Pentecost -The New Church, Tongues, Outpouring, Imperfect Ceasing (2)

Sunday July 9, 2023

The Outpouring

The Outpouring of the Spirit Acts 2:4-13

So we have been working through what happened on the day of Pentecost, the festival of Summer First Fruits - the last of the Spring Festivals which now know to associate with the 1st advent only of the Messiah.

First, let’s take a step back and look at the local geography that we are describing, where all of this is happening. Here is a view of Jerusalem as it was in AD 63 … a few decades after our Acts 2 episode. But it is largely unchanged and shows you Jerusalem - the placement of the temple, and the placement of the Upper Room which was in the Upper City portion of Jerusalem.

Here is another view from the perspective of Peter’s journey’s through Jerusalem in the final day’s of Christ and in the early days of the history of Acts.

now in Acts 2, Luke documents that the apostles are in the upper room when the Holy Spirit comes, as seen in verse 4

Acts 2:4 NKJV

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We have every reason to understand that there is a time lapse between verse 4 and verse 5, in which they move from the Upper Room to the southern gates of the temple.

The Camera view of the narrative, if we are following the movie direction, has cut from the Upper Room to the devout Jews from every nation.

They gathered together, verse 6 says, and were confused - not by the sound of chaos, but by the unique sound of sense. That is sensible speaking in their own mother language in an understandable and distinguishable manner.

Acts 2:5-7

Acts 2:5–7 NKJV

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

So understandable is this speaking So understandable, that they recognize what is being said, in their own language, and what is being said, per verse 11

Acts 2:11-12

Acts 2:11–12 NKJV

11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

In verse 13, we find the contrast, signified by the Greek term ἕτερος (heteros).

Acts 2:13 NKJV

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Now you may have been taught at some point that there are others of the same kind, and other of a different kind, and that allos and heteros are the words that represent same/different. That is not exactly true, as heteros can mean the same as allos — but in this case it is Heteros, like heterosexual - attracted to the opposite sex.

The idea here, is that some recognized the languages and heard amazing clarity speaking of the wonders of God. Others, apparently did not recognize a language, perhaps only speaking Hebrew or Aramaic that dialect of Hebrew that was brought back from captivity in Babylon.

Now this filling ministry of the Holy Spirit that Luke is recording here that resulted in tongues is not the same that that we think about when we think of the Ephesians 5:18 command to be filled [pleroo] by means of God the Holy Spirit.

This Acts 2 filling is a sovereign act of God; it is unexpected by the apostles.

Suddenly they find God the Holy Spirit upon them, ministering through them. The devout Jews gathered from across the world are certainly not expecting this.

The speakers are surprised. The hearers are surprised.

Now to be clear this ministry of the Holy Spirit is like the Old Testament ministry called enduement, and unlike anything described or taught in the New Testament relating to spiritual life or spiritual growth.

Pimplemi

As we pointed out previously, this Pimplemi is always related to a provision by God the Holy Spirit to speak something .

We saw it in

Zecharias, John the Baptist’s Father, is Filled (pimplemi) with the Holy Spirit — and then Speaks.

Elizabeth and Mary were both Filled (pimplemi) with the Holy Spirit and then spoke.

In Acts 9: Saul (Paul) is filled with the Holy Spirit and then speaks

And this is the end of the use of pimplemi in the church age, or the documented history of the church. It is NOT found in the epistles. There are three occurences in Luke, which are considered Old Testament.

Pimplemi is NOT related to the church age ministry of God the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost - 2nd Harvest Festival

Now keep in mind that Pentecost is the 2nd harvest festival following Passover. The first harvest festival was First Fruits, which was the day of the resurrection of the Lamb of Atonement - Yeshua Jesus. This 2nd harvest festival follows a week of weeks, plus one day after the 1st harvest festival, making 50 days — or in the Latin, from which we have taken so much of our vocabulary, it is Penta-cost.

All of the festivals look forward to something being done by God to Israel. It does not follow then for us to say that the Pentecost is about the church. It really must be restricted to something happening related to Israel.

And this is where SO many go wrong in their improper interpretation of the events in Acts. As we are seeing already this results in wrong doctrines about the church age, the nature of the church, the purpose and role and giftings of church congregations, the proper and incorrect understanding of ministries of the Holy Spirit, what we call pneumatology.

