ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 195

“SPEAKING IN TONGUES” Part 2

Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi

Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University

INDEX OF TOPICS OF THIS NEWSLETTER

“SPEAKING IN TONGUES” Part 1

*This is the Essay of this Newsletter which is excerpted from

chapter 8 of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical?

UPDATE ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

* AN UPDATE: Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical?

* How to Contact the Center for Cancer Care that

shut down 95% of my Liver Cancer

* William Richardson, Speaking in Tongues to be

released in to weeks by March 5, 2008.

* Cristina Picardi’ New Recording done in Loma Linda

on February 8, 9, 10.

* Limited Supply of More than a Prophet

* Forthcoming Rallies in England from March 1 to 15.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

* SPECIAL OFFER on 12 DVD and CD albums for only

$150.00, instead of the regular price of $1150.00

* New Video Recording of Prof. Roy Gane on the Sanctuary

* Upcoming seminars for the months of February and March

* Incredible Offer on the new Hitachi 3000 Lumens Projector

Only $1395.00

* The Smallest and most Powerful Remote Presenter

* Does your church or School Need a Screen?

* Bed and Breakfast in London, England.

UPDATE ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

AN UPDATE - POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

As you can tell from this newsletter, the research and writing of the new book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? is proceeding well. The essay of this newsletter “SPEAKING IN TONGUES” is taken from the second part of chapter 8 of the forthcoming book. You will note that I have deliberately omitted a few crucial section of the chapter in order to encourage the purchase of the book.

I have devoted several weeks to research and write this chapter, because the phenomenal growth of the charismatic movements raises important questions about tongues-speaking. Is the modern manifestation of speaking in tongues from God or from Satan? Is it a supernatural phenomenon or a natural stimulation of the left cerebral hemisphere? Is it identical to the gifts of the Holy Spirit manifested on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14?

Are there two different types of speaking in tongues in the New Testament, one consisting of speaking in foreign languages in Acts 2 and another manifested in “ecstatic utterances” in 1 Corinthians 12-14? Do the modern glossolalia meet the criteria stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 for the legitimate exercise of the gift of tongues for edifying the church? Is speaking in tongues the fulfillment of the Latter Rain promised in Joel 2:28-29?

These are some of the important questions that I am addressing in chapter 8 “Speaking in Tongues.” In this newsletter I am posting only a few sections of the second part of chapter 8. I have deliberately omitted some crucial sections of the chapter, to encourages readers of this newsletter to buy the book when it comes out in a few weeks time (early in April 2008).

A research project of this nature has been very expensive in time and money. During this past year I have invested an average of 15 hours a day on this manuscript, because I believe it is desperately needed to call out of Babylon many sincere people who are sincerely seeking to know and to do the revealed will of God.

There are million of sincere Christians who do not realize that most of their popular beliefs are biblically wrong, while our Adventist beliefs are biblically right. This book Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? is designed to help these sincere Christians to re-examine their beliefs in the light of the normative authority of Scripture.

When Will the Book Be Out?

God willing, I hope to complete the writing of the book by the end of March 2008, and have the book printed and ready for distribution two weeks later by April 15 (tax time). Eight of the ten chapters are done. I am now working on the two remaining chapters on “Once Saved Always Saved” and “Infant Baptism.” They should be completed rather speedily, because I have researched these subjects before.

At present I am devoting every spare moment to researching and writing the remaining two chapters. Your encouragement has meant a lot to me. Three months ago I was ready shelf the project for the time being, especially because of the new ministry we started with Cristina Piccardi-a powerful and passionate soprano who touches the hearts of people and greatly enriches my seminars. She is by far the best Adventist soprano in the Adventist Church. Three years ago she won the first prie at an international opera singers competition.

We present our SABBATH, or ADVENT, or LIFESTYLE SEMINARS together with words and song. Cristina sings several sacred songs before and after each of my lectures. Her poweful and passionate singing moves people to tears. The reception and response we have received during the past four months has truly been incredible. Planning this new ministry has consumed a lot of my time, especially in processing the invitations we are receiving from across the USA and overseas. This is what caused me to consider shelving the manuscript for the time being.

But your letters caused me to reconsider my priorities. Some of you have reminded me that our Adventist Church desperately need Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? to witness to people who are sincerely seeking to know and to do the will of God. The many pre-publication orders I have already received, have strengthen my determination to complete this project by the end of March 2008.

The book consists of about 400 pages with a nice four colors, laminated cover. We are in the process of redesigning the cover, after receiving many valuable suggestions.

Thank You for Your Advanced Orders

At this time we wish to offer our readers the opportunity to place an order at the special pre-publication prices listed below. Please note that your checks or credit cards will not be processed until the book is ready to be mailed out. We are keeping all your orders in a special file and as soon as the book is out your check will be deposited or your credit card will be processed.

Your advanced orders will offer me, not only the encouragement needed to speedily complete this very demanding project, but also an approximate idea of how many copies we should print. Thank you for your encouragement and support. Your order will be processed as soon as the book comes out early in April.

SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION PRICES FOR QUANTITY ORDERS OF POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

1 copy of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $30.00 per copy. Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $10.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

10 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $10.00 per copy, postage paid, instead of the regular price of $30.00. ($100.00 for 10 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA.Add $40.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

30 copies (one case) of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $5.00 per copy, postage paid. ($150.00 for 30 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $80.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

100 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $4.00 per copy, postage paid. ($400.00 for 100 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $160.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

HOW TO ORDER POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

You can order Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at the pre-publication prices given above, in four different ways:

(1) Online: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_35

(2) Phone:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) Email:  By emailing your order to <[email protected]>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.     

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

HOW TO CONTACT THE CENTER FOR CANCER CARE IN GOSHEN, INDIANA THAT TREATED MY CANCER

Two days following my 69th birthday, I learned that I had advanced-stage colon cancer requiring immediate surgery. Later I was told that the cancer had spread to the liver, infesting 90% of the organ and making its prognosis bleak. Several oncologists that I consulted, confirmed that I had Stage 4 terminal liver cancer, with only a few months to live. All what they could do was to prolong my life with chemotherapy for a few months or a year at best. No Cancer Center, including Loma Linda Cancer Center, had a clinical trial program for liver cancer. The impression I received is that nothing could be done to heal my cancer: I was doomed to die in a few months, at most a year.

Driven by my faith in God and optimistic attitude, I sought another opinion at the Center for Cancer Care in Goshen, Indiana, which is located only one hour away from Andrews University, where I live. Following a two-hour consultation with Dr. Seza Gulec (see the picture at my website by clicking http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/goshen), a pioneer in the field of nuclear oncology, I learned that my cancer was terminal but treatable with a combined strategy of chemotherapy and microsphere embolization - a treatment unavailable at most cancer centers. Within one month, the innovative treatment reduced the presence of liver cancer by almost 80% and decreased total tumor volume from 2435cc to 680cc. Within two months, two more treatments reduced my cancer by 95%.

Today I feel like a new man with a new lease on life. I feel like an old car with a decent looking body and a brand new motor. I have more energy than I have had earlier in my life. I can only thank God for His providential leading to the right place and for using the latest research to restore my health.

Click here to see the pictures of the various stages of my cancer: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/goshen

The Goshen Center for Cancer Care is one of the few treatment facilities in the world to offer this breakthrough technology primarily due to the commitment of Dr. Gulec. A world-renowned physician, Dr. Gulec has dedicated years to research and develop the combination therapy, which greatly increases survival rates in those with advanced types of cancer. He has also authored landmark publications in lymphatic mapping, sentinel node biopsy, radioguided surgery and radionuclide therapy. Dr. Gulec currently leads the endocrine surgery, hepatic oncology, molecular imaging and positron emission tomography programs at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care. To learn more about Dr. Seza Gulec click: http://www.cancermidwest.com/main.asp?id=217

Truly I can say that I believe that the Lord providentially placed me in contact with Dr. Gulec, who has done for me what appeared to be impossible. The Lord has used Dr. Gulec to give me a new lease on life. He is so proud of my recovery that he uses me as a show case at international nuclear oncological conferences. Now I feel like a new man energized to serve the Lord in a greater way in the sunset years of my life. Somehow I feel that I have more energy now than I had at 25 years of age.

