Child’s Play
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20 NASB
Thinking be mature – So what about speaking in tongues? Ah, such a divisive question. Some believe this manifestation of spiritual ecstasy is an essential step in full fellowship. Some believe it belonged only to the first century. Most have no idea how to evaluate the practice and so they simply ignore it. Without some background in the Corinthian culture and some careful exegesis we are likely to be either disturbed or confused by Paul’s comments and suffer theological dyspepsia. Since no matter which way we go we will undoubtedly step on someone’s toes, let’s just jump into the fire.
First, the cultural issues. Greek mystical religions were quite common in Corinth. These religions employed two key figures, the mantic and the prophet. Beginning in the 8th Century BCE, oracles were used to get answers directly from the gods. The mantic was the person who had direct contact with the god, often expressing that contact with animal-like behavior and unintelligible speech (speaking in tongues). The role of the prophet was to interpret the behavior and language so that the supplicant could understand the god’s answer. Since this routine was widely known among the Greek civilization and incorporated into Roman polytheism, in all likelihood Corinthian Gentile converts to Messianic fellowship in the synagogue brought this religious idea and practice with them into the assembly. There is no evidence that Jews practiced anything similar. Therefore, the problem Paul addresses is a Gentile issue. Speaking in tongues arrives in the synagogue from pagan practice. That does not mean that the expression of speaking in tongues is pagan or forbidden. It only means that the origin of this religious behavior is probably found in Greek ideas. Since it is causing distress in the Corinthian assembly, Paul addresses it.
Now let’s look carefully at what Paul says. We must ignore the convenient versification and paragraph separations in Paul’s argument. Those were added hundreds of years later. Paul’s thought flows from verse 1 through verse 40. The purpose of this entire section of his letter is proper order. Speaking in tongues and prophecy are but two elements of Paul’s concern to mitigate confusion. In the middle of his discussion, Paul pleads with the Corinthian followers to stop being children. Yes, it may be fine to speak unintelligibly when addressing God in some state of spiritual ecstasy, but placing this above the needs of the whole community is the equivalent of child’s play. It is myopically self-centered. It is showmanship as far as the community is concerned because others derive no benefit from such behavior. Paul exhorts tongue-speaking practitioners to adopt phren, rational understanding that characterizes maturity. Perhaps we hear the echo of putting away childish things. At any rate, Paul’s great concern is not with the individual expression of spiritual fervor but with the unity and edification of the community. If personal spiritual euphoria divides, it is useless.
That’s the point of Paul’s metaphors. Bugles sounding an alarm that no one hears, harps that play tunes no one grasps, and words without meaning are all pointless. The intention of the sound is lost. So Paul basically says that unless the sound is translated into something recognizable to others, it is of little value. This introduces the concept of prophecy and once again our contemporary ideas are far afield from Paul’s use of the word. We have investigated this before. Basically, prophecy in the Hebraic worldview is not about foretelling. It is about unpacking. The prophet delivers God’s words in ways that they are clearly understood. He or she reveals insights, offers explanations and provides applications that were previously unrecognized but were nevertheless always inherent in the message. This fits the Greek idea of the prophet as well. He is the messenger, not the originator. As far as Paul is concerned, this ability is of much greater value because it edifies all. But don’t think that Paul wants everyone to foretell. Paul is not advocating the typical “The Lord has a word for you” kind of prophet. He is exhorting the Corinthians to become real students of Scripture so that their understanding may be mature. This kind of “prophecy” outweighs any personal expression of spiritual rapture.
Culture and careful exegesis may lead us to have a greater appreciation for Paul’s advice. It may also lead us to reconciliation with those who see things differently.
Topical Index: speaking in tongues, phren, understanding, prophecy, 1 Corinthians 14:20
Skip, (and All)
Let me preface by stating I was “born and raised” in the Assembly of God Church (Pentecostal).
However, I have a question I have posed to many pastors, none of whom have been able to give a “sufficient” answer.
Here goes: At the first “Pentecost” at Sinai, when the cloven tongues of fire descended from Heaven, all who heard understood — regardless of language. In the Acts account of Pentecost, again, the cloven tongues of fire descended, and all who heard understood — regardless of language.
