By John Pappas, ThD
There is much confusion concerning the gifts presented in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. There are many who speak of the tongues in this section of Scripture as some kind of unknown “angelic language.” In fact, they claim to speak this language. With the tremendous growth of the charismatic church around the world, this error is growing. Is their growth in numbers a proof that this is a Biblical doctrine? This article answers the question: what are the knowledge gifts and when Scripture says they will cease when will that be (i.e., what does "the partial is perfected" mean)?
There are two main issues here. The first has to do with identifying what the tongues are, and the second has to do with what “perfected” means. First, let’s look at how Paul introduces the section in order to clarify the problem within the Corinthian Church.
Some in the Church were boasting in their spiritual gift: 1 Corinthians 12:27-30: "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."
Paul identifies who they are: they are individual members participating in the one body, the body of Christ – the Church. The goal of the individual gifts is to serve the body to build up the Church. However, sin is (as usual) getting in the way. Some are apparently boasting in their spiritual gift. Predictably, the bragging was accompanied by envy and strife as believers sought the highest perceived gift. This is indeed a problem throughout the Church in the Greek culture. Because the Greek culture was deep into Greek philosophy, Paul had no choice but to address the common problem of the culture creeping into the Church. In this case, the Gnostic desire of reaching that “higher spiritual level” elitism had become a big problem along with special knowledge of the "mysteries." There were spiritual elitists among them who craved the best of gifts to show off – "secret" knowledge was the highest thing to aspire to. Understanding the "mysteries" was hugely popular in pagan Greek culture, just as popular then as it is today in our increasingly pagan culture. Does this happen in your Church? Are there some in your Church who put on a show, being super-spiritual, but never seem to get around to using their gift to help others? Do you ever see their fruit? This is part of the problem that Paul is addressing.
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John Pappas, ThD, is the author of BibleGreekVpod, a website dedicated to the teaching of the original Bible languages for those who want to learn them.
