Pentecostal Apologetics
The contents of this site are listed as nine arguments (written below) that non-pentecostals use to try to prove that the gifts of the Spirit are not for the church today.
This index shows nine arguments (that are against the Holy Spirit)
which are preached in churches and taught in bible colleges. It is important
for the Pentecostal Youth (and ministers) to at least be familiar with
them.
ERROR #1(written below the green message) is a typical
statement that is heard in bible colleges every day, all over the
world. The Pentecostal answer to this assertion is so overwhelming that
it is divided into eight sections (The first eight buttons on the
left); however, a quick, short answer is given below.
But first: "The Foundation For Pentecostal Scholarship," is a group I found on the internet. They promote Pentecostal literacy. Their website: http://www.tffps.org
"TFFPS" is an organization that takes "Pentecostal Apologetics" to a scholarly level. They have excellent credentials and have written and/or promoted on their site, books containing well-researched pentecostal truths that might otherwise be impossible to find. I am glad to have found their site on the web.
ERROR #1
"We do not hear much about tongues and prophecies after 1
Corinthians was written; therefore, tongues and prophecies were
diminishing in importance and disappearing altogether, even while the
bible was still being written. Even the Corinthians stopped speaking in
tongues; because by the time 2 Cor. was written there is not even one
mention of tongues or prophecies."
SHORT ANSWER
Just the opposite is true. 1, 2 Cor. were two of the earliest
epistles written, so most of what we hear about tongues and prophecies
were written after the Corinthian epistles. Peter's epistles were
written at least ten years after Paul wrote to the Corinthians and he
makes it clear that prophetic speech is for the church: "If any man
speaks let him speak as the oracles of God" 1 Peter 4: 11 KJV
"diminishing in importance" again, just the opposite is true; because
Paul taught the Romans to use their prophetic gifts, and Paul wrote
"Romans" from Corinth- about three years after he wrote the Corinthian epistles.
An interesting truth arises: Namely; that Paul was in Corinth hearing
all of their tongues-speaking and prophetic speech, and instead of
growing tired of it, he goes to his room and writes to the Romans
telling them to use their prophetic speech as well: "Having then gifts
differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith" Rom. 12: 6 KJV
A note: Paul had founded the Corinthian church around AD 51;
several years later in AD 55-56 when he was in Macedonia, he wrote the
Corinthian epistles. It was a few years after that when he again
visited the Corinthians in AD 58; and it was from Corinth that he wrote
the book of "Romans."
(The reader will have to decide whether or not the dates are correct;
it does not matter because it is the intervals that are important-the
fact that several years had lapsed since Paul wrote 1 Cor. and he is
still encouraging the use of the prophetic gifts (to the Romans).
An embarrassment to cessationist thinking is the realization that 2
Cor, was written just months after 1 Cor. They were both written the
same year(Depending on who you talk to-possibly, 2 Cor. was written in
the following calander year). How did the prophetic gifts die out
within months from the time Paul wrote 1 Cor.? Remember that Paul sent
Timothy to teach at Corinth, and Timothy was a Pentecostal type whom
people laid hands on, and prayed for, and he received a spiritual gift
from a prophetic prayer: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which
was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery" 1 Tim. 4: 14
Instead of Paul asking timothy to let his gift die out, he told him to
keep using it. This brings up another interesting point. There are some
cessationists who know that the bible teaches that the gifts of the
Spirit are available for the church today (but they don't want them)
so they say that we are to let the prophetic gifts die out (um, if we
don't use them maybe they'll go away), but Paul disagrees: "Wherefore I
put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in
thee by the putting on of my hands" 2 Tim 1: 6
Also, contrary to cessationist teaching, Paul, in 2 Cor. does talk about the Corinthians using prophetic speech including tongues-speaking (Tongues
are always included in "prophetic speech" because tongues are part of
the prophetic gift. This is proved by Peter who said that the
tongues-speaking on the day of Pentecost was the prophesying that Joel spoke of: Tongues=Prophesying). Compare the words of 1Cor. with the words of 2 Cor. below:
"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is
given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by him,
in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ
was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Cor. 1: 4-7
And Paul wrote the same thing (concerning prophetic speech and prophetic knowledge) in 2 Cor.
"Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us" 2 Cor. 8: 7 KJV
It is easy to see that the cessationist teaching written below,
though taught by college professors, is actually born out of ignorance.
"Even
the Corinthians stopped speaking in tongues; because by the time 2 Cor.
was written there is not even one mention of tongues or prophecies."
Did Paul think that the prophetic gifts would cease before Jesus comes back to earth? According to the verses below, no.
"I thank my God always on your
behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That
in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come
behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1
Cor 1: 4-7
The eleven articles below are the actual (long) answer to Error #1. Taken together they thoroughly refute lie #1:
TONGUES EDIFY
In this brief overview of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, it will be seen that prophetic tongues edify God's church.
PROPHETIC PRAISE
It will be seen that Paul expects prophetic praise (including tongues) to continue in the church until Christ returns.
3)TONGUES-SPEAKING
A Description of the revelational nature of tongues and prophecies." It will be seen why "prophecies" are mentioned more than "tongues-speaking" in the Holy Bible.
PROPHETIC GIFT
Some may prophecy by the "gift" of prophecy.
"Glossa" notes
Note on "Glossolalia" meaning "languages" not "earthly languages" This is an important issue.
CESSATIONISM
A look at
the four epistles that were written before 1 Corinthians. It will be
seen that Paul actually rebukes the teachings of cessationism
JESUS AND TONGUES
Since it was Jesus who gave "tongues" to the church; a look at the four gospels will reveal that Jesus expects prophetic utterances to continue throughout the church-age.
PENTECOSTALISM
By looking at 1 Corinthians and the book of Acts It will be seen that contrary to cessationist teaching; "Pentecostalism" (a life of tongues and prophecies) is considered to be the normative Christian experience.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
BY looking at Paul's 'Prison Epistles' (Eph, Phil, Col, Phi); It will be seen that Paul not only expects the spiritual gifts to continue, but he actually encourages them.
MODERN PROPHETS
Comparing the writings of Peter and John with 1 Corinthians; It will be seen that both Peter and John believe in modern-day prophets as they give instructions for the ongoing use of prophetic utterances.
CHURCH GIFTS
By investigating Christ's distribution of the spiritual gifts in Hebrews, Romans, Ephesians, Acts, and 1Corinthians; It will be seen that God expects the church to operate in the spiritual gifts (including tongues and prophecies).
Listed below are eight other misconceptions that are taught in churches, and in bible colleges. The answer to the assertions (written below) are on the buttons to the left:
You can email me Thanks, peterkwiatkowski@yahoo.com
Tongues Are The Least of The Gifts
This assumption is based on the fact that that "Tongues" is next to last on a list of gifts in 1 Cor. 12: 8-10; however, the "list"is not one of descending order; in fact, on that list, "interpretation of tongues" (which Paul says is more important than tongues-speaking in the church) is listed below "tongues" on that same list.
Tongues-speaking is immature; we are to grow out of it, and grow into love instead
Why not both. Why not follow Paul's advice and use the spiritual gifts in an attitude of love
Tongues were only for a sign of judgement against Israel
Actually, the purpose of "tongues" are to edify (build-up) the tongues-speeker; if interpreted, they will edify the entire church.
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church" 1 Cor. 14: 4
But to unbelieving Jews tongues-speaking is evidence (a sign) that God has found them (judged them) as unworthy to be His prophetic priesthood
Tongues-speaking was always in known languages--not the gibberish you hear in Pentecostal churches today
In Acts 2 the Old Test. Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled. It was fulfilled only once (just as the feasts of Passover, and Unleavened Bread were fulfilled only once). "Pentecost" was the feast of harvest, ingathering, firstfruits to God; therefore, God approprietly spoke to the peoples that day in many languages--signifying His end-time harvest.