If we look at the progression of the feasts as fulfilled for Israel, we have:

Passover fulfilled by the death of Messiah of Israel.

The resurrection of the Messiah of Israel on the Feast of First Fruits.

On Pentecost we have the coming of the Holy Spirit.

So on Pentecost we have the fulfillment of the coming of the Holy Spirit, as promised in the New Covenant prophecies about the Messiah. The Holy Spirit came as promised - this was a fulfillment.

If Israel had accepted Yeshua-Jesus as the Messiah, then the predictions related to the New Covenant could have taken place at this time including the establishment of the Kingdom.

And here is where it is exceptionally simple, and we find that people improperly complicate it: there is an offer on the table for Israel, yet God started something new with these two things overlapping in transition.

As Israel rejects God’s offer of the Messiah, God is establishing the church age - the birth of the church. But it is entirely begun with Jews. The promise and offer comes to Jews, the birth of the church is exclusively with Jews, and we see nothing but Jews for the first five chapters of Acts.

Now those Jews who are positive to the offer, the apostles of Jesus and the upper room gang, are the very means of reiterating the offer of the Messiah to Israel. And while many individuals believe and join the church, the nation and the leaders and spokesmen for the nation continue to reject the offer of the Messiah.

So we see - rejection and judgement and simultaneous acceptance and blessing: Thus the new church is blessed in the very midst of the nation that is cursed.

***Pray for the Nation***

--- By the way. whether you believe in the doctrine of the client nation, that God continues to have a nation that operates as His client to present the Gospel and blessing to the people of the word, or not. You would be crazy to not understand that our leaders speak on behalf of our nation - and that we as a nation are blessed or cursed based on their leadership and commitment to our national partners or enemies, friends or foes.

Are you praying for our leaders now? Not the ones you want to have in place right now but aren’t, but those who are in place now? We have more reason to pray and intercede when leadership is on the wrong track than any other time.

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:1-7 to pray for kings and those in authority.

1 Timothy 2:1–7 NKJV

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The next paragraph of 1 Timothy 2 will get into the characteristics of prayer as an aspect of leadership in the church.

Rejection/Acceptance

The point in our passage in Acts is that we are seeing the side by side rejection of the Messiah and judgement with acceptance of the Messiah and blessing as a result.

We see a transition from the Law of Moses to the Law of Moshiac - the Messiah.

You see - as the Messiah fulfilled the prior Laws and Covenant He came offering a New Law and New Covenant.

But back to the idea of the fulfillment of Christ - even as He fulfilled the Law, at Pentecost we see that there is a double Fulfillment that is happening via this outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Double Fulfillment

Now two things have been going on that are being further fulfilled on this day of Pentecost.

John the Baptist said that one would come after him who would baptize by means of the Spirit and by means of fire. This is a reference to jesus who will baptize by the Spirit.

Jesus, before ascending to heaven, told the disciples to:

wait to receive the promise from the Father, “not many days hence.” in Acts 1:4-5

Acts 1:4–5 NKJV

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

In John 16: Jesus predicted that he would leave but would be replaced by another comforter. John 16:7

John 16:7 NKJV

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

So it is clear that Acts 2 is the fulfillment of John 16:7 and Acts 1:4-5.

This is not the ecstatic kick off to a religious experience or a group hallucination - in fact throughout Scripture we find that God never operates like that. Gog nowhere teaches that kind of subjectivity. Things communicated in private are confirmed in public.

3 External Objective Confirmations of the Arrival of the Holy Spirit

In this instance we have three external objective confirmation of what might otherwise be considered subjective event.

There is an external sound like great wind

There is the visual appearance of fire

There is the miraculous speaking in languages neither learned nor acquired naturally.

Terminology: Outpouring

We have several verses that use the term “outpouring” indicating that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the people. This “outpouring” is NOT a technical term. It does not mean indwelling, filling … but is a general term that deals with all of the new testament and new covenant concepts that apply.

We see outpouring in Acts 2:17, 18, 33, 10:45

Acts 2:17 NKJV

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 2:18 NKJV

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:33 NKJV

33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

Acts 10:45 NKJV

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

So “outpouring” is a general broad term for all of the new ministries that would come to the church age believer.

The baptism of the Holy Spirt

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

The giving of spiritual gifts to every believer.