You can contact the CENTER FOR CANCER CARE in Goshen, Indiana in the following ways:

1) PHONE: (888) 491-4673

2) EMAIL: [email protected]

3) WEBSITES: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/goshen or http://www.cancermidwest.com/

WILLIAM RICHARDSON’S BOOK SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED BY MARCH 5, 2008

In the last newsletter I proposed the possibility of reprinting William Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues: Is It Still the Gift of the Spirit? The book was originally printed in 1994 by the Review and Herald but it has been out of print for several years.

Before proceeding with the reprint, I decided to find out how many of our readers would be interested to purchase a copy of this timely book. The response surpassed my fondest expectations. I received pledges for orders from different parts of the world, including from some Division offices. In the light of the overwhelming interest, I hastily delivered the book to my printer who promised to deliver me the printing in two weeks, no later than March 5, 2008.

Let me explain briefly, who is the author and why I decided to reprint the book. Incidentally, as a rule I do not publish or reprint books of other authors, because my hands are full with promoting and distributing the 18 books that I have authored. The only other book of another author that I have published, is More than a Prophet: How We Lost and Found Again the Real Ellen White, by Prof. Graeme S. Bradford.

I published More than a Prophet because I believe that this book has been long overdue and will do a lot to restore confidence in the validity of the gift of prophecy, manifested in the writings, preaching, and teachings of Ellen White. The response has been most gratifying. About 20 conferences in the USA and a few oversea, have donated the book to their workers. If you did not have a chance before to order this timely book before, we still have a small supply left of the second printing. We will be glad to mail you copies immediately. To place an order call us at (269) 471-2915 or click at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_28

William Richardson, Ph. D., the author of Speaking in Tongues, has served with distinction our Adventist church for over 35 years as Professor of NT, Chairman of the Religion Department (my chairman for many years), and finally as the Dean of the School of Art and Sciences. He has written numerous articles and books.

Let me explain why I decided to reprint Richardson’s Speaking in Tongues. After reading a dozen of books and scores of articles in preparation for chapter 8 “Speaking in Tongues” of my book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?, I came to appreciate Richardson’s Speaking In Tongues for his clarity and objectivity.

Most Adventist authors and literature have tried to prove that the gift of speaking in tongues described in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14, are identical, namely, the ability of speaking foreign languages. This position has been used to refute all charismatic tongues-speakers as impostors, because they do not speak foreign languages, but unintelligible, ecstatic utterances.

Through a painstaking analysis of Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14, presented in his doctoral dissertation at Andrews University, Richardson shows that there is a difference between the speaking in tongues in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. For one thing, the tongues in Acts 2 are known as languages (dialektos) clearly understood by the Jews from different countries present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. By contrast, the tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14 are characterized as “sound—phonon” (1 Cor 14:10) that needed to be interpreted. No interpretation was needed for tongue-speakers in Acts 2.

Ultimately Richardson shows that a careful study of the restrictions Paul places on tongues-speaking during the worship service, disqualifies much of the Pentecostal speaking in tongues today as an unbiblical, illicit activity. The confusion caused by several people speaking in tongues at the same time without any translation, is an illicit activity clearly condemned by Scripture.

But Richardson’s concern, however, is to let Scripture speak for itself, rather than twisting Scripture to make the gift of tongues something we want it to be. His research shows that there can be instances when a believer is impressed by the Spirit to pray or praise God with sounds too deep for words. Spiritual realities are experienced in different ways by different people

I believe that Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues is a most timely, witnessing book, at a time when the Pentecostal/charismatic movements are growing 10 times faster than our Adventist church, that is, at the rate of over 20 millions a year, and thus becoming the second largest religious body in the world after the Catholic Church. Their membership today is already over 550 million and within 10 years it is expected to reach 750 million.

Your encouraging responses gave me the incentive that I needed to proceed immediately with the reprint of Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues: Is It Still the Gift of the Spirit? My Adventist printer, Greg Patterson, who has served me with speed and efficiency for many years, has promised to have the book delivered at our home by March 5, 2008, that is in about two weeks. At the time of the delivery I will be in England with the outstanding soprano Cristina Piccardi, presenting our seminars with words and songs at six rallies. But my able assistant will be in my office. He will receive and process immediately all your orders.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER ON WILLIAM RICHARDSON’S BOOK SPEAKING IN TONGUES: IS IT STILL A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT?

1 copy of Speaking in Tongues at $25.00 per copy. Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $10.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

10 copies of Speaking in Tongues at $7.00 per copy, postage paid, instead of the regular price of $25.00. ($70.00 for 10 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $40.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

30 copies (one case) of Speaking in Tongues at $5.00 per copy, postage paid. ($150.00 for 30 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $80.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

100 copies of Speaking in Tongues at $4.00 per copy, postage paid. ($400.00 for 100 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $160.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

HOW TO ORDER Speaking in Tongues:

You can order William Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues at the introductory prices given above, in four different ways:

(1) Online: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_36

(2) Phone:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) Email:  By emailing your order to <[email protected]>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.     

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

CRISTINA PICCARDI’S NEW RECORDING

A brand new recording of Cristina Piccardi’s sacred concert and of our SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS was made in Loma Linda on February 8, 9, 10. The recording was done with four state-of-the-art high definition cameras that provide an exceptional clear and crispy video images.

We felt the need to make a high quality recording to share our new ministry with fellow believers in different parts of the world. We are happy that at this time we can offer a professional recording both of Cristina’s Sacred Concert and of our SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS.

The SACRED CONCERT consists of 16 sacred familiar songs that cover the major themes of God’s creative and redemptive love. Her marvellous singing will touch your heart and inspire you to devote your life more fully to the Savior. You can see the picture of this new album by clicking at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/pic.htm

The SABBATH SEMINAR consists of 3 DVD disks containing a total of 6 hours of recording, that is, the Cristina singing and my preaching done on Friday evening, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath afternoon.  Cristina sings a few songs before and after each of my lectures. You can enjoy this informative and inspiring 6 hours seminar in the privacy of your home or church, without having to travel long distances or investing money to fly us in. You can see the picture of this new album by clicking at this link:http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/sabbathandsong/index.htm

Who is Cristina Piccardi?

Truly I can say that Cristina is by far the best Adventist soprano I have heard in my life. Surprisingly she is a slim, only 118 pounds, 5.6 feet high—not the typical heavy-set soprano. When my wife asked her: “How can you project such a powerful voice when you are so slim?” She replied: “It is God’s gift.”

Cristina was born in Brazil 26 years ago and came to Andrews University two years ago to accompany her husband who is studying at the seminary. She has earned degrees in voice performance both in Brazil and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where she received full scholarship during the two years of her studies, graduating in December of 2005.

In the same year she performed in a leading role with symphonic orchestras in the USA and overseas. At the annual 2005 International Competition for Opera Singers she won the first prize as the best soprano singer of the year.

I officially met Cristina on October 6, 2007 at Andrews University Pioneer Memorial Church. I was spellbound by the three sacred songs she sung during the communion service led by Pastor Dwight Nelson. When we met after the communion service, we both immediately felt that the Lord was bringing us together in a providential way to proclaim with words and songs our timely Adventist Message. She told me that after singing for five years in a leading role with various symphonic orchestras, she felt the call of God to leave glitzy opera stage, in order to dedicate the gift of her voice to sing sacred music. This means that now we are presenting together with words and songs my powerpoint seminars on the SABBATH, SECOND ADVENT, and CHRISTIAN LIFE STYLE.