My question: What happened so that later in Paul’s writings, when one speaks in tongues, there is need of an interpreter? If the speaking in tongues is from God, shouldn’t everyone who hears be able to understand, just as the Sinai and Acts accounts?
Today’s Word is the first time I have heard an explanation that starts to make sense to me. I still need to do more digging on the matter, but this definitely helps!
I concur Rick. I have also wondered the same thing, without any “doctrinal” position/explanation given being able to suffice….at least not for me.
I think its very interesting that what we now deem as “tongues” has single handedly caused more division in the church world then any other doctrine out there. It almost seems as if instead of uniting the people it has caused a confusion and division much like Babel.
Please, no one think I am speaking blasphemous words. I most certainly believe in Holy Spirit directed speaking in other languages, be it another nation’s tongue or a heavenly tongue. However it seems that since our separation from what much of our early first century church father’s’ held to (specifically Torah), that this is one more thing that has separated instead of unified.
It never fails to amaze me when you, Skip, address an issue like this one (and the head coverings for women) that you can take something so divisive and confusing because of the many ways the subject has been interpreted and show a common sense explanation. Some how knowing the history behind a subject, really digging into what was going on and therefore what was being addressed in the message, strips away the garbage that has gotten attached along the way.
It would be so much easier if Christians would go back to hearing the Torah read weekly. They would at least get some framework for understanding the points Paul and the others were trying to clarify. Perhaps realizing that they were not trying to create a new religion so much as assimilate new believers into the flock.
Jill,
I think this is exactly where I lack in understanding. I certainly need to better my “framework for understanding the points Paul and the others were trying to clarify by hearing and reading the Torah consistently and intently. I have languished so long in the canned stories of Sunday School that I’m, in effect, beginning all over again, having to re-read everything in order to start understanding things more in agreement with what Scriptures actually say as opposed to the massaged lessons contained in so much of the traditional training materials I was exposed to.
It’s a daunting challenge and journey, however, with the help of Skip’s blog, the blogger community here and, of course, many other places, it has and continues to be very enjoyable and quite fulfilling in ways I’ve never known.
Ditto!
AMEN! Perfectly put, Michael. Thanks.
And, of course and forever………..THAN YOU SO MUCH, SKIP! (btw, Hope things are going good and that you are safe and healthy in South Africa!)
Verse 18 might indicate Paul adopted this Gentile custom, too, since he mentions it here. Or perhaps he was referring to non-public (muttering) expression in a public convocation? Since we’re unconcerned about toe pain here, do you accept unintelligible and uninterpreted prayer as a Biblical form of intercession / spiritual warfare, a practice not germane to this passage?
Skip,
Shalom to you an yours. Truly context is King in understanding what is going in the letters of Paul. I appreciate the teaching.
David L. Craig,
Shalom to you and yours. Thank you for your comments.
If you bear with me for a moment, I would like to share a story.
In the early part of the new millennium, I was part of a God journey that brought together three different churches into one! The leadership had a standard practice of getting together before the Sunday service to intercede for the upcoming time together, and I would more often then not join my intercession with the leadership. At one particular meeting, I was praying “in tongues” under my breath with no intention of drawing attention to myself. I do not remember how long I prayed this way, but I do remember stopping the prayer language under my breath and praying a prayer out loud in English. We came to end of our prayer time, and the man who was going to share the teaching for the day came up to me and said that I had proclaimed in my prayer the very thing he was going to minister to the congregation that day. It was powerful encouragement to the both of us! The proper use, timing, and context is the key in sharing this gift or any spiritual gift from our Father.
Do I share this to lift up myself? No way! I share to encourage others that our Father delights to talk to us and encourage us in very specific ways. I grew up in congregations where the demonstration of God’s power was expected and relied upon. I have seen a lot of abuse and excess, ( I will not reiterate those experiences) and I have seen the authentic demonstration of the movement and power of the Holy Spirit at work. I have been deeply hurt in this arena. At the same time, YHWH has spoken to me through others, and I have many times partnered with YHWH to bring an authentic word or demonstration of His presence and power. The walk into maturity is fraught with many mistakes, and oftentimes it is not intentional by us or others but nonetheless it still happens on the road to becoming like Messiah. I am wide awake and I realize some of the abuses and excesses we find in the body of Messiah is intentional and speaks of and represents the demonic. This does not take away from YHWH moving into our time and space through others with His life-giving breath. May we grow up into all things that represent our King. How the world needs to see His surpassing greatness!