The sealing of the Holy Spirit to every believer at the instant of salvation securing them for eternity.

The filling of the Holy Spirit

Sunday July 16, 2023

The Outpouring

The Outpouring of the Spirit Acts 2:4-13.

Languages/Tongues Purpose

Acts 2:11

Acts 2:11 NKJV

11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Now in our big happening here in Acts, we have the disciples of Yeshua who are saved - they are all regenerate.

Now, all at once they become baptized by the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues all in one simultaneous event.

Now they were not hidden away in a room at the time. This started at the Upper Room - but by the time the event has unfolded, we have our Apostles, and Peter specifically addressing “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem” in verse 14, “Men of Israel” in verse 22, “Therefore let all of the house of Israel know” in verse 36.

We noted previously that the director’s view of the action moved from those who were speaking in unlearned languages to the devout men in verse 5.

So the focus of action changed.

The Temple Mount in AD 30

Here is the Temple Mount as portrayed in a painting by Artist: Balage Balogh, Archaeology Illustrated.com in the Rose Guide to the Temple written by Randall Price.

What I want you to see in this picture - is the view from where the artist is positioned in the upper Jewish Quarter, where the Apostles come from staying in the Upper Room.

As this event unfolds they presumably cross the from the Upper Quarter to the Temple Mount, via the bridge now know as Wilson’s bridge and arch named after the archaeologist who identified it in modern times.

Here is another view:

And another

Verse 46 tells us that they were continuing daily in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house.

Acts 2:46–47 NKJV

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The next verse in Acts 3: tells us that Peter and John went up together to the temple.where they encountered the man born lame.

Acts 3:1–10 NKJV

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

My only point is that there is an emphasis on the Temple that is part of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God is not hiding this new thing - but it is front and center before all those attending the temple, all those in Jerusalem, before the entire nation of Israel.

And a major part of this outpouring of the Spirit has been to emphasize the distinctive authoritative role of the Apostles, as the Holy Spirit clearly endorses their ministries with signs and wonders.

The double gate is the one that we have concluded is the beautiful gate. In part because you come up through this underground entrance to this view.

Here is the double gate leading to that view.

By the way to give you some perspective

Here is the Temple

Recap Isaiah 28 & 1 Cor 14

As we read from Isaiah 28 and I Corinthians 14, last week, we learn that Tongues are given for judgement to the unbelievers of Israel.

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 NKJV

21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. 22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

5th Cycle of Discipline

Tongues or foreign languages is the sign of what we call the 5th cycle of discipline - of Jerusalem hearing the voice of Gentile tongues where there should be Hebrew. It is the sign of conquest and destruction that preceded each of the national captivities and destructions of Israel and Judah.

So the purpose of these tongues being spoken in Jerusalem even at the south gate of the temple is not to evangelize.

The gift of evangelism is given to evangelize.

This was not to give special revelation.

Tongues were not given to teach the Word - for this there are apostles and pastors and teachers, and tongues would serve no purpose.

This issue was not WHAT was said by those speaking in tongues, but rather the issue was that it was said in Gentile languages.

3 Instance Of Tongues

First let slook at the case of the believers in Samaria, where the Holy Spirit is poured out.

Acts 8:12-17

Acts 8:12–17 NKJV

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

They don’t speak in tongues. Why? Because it is not relevant to the purpose at this point.

In Acts 10, we have the case of Peter and Cornelius the centurion. Peter is not dealing with Jews and so has to explain and dialogue.

Acts 10:24-34

Acts 10:24–34 NKJV

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” 30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Peter continues

Acts 10:35-44

Acts 10:35–48 NKJV

35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 19:1-6

Acts 19 occurs some 20 years after Pentecost where these are believers who were disciples of John the Baptist, and they don’t have the Holy Spirit. So they represent a fourth group.

There were Jews in the first group on the day of Pentecost,

the Samaritans are the second group,

Gentiles the third group,

and now a group of Old Testament believers who are in the diaspora.

All four of them have their own Pentecost, as it were: their own beginning at the hands of an apostle to show the unity of the church.

There is not going to be a Samaritan church, a Jerusalem church and a Gentile church; there is only going to be one church all under the authority of the apostles.

Acts 19:1–6 NKJV

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

When Paul found these they were completely ignorant of the Holy Spirit but they had been baptized into John’s baptism, which means they were clearly saved Old Testament saints. But they had never heard of Jesus. They now heard about Jesus, received Him as their Messiah, and were baptized by Paul.