You can enjoy a preview of Cristina’s outstanding singing by clicking at this link:  http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cristina/ She sings the first stanza of THE HOLY CITY.

SPECIAL PACKAGE OFFER OF CRISTINA PICCARDI’S RECORDINGS.

At this time we wish to offer the complete package of Cristina’s three albums, together with the newly recorded SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS for only $80.00, instead of the regular price of $230.00. The package included the following four albums:

1) THE CD ALBUM REJOICE IN THE LORD which consists of 11 sacred songs recorded with Marcelo Caceres, Professor of piano at Andrews University. The regular price of the album is $30.00.

2) THE DVD ALBUM SING UNTO THE LORD which consists of 10 sacred songs recorded at the Andrews University Pioneer Memorial SDA Church. The regular price of the DVD album is $50.00.

3) THE DVD ALBUM BY HIS GRACE which consists of 16 sacred songs recorded in Loma Linda with four high-definition cameras. The regular price of the DVD is $50.00.

4) THE DVD ALBUM OF THE SABBATH WITH WORDS AND SONGS which consists of three DVD disks with 6 hours of recordings of Cristina singing and my preaching done on Friday evening, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath afternoon. The regular price is $100.00.

The special offer on the above package of 4 albums is only $80.00, mailing expenses included even overseas, instead of the regular price of $230.00.

HOW TO ORDER THE PACKAGE OF THE FOUR ALBUMS:

You can order the package of the four albums containing Cristina’s Sacred Concerts and the SABBATH SEMINAR in WORDS AND SONGS in four different ways:

(1) Online: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=122

(2) Phone:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) Email:  By emailing your order to <[email protected]>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.     

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

A LIMITED SUPPLY OF MORE THAN A PROPHET

During the past few weeks several people have inquired if Prof. Graeme Bradford’s book More than a Prophet, is still available. The answer is “YES.” We still have a few hundred copies left.

More than a Prophet is a must reading for anyone interested to discover the REAL Ellen White. Prof. Bradford spent 20 years researching Ellen White and he provides in his book a much needed balanced picture of her divine revelations and her human limitations. About 20 Conferences have donated this timely book to all their pastors.

If you did not get a chance to order More than a Prophet before, be sure to take advantage of this final opportunity. At this time we offer you the package of both the book More than a Prophet and the two hours DVD album where Prof. Bradford shares the highlights of his research, for only $50.00, instead of the regular price of $150.00. If you order 10 copies of the book, your special price is only $100.00, instead of $250.00. In addition you will receive also as a bonus the DVD which regularly sells for $100.00.

To place an order call us at (269) 471-2915 or click at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_28

FORTHCOMING RALLIES IN ENGLAND

From February 29 to March 15, Cristina Piccardi and myself will present our Adventist message with words and songs at 5 rallies in England. The following are the dates, places and pastors to contact for detailed information;

MARCH 1: Edmonton, London. For information contact Pastor Steve

Roberts at 01923-673-755

MARCH 2: Advent Center, London. For information contact Pastor

Enrique Duarte at 01344 647429

MARCH 5: Willesden Church, London. For information contact

Pastor Kirk Thomas at 01923 681 649

MARCH 8: Croydon Church, London. For information contact

Pastor Brighton Kavaloh at 020 8851 3383

MARCH 15: Wolverhampton, North England. For information call Pastor Richard Jackson at 0121 2583420

If you live in England, you are welcomed to attend the rally that is closest to you. This time I will be joined by Cristina Piccardi, who is by far the best soprano in the Adventist Church. In 2005 she won the first price at an international opera singers competition. She left the opera world to sing the love of God. Her powerful and passionate singing will stir up your hearts. I will do the speaking and Cristina will do the singing. You will hear a fresh presentation of our Adventist message through Words and Songs. Accept my warm invitation and extend it to your firends.

“SPEAKING IN TONGUES” Part 2

Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi

Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University

The three chapters of 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14 are the only place in the Bible where speaking in tongues is discussed in detail. Thus, a careful study of these chapters is important to evaluate biblically the Pentecostal and charismatic claims regarding the importance of tongue-speaking.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN

1 CORINTHIANS 12-14

No Mention of Tongues-speaking in Two Listings of Spiritual Gifts

It should be noted at the outset that Paul discusses tongue-speaking only in his epistle to the Corinthians. No reference to this subject is found in his other epistles. What is even more surprising, is that Paul does not mention at all the gift of tongues-speaking in his two other lists of spiritual gifts found in Ephesians 4:11-12 and Romans 12:6-8. In Romans Paul specifically mention the gifts of prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, liberality in giving, and acts of mercy (Rom 12:6-8), but he leaves out tongues-speaking. Surely, if the gift of tongues was one of the outstanding endowments of the Holy Spirit, the apostle would have included it in this list.

It is also striking that in the two listings of spiritual gifts given in 1 Corinthians 12 (vv. 8-10 and 28), tongues and interpretation of tongues are mentioned last. Paul concludes this unit with the exhortation that the believers should “earnestly desire the higher gifts” (1 Cor 12:31). This suggests that Paul viewed the gift of tongues differently than the Corinthians. They were inclined to place the gift first, but the apostle places it last, because for him it was not one of the greater gifts. Paul states this conviction clearly in 1 Corinthians 14:5, saying: “He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues.”

These introductory observations should alert us to the need to keep Paul’s discussion of tongues-speaking in 1 Corinthians 12-14 in the proper perspective. His teachings on tongues must be seen as part of the many problems of the Corinthian congregation that Paul is endeavoring to address.

The Corinthian Church was a Problem Church

The Corinthian Church gave Paul more headaches and heartaches than any other church that he served. As Anthony A. Hoekema succinctly puts it, “Some of the problems he had to deal with there were: the problem of factionalism and contentiousness, the toleration of gross immorality, the conducting of lawsuits against each other, the temptation to fall back into idolatry through eating meats offered to idols, abuses in connection with the Lord’s Supper, and the denial of the resurrection of the body.”²⁵

This background helps us understand why the Corinthians had problems also with spiritual gifts. Their problem was not the lacking in spiritual gifts (“you are not lacking in any spiritual gift” - 1 Cor 1:7), but the abuse of them. This becomes evident from a careful reading of chapters 12-14, which suggests that many Corinthians were placing the gift of tongues at the top of the list of spiritual endowments, priding themselves in possessing it and using it excessively during their worship service.

Paul addresses the problem by showing that the gift of tongues was not nearly as important as many of the Corinthians thought it was. To accomplish this objective he uses two strategies. First, he places the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues last in the two listing of spiritual gifts given in chapter 12 (vv. 8-10 and 28). Second, he lays down strict rules for the exercise of tongues-speaking. If correctly observed, the Pauline rules, such as the translation requirement, would silence most of tongues-speaking today.

Tongues-speaking at Corinth and in the Book of Acts

Before proceeding to analyze Paul’s teachings on tongues-speaking in Corinthians 12-14, we need to address the question: Were the tongues spoken in Corinth similar to those mentioned in the book of Acts? Most scholars agree that the two are different. The Corinthian phenomenon is interpreted as ecstatic, unintelligible utterances that needed interpretation, while the Pentecostal speaking in various dialektos (Acts 2:6), is seen as a description of the miraculous ability granted to the Apostles to speak foreign languages understood by the foreigners who were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.

In short, the Corinthian phenomenon is designated glossolalia while the Pentecost phenomenon is technically called xenoglossia. By glossolalia is meant, as noted earlier, an unintelligible and meaningless utterance believed by the speaker to be a real language, but incomprehensible to any one else. On the other hand, xenoglossia, is an utterance in a foreign tongue, intelligible to those who speak and hear the language.

