Though I speak with
the tongues of
men and of angels,
but have not love,
I have become
sounding brass
or a
clanging cymbal.
1Corinthians 13:1
The use of words in translating where there are more than one choice of words can be a hard task to choose the right one so that the meaning of the original author is clear and forthright, understandable, and is in harmony with what the author intended. The task of a preacher is to make clear from the original language what the word should be chosen, such as the word "pros" found at John 1:1 where one scholar chose the word "toward" and he was correct in one sense, the word does mean, in one use, "toward." But he was incorrect and he did not use good Greek in his translation for in Greek many words have more than one meaning when one of the cases is used; i.e., nominative, genitive, dative, or accusative. If John 1:1 where the word "pros" is found and translated as "toward" then the translation would read, "and the Word was toward God." Yet, the word for God is in the accusative, therefore when the noun is in the accusative then the word takes on a different meaning for when the noun is in the accusative the word "pros" means "with," so the translation should read; "and the Word was with God." As always the present context, the use of the word throughout Scripture, the theme and reason for the letter, must be taken into consideration, and no single verse is to be used as a proof text. The Greek word; "glossalia" is one such word and when the translation, which is not entirely wrong, uses "tongue" instead of "language" then we must use the correct rules for translation. But, when we hear or read the word "tongues" a mental picture comes immediately to mind and that picture may lead a person to an incorrect understanding as to what is actually being said by the author. For one person the word "tongue" causes in the mind of an actual, physical tongue; for others it means a language of people that is unique to them, for others, and this has happened into some Churches, an unknown, an unintelligible noise, or language. If you where to replace the word "tongue(s)" and replace it with the word "language" I surmise that you would have a different picture, and understanding of the Greek word and its uses: try it! The words of Paul at Chapter 13 verse one is a good example where our personal understand of a word could be misconstrued, the verse is quoted above and it is the first word that causes a possibility to confuse. The Greek word "ean" always takes the subjuntive, and "ean" is a word of possibility and so is the subjuntive and to render the word "though" as does the King James Version, and the New King James Version does, is not not entirely wrong, the NIV renders the word "if" and it is a better word and gives causes a better mental picture of what the author is saying, but in either case, either word is not wrong, only our estimation of the word may change by which word we understand. Now if the author had used "ei" which when translated is "if" he would have meant other than what the word "ean" and the subjuntive that follows the word does indicate. So Paul was saying: "if if do, or if I don't, speak, but if I do, no matter from where it comes, I would be sounding as brass or clanging cymbal," that is he would not be speaking in intelligible words, that is what he would have become. What he was emphasizing was to have love and diminishing the use of the "sign" gifts. Read chapter 13 and this will be made clear.
Examining the use of the Gift of the Spirit, the ability to speak in an unlearned language is apparent, for the Greek word "glossalia" and "dialectos" has only one meaning, languages. This gift given by the Holy Spirit was to enable the Apostles to preach the foreigner, those whose language was not either Greek or Hebrew, to hear the Gospel, and it worked for more than three thousand became believers. Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church, a Church that would have many people from around the world, who did not speak Greek, or Hebrew, and needed to hear the Gospel, would be able to hear the word of God preached in their own language, for when did the "glossalia" of Acts become some sort of "angelic" gibberish, that only the speaker could understand as to what he was saying, even though for others who heard such gibberish needed to have an interpretation. The use of "glossalia" was the same in both instances, for the unbeliever to hear the Gospel. Paul writes: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, (you will notice that the word "gifts" is italicized, because a better translation leading to a better understanding is that the Greek word means "spiritual things, therefore the admonition is that a person is to be spiritual), but especially that you may prophesy, for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him, however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries" (1Corinthians 14:1-2). Don't get lost in the rhetoric so prominent in many churches regarding the gifts, especially the gift of tongues, as Paul was addressing the misuse and misunderstanding of those gifts. Does God need us to speak to Him in some unknown and gibberish language? Does not have the ability, as the One who give the gift of language, understand all languages? Are not the Gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the Church and for the propagation of the Gospel? To speak in some unintelligible sound is not being promoted by Paul, or admonished as that which a believer should seek, for only God could make any sense, if there is any, out of such gibberish. Why speak mysteries, the unknown, they had the Gospel preached to them by Paul and by the leaders of the Church, so why speak in such a manner? Paul readily commits a person to understand this gift of languages, and attempts to straighten the Corinthian Church and bring them into a right understanding, and this is my attempt also, for he said: "But now brethren, If ("ean") I come to your speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? for if ("ean") the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? so likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? for you will will be speaking into the air. There ae,it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. therefore, if ("ean") I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts (gifts is in italics, and a better translation is "things") let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if ("ean") you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uniformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord. therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and thee come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" (1Corinthians 14:6-23). I took the time to record the words of Paul's letter to the Corinthians because it is by the Word of God that we are built up in Him; read the rest of Chapter 14 and see for yourselves how misused this gift has been and is being done in some Churches today. If your Church is involved in such false teaching and will not change to correct teaching, then leave that Church, you have that responsibility to do so, for yourselves, your wives, and your children, and get into a Church that teaches the Bible and not some ideology that is not Scriptural. Paul adds: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if ("ei") you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain" (1Corinthians 15:1-2).
Look to Me, and be saved,
all you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no
other.
Isaiah 45:22
God Is Calling Us To The Truth
Richard L. Crumb
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