Face To Face With Tongues (part 1) - A Verse by Verse Examination and Exposition On the Subject of Tongues - by Dr. Max D. Younce

Found here. Our comments in bold.

Part 3 is here.
Part 4 is here.
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It took us a long time, but we finally found a cessationist who was willing to go verse-by-verse to make his defense of cessationism, in this case, tongues. Unfortunately, the author has some truly novel and unbiblical theories as to what certain verses mean. 

We spent considerable time considering the author's claims in light of the Scriptural testimony. It is our considered conclusion that the author cannot be regarded as a Bible teacher. 

This is a long article, so we have divided it up into 4 parts.
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I. THE CONCENTRATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

1st Corinthians 12

INTRODUCTION: 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. (There are three errors in the author's opening three sentences:

• Tongues was not the worst problem. Paul corrected a number of egregious practices of the Corinthian church:

Division (Revisited in chapter 3, 11 and 12):

1Co. 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 

Sexual Immorality (Revisited in chapter 6):

1Co. 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

Disputes:

1Co. 6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?

The Lord's Supper violations (Revisited in Chapter 11):

1Co. 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

The Resurrection:

1Co. 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

• By our count there are 51 verses dealing specifically with tongues. There are 53 verses dealing with division. Regardless, the amount of time spent by Paul is not necessarily an indicator of importance. 

• Chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 1 Corinthians are not primarily focused on the correction of tongues. Paul  tells us directly he is dealing with the Spiritual Gifts:

1Co. 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

Hmmm. We are still in the author's first paragraph. We hope his presentation improves.)

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.

(...)

God's Gifts to the Individual. (Verses 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" (14:38). 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. (The author will display a propensity for asserting things not found in the text. Here's our first example. Let's quote the first Scripture:

1Co. 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

Notice what the author left out, that Paul is writing about the spiritual gifts. This is not just about tongues.

Let's also quote the full context of 14:38. 1Co. 14:37-40:

37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. [Some manuscripts: If he is ignorant of this, let him be ignorant] 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Again it is clear that Paul is correcting and explaining more than tongues. Paul wants the gift of prophecy pre-eminent, rather than tongues. But he also wants tongues.

Conclusion: This is not only about tongues. The author is wrong.)

(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. (This is the first novel teaching we encounter. First let's quote the passage:

1Co. 12:2-3 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no-one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no-one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

First, notice that Paul makes an observation about their former state in verse 2, then connects that to the following statement in verse 3 with "therefore." In other words, the statement in verse 3 is a conclusion or application derived from the statement in verse 2.

So Paul's premise is not tongues at all. It is that they were pagans, "influenced and led astray." So when these folks were pagans [they did not have the Spirit] they could say "Jesus be cursed." "Therefore, because now they are not pagans, they could only say "Jesus is Lord" if it was by the Holy Spirit. 

Second, Paul quotes what certain people would say: “Jesus be cursed.” “Jesus is Lord.” Those words are not tongues. They are recorded in Greek and translated to English for our benefit. 

Third, "speaking by the Spirit of God" is not necessarily tongues. It can also be declaring the word, praying, and prophesying: 

Ac. 4:31 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

1Co. 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit...

Ep. 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

2Pe. 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Jude 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

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. (The author continues stretching the text, based on a false premise that the Corinthian church was speaking curses with via tongues.)

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 author goes even farther out on the limb. From the false presumption that verse 3 is a correction specifically about tongues, he presumes that what follows continues to be about tongues. None of this is warranted from the text.)

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. (Yes, this is correct, finally. But previously the author told us that this was all about the correction of tongues...)

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. (Again the author asserts his novel theory.)

(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. (Well, not exactly:

1Co. 14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

The tongue is still permissible, but should be between the speaker and God.)

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. (The author misrepresents the gift of interpretation. There is nothing in the NT regarding the interpretation of tongues to verify the truth or source of a tongue. Interpretation is nowhere presented as discerning or correcting a tongue. 

The Greek word for "interpretation" is herméneia, an interpretation, giving the gist of a message rather than a strict translation; an equivalent meaning, rather than a "word-for-word" rendering. Interpretation is simply interpretation, the delivery of the meaning of the tongue.

But the author would have us believe that in Corinthian church someone would deliver a tongue to the congregation that was a curse. Then the interpreter would stand up, but he doesn't deliver an interpretation for the congregation. Instead, he tells the congregation that the tongues speaker spoke a curse. 

This means that the tongues speaker would be a pagan who was somehow allowed to address the congregation. And the interpreter doesn't actually interpret. Does any of this even make sense?

The gift of discernment is what would actually be in operation here. Paul will tell us later how this is actually judged:

1Co. 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

So, there is an actual text in the Bible that tells us how to correctly engage in Body ministry of this sort. The author has it completely wrong.)

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. (Well, no. Again, there is nothing in the text the even suggests that tongues were being used to curse.)

(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."

The Charismatic movement today is parallel in error to the Charismatics at Corinth. (Contemporary expressions have nothing to do with the biblical case. We want the author to explain the biblical case. We will strike out these observations, since they are irrelevant.)

Speaking in tongues signaled to them that they must be in touch with God. I have, literally, talked to hundreds of Charismatics and, almost without exception, have been advised by them that "anyone can have the gift of tongues if they want it." 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.

God's Gifts to the Church (12-31)

(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 of 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."

The Baptism of the Spirit is into the Body of Christ, not into tongues.

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. (We agree with the preceding explanation.)

 Verse 13 refutes one of the major errors of Pentecostalism, who say that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit.

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."

(Verses 18-24). These Verses emphasize one central point--no matter who has what gift, each are of equal importance. (We disagree with this characterization. Paul never refers to "equal importance," he mentions "indispensable," "special honor," "special modesty," "greater honor," and "equal concern." All of these referents are directed towards what should be the attitude of the Body regarding its parts. 

Some people deserve greater honor or special treatment because they are "unpresentable parts."

Further, does the reader recall where Paul came from as he enters this topic? He just concluded a discussion about the Lord's Supper [chapter 11]. The Corinthian church was dishonoring the Body, the "unpresentable parts," during the Lord's Supper. We would assert that the whole purpose of chapters 11-14 is in the context of correcting how the Corinthian church was behaving regarding the lowly members of their congregation, as displayed in their gatherings for the Lord's supper.

So, proper honor in the body manifests in its fellowship, especially when eating together and during its gatherings, particularly as it applies to the spiritual gifts. All of this is intended by Paul to explain how to honor the body and correctly exemplify the interaction that ought to display in their midst.) 

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. (No, some gifts are greater than others [1 Cor. 14:1].)

(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. (Let's quote the passage. 1Co. 12:24-26:

...while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

There is no mention of tongues creating division here. As we can see from the text, the problem was related to dishonoring the weaker parts. 

The author is wrong.)

One should never consider themselves a more spiritual being because of a particular gift. (We agree.)

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! (We should desire the gifts that God already gave us? That doesn't make sense. Paul tells us that we should desire the greater gifts, and there is a particular one the is especially desirable. How could this be true if we already had the gift?)

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 author reaches waaay back to chapter 3. But chapter 3 is not dealing with tongues or spiritual gifts at all! This is about factions following the teaching of certain men:

1Co. 3:1-4 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

We are beginning to think the author is hoping the reader will not open his Bible and actually read the texts. Because of this we are forced to no longer will consider the author a serious Bible teacher. All his pronouncements going forward will be viewed with suspicion.)

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)

(...)