This widely accepted interpretation has been rejected by J. G. Davis and R. H. Gundry.²⁶ They maintain that all the references to speaking in tongues at Pentecost and at Corinth refer to speaking of foreign languages. They insists that neither Paul or Luke meant “ecstatic utterance” when referring to Christian speaking in tongues. On the contrary, they refer to speaking in known foreign languages. Their major argument is that the Greek term glossa is commonly used in Biblical Greek for human languages and very seldom for “ecstatic utterances.”

This etymological argument fails to convince, because Paul uses glossais for the tongues of angels (1 Cor 13:1), which are not human languages. He also says that “he who speaks in a tongue-glosse addresses God, not men, and no one understands him (1 Cor 14:2). It is highly unlikely that in these contexts tongues signify known human languages, since no one could understand them. Greek lexicons indicate that glossa may indicate not only known human languages, but also incoherent utterance of certain forms of spiritual fervency.²⁷

This means that the meaning of glossa-tongue must be determined by the context, because sometimes a common term may be given a new meaning when describing a new phenomenon. This seems to be the case in the Corinthian congregation where speaking in tongues clearly refers, as we shall see, to abnormal verbal behavior.

Differences Between Tongues-speaking in Acts and 1 Corinthians

A comparison between the accounts of tongues-speaking in Acts and 1 Corinthians, shows some significant differences.

1) Tongues in Corinth could only be understood when they were interpreted either by the speaker (1 Cor 14:13) or by a members present in the assembly (1 Cor 14:27-28). This was not the case in the three tongues episodes recorded in Acts, when people heard them in their own “native language-dialektos” (Acts 2:8). No translation or interpretation was needed.

2) The tongues in Corinth are associated with a “sound—phonai (1 Cor 14:10-11), which needed to be interpreted. By contrast, the tongues at Pentecost were heard as “language-dialektos” (Acts 2:6, 8; cf. Acts 1:19; 21:20; 22:2; 26:14), which required no translation or interpretation for people who spoke those languages.

The use of the term phonon-sound, is most likely influenced by the preceding example of the sound-phonen of lifeless instruments, like the flute, harp, and bugle. If the sound of these instruments is not clear, nobody will “know what is played” and nobody “will get ready for battle” (1 Cor 14:7-8). In the same way Paul explains that speech must have a clear sound to communicate a message. Otherwise it will be like “speaking into the air” (1 Cor 14:9). The fact that the sound of the Corinthians tongues-speakers was unclear, suggest that they did not speak known languages like in Acts 2.

3) The purpose of tongue-speaking in Corinth was self-edification (1 Cor 14:4), while their purpose in Acts was the validation and confirmation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the equipment of believers to preach the Gospel to many nations (Acts 2:5-11). There is no indication that tongues were ever used in Corinth for preaching the gospel to pagans.

4) Tongues-speaking in Acts 2 occurred under the special circumstances of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. There is no indication that such special circumstances were present at Corinth.

5) In Acts tongues-speaking “appears to have been an irresistible and temporary initial experience, but at Corinth it was a continuing gift under the control of the speaker (1 Cor 14:27, 28).²⁸

6) There are no examples in the book of Acts of Christians speaking in tongues during a church service. By contrast, in Corinth there seems to have been several church members who had a consuming passion to display the gift of tongues. As William Richardson puts it, “Paul was calling for congregational singing while tongue-speakers did only solos.”²⁹

7) In each instance of tongues-speaking reported in Acts, every one in the group received the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues. By contrast, in Corinth only a few spoke with tongues (1 Cor 14:27), but all were eager to speak at the same time, giving he impression to outsiders that they were “mad” (1 Cor 14:23).

These observations clearly suggest that there are important differences between tongues-speaking reported in Acts and that reported in 1 Corinthians. Most likely the differences concerned not only the purpose and the operation of tongues-speaking but also the nature of the tongues themselves.

The Nature and Function of Tongues in Corinth

This important part of the chapter is intentionally omitted in this newsletter to encourage the purchase of the forthcoming book Popular Beliefs: are they Biblical? The book contains the complete edited text of the 10 chapters, together with the Endnotes. The estimated length of the book is about 400 pages. God willing the book should be released early in April.

This omitted section of the chapter is vital because it attempts to define the nature and function of tongue-speaking in the Corinthian congregation.

1 Corinthians 12: Tongues Mentioned Last in the Two Listing of Spiritual Gifts

The Corinthian Church, as noted earlier, was a problem church. One of its problem related to spiritual gifts. Their problem was not the lack of spiritual gifts (“you are not lacking in any spiritual gift” 1 Cor 1:7), but the abuse of such gifts. In 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14, Paul clearly indicates that many Corinthians were placing the gift of tongues on the top of the list of spiritual endowments. They were eager to exercise it excessively in their meetings.

The prevalence of ecstatic speech among the frenzied priests and priestesses of the nearby temple of Apollo at Delphi, may have influenced the Corinthians to place a high value on tongue-speaking. Paul addresses the problem in these chapters by showing that the gift of tongues was not nearly as important as many of the Corinthians thought it was.

We noted earlier that in the two listing of spiritual gifts given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and 28, tongues and their interpretation are mentioned last. Even more striking is the fact that in the two other Pauline lists of spiritual gifts found in Ephesians 4:11-12 and Romans 12:6-8, tongues-speaking are not mentioned at all! If the gift of tongue was such an outstanding spiritual endowment, Paul would have mentioned it there, but we find no traces of it. The absence of tongues-speaking in Ephesians and Romans as well as their placement at the end of the listing in 1 Corinthians, should convince contemporary tongue-speakers that their attempt to make the gift of tongues the supreme spiritual gift lacks biblical support.

1 Corinthians 12: The Church as a Body with Many Members

In verses 12-27 of 1 Corinthians Paul illustrates how the Spirit “apportions to each one individually” (v. 11) spiritual gifts, by comparing the church to a body with many members. His point is that since the Spirit gives different gifts to various members, we cannot expect everyone to have the same gift. “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? (1 Cor 12:17). Paul’s argument is a veiled rebuke to those who promoted tongue-speaking as the spiritual gift that all should possess.

Verse 30 indicate that not all the Corinthians believers had the gift of tongues: “Do all speak with tongues?” Apparently those who did not have the gift of tongues felt inferior to those who did, since so much importance was placed on this gift. Paul rejects this misconception, still very popular today, that the ability of to speak with tongues sets a person off from other believers who have not received the fullness of the Spirit. He argues that all the spiritual gifts are necessary to the well-functioning of the body. No one can say “I have no need of you” (1 Cor 12:21).

There is not the slightest hint in 1 Corinthians 12 or chapter 14 that tongue-speaking is the proof of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as claimed by Pentecostals today. In fact, Paul urges to “earnestly desire the higher gifts” (1 Cor 12:31). The implication is that there are gifts of greater value. He makes this point by placing tongues and their interpretation last in his two listing of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 13: The More Excellent Way of Love

To bring home the truth that there is something far more important than the gift of tongues or any other spiritual gifts, Paul takes time in 1 Corinthians 13 to show the “more excellent way” of love. It is important to note that the function of this chapter is not merely to exalt the primacy of love, but primarily to place the gift of tongue and all the gifts of the Spirit in their proper context.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1). This is an hypothetical sentence, because no one can speak with the tongues of angels. The point is that even if one could speak with an angelic language, if he has no love, he would be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. Without love his tongue-speaking would be worthless, hollow, hypocritical.

Paul’s teaching is evident. Tongue-speaking has some value, but it is far more important for our lives to be filled with love. Our primary goal should be, not the possession of gifts like tongue-speaking, but the cultivation of love, which is greater even of faith and prophecy. The thrust of the entire chapter is “If I have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor 13:3).

1 Corinthians 14:1 - Prophecy is Superior to Tongues-speaking

Paul opens chapter 14 by reiterating the main thrust of chapter 13, namely, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Cor 14:1). In other words, spiritual gifts must be used to express love, not to promote one’s prestige or honor.

