Woollen and Linen| Speaking in Tongues Debate - 12 - He Edifies Himself |
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Chapter 12 HE... EDIFIES HIMSELF Main Idea What was the main idea that Paul was trying to get across in these three important chapters? Others. The common good. Throughout these verses, the obvious concern is for the good of others, for the edification of others. The theme is: others, others, others expressed in different words. 12:7 "...to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." "Look at the prophets," says Paul. "They are the example that we should follow. Obviously their gift builds them up too, but at least they edify others in the process. They prophesy for others, not just for themselves. When the eye sees, it sees for the whole body, not just for itself. It doesn't hoard the light it receives but allows the entire body to benefit from it. A foot does not walk all by itself. It carries the rest of the body." So, when the gift of tongues had its full reason for being, practicing it outside the presence of those to whom it was destined (unbelieving Jews) was forbidden by Paul who mastered this gift more than anyone else. He would have flogged those who misused it or who used it for personal ends. The pastor edifies himself but he also edifies others. The teacher, too, edifies himself also when he expounds Bible doctrine, but he edifies others at the same time. The evangelist gains personal edification from his gift, but it is the unsaved who really benefit from it. As a matter of fact, Paul placed prophesying in opposition to speaking in tongues in the same verse (I Cor 14:4). One edified the church while the other, on the contrary, only edified himself. And not only that, but he was taken for a barbarian by those listening (I Cor 14:11). In others words, the one who prophesied reached his goal-to edify others-while the one who spoke in tongues missed the goal completely. Using "...he edifies himself..." in this way is an abuse which Paul reprimanded. Paul meant: He edifies himself, but only himself! This reproach coming from the master of the gift of tongues must have shaken these Corinthian chatterboxes whom he classified as children in a previous chapter (I Cor 3:1; 14:20). I felt so alone in my discovery. What a joyful surprise to read from the pen of John Stott in his book From Baptism to Fulness of the Spirit that he taught along the same line as what I have written in this chapter. After having said that self-edification is by no means conformable to the New Testament teaching on edification, Stott continues ".... aren't we forced to confess that there was an abusive use of a spiritual gift? What should we think of a professor who would only give himself private lessons? Or what should we think of a man, possessing a gift of healing, who would only heal himself? It is difficult to justify the personal use of a gift expressly given for the good of others."
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One person has commented on this article. 1. Titles were forbidden by Christ Michael, Unregistered Why are people still talking in Elizabethan English - what is a "ye" apart from a spirit of religion? Please use an accurate version of the Bible like the RSV or Ampified, not an anachronistic one based on documents no older than the 8th century - no wonder you've got it all wrong! Posted 2011-10-05 18:55:54 |
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