifts have fully
served their purpose "according to his own will" (Hebrews 2:4).
Since God "works all things according to the counsel of His will,"
spiritual gifts, having fulfilled their divine purpose, have ceased.
The Duration of Spiritual Gifts
Love never fails. But whether there are
prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we
prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is
in part will be done away. 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. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to
face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And
now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-13).
Pentecostal denominations like to call themselves "Full Gospel"
churches because they believe in the modern use of spiritual gifts. They
contend that we who do not accept their purported miracles leave out part of
the Gospel. Of course, most Pentecostal people themselves leave out a vital
part of the Gospel, baptism for the remission of sins. But I charge that they
leave out yet another essential portion of the Gospel, and that in regard to
spiritual gifts themselves. Pentecostal people fail to preach the "Full
Gospel" when they leave cut or distort the apostle Paul’s teaching
about the duration of spiritual gifts.
Paul declared, "prophecies ... will fail" (i.e., "be done
away" - New American Standard Bible). He affirmed, "tongues
... will cease" and supernatural "knowledge ... will vanish
away." Spiritual gifts were, by direct statement of the inspired apostle
to cease. When should this occur?
In First Corinthians 12:31b - 13:7 the great apostle eloquently
demonstrated the importance of love as the guiding principle in the use of
spiritual gifts, as well as the guiding star of the Christian’s life.
In verse eight he drew a contrast between love and the miraculous abilities.
"Love never fails," but gifts "will cease."
Why were spiritual gifts to cease? "For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part." Miraculous gifts were for a time of imperfect
knowledge, when the mystery of God’s will for man was not fully
manifested.
"But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part
shall be done away."
Here is a plain statement concerning when spiritual gifts should cease.
All must and most do agree, because of the statement in verse nine, that the
"in part" in verse ten is spiritual gifts. If we can determine what
"that which is perfect" is, we will know when miraculous gifts were
to cease.
Pentecostals contend that the "perfect" is Christ and that
spiritual gifts will continue until his return. But this position has key
flaws.
The word "perfect" means "having reached its end...,
finished, complete (Vine. 3:173-4), "finished; wanting nothing
necessary to completeness" (Thayer, 618), "having attained
the end or purpose, complete" (Arndt and Gingrich. 816).
Thus, James exhorts, "But let patience have its perfect work, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:4). It is
axiomatic that the perfect is of the same substance as the partial. If a slice
of a pie is cherry, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the complete
pie is cherry. The partial of the context is knowledge. "For we know in
part and we prophesy in part." Thus, the perfect is complete knowledge.
When complete knowledge of God’s will came, that which pertained to
partial knowledge, spiritual gifts, would cease. By the end of the first
century the full revelation had been given (cf. Jude 3). At that time
spiritual gifts ceased.
Furthermore, Paul contrasted "faith, hope, love" with spiritual
gifts in verse thirteen by revealing that faith, hope, and love abide.
"Now" of verse thirteen is not an adverb of time, meaning "at
this time" but one of logical sequence, meaning "as it is" (Findlay, EGT, 2:901).
Since faith, hope, and love will continue to abide after "that which is
perfect has come," if this refers to Jesus’ second coming, faith
and hope will continue even after the resurrection. But saving faith is in
that which we do not see (Hebrews 11:1), and our hope is for the resurrection
of the blessed which will occur at the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18). At that time faith will become concrete knowledge, and hope shall
be fulfilled, for "hope that is seen is not hope" (Romans 8:24-25).
This is the very reason love is greater than faith and hope (1 Corinthians
13:13). It will abide undiminished, yea even stronger, after the return of
the Lord, whereas faith will become sight and hope will become reality.
"That which is perfect" is the completed revelation from God.
Therefore spiritual gifts ceased when the New Testament was completed.
This position harmonizes with the fact the purpose of spiritual gifts has
been fulfilled. Also, it conforms to the reality that only apostles could
impart spiritual gifts, and there are no apostles on the earth today. It is
in perfect harmony with the truth that the New Testament is a perfect
(complete) revelation and that it alone can make us the complete servants of
God. Therefore, spiritual gifts are not needed since the New Testament has
been completed.
Thus, contrasted with a complete revelation (the New Testament), spiritual
gifts were for a time of incomplete knowledge: And, by Paul’s direct
statement, when the complete revelation came, the incomplete gifts would
cease. To affirm that spiritual gifts are still with us now is to deny the
completeness of the New Testament revelation.