Tongues are for praise: The Ephesians of Acts 19, and the Romans of Acts 10 (Cornelius' house) spoke in tongues, but there were no foriegners to hear in a foriegn "known language" therefore; they may simply have been glorifying God in a Spirit-language. (What purpose would a foriegn dialect serve; as they all already spoke the same language?
A note: The Greek word "dialectos" is used only in the original Pentecost of Acts 2; the other occurances of tongues-speaking (Acts 19, Acts 10) was not in earthly dialects and "dialectos" is not found in the text.
1 Corinthians 13 teaches that tongues have already ceased
This means that "knowledge" (from the same verse) has also ceased; therefore, when Conservatives ask God for "wisdom" concerning an issue, or for "guidance" in writing a sermon or buying a house, or something--it must be a demon spirit who is giving them the revelational knowledge because, according to them: "Prophetic speech and knowledge has already ceased.
It might be safer not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and rather, to simply say that both Conservatives and Pentecostals can hear from God by revelational (prophetic) knowledge, and that they may pray by the same (prophetic)source.
There is no reason for 'multiple fillings' of the Holy Spirit
To people who are in love with the things of this world (the NFL, NBA, new houses, and SUV's etc); extra infillings of the Holy Spirit are a waste of time. The Apostle Peter was filled with the Spirit when Jesus breathed on him; he was filled again on the Acts 2 Pentecost; after that, he was at a powerful prayer meeting where the whole house was shaken. John was "in the Spirit" (as opposed to just a normal day when he would not be considered as being "in the Spirit") when he wrote the book of Revelation. Stephen was "filled" when he saw Jesus at the right hand of God. Even though the Ephesians were already saved; Paul still tells them to be "filled" with the Spirit. At the moment that someone prophecies; he is filled with an extra anointing of the Holy Spirit for that occasion (unless he can prophecy anywhere and anytime he wants to; in that case there would be no need for an extra filling for him--just being saved would be enough for people to speak as some kind of super-prophets). Since we are not super-prophets 24 hours a day; there will be special times when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we aare filled anew.
There is no such thing as the "Holy Spirit baptism"
"ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" Luke. 24: 48-49 KJV
This"power" is the result of being soaked (Gk word, "baptizo") with the Holy Spirit; it is different from just having the ability to say "no" to sin as all born-again believers can. It is a spiritual power seen as manifestations of the Spirt which are demonstrated by the working of spiritual gifts; it is a prophetic unction, as seen in the verses below:
Acts 2: 16-17 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" KJV
Taken together; Acts 1:5, Acts 1: 8 (below) and Joel's prophecy point to a filling of the Holy Spirit that is more than just a salvation experience; They speak of a "drenching, soaking" of the Spirit known as "baptizo".
Prophecy can either be foretelling, or forthtelling
Conservatives make the above claim because they know that Peter's quoting of Joel's "last-days" prophecy means that prophecy is for the church today--because we are still in the last days, but they do not want to admit that miraculous prophecy is for the church today; therefore they have come up with the above saying to show that whenever they preach the gospel they are "prophesying" even though they teach that prophecies are not for the church today.
This assertion is down-right silly. "prophecy" is always a supernatural manifestation of God's power"Prophesying" is speaking the miraculous God-inspired prophecy.
A disclaimer: Someone said I have a bad attitude in my writing (it's probably true), but in my defense, there are people called "cessationists" who are leading children away from the Holy Spirit--This must be stopped.Cessationists are teaching children that tongues-speaking is from a demon spirit. Cessationists are wrong. The truth is that Tongues-speaking is from God's Holy Spirit. Cessationists give too much credit to the devil; cessationists think they can see a demon behind every bush. on July 29 2006, all of the words and ideas in this site are "common knowledge" and has been put in the "public domain." Therefore, all of the words, phrases, and ideas contained within this site may be copied, altered, improved, etc. without citations to this author
All scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The author has highlighted, emboldened, and italicised scripture quotations. Copyright 2006 - 2007. Peter Kwiatkowski. All rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. http://www.pentecostal-tongues-theology.org Peter Kent Kwiatkowski --> peterkwiatkowski@yahoo.com