Fit your gifts into one or more of the following three categories:

1. Gifts dealing with outreach and evangelism, resulting in the numerical growth of the
church.

   Evangelism Tongues
   Miracles Interpretation of tongues
   Healing Voluntary poverty
    Mercy Deliverance (exorcism)

2. Gifts dealing with the spiritual maturity of the church. These are gifts fostering spiritual
growth, providing discipleship training, and membership support.    

Exhortation or
  Prophecy
encouragement
  Teaching Discernment of spirits
  Pastor Faith
  Knowledge Intercessory prayer
  Wisdom Hospitality

3. Gifts dealing with the administrative functions of the church, such as financial
management, maintenance of physical facilities, and membership support.

  Leadership Administration
  Helps Service
  Giving
 Fit your gifts into one or more of the following three categories:

1. Gifts dealing with outreach and evangelism, resulting in the numerical growth of the
church.

   Wangeelaawwummaa Afaan haaraa

   Dinqii gochuu Afaan haaraa hiikuu
   Fayyisuu Fedhaan hiyyoomuu
    Araara Gochuu Hafuurota hamaa baasuu

2. Gifts dealing with the spiritual maturity of the church. These are gifts fostering spiritual
growth, providing discipleship training, and membership support.    

  Raajii dubbachuu Gorsuu/jajjabeessuu

  Barsiisuu Hafuurota adda baasuu
  Pastor Amantii
  Beekumsa/hubannaa Namootaaf kadhachuu
  Ogummaa Keessummeessuu

3. Gifts dealing with the administrative functions of the church, such as financial
management, maintenance of physical facilities, and membership support.

  Leadership Administration
  Helps Service
  Giving

Speaking in Tongues
Q. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES?

A. Please allow me to share with you the following cautions found in the word of God:

(1) 1 Corinthians 12:1   Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you
ignorant.
(2) 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit;  To 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:  But all these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as he will.

(These verses tell us that man does not determine which gifts you will get but that it is by the
Spirit they are given.   Severally as He wills.)

(3) 1 Corinthians 12:17-18 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole
were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30   And 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.  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles?  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

(4) 1 Corinthians 12:31   But covet earnestly the best gifts:

1 Corinthians 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for
greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that
the church may receive edifying.

(Here we find that prophesying is greater than speaking in tongues unless what is said is
understood or interpreted.  Why must it be understood?)

(5) 1 Corinthians 14:8-9  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself
to the battle?  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how
shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1 Corinthians 14:19   Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding,
that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue

(It is important to know that the word tongue is defined in both Greek and English as
“Language” and that the word language is defined as “discourse” which is defined as:  preach,
sermon, proclaim.  The gift of tongues was given for the purpose of spreading the Gospel
which needed to be understood.)

(6) Acts 2:3-11  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them.   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the
multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in
his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold,
are not all these which speak Galilaeans?   And how hear we every man in our own tongue,
wherein we were born?  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in
the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and
Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

False teachers will sometimes skip the following text as a last resort, but please note the last
three words of the text.

(7) Romans 8:26   Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered.

In closing, I would simply like to say:

1 Corinthians 4:33   For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of
the saints.
Luke 11:9   And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and
it shall be opened unto you.
2 Timothy 2:15   Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 8:32   And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

WHAT ABOUT THE UNKNOWN TONGUES AT CORNELIUS’ HOUSE?

The question is asked, “Didn’t Cornelius’ household speak in unknown tongues?”  Once again,
the answer is a very emphatic, “No.”  Reason number one is there is no such thing as
“unknown” tongues.  Reason number two is the Bible plainly tells us what actually happened
there.  Acts 10:43-47 states, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words,
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which
believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify
God.  Then answered Peter, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”

The Message Bible clarifies the term, “as well as we,” by translating it as, “They’ve received the
Holy Spirit exactly as we did.”  Peter proclaimed Cornelius’ household received the Holy Spirit
the same way the disciples received Him.  We’ve established that the disciples did not speak in,
“out-of-this-world languages” on the day of Pentecost and all who spoke at Cornelius’
household received the “identical gift” the disciples did.  Cornelius and his household received
the same gift and they received it the same way.  This shows they could not have spoken in an
“out-of-this world (babbling) language.”