Paul clarified this truth by two illustrations in verses eleven and
twelve. In verse eleven he used the comparison of the man and the child. The
speech, emotions, and thoughts of children are immature (incomplete). But
they are necessary steps toward maturity (completeness) of the man. But, when
maturity is reached, immaturity has lost its usefulness and is put off. Thus,
spiritual gifts were for a time of incomplete revelation as necessary steps
to completed revelation (cf., Ephesians 4:7-16). But, when the revelation was
completed, the incomplete was put off.
In verse twelve the inspired writer employed the figure of the mirror. In
Paul’s day, mirrors were commonly made of burnished metal and were poor
reflectors. Thus, the apostle contrasted the faint, poorly discernible image
one could see in such a mirror with the perfect discernment of seeing face to
face. Obviously, this illustrated that spiritual gifts were for a time of
imperfect knowledge (incomplete revelation), whereas the completed revelation
would yield complete knowledge of God’s plan (cf. Ephesians 3:1-6).
Paul concluded, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but
the greatest of these is love." After spiritual gifts had ceased these
three great qualities of character continued. Hence, the time schedule of
First Corinthians 13:8-13 runs thus: spiritual gifts were to cease with the
completed revelation; faith, hope, and love are to continue until Christ
returns; and love shall ever abide as the great quality which makes us like
God (Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:8; 2 Peter 1:2-4) and as the bond of
fellowship with God and all his redeemed ones in eternal bliss. This is the
Full Gospel.
Pentecostal Error
Revelation
Christ’s
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Spiritual
Gifts
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Spiritual
Gifts
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Faith,
Hope, Love
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Faith,
Hope, Love
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Faith,
Hope, Love
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Complete
Return
Truth
Revelation
Christ’s
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Spiritual
Gifts
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Faith,
Hope, Love
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Faith,
Hope, Love
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Love
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Complete
Return
Once a local Pentecostal preacher visited our assembly and then invited me
to attend where he preached. Since our times of assembly did not conflict, I
accepted, being careful not to participate in or lend approval to their
unscriptural worship. The people engaged in displays of "tongue
speaking," with several of the women speaking at one time while others
sang. Special groups entertained with vocal and instrumental music, while the
audience shouted their approval and clapped their hands. Supposedly, these
people were led by God’s Spirit to worship the Father.
I believe spiritual gifts have fulfilled their purposes and ceased. But,
just suppose the miraculous powers were still with us. Are the Pentecostal
assemblies in harmony with the Lord’s regulations of spiritual gifts?
In First Corinthians chapter fourteen, Paul revealed the regulations of
spiritual gifts in the assemblies of Christians. At the conclusion of these
rules for the use of miracles in public worship, Paul warned, "If anyone
thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord" (verse 37).
Here is the way to determine if a man, claiming to be led by the Holy Spirit,
is genuinely so led. If he is, he will acknowledge and follow all the
teaching of the apostles. The apostolic doctrine, the New Testament, is the
standard by which all religious teaching and practice should be judged.
These regulations of spiritual gifts, therefore, had to be followed. How
did the inspired apostle regulate the gifts of the Spirit?
In First Corinthians 14:1-5 Paul argued the superiority of prophecy to
tongues. It seems that all Pentecostal people desire ardently to speak in
tongues, yet the apostle relegated this ability to last place in order of
importance among miraculous gifts (l Corinthians 12:28). Tongues were of
lesser importance because, unless interpreted (translated), they did not
edify (verse 5).
In verses six through nineteen the apostle demonstrated that tongues, in
order to help the church, had to be interpreted. If the audience could not
understand what the tongue speakers said, the tongues were useless. Every
language (tongue) in the world has a purpose, the conveyance of ideas (verse
10). Their purpose is not mere display. If a person uses a language (whether
through the miraculous gift of tongues or through natural knowledge) for the
sake of display, he has misuses the language. The principle is "let it
be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel" (verse 12).
To speak in a language the audience doesn’t understand, without
translating that tongue, was an abuse of the gift of tongues, because the
audience was not edified.
Thus, Paul concluded his argument by observing, "yet in the church I
would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others
also, than ten thousand words in a tongue" (verse 19). The gift of. tongues
was useless if it did not edify. A language the hearers did not understand
could not edify. Therefore, it would be better to speak just five words in
the native tongue of the speaker and the audience (in our case plain English)
than to speak ten thousand inspired but unintelligible words. Let the
imagined tongue speakers of today take heed.
