Except from The Gift of Tongues - by C.W. Steinle
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[ 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. - 1st Corinthians
12:8-10
Please allow the author the opportunity to present a
contextual explanation of these verses before we address the Cessation Theory.
Unconditional love, by definition, never fails as long
as the source of that love is eternal.
It is not dependent on how others respond. The main theme of verses eight through twelve
is this: the unconditional love of the
body of Christ is able to cover the failings of those who would step out in
faith to exercise their gifts, even though human beings are bound by
imperfection until such a time when they are perfected in glory. Every aspect of ministry should receive the full
grace and mercy of the body. Too often
ministries and ministers are held to an unrealistic standard of perfection. The ministries of spoken gifts and teaching
are not under the legalistic standards of the Old Covenant. They, like the believer, are under
grace. Under the Law, if someone would
prophesy and their prophecy failed, they were to be put to death. But under grace the body is intended to operate
under the guidelines of love; the forbearance, patience and humility found within
this Love Chapter.
When we are perfected in glory, we will know just as
we are known. There will no longer be a
need for the mysterious gifts because all things will be revealed to us when we
get to heaven. So the revelation of
knowledge will vanish and tongues will cease at that time. But, there are also some applications for our
present world in these phrases.
Sometimes tongues will be given without interpretation. As we will discuss in Chapter 14, when
tongues are spoken in public without interpretation, the publically spoken
tongue is to cease. When this occurs the
body of Christ is not to belittle or ostracize the one who initiated the
tongue. The one who offered the tongue
may have responded perfectly to God's prompting. The absence of interpretation may be what God
will use to stir someone to pray for that gift.
But here again the body of Christ is called to demonstrate Christ’s never-failing
love.
In this world ‘knowledge vanishing’ could apply to a
gathering in which no one with a word of knowledge receives a revelation. Or we could equate this vanishing knowledge
to the predicament of a teacher who has lost track of their notes. Paul,
as a teacher who had experienced criticism for his speaking ability, would have
understood well the patience and forbearance that a considerate audience should
afford. Vanishing knowledge might also be
a reference to the teacher’s greatest nightmare - drawing a blank.
In any event, Paul is classifying the giftings of
prophecy, tongues, and knowledge/teaching, as gifts which depend greatly upon
the body’s willingness to lovingly receive the prophecy, tongue, or teaching
which has been presented. The individual
associated with these gifts becomes vulnerable to the body’s acceptance, or
scrutiny. Only when the body is walking
in love can these parts of the body function effectively. This side of heaven, man can offer only
imperfect performances - humble circus acts in fallen tents, until that which
is perfect has come. Maranatha. Lord come quickly!
Now on the subject of the Cessation Theory. Some
denominations teach that certain gifts of the Spirit ceased to operate on or
around the time that the Bible was completed, or at the death of the last
Apostle. They would say “that which is perfect” is pointing to
the finished Bible. The quickest way to
address those who would use these verses as a proof text for the cessation
theory is to skip to verse 12, and then we will return to discuss verses 11 and
13.
Recall verse 10 from above; “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.” If the parts being referenced were the parts
of God’s Word, as it was being partially revealed to Paul and the other writers
of the Bible; then wouldn’t all of those parts (which were already being
circulated in the churches by the second century) be done away with? No, instead archaeologists continue to find
fragments containing texts which are in agreement with our canonized Bibles.
But the greatest refutation of the
cessation theory is found within the verses themselves. Verse 10 is a now / then
statement. “Now” was obviously the time of the first century, as Paul was
writing. But when is the time of
perfection? Was it at the time when the
New Testament was completed?
Fortunately, the “then” is
clarified in verse 12 (below). “Then face
to face” and “then I shall know just
as I also am known.” So the time of
perfection is a time when we will see God face to face. John tells us in 1st John 3:2 “…we know that when He is revealed, we shall
be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." The time of perfection can only be the coming
glory.
(v11) 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.
(v12) 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.
Back to verse 11. Paul once again refers to the same trio of
gifts mentioned in 13:8, namely prophecy (understanding), tongues (speaking),
and teaching from knowledge (thought).
Paul observes that it is normal for someone who is a novice at speaking,
prophesying, or teaching to behave like a novice. With regard to speaking, I would suggest that
Paul is describing the thoughtless manner in which children say whatever is on
their mind.
Young
children often get themselves in trouble by telling on themselves. In time they figure out that it is not always
wise to verbalize everything that pops into their head. Well mannered children have been trained that
there are times to speak and times to be silent. The mature speaker of tongues is one who has
developed the attitudes of Chapter 13.
Putting away childish things cannot be interpreted as Paul’s abandonment
of tongues, because in Chapter 14 he proclaims that he still speaks in tongues
even more than the Corinthians. ] - end excertp from The Gift of Tungues, by C.W. Steinle
