1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Define the angel tongue of I Cor 13

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Bartimaeus, May 25, 2008.

  1. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,944
    Likes Received:
    1,661
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I know they existed, and I agree Paul was very much concerned with edification within the fellowship.

    I think some folks here are taking my argument that Paul essentially left the matter to the Christian's conscience and Christian liberty (as long as the fellowship wasn't being disrupted) as my affirming the validity of "speaking in tongues", which I do not. I understand its background and the way it is understood by charismatics today. My concern is that some believers are attempting to hold other Christians to a higher standard than scripture dictates. I did, and it was helpful.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  2. ajg1959

    ajg1959 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2007
    Messages:
    1,383
    Likes Received:
    0
    You keep ranting about a prayer language being a Christian liberty. and according to one's Christian conscience???????

    Just what scripture teaches this?

    And how are we who dont believe that there is a such thing as a private prayer language "holding the church to a higher standard"?

    Its seems to me that the only standard that matters is the standard of God's Word. And I dont see any scripture that cites the things you are saying.

    Besides......the charismatics/pentecostals "seek" after tongues. They even hold classes and seminars to "teach" people how to speak in tongues. It seems to me that if God wanted me, as a Christian, to speak in tongues that I would NOT have to "seek" it or ask for it......He would just make it happen like he did with the folks in the book of ACTS.

    AJ
     
  3. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,944
    Likes Received:
    1,661
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The context of I Cor. chapters 12-14 supports the position.
    I didn't say you were "holding the church to a higher standard", I said some believers were holding other Christians than to a higher standard than scripture warrants.

    I, personally, don't believe the estatic utterances are genuine communication with God. I, personally, don't believe that the Apostle Paul thought they were genuine communication with God.

    But that does not change God's Word on the matter. God has seen fit to give us intructions on how we are to respond to those who are practicing the "estatic utterances".

    The Apostle Paul did not prohibit the practice of "tongues" altogether. His concern was that such practices disrupted the church. He conceded the possibility that it was genuine communication with God when he told them "you are giving thanks well enough, but the other man does not understand." He gave instructions for its use, essentially limiting it to private speach between the person and God. That places it in the sphere of Christian Conscience and Christian liberty.

    Since the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, wrote these things in God's Holy Word, why do so many refuse to accept what is taught? Why do you think the wisdom of men is better than the wisdom of God.

    By this, I am specifically referring to the SBC which is requiring missionaries to sign a document saying they don't practice a "private prayer language".

    It also refers to those who tell other Christians that if they practice a "private prayer language" to "go somewhere else, you are not welcome here".

    It also refers to those who think they can see into another Christian's mind, heart and spirit and say things like "they know it is contrived and unscriptural....."
    You are not looking very closely.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  4. PK

    PK New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2005
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
  5. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,944
    Likes Received:
    1,661
    Faith:
    Baptist
    This is not about determining the validity of tongues. This is about how we respond to those who practice them.

    Scripture tells us how to respond to these Christians. We should follow the instructions God has given us.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  6. AresMan

    AresMan Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2005
    Messages:
    1,717
    Likes Received:
    11
    Faith:
    Baptist
    To misunderstand Paul's subjunctive statement as if he practiced and advocated some contrived gift of speaking in some kind of non-earthly "angelic tongue" rather than that he was uttering conjecture and hyperbole would require appropriation of the rest of the entire subjunctive statement in the first three verses, including that Paul

    (1) had no charity,
    (2) was become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal,
    (3) understood all mysteries and all knowledge,
    (4) had all faith giving him the power to remove mountains,
    (5) bestowed all his goods to feed the poor, and
    (6) gave his body to be burned.

    It is clear that I Cor. 13:1-3 were in the subjunctive mood and included hyperbole to emphasize the importance of charity. His use of first person did not imply that he had these abilities (nor that anyone else could); but that even if one were to have them, if he did not have charity, they would all be worthless.

    Also, in v.8, he continues to emphasize the importance of charity: that it will never go away, but prophecies, tongues, and knowledge by divine revelation will cease.
    In v.9, Paul demonstrates that the first three verses were hyperbole, because he says that he knows in part and prophesies in part. He also didn't say that he actually spoke in "angelic tongues" that are not spoken on earth.
     
  7. JerryL

    JerryL New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2006
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    0
Loading...