In First Corinthians 14:20-25, the apostle Paul argued that brethren were
to take into account the different purposes of tongues and prophecy in their
use. He exhorted, " Brethren, do not be children in understanding"
(verse 20). Children are impressed by bright, shiny toys rather than by
useful tools. Thus, the Corinthians were displaying childish thinking by
their use of the gift of tongues as a vain show. So, too, do the Pentecostals
who imagine have this gift.
The apostle explained, "tongues are for a sign, not to those who
believe but to unbelievers" (verse 22). The proper use of the gift of
tongues was demonstrated by the apostles on the day of Pentecost. They,
Galileans, expounded in many languages with which they were totally
unfamiliar. The hearers, men who had spoken these languages from childhood,
understood what the apostles proclaimed and recognized in this a notable
miracle (Acts 2:1-11), Thus, they, unbelievers to man, were led to realize
the inspiration of the speakers and to give audience to what they spoke.
Therefore, about three thousand obeyed the gospel that day (Acts 2:41). The
purpose, then, of miraculous tongues was to confirm the spoken word to those
who were not Christians. They had and have no use in assemblies of believers.
Therefore if the whole church comes together
in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are
uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1
Corinthians 14:23)
This would be the natural reaction if you walked into a room full of
people, all of your own nationality, who were speaking various languages, all
totally foreign to your understanding. This misuse of tongues was completely
wrong. What do Pentecostal people today expect us to think when we hear a
dozen of them jabbering at the same time in unintelligible gibberish?
In verses twenty-six through thirty-eight of chapter fourteen the beloved
apostle gave specific regulations foir speaking in tongues and prophesying in
the public, worship assembly. The great, over-riding principle was "Let
all things be done for edification." (Verse 26) Gibberish does not
edify.
In verse twenty-seven Paul commanded, "If anyone speaks in a tongue,
let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one
interpret." If Pentecostal tongue-speaking were real, they disobey the
divine regulations for their public use.
"But," our Holiness friends reply: "We can’t control
our speaking; the Spirit of God forces us to speak." To which the
inspired apostle Paul in turn replies, "And the spirits of the prophets
are subject to the prophets" (verse 32). By their own power of rational
thought, the prophets could decide when and when not to exercise the
miraculous gift.
"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." (verse
33). God has never condoned vain display or tumult in worship, and those who
so worship do so in direct rebellion against the precepts of God.
In verses thirty-four and thirty-five the inspired writer forbid the wives
of the prophets to ask their husbands questions aloud in the assembly. The
principle is that of feminine subjection. In First Timothy 2:11-12, the same
writer applied this identical principle to the teaching of women and
commanded, "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority
over a man, but to be in silence." How can Pentecostal people claim to
have the "Full Gospel" and yet allow women to preach in a position
of authority over men?
Having declared the absolute authority of his regulations of these
miraculous powers (verses 37-38), Paul summarized and concluded in verse
forty by demanding, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
How could any person even imagine that a Pentecostal assembly, with its
clamor, confusion, vain display and revelry, is "done decently and in
order"?
Just suppose that spiritual gifts were still with us, a supposition that
contradicts the word of God. Even then, would the Pentecostal assemblies be
in harmony with the Lord’s regulations of spiritual gifts? No!
Absolutely and emphatically, No! All people truly interested in obeying
Christ Jesus must reject these clamorous displays as vain worship. "Let
all things be done decently and in order."
Conclusion
It has been the primary purpose of this study to test the claims of those
today who avow the use of spiritual gifts. We have chosen to investigate the
great treatise by the apostle Paul concerning these gifts, contained in First
Corinthians chapters twelve through fourteen, comparing his inspired
principles with modern claims, as the means of accomplishing this purpose. It
is now in order to sum up our investigation I will do this by constructing a
series of logical arguments, based on the scriptural principles we have
discovered, which demonstrate that spiritual gifts have ceased and that
modern claims for these miraculous abilities are fraudulent.
I believe modern claimants to spiritual gifts are in error because God is
not the author of lies.
First Argument:
Major Premise: Truth is consistent, i.e. it never contradicts itself.