Brian, I do not understand why you felt the need to share that specifically for my consumption–were you led to or did you perceive I needed to consider your words for some reason? I suspect you have jumped to one or more conclusions about my beliefs. My comment was in regard to the scholastic aspects of today’s article and Skip’s understanding of Paul’s wolrdview regarding unintelligible utterances by disciples of Yeshua.
David,
I was not responding to you or targeting you for any perceived lack or assumptions of your beliefs. And I am definitely not speaking for Skip. My perception was that your question revolved around the context and content of the surrounding culture. Paul was responding to a very specific context in regard to the Corinthians. As in my remark to Skip, “Truly context is King in understanding what is going on in the letters of Paul.”
I was giving an example of a particular event in my own life to show how important the context “tongues” in this case did not bring confusion but life. What we see in Corinth is one of confusion and disorder. The context, the timing, and the delivery is of prime importance when one shares prophetically with any one person or group. What we see in the people of Corinth is an immaturity of understanding these aspects.
On the scholarly side of things in relationship to the experience of prophecy in the world of the ancients. Some books you might want to consider:
D. Aune, Prophecy in Early Christianity and the Ancient Mediterranean World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983); C. Forbes, Prophecy and Inspired Speech in Early Christianity and Its Hellenistic Environment (WUNT 2.75; Tubingen: Mohr, 1995). T. W. Gillespie, The First Theologians: A Study in Early Christian Prophecy (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994). These particular authors are taken from note 144, pg. 558 of James D. G. Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle.
YHWH is King!
Totally
And if each of us would study the word for ourself and seek the meaning of the original language we would see in 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says “that you would speak in tongues but rather that you would prophecy”…
“But rather” is not translated correctly it actually says “so that”… Pause and calmly think of that one
Also my thought: God judges the heart
I don’t know that I ever WANT someone to hear me pray, speak, or sing In tongues… It’s humbling to say the least… But also changed my prayer life so I am personally grateful for often “the Spirit” prays when I don’t know what to pray.
So seek Him on this though… Not mans opinion
Very interesting TW (when are they not..?) and great comments and questions to it.
I have a number of questions, but I will only post one…for now…Why would Paul, a Jew to the core, a pharisee, do something like speaking in tongues, 1 Cor 13:18, and encourage others to, 1 Cor 14:5, if it was rooted in paganism? Don’t spiritual gifts endorsed and practiced by Paul, and included in a list of things we should not be ignorant of, 1 Cor 12, have to come from God? God told the Jews and the new believers to stay away from pagan practices. Why would He include this practice and use it?
But consider the fact that God uses all kinds of pagan practices and thinking BUT ALWAYS shifts it so that it no longer means the same thing. Think of Genesis 1 and the current pagan mythologies of Moses’ era. Think of circumcision or altar sacrifice.
There have always been only two systems of religion in this world: the true and the false. Most certainly the true came first. The false is a perversion of the true, is it not? Oh, but the pagan ‘trinity’ consists of Father, Mother, Child. Most everything else is pretty close. Too close for comfort, I’d say. Looks like a copy cat to me, and I am pretty clear in my mind who is copying whom…. Just sayin’. To G-d be the glory!
It is a big mistake to label “speaking in tongues” as ecstatic. Everyone I know who speaks in tongues including myself never does it “ecstatically”. It requires no emotion whatsoever. The pagan version seems to require it but the one I believe Paul clearly refers to as “by the Spirit” is one totally under the control of the believer. I pray in the spirit and I pray in English. It is simply a choice not something that has to be worked up.
I have a friend who once was witnessing to a Mexican who spoke almost no English. He was getting no where with the guy. He felt led to use his “prayer language” to speak to the Mexican. He thought “this is weird but here goes.” The Mexican listened and when my friend stopped the Mexican replied. When he stopped my friend spoke again. The Mexican replied again. They had a conversation that my friend had no idea what was being said. Someone nearby who listened to the exchange said to my friend, “I did not know you spoke Spanish.” My friend said “I don’t”. She said, “well you just held a perfect conversation with that guy. Paraphrased my friend told the guy that he at one time followed the Lord but had backslidden. The Mexican admitted that he had and wanted to know how he should return. My friend told him he should repent and come back to the Lord.
