Among the many problems believers were having at Corinth, tongues were probably the worst. Paul spends more time in attempting to correct this problem than he does any other. Three chapters are used, going into great detail, covering most aspects concerning tongues.
In Chapter 12, the many gifts are enumerated, emphasizing what the believer's proper attitude toward the gifts should be. Then, as it is today, the gift of tongues was misused, counterfeited by a Satanic spirit, and held in preeminence over all the other gifts. Chapter 13 informs us exactly how long God will extend the gift of tongues and when they will cease. Chapter 14 give the instructions concerning the purpose and regulation of tongues until they cease. We will not expound on every Verse, only those that have a bearing upon tongues.
God's Gifts For Individuals
Chapter 12 focuses on the spiritual gifts that are given to individuals, " Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." - I Corinthians 12:1-11.Verse 1 - "...I would not have you ignorant." This is the purpose for the next three chapters. After Paul concludes dealing with tongues, he closes with "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant". In other words, if a person will not study and take God's Word concerning tongues, they will have to go on and remain ignorant as there is nothing else that can be done for them.
Verse 3 - "...no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed..." A very interesting statement, for it informs us that some were speaking in tongues by a false or counterfeit spirit and were actually cursing Jesus. The sad thing is--those who were responsible thought they were speaking by the Holy Spirit, when they were not. The demons were having a field day in Corinth, cursing Jesus through the tongues speakers without their knowledge. These questions arise: "How is it possible for this counterfeit spirit to work through people and actually curse Jesus? What did these people do wrong that enabled this to happen?" The answers are given in the remainder of the Chapter.
Verses 4-6 - Three times we are told there are different gifts: "...there are diversities of gifts" (Vs. 4), "there are differences of administrations" (Vs. 5), "there are diversities of operations" (Vs. 6). Notice how these Verses present the Trinity: Verse 4, the Spirit; Verse 5, the Lord; Verse 6, God. The Lord is telling us that there are many different gifts. All of the gifts are not for one person and all people do not have the same gift.
Verse 7 - "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." This is the conclusion to Verses 4-6. That is, every Christian possesses at least one gift with which to profit. Notice the Words, "every man." Every Christian has at least one gift from the Lord. The Lord is now laying the foundation concerning His gifts to the believer. Remember, those in Corinth were seeking the gift they wanted, tongues, instead of realizing there were many gifts in addition to tongues. This was their first error which allowed a counterfeit spirit to operate with and through them.
Verses 8-10 - Here the Lord elaborates upon the gifts, so there will be no mistake or speculation as to what some of them could be. Notice the gift of interpretation in Verse 10. At Corinth, it was always to accompany tongues. This was their second grave error which allowed a counterfeit spirit to work. In 14:5, one was to interpret; in 14:26, an interpretation is expected; in 14:28, one was prohibited from speaking in any assembly unless one interpreted. This way a counterfeit spirit would be exposed, as the spirit of the interpreter (through the Holy Spirit) would not bear witness with that of the speaker speaking by a false spirit. Those in Corinth were so zealous of tongues they were speaking without an interpreter; therefore, the counterfeit spirit could operate unmolested, undetected, and even curse Jesus Christ. The reason ... no one knew what was being said.
Verse 11 - "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Here is the danger of not knowing God's Word or will. At Corinth they wanted the gifts they had chosen, instead of God's will. Notice carefully, the gift, or gifts, given by the Holy Spirit are divided "to every man severally as he (God) will."
God's Gifts to the
Church
Verses 12-17 - In these Verses the Lord likens each
believer and his gift, or gifts, unto the human body as a means of
explaining the Body of Christ and how each believer, with his gifts, fits
in. The human body needs all parts to function effectively; so all
believers who make up the Body of Christ have various gifts so it will
operate in the same way.
Verse 13 - The above passage reveals two major errors in the
beliefs of Pentecostalism and tongues speakers of today."For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
1. The Baptism of the Spirit is into the Body
of Christ, not into tongues.
2. This Verse says all have been made to drink (same as "baptized") into one Spirit. Tongues cannot be evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit, since not all speak with tongues (Verse 30); but, all believers are baptized into the Body of Christ. Verse 13 refutes one of the major errors of Pentecostalism, who say that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit.
Verses 18-24 - These Verses emphasize one central point--no matter who has what gift, each are of equal importance. God's Word emphasizes this. Personally, I hear a thousand times more about the gift of tongues than any of the other gifts. Something is wrong--God says they were all equal. Verse 18 gives the conclusion to these Verses: "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, AS IT HATH PLEASED HIM"
Verse 25 - This adjusted their attitude to the proper level. In Corinth, tongues had become an obsession. Their attitude toward others incited division because of tongues. One should never consider themselves a more spiritual being because of a particular gift. We must remember, we possess a gift because God gave it to us. With this attitude, we will have the same care for one another and there will be no division. This is exactly what Verse 25 states, "That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another."
Verses 28-31- In closing Chapter 12, the Lord reminds them again that not all have the same gift, not all are to speak in tongues. "But covet earnestly the best gifts;..." This is the one, or more, that God has given you! It is interesting to note that the gift of tongues is listed last of all the gifts; yet, the Corinthians had put them first. Everyone wanted the lesser gift of tongues which, outwardly, appeared spiritual; but, in reality, was the most carnal. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." The "more excellent way" in Verse 31 is the love, or "charity," of Chapter 13. It does not matter how spiritual you might appear to be by speaking in tongues. Is the true Holy Spirit working in your life to manifest the true love which is evidenced by unity and caring one for another? (Verse 25)
The Charismatic movement today is parallel in error to the Charismatics at Corinth. Speaking in tongues signaled to them that they must be in touch with God. A comparison of this Charismatic claim against the Word of God illuminates the darkness of this movement. Let us read Verse 30 of this Chapter, "Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?". The original Greek of this passage reveals that these are rhetorical questions to which a negative answer is assumed. Therefore, the answer to all questions of Verse 30 is, "No!" It could not be any clearer. Not everyone was to have the gift of tongues. The Lord would be the One Who decided what gift, or gifts, He would give to each believer.
