In the previous article, we looked at prophecy and saw that New Testament prophecy is not the same as the prophecy of Isaiah, Elijah, or the other Old Testament prophets. In the Old Testament, the prophet could say, “Thus says the Lord,” and speak with the authority of God’s revealed Word. In the New Testament, the apostles serve as the foundation of the church in a way that corresponds to the Old Testament prophets. Their teaching produced the revelation on which the church is built.
For this reason, prophecy in the New Testament does not add to Scripture or replace Scripture. Rather, it has to do with something God spontaneously brings to mind that a person shares with a congregation or a small group. It must always be tested by the Scriptures. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that two or three prophets may speak, but others must weigh what is said. We are not to despise prophetic utterances, but we are to hold fast to what is good and reject what is not.
This means there is a difference between prophecy and teaching. Teaching explains and applies the Word of God. Prophecy, in this sense, is an impression that is communicated for the benefit of others. According to 1 Corinthians 14:3, the one who prophesies speaks for “edification and exhortation and consolation.” It builds up, encourages, and comforts the body of Christ.
There are two extremes to avoid. Some people are so concerned with objectivity that they leave little room for the subjective power of the Spirit. Others go to the opposite extreme and seek subjective messages while failing to submit their lives to the clear teaching of Scripture. The Word must remain primary, but we should also be open to the Spirit’s work.
Paul tells us to “pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” He is speaking in a corporate context. Not everyone will exercise the same gift, but prophecy is valuable because it edifies the church. At the same time, Paul insists on order. The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets, and God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
One form of this may occur in teaching. There are times when a teacher suddenly sees something that was not part of the original plan and senses that it must be shared. I have had experiences in which I set aside what I intended to say and went in a different direction. At such times, teaching can move into a prophetic dimension of communication.
As we think about the gifts of the Spirit, we should remember that God has given each believer a purpose and a function. We should discern, pursue, and develop the gifts He has given us. This involves looking at what we do well, what others affirm in us, and how our personality, background, experience, and temperament may be involved. Spiritual gifts often include both natural ability and something that goes beyond the natural.
Teaching is one such gift, but there are many kinds of teaching. Some are gifted to teach children, others youth, others adults. Some teach in small groups; others in large groups. There is no one form of teaching.
Miracles are another gift. The word has the idea of works of power. In Acts, we see answers to prayer, deliverance from danger, works of judgment, and miraculous protection. Healing is also clearly seen in the ministry of Christ and in the apostolic age. Jesus healed everyone who came to Him, showing that the kingdom of God was present. The apostles also performed signs and wonders, though not to the same degree.
I believe these gifts continue, but we live in the tension of the now and the not yet. We belong to the age to come, but we still live in a disease-and-death environment. Christians are not exempt from pain, sickness, and suffering. God sometimes grants remarkable healings and turnarounds, but even these are temporary. He also uses affliction in this soul-forming world to conform us to Christ.
The most controversial gift is tongues. It has divided charismatic and noncharismatic believers. In the early Pentecostal movement, speaking in tongues was often seen as the sign of a later baptism in the Spirit. My own view is that all believers have been baptized in Christ, while the filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process. There can be many fillings. More charismatics have also come to see that tongues need not be the sign of baptism in the Spirit and that the emphasis should be on the fullness of the Spirit.
The Greek word often translated “tongues” is glossa, which means languages. I would define tongues as speaking prayer or praise in syllables not understood by the speaker. In the history of redemption, this is significant. Before the fall, humanity had one language in the service of God. After the fall, people were united in opposition to God at Babel, and God confused their languages. Later, God called Abraham and promised that through his seed all nations would be blessed.
At Pentecost, people heard the praises of God in their own languages. This was a foretaste of the unity that will be known in the new heavens and new earth. The miracle was that people spoke in languages they had not learned. Tongues plus interpretation made it possible for people from different language groups to understand the same message.
In public worship, interpretation is necessary. If there is no interpretation, the person with the gift of tongues should remain silent in the church. Otherwise, the people are not edified. Paul would rather speak five words with his mind to instruct others than many words in a tongue that no one understands.
Yet Paul also speaks of a private dimension. If he prays in a tongue, his spirit prays, though his mind is unfruitful. Prophecy is God speaking a message to us, but tongues are speech directed to God. In this sense, tongues can be a form of prayer or praise. It may involve known human languages, as at Pentecost, but Paul seems to describe another kind of speech that no one understands unless it is interpreted.
This is not ecstatic, uncontrolled speech. It is self-controlled. Some fringe expressions have given people the impression that tongues are chaotic or foolish, but 1 Corinthians 14 gives clear instructions. If we are going to practice this gift, we must do it rightly. Without interpretation in the church, it has no value for others. With interpretation, it can edify the church and can have value like prophecy.
I believe tongues have genuine value, though there can be counterfeits. Paul is not afraid of the gift. He says that he speaks in tongues, but he also makes clear that not everyone has this gift. No one has all the gifts, and there is no one gift that all believers possess. I have never received this gift in the usual sense, though I have asked for it. Still, I see no command that we must ask for tongues. If we ask for a gift, Paul tells us to desire prophecy above tongues.
There is also a movement in prayer beyond words. We may read Scripture, meditate on it, turn it into prayer, and then go beyond words into the presence of God. In that sense, we may be praying with the Spirit and not only with the mind.
Finally, Paul mentions the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge in 1 Corinthians 12. These may refer to prudence, discernment, or the right word at the right time. Others understand them as unusual insight into another person, though that may be closer to prophecy. The distinguishing of spirits is the ability to discern what the Holy Spirit is doing and what demonic spirits are doing.
There are many gifts, and none of the biblical lists is exhaustive. Some are more miraculous, and some appear less miraculous. But when any gift is empowered by the Spirit of God, it can be used in ways that go beyond natural ability and bear lasting fruit in the lives of others.
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Questions for Reflection
- How can we remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit while also remaining grounded in the authority of Scripture?
- Why do you think Paul places such a strong emphasis on order, discernment, and love in his discussion of spiritual gifts?
- In what ways can spiritual gifts be used to strengthen, encourage, and build up others within the body of Christ?
- Which truths in this article most challenged or encouraged your understanding of prophecy, tongues, or the gifts of the Spirit?