Peter and the others heard those Gentiles speak with the “gift” of tongues and they
understood what they said.  They didn’t need an interpreter to translate for them because they
were all speaking in Peter’s and the accompanying brothers’ native language.  The native
language of that band of Italians would have been completely different from Peters.  There is
no reason to believe the Italians could have previously spoken Peter’s language.  What the
disciples heard was Cornelius and his household declaring “the wonderful works of God” in the
disciples’ own language.

In America, people can go from sea to shining sea and still speak one prominent language. 
However, in Peter’s setting, they couldn’t expect to hear the same language from town to
town, even if the towns were only a few miles apart.  There’s also the possibility that Peter did
not previously speak Cornelius’ language.  God may have given him the “gift” of tongues to
preach the gospel to Cornelius’ household.  Peter may have preached to them in their language
by the “gift” of tongues and when the Holy Spirit fell on them, Cornelius’ household began to
declare the wonderful works of God in Peter’s language by using the “gift” of tongues.   There
was no need for interpreters because they clearly understood what each other was saying.

What About The Tongues at Ephesus?

Acts 19:5-7 (King James Version) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and
they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious persons, who looked to Jesus as the Messiah.  They had
not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that
the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit.  But they spake as ready to welcome
the notice of it.  Paul shows them that John never desired that those he baptized should rest
there, but told them that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on
Christ Jesus.  They thankfully accepted the discovery, and were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.  The Holy Ghost came upon them and they spake with tongues, and prophesied,
just like the apostles and the first Gentile converts did.
The disciples at Ephesus received the Holy Spirit exactly as the Apostles did on the day of
Pentecost.  On the day of Pentecost, they first spoke in tongues–then they took their tongues
into the streets of Jerusalem and used them to “prophesy” preach the gospel to the Jews.  The
disciples at Ephesus did the exact same thing; they spoke in tongues and then used their
tongues and prophesied.  This word means to preach, to proclaim and to share God’s message
of the gospel.
This is how it happened on Pentecost.  This is what took place at Cornelius’ house and this is
exactly what happened at Ephesus.  The only way the “gift of tongues” is used in the Bible is to
preach–prophesy the gospel.  There is no other example of tongues being used in any other
manner in the Bible.

HOW DID THIS ERROR BECOME SO POPULAR?

Here are some possibilities.

There are strengths in all of us that can drive us to seek truth, but there are also resident
weaknesses that may allow us to be deceived.  Then, there is Satan, always waiting in the
shadows to try to mix his error with God’s truth.  Here are some possible reasons why so many
good people are seduced by this “tongues” phenomenon.

Some may need spiritual recognition and spiritual roots.  Innate within us is a need to be
included with the “herd.”  Even a false arena of worship will bring some people to a secure
place where they can belong and feel they “have it all together.”  There is shared among them
the common ground of speaking in an “out-of-this-world” (incoherent sounding) language. 
However, it is an unscriptural non-language.

They have a desire for spiritual understanding.  Most people have an empty God-space inside. 
These Christians really want to know Him and to be spiritually minded.  They’re told the best
way to satisfy their emptiness is by receiving the gift of tongues.  Deception causes them to
think this is the ultimate, self-actualization time of their life.

Many of these people are responding to an inability to acclimate to their environment.  They
are sometimes lonely and limited in their personal and social activities.  They’re fearful of a
dangerous society they encounter on a daily basis.  By obtaining this unchallenged, charisma
tongue, they can disconnect from society and reconnect with what they think is the
supernatural.

Many are looking for instant spiritual gratification.  Since this group considers “tongues” a sign
of spiritual maturity, those who seek external affirmation may seek this environment to appear
spiritually functional.  They feel an advantage by not having to study for themselves.  They
think “tongues” has to be scriptural because so many Christians embrace it.