Then Paul addresses without any preamble the problem of many Corinthians who preferred the gift of tongues above all other gifts, by stating unequivocally that they should eagerly desire “especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Cor 14:1). The reason given is an amplification of the theme of chapter 13: “He who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church” (vv. 3-4).

Throughout the chapter Paul emphasizes the contrast between tongues and prophecy, favoring prophecy because it can edify the entire church, while the tongue speaker edifies only himself. The phrase “edifies himself” suggests that the tongue-speakers did not speak foreign tongues, because it hard to believe how a person could edify himself by speaking Chinese in a congregation where no Chinese were present and where Chinese was unknown to the speaker.

In view of the importance of love and of he fact that our gifts are to serve the whole church, it is evident that prophecy is superior to tongues, since the latter were not understood, unless they were interpreted. Hence Paul continues: “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interpret, so that the church may be edified” (v. 5; NIV).

Pentecostals appeal to the first part of 1 Corinthians 14:5 “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,” to argue that Paul wants everybody to seek the gift of tongues. To reach this conclusion, they take the first clause out of context. When read together with the rest of the verse, the meaning is quite different: “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues.” And in verse 39 Paul summarizes the whole discussion by tolerating tongues and positively enjoining prophecy: “So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” It is evident that Paul allows for tongues under strict conditions, but actively promotes prophesying because it edifies the entire congregation.

1 Corinthians 14:2-5 - The Nature of the Gift of Prophecy

Most commentators agree that the gift of prophecy mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14, consisted not so much in communicating new truths or predictions to the church, but in expanding known truths, which were generally neglected. We noted earlier that Paul speaks of prophesying in Corinth in the broad sense of communicating to the congregation a message of exhortation from God. “He who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3).

This prophetic ministry of “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor 14:31) was not restricted to a few “prophets” with predictive abilities (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel), but was open to all: “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged” (1 Cor 14:31). In other words, each member may receive at a given time a prophetic message of encouragement and comfort to share with the congregation. Such messages were more useful than speaking in tongues, because they edified the entire congregation.

Since church members are told “to judge” or “to weigh carefully” the messages of the prophets (v. 29), it is evident that the utterances of the prophets were to be in harmony with revealed truths. Furthermore Paul requires that a prophet “should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord” (v. 37). This leads us to conclude that Paul considered the prophetic gift of exhortation and teaching Bible truths more useful than the gift of speaking in tongues, but even prophetic messages were to be tested by the congregation to ensure that they harmonized with revealed truths.

1 Corinthians 14:6-13 - The Analogy Between Tongue-speaking and Musical Instruments

In verses 6 to 13 Paul continues to show that prophecy is superior to tongue-speaking, by comparing the latter to the off-key or indistinct notes of a flute, a harp, or a trumpet, which cause confusion among listeners. “How will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (vv. 7-8; NIV). He then makes the analogy explicit by saying explicitly: “So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just speaking to the air” (v. 9; NIV). The implication is clear. Tongues-speakers uttered unintelligible words that no one could understand. This verse can hardly be harmonized with the concept of tongues as a foreign language. This very sharp expression was designed to forcefully expose the error of any Corinthian believer who was still overrating his gift of tongue-speaking.

The reference to the sound-phonai of musical instruments, suggested to Paul another analogy, namely, that of a conversation between two persons who utter meaningless sounds-phonai. “There are so many kinds of voice (phonai-sounds) in the world, and none of them without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice (sound), I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me” (vv. 10-11; KJV).

It is noteworthy that up ;to this point, and throughout the rest of the chapter, Paul consistently employs forms of the word glossa to refer to the tongue experience. But suddenly in verse 10 he switches to phonai-sound. Why? Most likely because he wanted to show that tongue-speakers in Corinth uttered strange sounds, not comprehensible foreign languages. This leads Paul to draw an obvious conclusion: “For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says” (v. 13; NIV), because without interpretation the gift is useless to the church.

The fact that the tongue-speaker is asked to pray for the ability to interpret what he says, raises a question about the speaker’s ability to understand and interpret his or her own words. Why should a tongue-speaker have to pray for the separate gift of interpretation? Why would the Spirit give first unintelligible words and then supply the interpretation to those who prayed for it?

“Such a setting,” as William Richardson points out, “would make it sound strange indeed to pray for a separate gift of interpretation. It is hard to imagine under what circumstances the Spirit would enable an apostle to speak a foreign language while withholding the needed gift of interpretation. On the other hand, if the Corinthian glossolalia was a personal euphoric experience, then prayer to understand and interpret its meaning is fitting.”³⁴

1 Corinthians 14:14-19 - Prayer Must Engage both the Emotions and the Intellect

In the next section of verses 14-19, Paul further explains why interpretation is so important. Apparently some Corinthians believed that one could experience spiritual realities more fully by engaging their emotions (“my spirit”) rather than their intellect (“my mind”). Paul indicates that this is a serious error. “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind” (vv. 14-15).

Paul’s compromise approach may sound evenhanded, but in reality Paul emphasizes the importance of engaging the mind in public prayer and praise, so that any person present can signify their assent by saying “Amen.” “How can any one in the position of an outsider say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?” (v. 16). The whole matter is summarized in verse 17: “You may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.” In other words, praying or praising in tongues must be intelligible because it must edify the congregation.

To fend off any possible criticism by fanatical tongue-speakers that he did not understand their gift, Paul reassures the Corinthians that he could speak in tongues more than all of them (v. 18), but in the church he “would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue’ (v. 19). This statement suggests that tongue-speakers were not speaking comprehensible foreign languages, but were uttering many unintelligible words. The full implication is that when the mind is fully engaged, then the language is intelligible and can edify the congregation. By contrast, words spoken “in a tongue,” even if endlessly multiplied, fail to instruct and edify the congregation.

1 Corinthians 14:20-25 - Tongues-speaking Can Be a Sign of Spiritual Immaturity, Unbelief, and Divine Judgment

In the next section of the chapter (vv. 20-25), Paul explains how undue exaltation of the gift of tongues, is a sign of childish immature thinking. “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature” (v. 20). To illustrate the immature thinking, Paul refers to an incident in Isaiah’s time when God warned He would speak to Israel by people of “strange tongues.” “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord” (Is 28:11).

The event was intended to lead the people to repentance, but instead they stubbornly refused to listen: “yet they would not hear” (Is 28:12). “The fulfillment came a short time later when the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, sent his military officer, the Rabshaketh, to threaten King Hezekiah with invasion and defeat and urge him to surrender. The fact that God sent an advance warning of events to come was to serve as a sign. Unfortunately, the sign fell on death ears. In spite of hearing the strange voices and different language of the Assyrian advance party in their street, the Israelites continued in their stubborn ways and paid little attention to the many warning words of Isaiah and the other true prophets. Thus that ‘sign’ turned out to be a ‘sign for unbelievers’ who stubbornly ignored it.”³⁵

It is noteworthy that the unbelievers in Isaiah 18:11 are not foreigners, but the Israelites themselves who had rejected the clear word of God spoken through the prophets, and consequently they had fallen in such unbelief that God would let the foreign tongues of Assyria to do His speaking to Israel for him. To be addressed in “other tongues” was a common theme of judgment in the Old Testament (Deut 28:49). For example, like Isaiah, Jeremiah predicts God’s judgment upon Judah’s apostasy, saying: “Behold, I am bringing upon you a nation from afar. O house of Israel, says the Lord, . . . a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say” (Jer 5:15).

Paul uses in the same way the passage of Isaiah 28:11 to show that as the Assyrian tongues served to the Israelites as a sign of their unbelief, so the inordinate proliferation of tongues by some Corinthian members was as a sign of their unbelief.

