The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS 12:31 - 14:5

1901

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. I Corinthians 13

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then 10 that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, dark- ly; but then 11 face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, char- ity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I Corinthians 14 Preach (speak) to be understood Date Written - Spring of AD 57 1 Follow after charity, and desire 12 spiritu- al gifts, 13 but rather that ye may 14 prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an 15 unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; how- beit in the spirit he speaketh 16 mysteries. 3 But he that 14 prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and 17 exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an 15 unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that 14 prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with 15 tongues, but rather that ye 14 prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that spea- keth with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1. or, “languages of men; foreign” 2. that is, “the love of God for my brother” 3. Rom 12:6 & I Cor 12:10 4. that is, “the gift of faith” - I Cor 12:9 5. Mt 17:20 & 21:21 & Mk 11:22-23 & Lk 17:6 9. that is, “the gift of knowledge by divine revelation, such as, the writing of Scripture” 10. that is, “our limited ability to speak, understand, and think on spirit- ual terms” (vs 8,11) 11. II Cor 3:18 12. Rom 12:6-8 & I Cor 12:1-11 13. Num 11:25-29 & Acts 2:17-18 & I Cor 1:17 14. or, “proclaims the Word of God in the language of the people listening” 15. or, “a foreign language” 16. that is, “mysteries to those listening because they cannot understand the foreign language (unknown tongue) they are hearing” 17. I Tim 4:13 & II Tim 4:2 6. Eph 4:32 7. Gal 5:26 8. II Jn 4

Love makes the gifts effective Date Written - Spring of AD 57

1 Though I speak with the 1 tongues of men and of angels, and have not 2 charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tin- kling cymbal. 2 And though I have the 3 gift of proph- ecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all 4 faith, 5 so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it prof- iteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is 6 kind; charity 7 envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily pro- voked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, 8 but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be 9 knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

12:31 a Every Christian is required to use his best (most prominent) gifts. 12:31 b The church of Corinth possessed many, if not all, of the gifts. Yet, they were guilty of envy, divisions, and fleshly sins. The possession of gifts is never an indication of godliness of life. There is “ a more excellent way .” 13:1 a This verse does not teach that angels have their own language ( tongues of men and of angels ) and that we can speak that language. The fact is, whenever angels spoke in the Bible they always spoke in the earthly languages of the people that were listening to them (Mt 1:20 and Lk 1:11-20), and not some angelic language. 13:1 b Knowing your spiritual gift and using it is good. However, it is meaningless if you fail to use it with love ( charity ). 13:8 The gift of tongues provided through the HOLY SPIRIT was given to proclaim the gospel in known languages at a time when this was needed to evangelize the world ( Mk 16: 15- 17a -20 and Acts 2: 1- 3a -8). Like the gift of healing ( II Tim 4:20 ), this purpose was fulfilled and the gift was withdrawn, for there was no longer a need for such a gift of languages. Robert R. Gustafson in Authors of Confusion notes: Its removal, however, was not a temporary one but a permanent withdrawal of the gift as it was and is no longer needed; for we today have the gospel printed in every language in the world. 1 Proof that there was no longer a need for such a gift of languages can be seen in the writings of both Chrysostom (AD 347-407) and Augustine (AD 354-430). Chrysostom in regards to tongues as mentioned in I Corinthians 12 notes: This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur, but now no longer take place. 2 Augustine adds: In the earliest times, the Holy Ghost fell upon them that believed: and they spake with tongues, which they had