Avondale College ResearchOnline@Avondale Theses Masters Research Theses 12-2010 Tongues in Corinth - The Case for Human Languages: A Study of Corinthians 12-14 Lynn Burton Avondale College Follow this and additional works at: https://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_masters_research Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Burton, L. (2010). Tongues in Corinth - The case for human languages: A study of Corinthians 12-14 (Master's thesis, Avondale College, Cooranbong, Australia). Retrieved from https://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_masters_research/3/ This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses Masters Research by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Avondale College of Higher Education TONGUES IN CORINTH - THE CASE FOR HUMAN LANGUAGES: A STUDY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 12-14. A Dissertation Presented in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Theology (Research). by Lynn Burton December 2011 ―I certify that this dissertation is my own work and is free from plagiarism. I understand that the dissertation may be checked for plagiarism by electronic or other means. The dissertation has not previously been submitted for assessment in any other subject or institution.‖ SIGNED________________________________ iii ABSTRACT This treatise supports the historical view that the tongues phenomenon in 1 Cor 14 is identical to that in Acts 2. Hence, it argues that the tongues referred to in 1 Corinthians are known human languages and not angel speech, riddles, ecstatic irrational utterances or groans. In addition, it contends that this gift was meant to be used for an evangelism that would build up the church. Nevertheless, the local tongues-speakers were abusing this gift by employing it to exalt self, even using it in public worship services where no one present knew the language. It is this abuse that Paul addresses throughout 1 Corinthians, not the phenomenon itself. When seen in this light, the difficult texts in this biblical passage become clear. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 1 - A BRIEF HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE GLOSSOLALIA DEBATE ................................................................................................................... 19 THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS ............................................................................... 19 THE MIDDLE AGES ................................................................................................. 29 THE REFORMATION ................................................................................................. 30 THE SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ................................................................................ 32 THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ................................................................................... 34 THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY ................................................................................... 36 THE SHIFT AWAY FROM FOREIGN LANGUAGE ........................................................ 38 THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY .................................................................................... 40 THE PENTECOSTAL AND NEO-PENTECOSTAL PHENOMENON................................... 44 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 2 - THE CHURCH IN CORINTH ..................................................... 50 STATUS GAINED THROUGH WEALTH, WISDOM, ELOQUENCE, BENEFICENCE AND AN ENTOURAGE ............................................................................................................ 50 STATUS GAINED THROUGH BOASTING OF SELF AND ONE'S PATRONS ..................... 56 SOCIAL ELITE IN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH INTRODUCE SPIRITUAL BOASTING ..... 59 SOCIAL ELITE IN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH APPEAL TO SECULAR COURTS TO SETTLE IN-HOUSE DISPUTES, DISRESPECT FOR THE POOR ................................................... 61 PAUL CONDEMNS SPIRITUAL ARROGANCE AND COMPLACENCY ............................ 65 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 3 – SPIRITUAL THINGS ................................................................... 69 SPIRITUAL PERSONS ................................................................................................ 70 SPEAKING WITH TONGUES ...................................................................................... 73 THE ABUSE OF TONGUES IN CORINTH ..................................................................... 74 SPIRITUAL GIFTS ..................................................................................................... 77 PROBLEMS WITH THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS VIEWPOINT ................................................ 78 THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT ..................................................................................... 81 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 83 CHAPTER 4 – THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ..................................................... 84 GOD AS THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUAL THINGS ............................. 84 THE PAGAN CONNECTION ....................................................................................... 85 DIFFERENT GIFTS BUT THE SAME SOURCE .............................................................. 87 THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS .................................................................................... 90 TONGUES ARE FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE CHURCH ................................................. 94 THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE GIFTS ........................................................................ 96 EVIDENCE OF THE TONGUES PROBLEM IN CORINTH................................................ 99 THE POINT OF 1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10 ................................................................. 102 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 104 CHAPTER 5 - THE HUMAN BODY ANALOGY ............................................. 106 UNITY IN DIVERSITY ............................................................................................. 106 THE ABSURDITY OF A ONE MEMBER BODY .......................................................... 109 v THE NEED TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER ................................................................. 110 PRIORITIZING THE GIFTS ....................................................................................... 111 APOSTLES, PROPHETS AND TEACHERS .................................................................. 112 NOT ONE GIFT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL BELIEVERS ................................................ 115 THE IMPERATIVE CASE ......................................................................................... 116 PROBLEMS WITH THE IMPERATIVE CASE ............................................................... 117 MORE ARGUMENTS FOR THE IMPERATIVE CASE ................................................... 119 THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY ............................................................................... 121 MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE IMPERATIVE ARGUMENT .......................................... 121 THE INDICATIVE CASE .......................................................................................... 123 VAN UNNIK‘S VIEW .............................................................................................. 125 THE GREATER GIFTS ............................................................................................. 127 THE APOSTOLIC, PROPHETIC AND TEACHING OFFICES ......................................... 128 PROPHETS AND GLOSSOLALISTS ........................................................................... 128 THE PROPER MOTIVE FOR USING SPIRITUAL GIFTS .............................................. 131 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 132 CHAPTER 6 - LOVE VERSUS GIFTEDNESS ................................................. 134 THE ORIGIN AND RELEVANCE OF 1 CORINTHIANS 13 ........................................... 135 GIFTEDNESS ALONE DOES NOT CONFER SPIRITUAL STATUS; LOVE IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY ............................................................. 139 THE CHARACTER OF LOVE .................................................................................... 144 THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE GIFTS .............................................................. 153 THE COMPLETED CANON OF SCRIPTURE VIEW ..................................................... 154 THE MATURE CHURCH VIEW ................................................................................ 157 THE SECOND COMING VIEW ................................................................................. 162 THE CRUX OF THE MATTER .................................................................................. 164 CHILDISH BABBLING ............................................................................................. 166 THE PRE-EMINENCE OF LOVE................................................................................ 166 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................