Implicit in Paul’s selection of Isaiah 28:11, is an indictment against the Corinthians for their unbelief manifested in their abuse of tongue-speaking, among other things. This must be seen as a symptom of a much larger problem, since every chapter prior to 1 Corinthians 14 carries some form of indictment against them for their unruly and immoral behavior.

For those Corinthians who had a penchant to appear more spiritual than others in the church, speaking in tongues was the perfect means to gain such status, since the risk of fraud was minimized by the fact that no one in the church could tell if the tongue-speaker was divinely inspired or speaking his own mind. By contrast the gift of prophecy would be much harder to camouflage, because its message would be clearly understood and evaluated by the church.

The bottom line is that Paul is warning the Corinthians that a proliferation of tongues in the church was an illicit phenomenon. The more they engaged in that behavior the more they shew themselves to be unbelievers like the Jews of Isaiah’s time who no longer wanted to hear the clear prophetic message. Consequently God forced them to hear His word through the babbling tongues of their Assyrian oppressors.

1 Corinthians 14:22 - Tongues are a Sign for Unbelievers

In the light of the experience of the apostate Jews in Isaiah’s time, Paul states: “Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers” (1 Cor 14:22). As tongues became a sign of impending judgement for the unbelieving Jews in Isaiah’s time, so the mass proliferation of tongues in the Corinthian church, was a sign of sin and unbelief.

The unbelief was not manifested in the rejection of the Christian message, but in the exhibition of a pseudo-faith, which sought self-glorification. Although when legitimately used, tongues remains a gift from God, history shows that legitimate tongue-speaking rarely occurs.

The modern tongues-speaking is promoted as a Spirit-led, desirable experience. Yet, beneath this profile, there is an almost total disregard for the biblical directives regarding tongues-speaking. Research shows that modern glossolalia is a self-generated and learned experience. It is a psychologically induced phenomenon, which relies on the vast pool of information stored in the linguistic background of the speaker.

As Paul characterizes the proliferation of tongues in Corinth as a sign to unbelievers about God’s ensuing judgment, so the proliferation of tongues in modern times, is one of the signs that reveals the desperate spiritual condition of mankind. It is a sign that many choose to worship God through self-induced, artificial excitement, rather than through the order and decency (1 Cor 14:40) of genuine worship. It is a sign to summon mankind to the true worship of God in view of the impending judgment that lies ahead. “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountain of the water” (Rev 14:7).

1 Corinthians 14:23-25 - Tongues are Not a Sign for Unbelievers

Paul’s statement in verse 22 that “tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers,” seems to be contradicted by the following two verses (vv. 23-25) which state the opposite: unbelievers are offended by tongue-speaking, but they convicted and saved by prophetic messages. “If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and outsider or unbeliever enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all . . . he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” (1 Cor 14:23-25).

How can tongues-speech be a sign for unbelievers in verse 22 and an offence to unbelievers in verse 23? The resolution to this apparent contradiction is to be found in the two different contexts. The context of verse 22 is the unfaithful Jews who rejected not only the clear prophetic messages, but also the advanced warning given to them in the foreign languages and stammering lips of Assyrian invaders. This experience represents the stubborn refusal of many Corinthian to heed God’s directives about tongues-speaking, preferring instead to show their pseudo-faith. Thus, for them, tongues are a sign of their unbelief to be visited by God’s judgment.

The context of verses 23-25, is an “unbeliever” or “outsider” who is a truth-seeker. He enters the Christian assembly when “all speak in tongues” (v. 23). He reacts saying, this must be a madhouse: “You are mad” (v. 24). But the same unbeliever respond to the intelligible prophetic proclamation of the Gospel, is convicted of sin and worships God (v. 25). For him the confusion caused by speaking in tongues was a sign of madness, but the prophetic message that conveyed the Good News of salvation, was a sign of God’s love. The two different contexts explain why tongues are a sign for unbelievers in verse 22, and not a sign for unbelievers in verse 23. The former unbeliever is a person of persistent stubbornness and immaturity. The latter unbeliever is any non-Christian truth-seeker who is receptive to the message of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 - The Abuse of the Gift of Tongues

The next section of 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, describes several abuses of tongues-speaking among the Corinthians. These consisted especially of several people speaking in tongues at the same time (v. 27) and of tongues being spoken without interpretation being given or sought (v. 28). To remedy the problem, Paul gives the following clear instructions: “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God” (vv. 27-28).

The reason given for these definite restrictions is to ensure order and decorum during the worship service. “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (v. 33). Since God is the author of order and not confusion, it is reasonable to assume that He did not initiate all the tongue speaking occurring in the Corinthian church. The Holy Spirit could hardly have inspired someone to speak in a tongue while another person was speaking, or cause someone to speak without inspiring someone else with the gift of interpretation to interpret the tongue.

This being the case, the unrestrained tongue-speaking in Corinth must have come from another source. Mot likely the source was the Corinthians themselves who were most eager to display their overly-inflated egos. For some Corinthians blurting out something that sounded like tongue-speech in order to gain recognition, may have come as natural as breathing.

Since the Holy Spirit did not give to all the Corinthians the ability to speak in tongues, it is possible that some of them who did not have the gift, could have become jealous of their brethren who did, and thus pretend that they also had the gift. Paul does not openly say that the manifestation of tongues-speaking in Corinth was not inspired by God. He merely states that God is not the originator of confusion. The implication is clear. God did not initiate the illicit tongues experience of the Corinthian congregation. The confusion occurred because God’s instructions were not followed, consequently the Corinthian tongue-speech could hardly have been of divine origin, since God does not contradict Himself.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 - Definite Restrictions on Tongue-speaking

It is important to note what Paul says about the exercise of the gift of tongues. He does not rule out tongue-speaking altogether, but he allows it under very definite restrictions. First, he rules that only two or three people are to be allowed to speak in a tongue at any given meeting and they are not to speak at the same time but in turn: “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn” (v. 27).

Second, every utterance in tongues is to be accompanied by an interpretation. If there is no interpreter, then no one is to speak in tongues in the church service: “. . . let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God” (vv. 27-28).

It must be noted that Paul clearly forbids certain types of tongue-speaking: tongue-speaking that causes confusion in the church, which is done without interpretation, which is intended to enhance one’s own prestige, which does not edify the congregation.

It is evident that these basic rules are ignored by modern day tongue-speakers. Pentecostal or charismatic meetings, even those aired on TV for public consumption, show utter confusion as scores of people stand up, raise their hands, and utter strange, incomprehensible sounds. No interpretation is generally provided. If outsiders enter such meetings, as Paul puts it, “Will they not say that you are mad?” (1 Cor 14:23). The utter disregard for the biblical restrictions on tongue-speaking, show that much of tongue-speaking today is not inspired by God’s Spirit, because God is a God of order, not of confusion.

Conclusions Drawn from 1 Corinthians 12 to 14

Our examination of 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 leads to several important conclusions about tongues-speaking. Paul does not forbid tongue-speaking, but he definitely does not attach the high value attributed to them by Pentecostals and charismatic. While the Corinthians placed tongue-speaking at the top of the list of spiritual gifts, Paul places it at the bottom.

Paul severely warns against any illicit elevation of tongues over other gifts, and warns that proliferation of tongues in the church is a sign of unbelief, because it creates a pseudo-faith. Conversely, in the modern charismatic movement tongues-speaking is promoted as the hallmark of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, underneath this profile, there is a total disregard for the biblical directives regarding tongues-speaking. This in itself suggests an illicit origin of the movement.

Paul rebukes the mentality which viewed the ability to speak in tongues as the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He clearly affirms in 1 Corinthians 14:22 that “tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers.” We noted earlier that in the light of the passage of Isaiah 28:11, the unbeliever Paul had in mind, is not an outsider, but some Corinthian members themselves who were eagerly promoting the inordinate proliferation of tongues, contrary to God’s directives.