History of Modern Pentecostal/Catholic Movement - Dr. Robert Dean.

“Out of the holiness movement came the idea that you got two shots of grace: one shot at the cross and another shot when you got “dedicated.” So in their view you had to have this second post-salvation experience in order to get that extra blessing from the Holy Spirit so you could live the Christian life. And if you didn’t get that you were just going to be a failure. That spurred what has become known as American revivalism. They way they knew that they had the second work of grace was because (theoretically at first) of what they called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They based that on some mistranslations in the Greek where the same Greek phrase is used in all of the passages but some places it is translated “baptism in the Spirit,” other places “baptism by the Spirit.” But it is all the same Greek phrase. The “with” or the “in,” the prepositions in English, didn’t indicate two baptisms, as they thought, it was just a bad translation. They were basing their theology on a bad English translation and so they had these two works of grace.

By the end of the 19th century they were saying that the second work of grace would be indicated by speaking in tongues, though nobody had spoken in tongues. Suddenly on New Year’s eve at the end of 1900 Agnes Osmond suddenly erupted in what sounded to everybody around her as Chinese. They were so excited that she was going to be a missionary to China! But it wasn’t long before they realized that none of the Chinese on the other side of the railroad tracks in Topeka Kansas could understand a thing that she said. But that did not dissuade them. The Pentecostal movement came out of a black warehouse church in Los Angeles in the early 1900s. The preparation for this had occurred for half a century in the holiness movement. People came from Scandinavia, Britain, Europe and all over to see this “work of the Holy Spirit” where people were all speaking in tongues. The Pentecostal movement was quite divisive in those early years.

Somewhere in the 50s and early 60s they discovered the prosperity gospel, about the time that people who weren’t just the separatists like the Pentecostals could also speak in tongues, and that gave birth to what became known as the Charismatic movement. This movement was also quite divisive because they taught that you were really not spiritual and might not even be saved if you didn’t speak in tongues. What is interesting is a third development that occurred in the 70s. It came to be called the “Third Wave of the Holy Spirit.” But they didn’t associate the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues as necessarily the signs of being baptized by the Holy Spirit. In fact, they didn’t really want to define any of these things. Some people would speak in tongues and some didn’t. They tried to have this appearance of being “balanced.”

The reason for bringing all of this in is because at the very core of the problem is this misunderstanding of spirituality. And there was this problem in Greek culture at that time. In Greek paganism there was the view that if you got ecstatic enough through various means the gods would enter into them and speak through them. There was the Oracle at Delphi who was a high priestess actually indwelt by a Pythian demon who would speak through her in this kind of ecstatic utterance. This was identified as spirituality. This became a major issue in Corinth especially where there was this confusion that they could become close to God and God could speak through them if they would have these kinds of experiences. So they were doing what has become a time-honored tradition among Christians, and rather than sticking with the Bible they tried to blend paganism with the Bible, and they got into all kinds of trouble. It was this idea that somehow the spiritual gifts, and especially speaking in tongues or healing or miracles, indicated that a person was closer to God, were more spiritually mature, something of that nature. This was refuted by the apostle Paul in three chapters in 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14.

The belief in the early American Pentecostal movement was that they would speak in languages, and for at least the first ten or fifteen years they really believed they would be able to get this gift of languages and go over and be missionaries. They believed that was the purpose for it. We have seen that that was not the purpose of the gift of tongues. It was the sign of judgment to Israel that they had disobeyed God and if they didn’t repent then God would bring judgment upon them and they would hear Gentile languages on the temple mount in the land that God had given to Israel.

What we see in these patterns in Acts is that there is no set pattern. There is no pattern of getting saved and then a second work of grace, marked by the baptism by the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. That pattern which was said to be the absolute pattern in the 19th century just really wasn’t there. The other thing observed in study is in the last twenty years nobody ever really ever talks about tongues anymore. They don’t seem to be the issue that they were in the first three quarters of the 20th century. That is probably for a couple of different reasons. One is that it just can’t be proved anymore, and number two is that there has been a move on to health and wealth and prosperity gospel and some of these other things.

The Key to understanding this is found in 1 Corinthians 13:1, and 1 Corinthians 13:8

Tongues in the Corinthian Church

1 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV

8 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.

