The Temporary Gifts -- Prophesy, Knowledge, Tongues (3 of 8)

The temporary gifts referred to are listed together in 1 Cor. 13:8 -- Prophesy, Tongues, and Knowledge.  We shall take them one at a time, define them, show their function and finally give the reason why they were then withdrawn.

1) Prophesy

Prophesy may have more than one meaning, but what we are concerned with here is its meaning in the context of 1 Cor. 13:8.  First let me say that it is NOT "telling forth the truth of the written Word" because very little of the New Testament was available in written form at this stage.  In other words, there was no New Testament as such.  Prophesy in this verse (1 Cor. 13:8) means the God-given ability to interpret God's plan after they have been supernaturally revealed by the Holy Spirit AND TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THOSE PLANS TO THE PEOPLE.

It was essential for the Lord's people to have in their possession, knowledge of God's plans for the Church Age and beyond, but how were they to acquire that knowledge when it was unavailable in written form?  In the light of this fact, it can readily be seen why it was essential for at least some of the leaders in the Early Church to possess this supernatural gift.

It can be easily understood that after the New Testament was completed in written form, this special gift would no longer be necessary because all they needed to know was then available to them in written form.

This is why Paul lists prophecy among the temporary gifts in 1 Cor. 13:8 and says "where there are prophesies, they shall fail" which then paraphrased would read "the supernatural gift of being able to prophesy will pass away."  As to WHEN this gift was withdrawn, this would have coincided with the completion of the Canon of Scripture because when the Body of Truth was complete and available to the Church in written form, this God-given but temporary gift, would obviously not be needed any longer.  By then, it had served the purpose for which it had been given.

Biblical Warnings


To add further weight to the evidence already given, I would remind readers of the clear warnings given in Scripture to people who claim to have this gift today.  For instance, in Rev. 22:18-19 we are told that God communicated with man for the last time.  He has said all He intends to say.  These verses contain very solemn warnings to anyone who would add anything (by way of further prophesy) or take anything away.  A similar warning is given in Matt. 7:22-23 and is couched in the strongest possible terms.


2) Knowledge


The word  'knowledge' in this instance is not to be understood in the general usage of the term.  It was not acquired knowledge.  It was supernatural knowledge imparted directly and on the spot by the Holy Spirit in exactly the same way as the writers of the New Testament received it -- direct revelation by the Holy Spirit of the living God.

It was essential for believers in this transitional period to have in their possession knowledge of such things as the plan of redemption, their position in Christ and their eternal destiny but where were they to acquire such knowledge when it was absent in written form?  The answer is, it was given to their leaders supernaturally and directly by the Holy Spirit.  Now of course, when the New Testament was completed in written form, it contained a perfect system of truth.  God did not forget anything that should have been included!  He never has had to add anything.  Everything of a spiritual nature that man needs to know is there but when the Canon of Scripture was completed in written form, knowledge supernaturally given, like prophesy, was no longer needed and was therefore withdrawn.

3) Tongues


Biblical tongues was the God-given ability to speak another language that the speaker had not learnt.  It was not an acquired language but a language supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit.

The reason why this God-given ability was bestowed upon some of the early Christians is clearly stated in 1 Cor. 14:22 "Where tongues are for a sign not to them that believe, but to them that believe not."

The Purpose of Tongues


Paul could not have made plainer the purpose of tongues.  A careful study of the passages in Acts Chs. 2, 10 and 19 clearly shows that the gift of tongues was an actual language and was used to bridge a barrier and thus speed up the spread of the Gospel, but the main purpose of tongues was to be a "sign."  It was not a sign to other Christians that the speaker was "filled with the Holy Spirit" as is taught in charismatic circles today.  Nor was it used as a supposed "prayer language."  We are distinctly told that it was a sign (1 Cor. 14:22).  Then for whom was this sign meant?  This is also clearly stated.  "Not to them that believe" but "to those who do not believe."  This clear definitive statement is a fatal blow to the credibility of today's tongues movement.

"Tongues" in apostolic times was a sign to Israel as a nation.  It was a sign of impending judgement (Isa. 28:11) if they did not accept Christ as their Messiah.  God had faithfully taught them throughout history that their Messiah would come, and even gave them a supernatural sign to confirm to them that Christ was the Messiah.