The burden of the whole discussion about tongues-speaking in 1 Corinthians 12 to 14, is that the proof of being filled with the Holy Spirit, is not glossolalia, but abounding in love toward one another. Tongues-speaking for Paul is not a sign of spiritual maturity, but the opposite. “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature” (1 Cor 14:20).

The Corinthian church is the only New Testament church that contained numerous tongue-speakers. This can hardly be interpreted as a sign of spiritual maturity, since Paul blames tongue-speakers for much of the confusion and the lack of mutual edification in the church.

It is noteworthy also that Paul nowhere tells his readers that they must seek the gift of tongues. We do not find the slightest hint that tongues-speaking was the hallmark of spirituality or a litmus test of spiritual growth. If anything, Paul emphasizes the opposite. He urges the Corinthians to seek the gift of prophecy: “So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues, but all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:39-40).

Paul never holds up tongues as a goal for Christians to achieve. Since his whole thrust of 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 is to temper the Corinthian enthusiasm for tongues-speaking, tongue-speakers today would do well to respect Paul’s teachings, by recognizing the secondary nature of the gift.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 14 Paul clearly favors prophecy over tongues, because prophetic messages benefited the church at large, not just the individual. “He who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3). Repeatedly Paul emphasizes that participation in church worship must benefit the entire congregation.

The Pentecostal influence is felt to day among denominational lines. Even those churches that have not given in to the extremes of movement, have embraced some of the reasoning behind this movement. The face of worship is changing, the need for doctrine is belittled. The guidance of the Spirit supersedes the directives of the Word of God. Feeling has replaced objective truth. We must be careful not to allow these trends to creep into our churches. May our worship and our lives be God-centered, rather than self-centered.

The conclusion that emerges from our study of 1 Corinthians 12 to 14, is that Paul does assign some value to tongues-speaking, but he carefully regulates and circumscribes its use. The reason is that spiritual gifts, especially tongues, had upstaged Christ. We must never allow church worship to become a display of individual gifts. Our Christian worship is to glorify God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Whenever the methods of worship, whether tongues or drama or rock music or organs, become more spectacular than the One to be praised, then a change must take place. For “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen” (Eph 3:21).

SPEAKING IN TONGUES TODAY

This important part of the chapter is intentionally omitted in this newsletter to encourage the purchase of the forthcoming book Popular Beliefs: are they Biblical? The complete edited text of the 10 chapters will appear in the book, together with the Endnotes.

In this section I evaluate the modern tongue-speaking movement from a theological perspective. I examine some of the fundamental Pentecostal teachings regarding speaking in tongues.

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11) Prof. Bacchiocchi’s DVD ALBUM on The Passion of Christ. The album contains the 2 hours live interview conducted by 3ABN on Prof. Bacchiocchi’s book The Passion of Christ in Scripture and History.

12) Prof. Bacchiocchi’s MP3 AUDIO ALBUM which contains 2 disks with 22 AUDIO lectures on vital biblical beliefs and practices. Ideal for listening in your car while driving.

You can see the picture of all the 12 ALBUMS and read a detailed description of them, just by clicking at this link:http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/albumoffer.htm

How to Order the Package of the 12 Albums:

You can order the complete package of 12 DVD/CD Albums for only $150.00, instead of the regular price of $1150.00, in four different ways:

(1) Online: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/albumoffer.htm

(2) Phone:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) Email:  By emailing your order to <[email protected]>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.     

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check for $150.00 to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

NEW VIDEO RECORDING ON THE SANTUARY BY PROF. ROY GANE

Few days ago Roy Gane, Ph. D., Prof. of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at Andrews University Theological Seminary, made a video recording of four of his popular lectures on the sanctuary. You can see a preview of the recording on line by clicking at this link: http://www.preludefilms.com/preview.html

The DVD is distributed through a personal website that Roy Gane has set up. I was unable to sponsor the recording and distribution of this informative and timly DVD, simply because I do not have the time to take on additional responsibilities. But I promised that I would do my best to promote this timely recording.

Altar Call: Sacrifice, Sanctuary, and Salvation

Altar Call is about God's plan to rescue us, as revealed in the services of His sanctuary. These fascinating services demonstrate His character of love, which includes both justice and mercy. They give us hope by revealing that God wants to dwell with us. They teach us how to interact with Him in order to receive the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. They show us how to get in touch with Jesus where He is working for us right now during the final phase of His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.

To many Christians, Christ's prolonged absence since He ascended to heaven is a mystery. But the Bible reveals that He is continuing to save us, and it invites us to get in touch with Him where He is now - in His sanctuary in heaven. By becoming acquainted with what He is doing in the control center of the universe, we can enjoy closer interaction with Him, more fully experience His transforming grace, and have confidence that we are at peace with God.

The DVD contains four 1 hour lectures by Roy E. Gane, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Director of the Ph.D./Th.D. and M.Th. programs at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Born in Sydney, Australia, he graduated from Pacific Union College in 1977 with a B.A. in theology and a B.Mus. in piano performance. He completed his M.A. (1983) and Ph.D. (1992) in Hebrew language and literature at the University of California and taught in the Religion Department of Pacific Union College from 1992-94 before moving to Andrews University.

To Order The DVD:

Go To: http://preludefilms.com

You can also donate to help our ministry grow to reach all of God's children.

Donate Here: http://preludefilms.com/store.html

At a time when the sanctuary doctrine is being challenged within and without the Adventist Church, it is refreshing to see an outstanding Adventist scholar show the biblical validity and relevance of this doctrine. i strongly encourage you to order this DVD album, simply by clicking at this link: http://www.preludefilms.com/store.html

In the next newsletter you will read Part 2 of Prof. Roy Gane article on “Legalism and Righteousness by Faith.” The article just appeared in the January and March issue of MINISTRY, An International Journal for Clergy. Many of you have asked for the footnotes of the article. You can find both the two-parts article and footnotes at this link: http://www.ministrymagazine.org/

SPECIAL OFFER ON PROF. JON PAULIEN’S LIVE DVD SEMINAR ON SIMPLY REVELATION

You may have noticed that the new 2008 Daily Devotional Book The Gospel from Patmos, is authored by Prof. Jon Paulien. He has done a masterful job in expanding each verse of the Revelation into a daily devotional thought.

To help you appreciate more fully Paulien’s Daily Devotional, we offer you his DVD album on SIMPLY REVELATION that was released few months ago. We have been airmailing the DVD album to church leaders, pastors, and lay Adventists in different part of the world. Several pastors have already shown the lectures to their congregations. They wrote to me saying that viewing the lectures were truly an enlightening experience for their members.

My wife and I viewed Simply Revelation on our TV on a Sabbath afternoon. Though I had already watched Prof. Paulien’s lectures during the taping session which I paid for, I was spellbound to hear him again offering so many refreshing insights into the most difficult book of the Bible. For me it is a thrilling experience listening to a scholar like Prof. Paulien, who knows what he is talking about.

Prof. Paulien is rightly regarded as a leading Adventist authority on the book of Revelation which he has taught at the Seminary for the past 25 years. His doctoral dissertation as well as several of his books deal specifically with the Book of Revelation.

The constant demand for Prof. Paulien’s CD album with his publications and articles, led me to discuss with him the possibility of producing a live video recording of a mini Revelation Seminar, which he chose to call Simply Revelation. As suggested by its title,  Simply Revelation aims to present simply the message of Revelation-not to read into Revelation sensational, but senseless views.

The preparation of this video recording took several months. The Simply Revelation seminar consists of four one-hour live video lectures, which have just been recorded in the studio of Andrews University. An impressive virtual studio provides the background of the lectures. Each lecture is delivered with about 50 powerpoint slides. This mini Revelation seminar will offer you and your congregation fresh insights into the Book of Revelation. Be sure to inform your pastor about the newly released Simply Revelation, if he is not aware of it.