Minor Premise: God’s word is truth (He cannot lie). - John 17:17,
Titus 1:2
Conclusion: Therefore, God's word is consistent, i.e., it never
contradicts itself.
Second Argument:
Major Premise: God’s word is consistent, i.e., it never contradicts
itself.
Minor Premise: Modern claimants to spiritual gifts contradict each other
(All claim to be
led by the Spirit of God in what they teach and
offer the same "proof" of possessing the gifts, their experiences.)
- cf. United Pentecostals, Church
of God, Assembly of
God, Mormons, Catholics, etc.
Conclusion: Modern claimants to spiritual gifts do not follow God’s
word, and God is not
the author of their lies.
I believe spiritual gifts have ceased because no one today can impart
spiritual gifts.
Major Premise: The apostles alone had the power to impart spiritual gifts.
Minor Premise: There are no apostles on the earth today.
Conclusion: There is no one on the earth today who can impart spiritual
gifts.
I believe spiritual gifts have ceased because they have fulfilled their
purposes. The paramount purpose of spiritual gifts was to help achieve unity
in the body of Christ by providing the means for revealing and confirming the
faith whereby the saints might be edified.
First Argument:
Major Premise: The purpose of spiritual gifts
was to reveal all the truth of the gospel. Minor Premise: All the truth of
the gospel has been revealed.
Conclusion: Spiritual gifts have fulfilled their purpose.
Second Argument:
Major Premise: The purpose of spiritual gifts was to confirm the word.
Minor Premise: The word has been confirmed.
Conclusion: Spiritual gifts have fulfilled their purpose.
Third Argument:
Major Premise: The purpose of spiritual gifts was to edify in the absence
of the
completed, written word.
Minor Premise: The word is now completed,
written and completely adequate to edify. Conclusion: Spiritual gifts have
fulfilled their purpose.
I believe spiritual gifts have ceased because the New Testament says they
have ceased.
Major Premise: Spiritual gifts were to cease "when that which is
perfect has come" (the
New Testament is complete).
Minor Premise: "That which is perfect"
has come, i.e., the New Testament is complete. Conclusion: Spiritual gifts
have ceased.
I believe modern claimants of spiritual gifts are frauds because they do
not do what was done by those who had spiritual gifts in the first century.
They do not miraculously speak known human languages. They do not raise
people from the dead, drink deadly poison without ill effect, handle
poisonous snakes without harm, or actually miraculously heal the sick or
infirm. If they claim these powers, let it be documented by neutral, trained
observers.
I do not believe Pentecostals are led by the Spirit of God because they
blatantly violate Spirit- revealed principles of public worship. Their
assemblies are disorderly. They have "tongue- speakers" with no
interpreters. Women interrupt supposedly spiritually gifted men and teach
over men. They use instrumental music in worship. Their worship is for
entertainment rather than for edification (solos, quartets, choirs, bands,
etc.).
The spiritual gifts employed by first century Christians have often and
aptly been compared to the scaffolding used in the erection of a building.
While the building is incomplete, the scaffolding is good, even essential.
But once the building is complete, the scaffolding has fulfilled its purpose
and is removed. If a worker were to desire to leave that scaffolding up, he
would either manifest an ignorance of the purpose of scaffolding or
demonstrate his lack of faith in the fact the building was complete. While
the faith was incomplete, spiritual gifts were good, even essential. Once the
faith was complete, they fulfilled their purpose and were removed. If one
expresses a desire for the use of spiritual gifts now, he either manifests an
ignorance of the purpose of spiritual gifts or demonstrates his lack of faith
in the fact the New Testament is complete.
Spiritual gifts have ceased. Modern claimants to miraculous abilities are
either lying frauds or deluded dreamers. Do not place your faith in emotional
experiences. Let your faith stand in the miraculously revealed and confirmed,
complete word of God. Experiences will deceive you and lead you astray. The
word of God will show you the truth and lead you to heaven. Will you not give
up the delusion of experiences for the truth of the word of God?
List of Works Cited
Arndt, W.F., and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament.
Findlay,
G.G., The Expositor’s Greek Testament.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/03statab/pop.pdf (2004 informnation)
Jividen, Jimmy, Glossolalia From God or Man?
MacKnight, James, A New Literal Translation of the Apostolical Epistles.
Meade, Frank, Handbook of Denominations in the United States.
Newsweek (June 25, 1973).
Thayer, J.H., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Vine, W.E., An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
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