Some Recognized the Sign


A small percentage of Jews did recognize the sign and turned to the Lord, but the nation as a whole did not recognize the sign

So to recap what I have said here:

Biblical tongues was not an unintelligible gabble [gibberish] such as is being spread throughout the church today.  It was a supernatural gift given by God to speak in another language.

This God-given ability was given as a special sign to Israel as a nation.  Having achieved the purpose for which it was given, it too was then withdrawn.

An Important Question


When was this gift withdrawn?  The answer is "When that which is perfect is come" (1 Cor. 13:10).

I find many sincere Christians are deceived concerning the correct interpretation of this statement.  They have been taught to equate "that which is perfect" with the coming of the Lord, but I would like to point out that the Greek New Testament completely quashes this interpretation.

If Paul had been referring to the Lord when he said "when that which is perfect," he would have said "when HE who is perfect" or even more plainly "when the Lord comes."  He would also have used the masculine gender to make clear his meaning but he did not do this.  He distinctly said "when that which is perfect" and, in the Greek, the neuter gender is used to show clearly that he was referring to some thing and not to some person.  The nouns Lord, Christ and Jesus are all masculine nouns both in English and in the Greek.  "That which is perfect" is neuter.  So if we abide by the simple rules of grammar "that which is perfect" cannot refer to our Lord, but refers to some thing which is neutral and non-personal.

Furthermore, the word  'perfect' can be translated as 'complete.'

A Paraphrase


If taken from the Greek and paraphrased vv 9-10 could read, "For the Knowledge that we now possess is fragmentary (meaning incomplete and imperfect) and our Prophesy (teaching) is also fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect) but when the complete and perfect Word of God is come, these temporary gifts which are in part will then disappear because they will have been superseded."

Readers should also take careful note of the comparison between "that which is perfect" and "that which is in part."  In both instances, the translation is "that which."  So in both cases, reference is being made to something that is both neutral and non-personal.

What Paul is saying here is simply this: During this period of transition, when we do not as yet have the complete body of truth in written form, we use the supernatural but temporary, gifts of prophesy, tongues and knowledge, but when the total body of truth is completed and comes in written form, then the fragmentary knowledge and prophesy which we now possess will no longer be needed and will then pass away.

So these three temporary gifts, prophesy, knowledge and tongues ceased or passed off the scene when the  Canon of Scripture was finally completed.

This does not mean to say that if the Lord wanted to enable one of His servants to converse fluently with someone in another language which they had not learnt, he couldn't freely do so.  We must always bear in mind the fact that our Lord is Sovereign and He can do anything that He sees to be right and proper.  But one point I would like to make here is this:  I and others have been testing tongues in Australia for some years.  In fact, there are men personally known to me who have been testing them for over 20 years and none of us has ever yet found a genuine gift of Biblical Tongues.  When the Spirit using the tongue is commanded to identify itself, in 95% of cases, a demon answers.

However, even if on some rare occasion the Lord did give someone this supernatural ability, it still would not negate the fact that in Apostolic times, tongues were a sign to them which believed not (Israel as a nation) nor would it negate the fact that Biblical tongues ceased, exactly as Paul said they would, as soon as they had served their purpose.

Further Proof


If additional proof is needed to verify that what I have said is correct it should be noted that after Paul's first letter to the Corinthian Church, tongues are never mentioned again!

1. This gift is not listed among the spiritual gifts given in Rom. 12 or Eph. 4.
2. It is never mentioned at all in any of the other Epistles written later by Paul, Peter, John and James.
3. Romans, which is regarded as the great doctrinal Epistle of the New Testament covers the whole gamut of Truth for this Church Age, but tongues is NEVER mentioned, NOT EVEN ONCE!  Why?

Because they had served the purpose for which they had been given and either had already ceased or would soon do so.  So there was no need for any further mention of them.  

Now What?

Now if Biblical tongues ceased back in the Apostolic age, what explanation is there for the tongues phenomenon that is spreading like a grass fire through almost all denominations today?  Are they supernatural?  Are they of God, or are they satanic?  These are vital questions and we will examine them Scripturally in upcoming blogs.