You will be pleased to know that we have placed on a separate file all the powerpoint slides and the script of the live lecture. This means that if you are a pastor or a lay member who want to use Prof. Paulien’s Simply Revelation Seminar, you can pick and choose the powerpoint slides that you like.

The file with the powerpoint slides is placed on Prof. Paulien’s CD album containing all his publications and articles. The reason is that there was no memory left on the DVD disks. In spite of my pleas, Prof. Paulien was so full of the subject that he used the full 60 minutes of each lecture, leaving no space for the slides’ file.

This has been a very expensive project, both in time and money. I sponsored it financially because I believe that many will be blessed by Paulien’s fresh insights into Revelation. The regular price of the DVD album is $100.00, but you can order it now at the SPECIAL PRICE for only $30.00.  The price includes the airmailing expenses to any overseas destination.

If you have not ordered before the CD Album with Prof. Paulien’s publications, we will be glad to add it to your DVD order for only $20.00, instead of the regular price of $60.00. This means that you can order both the DVD album with Prof. Paulien’s four live video lectures on Simply Revelation and his CD album with all his publications and the powerpoint slides of Simply Revelation, for only $50.00, instead of the regular price of $160.00.

As an additional incentive, I am offering you together with Prof. Paulien’s DVD/CD albums, also my own popular DVD album on The Mark and Number of the Beast, for an additional $20.00, instead of the regular price of $100.00. This means that you can order the DVD and CD albums by Prof, Paulien, together with my DVD album on The Mark and Number of the Beast, for only $70.00, instead of the regular price of $260.00.

This research on The Mark and Number of the Beast, was commissioned by Prof. Paulien himself. He asked me to trace historically the origin and use of the Pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei and of the number 666. I spent six months conducting this investigation which was professionally taped at the Andrews University Towers Auditorium. I use 200 powerpoint slides to deliver this informative two hours lecture which is warmly received by Adventist church leaders and pastors in many parts of the world. For a detailed description of this DVD album click: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/Beast/BeastPromo

Special Offer on Paulien/Bacchiocchi’s Albums:

* ONE DVD Album of Prof. Paulien’s four video lectures on Simply Revelation at the introductory price of $30.00, instead of $100.00. The price includes the airmailing expenses to any overseas destination.

* ONE DVD Album of Simply Revelation and ONE CD Album with Prof. Paulien’s publications for only $50.00, instead of the regular price of $160.00. The price includes the airmailing  expenses to any overseas destination.

* ONE DVD Album of Simply Revelation, ONE CD Album with Prof. Paulien’s publications, and ONE DVD Album with Bacchiocchi’s two hours video lecture on The Mark and Number of the Beast for only $70.00, instead of the regular price of $260.00. The price includes the airmailing expenses to any overseas destination.

Four Ways to Order Paulien/Bacchiocchi’s Albums:

(1) Online: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/revelation/

(2) Phone: By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) Email:  By emailing your order to <[email protected]>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.   

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

UPCOMING SEMINARS FOR THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY

Gradually I am rescheduling some of the invitations I had to cancel because of liver-cancer treatments. Here is a list of the upcoming weekend seminars for the months of February and March 2008

FEBRUARY 1-2: TORONTO EAST SDA CHURCH

Location: 170 Westwood Avenue, Toronto, ON M4K 2B1

For information and directions contact Pastor David Rogers at (905) 417-5468 or (416) 705-7665

FEBRUARY 8-9: LOMA LINDA ROMANIAN SDA CHURCH

Location: 26271 Mayberry Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354

For information and directions call Pastor Valentin Danaiata at (909) 556-5491.

FEBRUARY 15-16: FIRST KNOXVILLE SDA CHURCH

Location: 3611 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

For directions and information call Pastor Ed Komorowski at (865) 524-7842 or (865) 206-2082.

FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 1: LONDON, ENGLAND. EDMONTON

Location: St. Peter’s Church, Bounce Road, Edmonton, London N9 8LE, England

For directions and information call Pastor Steve Roberts at 01923-673755

MARCH 2: SUNDAY - ADVENT CENTER, LONDON ENGLAND

Location: 39 Brendon Street, London W1H 5HD. The meeting is sponsore by the Central London Portuguese Speaking Church.

For directions and information call Pastor Enrique Duarte at 01344 647429

MARCH 5: WEDNESDAY - WILLESDEN SDA CHURCH

Location: Corner of Pound Lane & Glebe Road, Willesden, London NW10 2JD

For directions and information call Pastor Kirk Thomas at 01923 681649

MARCH 7-8: CROYDON SDA CHURCH, LONDON

Location: 95 Selhurst Road South, Northwood, London SE25 6LH

For directions and information call Pastor Brighton Kavaloh at 020 8851 3383

MARCH 12: WEDNESDAY - HANWELL CHURCH, LONDON

Location: 58-60 Greenford Avenue, Hanwell, London W7 3QP

For directions and information call Pastor Everett Picart at 01189 755110

MARCH 14-15: WOLVERHAMPTON, NORTH ENGLAND

For information about the location and directions, call Pastor Richard Jackson at 0121 258420.

MARCH 28-29: AN DIEGO FILIPINO-AMERICAN CHURCH

Location: 3602 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

For directions and information call Pastor Demetrio Robles at (619) 475-7934.

INCREDIBLE NEW OFFERS ON HITACHI PROJECTORS

HITACHI has just released the new CP-X400 3000 lumens projector, which replaces the CP-X444. The new projector has an impressive high resolution, low fan noise, and a wealth of connectivity options. The most impressive feature of this projector is the incredible price of only $1395.00 to help especially our churches and schools in developing countries.

This is the special offer on the following two models:

CP-X400 HIGH RESOLUTION 3000 LUMENS - Only $1395.00

This is the lowest price for an HITACHI 3000 lumens projector.

CP-X1250 HIGH RESOLUTION 4500 LUMENS Only $3795.00

Previous SDA price for the 4500 lumens was $4900.00

WARRANTY: The above prices include a 3 years 24/7 replacement warranty worth about $285.00.

You can order the HITACHI projectors online by clicking at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=24 If you have a problem ordering online, call us at (269) 471-2915. We will take your order by phone. Your order will be processed immediately.

THE SMALLEST, MOST POWERFUL REMOTE PRESENTER

        If you are looking for an outstanding REMOTE for your PowerPoint presentations, you will be pleased to know HONEYWELL has just come out with the smallest and most powerful remote in the market.

The size of the transmitter is smaller than a credit card. You can stick it inside the palm of your hand and nobody can see it. I tested the remote in an open environment, and the radio signal can go up to 400 feet of distance. IT IS INCREDIBLE! The transmitter has three button: forward, backward, and laser.

You can order online the new POWERPOINT PRESENTER simply by clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=67

If you have a problem ordering online, simply call us at (269) 471-2915. We will take your order by phone. You can also email us your order at <[email protected]>, giving us your address, credit card number, and expiration date.

DOES YOUR CHURCH OR SCHOOL NEED A SCREEN?

If your church/school is looking for a screen, the DA-LITE SCREEN COMPANY, the largest manufacture of screens in the world, has agreed to offer their line of screens to our Adventist churches and schools at about 30% discount.

The procedure is very simple. Visit the DA-LITE SCREEN COMPANY website at http://www.da-lite.com. You will see hundreds of models of screens with their respective prices. Once you find the screen that best suits your church, give us the model number by phone (269) 471-2915 or email your request <[email protected]> We will forward your order immediately to DA-LITE that will ship the screen directly to your address. You will receive the screen at about 30% discount.

BED & BREAKFAST FACILITIES IN LONDON, ENGLAND

If your travel plans call for a stop in London, you will be pleased to learn about a most gracious Adventist couple that offer the best accommodation and breakfast I have ever enjoyed. It has become my home away from home when in London. See details at: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/Promotions/BED&BREAKFAST.htm Their new home phone numbers are: 020 8429-3140 or 020 8819-5708