So apparently there are tongues that are the real deal and serve a very Godly purpose ala on the day of Pentecost. And like all the other gifts, counterfeits exist that are pagan. Like Moses who did things when meeting Pharoah one might consider “magic” in pagan terms. Pharaohs magician’s even matched Moses one for one for awhile until God’s “magic” could not be matched.
The issue Paul addresses with the Corinthians seems to be they spoke in tongues in public ALL the time. He was trying to get them under control and to seek to be more constrained recognizing tongues were under the control of the believers. Not something that ecstatically came over them that was uncontrollable. Just like everything that God does, he does not FORCE us to do something. It is just a simple choice. Tongues sure seems a crazy thing for God to choose for us but I find it rather humbling to submit to doing something God chooses but most Christians and Gentiles alike find “crazy.”
Good points, and I really appreciate your story. I have never witnessed such a thing.
My concern with the Corinthian account is not “Did Paul means this?” or “Did Paul mean that?” It is that we must recognize the influence of culture in the words of Paul to the Corinthians. He wasn’t writing to us and he didn’t have our version of speaking in tongues in mind. He had a particular issue in mind and we have to do all we can to strip away our experiences and culture and see if we can understand what he was saying to the Corinthians. Then we look to see if we have anything relevant to that.
Thanks for adding this comment. I appreciated it.
Pat, I have never heard of or seen such a thing either (which is not to suggest that it doesn’t happen), but this is much more along the lines of my understanding of what “tongues” were among the apostles and 1st century disciples – other languages. Not some unintelligible or heavenly language that no one speaks or can understand.
In this way, GOD used these men and women to communicate the message to people of the vastly different cultures of the region, in their own language – languages that the apostles/disciples did not know. The Pentacost experience in Acts 2:1-3 being the primary example of this.
The way this is practiced in modern day pentecostal and other “spirit-filled” churches is precisely what Paul was correcting with his admonitions of 1 Co 14. He’s instructing the NOT to edify themselves by making a show of these things.
I’ve heard direct testimony from people who’ve been raised in these traditions being taught to speak in tongues. They were instructed to imagine or make up words (real or not) and to chant them while carrying themselves into some kind of spiritual trance, until they can do it with abandon. The pressure of not participating in such practices is immense in these churches when your salvation is considered on the line.
*”going in” should be “going on” in the first comment to Skip. My finger made a slip and I did not recognize it until after the comment to Skip and David was sent. Thanks.
“Lean not on your own understanding.”
“My ways are not your ways.”
Will we ever fully understand God and all that He does?
Hardly. But we should be open to fully embrace HIS
“unexplainable” events without reservation when we
see them for ourselves. It’s why we have faith. It’s why
He asks us to believe.
I’ve seen many,many miracles. Do I understand them? Please.
Do I understand how physically blind eyes could see again?
Or a man unable to walk by himself return weeks later
to testify that he’d just run a 5K marathon?
I can’t understand. But I can believe!
I’ve been in churches where tongues were spoken by one
and interpreted by another. I recall a few instances where
the interpreted message was precisely what the prepared
pastoral message was focused on. Uncanny coincidences?
Maybe one time. But many times?
Did I understand what I had just experienced for myself?
No way. I think God loves to make us wonder.
Having said that, have I experienced the “fakes and the frauds”?
Haven’t we all? Thank God we’ve been given the gift of discernment.
A clanging gong is always a glanging gong. Just like a three dollar bill.
But it’s okay to not fully understand. And we shouldn’t feel we have to
rightfully explain all that God does. God loves for us to wonder.
Do I understand how He “suspended” all the planets amidst billions
and billions of stars? No. But I can see them . . . and I do wonder.
And I do believe He “suspended” them there! I do believe.