The Greatest is Love

The conclusion in v. 13 is going to say faith, hope and love continue but the greatest of these is love.”

Those two statement frame this discussion. Love never fails; love is the greatest of the virtues in the Christian life. Paul is then going to sidetrack and talk about these two spiritual gifts that were quite exciting. For someone to have the genuine gift of prophecy or the gift of knowledge—revelatory gifts in the early church—that would truly be exciting. But Paul says that where there are prophecies they will fail, where there are tongues they will cease, where there is knowledge it will vanish away.

The KJV writers wanted to really develop a tremendously beautiful translation in English and one of the rules that English teachers try to tell us is don’t over use certain words, don’t repeat words—use a word in one sentence and use a synonym in the next sentence. But when God uses the same word in two sentences and you translate them with different words in English you miss the point. And that is what happens here. The Greek word that translates “they will fail” and “it will vanish away” is the same word. It is the same form, everything is the same but if you don’t know the Greek you’ll think that two different words are used, and they are not.

STOP: Katargeo vs. Pauo

There is a shift in verbs and voices in verse 1 Cor 13:8. καταργέω (katargeō) is used: prophecy and knowledge will be “abolished.” But tongues will “cease.” It is παύω (pauō), a different word. So prophecy and knowledge are going to end the same way indicated by the same word, and in the passive voice it means they are going to be acted upon, something is going to cause them to be abolished.

But tongues is going to cease; it is in the middle voice and it indicates that it is just going to sort of die out on its own. It is no longer going to be needed. Paul is going to give the reason in chapter fourteen as having to do with announcing judgment on Israel. If that judgment was the defeat of the nation and destruction of the temple in AD 70 then after that date the purpose for the gift no longer existed so the gift would just no longer function.

Perfect

Second, we have to understand the meaning of the word “perfect” in 1 Cor 13:10—τέλειος (teleios).

Now vs. Then

Third, we have to understand that there is a temporal shift that goes on in this passage between the words “now” and “then”—now this; then that. Then we have to realize there are two different illustrations used in vv. 11, 12 and what these verses are going to illustrate is the abolishing of knowledge and the abolishing of prophecy.

What we have in verse 8 is a focus on prophecies which will be abolished and knowledge which will be abolished. The focus of this chapter is not on tongues because they are just going to die out. But knowledge and prophecy are going to be abolished. He doesn’t mention tongues again but he mentions katargeo several times—prophecy and knowledge again.

1 Cor 13:9, 10,

1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Knowledge only was partial. Prophecy was only partial. When the REAL DEAL comes, the partial will be Katargeo - abolished.

1 Corinthians 13:10 NKJV

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Perfect in this context is not speaking of the qualitative form, but of the quantitative form. This is not a reference to a qualitative stage in God’s plan. This creates more problems than it solves, if it were the proper translation.

It has been a problem down through the 2000 years of the church age that people look for something experiential to prove that they are somehow more spiritual than other people. That is just arrogance. It is not a spiritual gift, it is not speaking in tongues, it is not any of these other things; the spiritual life has to do with our walk with the Lord. People get distracted in Satan’s world by putting emphasis on the wrong thing.

Child Speaking - Understanding

1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

11 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.

Knowing as a child. What do children know? What they can see. Children are circumstantial thinkers.

Mirror - Enigma

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

12 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.

dimly = αἴνιγμα (ainigma)

We find an explanation of this given to Moses by God in Numbers 12:6-8.

Numbers 12:6–8 NKJV

6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

Prophecy is speaking in enigma - and God has given us His perfect word so that we do not have to think childish and circumstantial, and we do not have to rely on murky enigmatic prophecy.

God’s Word is Perfect and Full

God’s word is simple and true - no enigma, and no circumstantial realities.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Conclusion on Tongues

Tongues was never given for any secondary purposes. It wasn’t given for evangelism, for prophecy, for revelation; it was given as a sign of judgment on Israel and when Israel was destroyed and the temple was destroyed then there was no longer a need for that gift and it didn’t function anymore. They were legitimate languages that were miraculously given by God the Holy Spirit. That was what was going on on the temple steps. There is this announcement by what they did and the fact that they were saying it in these languages that judgment was coming. If we misunderstand that it really leads to some extremely odd views on Scripture.