TONGUES CEASED pt 1

Cessationists believe that tongues ended when the bible was completed.

The verses they usually refer to are 1 Cor 13: 1-13:

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11When 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.

12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

There are a number of unscriptural assumptions cessationists contrive from the verses above:

First, they that Paul, in chapter 13 is telling the Corinthians that love is more important than prophetic speech (tongues included). That is true, but then their assumptions begin.

Cessationists assume that since Paul is teaching that love is more important than prophetic speech, he must also be telling the Corinthians to end prophetic speaking, and to instead, focus on living in a state of blissful love. 

The cessationist idea of either/or (either love or prophetic speech) is wrong. They may have both; love and also prophetic speech. 

Paul wanted the Corinthians to use prophetic speech, but in an attitude of love. Paul's next verse (after verse 13) substantiates this:

"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy."

1 Cor 14: 1

The strong wording in the Greek, has Paul telling the Corinthians to actually 'covet,' or 'jealously seek' to obtain the spiritual gifts.

Notice, in the verses below, how Paul ends his three chapter pericope  (chapters 12-14) concerning spiritual gifts:

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40Let all things be done decently and in order."

Cessationists want us to believe (in the above verse) that we are to 'forbid to speak with tongues.'

Paul most certainly did not tell the Corinthians to forget about the spiritual gifts in order to focus on love.

Spiritual gifts and love will be here until the heavenly age begins- until we have perfect revelational knowledge from the mouth of Christ himself; in that age there will be no need for partial bits of knowledge by prophetic speech, for we will be in the presence of Christ and will be able to know fully.

Paul, himself, taught the Ephesians that using the spiritual gifts is the way to build up the church-in love.

7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Paul's words to the Ephesians (above) that the church church is a body made up of different parts (different spiritual gifts) that are used to benefit one another, are similar to what he wrote to the Corinthians:

4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13For 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.

14For the body is not one member, but many.

15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

GOD'S TEMPLE:

The first four portions of scripture (below) show WHAT we are (God's temple, His body); the next four portions of scripture show HOW we are to be His temple-Through the use of spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are here to build up (edify) Christ's church--his body.

" Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."  1 Peter 2: 5

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  2 Cor. 6: 16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  1 Cor 3: 16

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  Eph 2: 19-22

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"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."  1 Cor 14: 26

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  1 Cor 12: 7

[The manifestation of the Spirit is given to benefit the entire church.]

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  Eph. 4: 11-13

Notice in the Ephesian verses above, that the prophetic office (and others) are given to the church until we have  each reached a state of giftedness that we will be like Christ (That is a goal to be sought for but not fully attained to until the heavenly age). If cessat are correct in saying that the prophetic gifts died out-Then we must each be "a perfect man, unto the measure of the fullness of Christ."  This simply seems hard to believe.

There are some who say there are no apostles today; after making that claim they go on to say that the verses above concerned only the apostle's times. In reality, the Greek word for 'apostle' is 'apostolic;' it is just a verbal-noun that means 'a sent one.' Jesus, himself is called an apostle "tov apostolov" in Hebrews 3: 1

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;  Heb. 3: 1

The office of 'Apostle' was not just for the 12 apostles Paul, Barnabus, and others are called apostles in the New Testament. If one wants to know why the ever-important office of 'missionary' is not listed as a  spiritual office, it is because it actually is mentioned as 'apostles.' Missionaries are 'apostles,' 'sent ones.'

In the 3rd chapter of Ephesians, Paul expresses that there are to be church-age apostles and prophets:

4"Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit"  Eph. 3: 4-5