They have a craving for spiritual expression.  Many are seeking ways to express themselves
spiritually because they don’t feel they’re a part of their local church.  Speaking in false
“unknown tongues” makes it easier for them to fit in because it doesn’t require a deep
relationship with God or much knowledge of Scripture.  They’re not accountable or answerable
to anyone because what they’re saying can’t be understood or judged.  It doesn’t have to be
correct, scriptural or even from God because no one in his or her crowd will know the
difference.

They have a desire for revelation.  Through the years, it has been said by some that no one is
able to understand the Bible unless they’re “baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.” 
Their statement to confirm someone is Spirit-filled is, “tongues are the initial, physical,
supernatural evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  This is a sign to many that God has
devised a “shortcut” to the revelation of His Word.  What they end up with is a lot of
emotionalism and a false sense of having a personal “unknown tongue” hot line of prayer
straight to the throne of God.

WHAT ABOUT 1 CORINTHIANS 14:27

1 Corinthians 14:27 KJV If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most
by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

Nowhere in God’s Word does the gift of tongues have or need an interpreter or interpretation.
Therefore, if the real gift of tongues doesn’t need an interpreter or an interpretation, what was
the apostle telling the Corinthian church to interpret? It could not have been the gift of tongues
and it would not have been false tongues because Paul would have never told them to do that.
The only tongue left is the natural tongue.

Paul was saying, if you stand up in the congregation and speak in Greek and majority of the
people speak Aramaic, there had better be someone there who can speak Greek and translate
it for those who speak Aramaic.

The key to solving this error is the profound truth that “The real gift of tongues never needs an
interpreter or an interpretation because the speaker is always speaking in the hearer’s
language.”

I speak English. If someone spoke to me in English, why would I need someone to interrupt
what they said to me?

On the day of Pentecost, the Word of God does not say the disciples spoke in an unknown
tongues, it plainly states that they spokes in the dialect of the Jews present. It says the Jews
heard them declare the wondrous works of God. NO INTERPRETER.

At Cornelius’ house, the Bible does not say that Cornelius spoke in an unknown tongue. It says
that Peter and his brethren heard them proclaim the mighty works of God. NO INTERPRETER

On the road to Ephesus, Paul heard the twelve disciples speak in tongues he understood and
prophesy “preach – good news” of God in a language he understood. NO INTERPRETER

The 14th chapter of One Corinthians is not talking about the gifts of tongues; it is talking about
their natural cultural languages and not conducting their services decently and in order.

In the 12th, 13th and 14th chapters on one Corinthians Paul is obviously trying to correct
blatant error in the Corinthian church. Nonetheless, the modern day Pentecostal and
Charismatic movement has embraced these three chapters as a pattern for worship instead of
a blueprint to correct worship.

Thank You,
Pastor Hal Steenson

Spiritual Gifts from Pentecost to the present

  Joel 2:28-32; 1 Cor. 1:6, 7; 1 Thess. 5:19-21; Matt. 24:24

  "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28, NIV).

From its inception, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has accepted the view that spiritual gifts are
functional in any age. Since 1980, we have included in Fundamental Belief, No. 16, all the spiritual
gifts as applicable to the life of the church today.

ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS STILL FUNCTIONAL?

Many churches believe in the authenticity of gifts such as helps, intercessory prayer, etc., but not in
the so-called "sign" or "power" gifts such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues. This view
is called cessationism. On the other hand, churches and groups that form part of the contemporary
charismatic movement take the position that sign gifts are not only valid, but particularly
important in today's world. Seventh-day Adventists have always believed that all spiritual gifts are
functional in any age, that the gift of prophecy is particularly relevant to the remnant church, and
that other sign or power gifts will be notably manifested during the latter rain. But Adventists
question the application of some "gifts" in contemporary denominations, especially speaking in
tongues and faith healing.

This week we trace the history of spiritual gifts from the early church to our day and outline why
Seventh-day Adventists believe spiritual gifts are still functional.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS THEN AND NOW (Joel 2:28-32).