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Jn 6:29
Has anyone read the Chasidic book called Niggun by Mordechai Staiman? Brad Scott mentioned it in one of his audio series I listened to. The author calls the niggunim a type of wordless song, but not necessarily. (Some Psalms are referred to as a niggun) He goes on to say that a niggun is a combination of parent-child sounds that no one else can understand. Like, “Ya-na-na-ya-pa… a stammering infant language God created for us when our feelings are too delicate or too intimate for others to hear.”
This sounds an awful lot like “tongues” or a “prayer language” to me. This is practiced within the Chasidic community. I wonder if David and other Psalmist writers used this language too…. I believe they did. Although there are counterfeits and have been since the exile of the garden, perhaps all the gifts have been from the beginning also.
Sorry, I just can’t help but be skeptical of the “tongues”. I must admit, it’s mostly because of strange behaviors/attitudes that seem to be bundled together with the ‘heavenly tongues’. I know there will be counterfeits for every legitimate gift, but still……
I’d like to share a couple of resources and a thought or two. For referencing, I recommend Lloyd John Ogilvie’s book on prayer where he talked about how, as a Presbyterian, former Senior Pastor of Hollywood, and former Chaplain of the US Senate, he came to speak in tongues through his private worship time.
The second work, whose name I remember (!) is called God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul by Dr. Gordon Fee, editor of the NICNT series, author of How to Study The Bible For All It’s Worth, and professor emeritus of Regent University in Vancouver BC. Dr. Fee describes himself as a “flaming Pentecostal” and has written one of the few scholarly, and balanced, works on the Holy Spirit in Paul’s letters that I’ve ever read, and I have a few.
The overriding principle is language requiring interpretation. The story of the missionary speaking Spanish because of God’s empowering presence is such an example. Charismatic missionaries have many such stories.
That is one instance.
The experience of Ogilvie and others (including myself) is that we’re given a language to speak directly to God. Sometimes the langauage comes across in sentence structure and in others, a song from within wells up that we sing. Paul explained that when praying this way we’re interceding and praying in the perfect thelema (will, passionate purpose) of Abba, Father.
You might be interested in footage from ABC showing what portions of the brain are impacted when we pray in tongues. It’s quite remarkable.
~ Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature ~ 1 Corinthians 14:20
I’m not seeing or making the “connection” this verse about “in your thinking be mature” (is there such a thing as “spiritual maturity?”) with speaking in tongues..
If this were to be a proper study of tongues, should not the “word ot the day” be “glossolalia?” And as always, ~ what do the scriptures say? ~
These are Paul’s words (not mine, please)-
~But in the “chosen assembly” I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a (unknown) tongue ~ (1 Corinthians 14.19)
I will surely not “deny” the gift of tongues.. but neither will I not focus upon the purpose of tongues- For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the ecclessia.… And as always.. (Let all things be done decently and in order) – Jesus, Others and You- what a wonderful ways to spell “JOY!”
One last comment- “If” I am to be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh- the Holy Breath of God- it will be at all times AND in all places- (for He has said, “I will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you- I AM with you ALWAYS!) Amen. ~ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your Presence? ~ (Psalm 139.7) And the answer is? – No where to run to.. no where to hide! ~ For *in Him* we live and move and have our being.. ~
Now, concerning this “spiritual maturity,” hear now my presentation, my comments on “secret, SILENT prayer:” ___________________________________. Amen.
Let us be matured concerning spiritual gifts, the greatest of which would be the discerning of spirits!
Gift of tongues-there are tongues, and there are interpretation of tongues.
One can speak in tongues as to YHWH in cases of private prayers, this requires no interpretation;
or as directed by YHWH’s Spirit in a word of reproach or, a word of ‘prophecy’/encouragement to build up/minister to the congregation,
requiring interpretations. All of which I have personally experienced and witnessed.
All of the above does not bring about confusion; it does only when it gets out of order-” Since it is causing distress in the Corinthian assembly, Paul addresses it” because of their previous pagan baggage being brought into those assemblies, and these days into the “Torah assemblies”,
where folks particularly from well-known ‘Centers’ regard and question those who do not speak in tongues as not being filled/baptised in the ‘Spirit’,
and thus, “NOT saved”!
Strong emphasis centred on speaking in tongues, rather than the walking and paradigm changes that took place in believers’ lives. Beyond sensible comprehension!
“If personal spiritual euphoria divides, it is useless.” Indeed!!!
Shalom!