There is a school of thought called cessationism that holds that the gifts of the Spirit, particularly
the gifts of tongues, healing, and prophecy, were special endowments given to people only during
New Testament times. The claim is that once the canon of Scripture closed, spiritual gifts were no
longer needed. Adventists have never accepted that view. Our understanding is based on the
chronology indicated by the phrase "And afterward" in Joel 2:28 (NIV) and the phrase "when
perfection comes, the imperfect disappears" in 1 Corinthians 13:10 (NIV).

Analyze the way Peter applied Joel 2:28-32 on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:14-21. To whom
did he apply the prophecy? Acts 2:39.

The Hebrew for "afterward" in Joel 2:28 is a common expression referring to some time in the
future. The Greek of Acts 2:17 uses the word eschatos in the phrase "in the last days." Eschatos
means "last in time or space." The English word eschatology (study of last things) is derived from
this word. The early Christians saw their day as "the last days," because Jesus had told them to
proclaim the gospel worldwide and then He would return (Acts 1:6-8). So Peter applied the
prophecy to his day. But Peter's era was not the final "last days."

What did Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 13:10 by his words "when perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears"? See I Cor. 15:50-55.

Notice Paul's series of contrasts in 1 Corinthians 13:

  Then
 Now

Prophecies Will cease

Tongues Will be stilled

Knowledge Will pass away

We know in part Shall know fully

When is "then"? The word perfect (1 Cor. 13: 10) is the Greek word teleios, which means "complete
when it gets to the end." On this earth, we never attain total "completeness." When Jesus comes,
the saved are re-created. Since all spiritual gifts are still valid, why don't we hear more about them
in our church?

THE PERMANENCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1 Cor. 1:6,7).

Spiritual gifts are an integral part of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, the span of time
between Pentecost and the second coming. Focusing particularly on the gift of prophecy,
A.G. Daniells wrote: "When sin had broken direct communion between heaven and earth,
God gave the prophetic gift to men, vouchsafing it to His church, and that gift has never
been permanently withdrawn since its bestowal." - A.G. Daniells, The Abiding Gift of
Prophecy (Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1936), p.11. That excellent summary
applies equally to all gifts of the Spirit.

How does 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7 confirm the position that spiritual gifts are valid and
active in the church today? What other evidence is there that spiritual gifts, including
the "sign" gifts, are still active today? Eph. 4:7-13; Rev. 12:17.

Study the following spiritual gifts, marking ones you think you might have.

1 Cor. 12 Eph.4
Romans 12 Alluded to
(Not mentioned elsewhere)

Prophecy Wisdom Apostle Celibacy (1 Cor. 7:7)

Teaching Knowledge Evangelist Voluntary poverty (1 Cor. 13:3)

Service Faith Pastor Martyrdom (1 Cor. 13:3)

Giving Healing Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9)

Leadership Miracles Exorcism (Acts 8:5-8)

Mercy Discerning of spirits Intercessory Prayer (Acts 12:12)

Exhortation/
Tongues Missionary (Rom. 11:13)
encouragement

Interpretation of
tongues

Helps

Administration

Pinpoint times in your life and work in the church when spiritual gifts enhanced
whatever you were doing.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN CHURCH HISTORY (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Historical records show that throughout its history the Christian church recognized spiritual
gifts as a continuing, legitimate operation of the Holy Spirit. Today's lesson will trace some
instances of the appearance of spiritual gifts. See Friday's lesson for more details.

As power passed into the hands of a church hierarchy, eventually resulting in the formation
of the papal system, the official church tended to identify spiritual gifts with schismatic
movements.

The Early Christian Centuries. At least two early church-related documents, The Didache
and The Shepherd of Hermes, mention ongoing spiritual gifts. Both documents use almost
the same words as does Paul in listing the various gifts. Justin Martyr, who lived some 60
years after the death of John, the last of the apostles, says: "The prophetical gifts . . . remain
with us, even to the present time." - Quoted in Ronald Kydd, Charismatic Gifts in the Early
Church (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984), p. 27.

Third and Fourth Centuries. A group called the Montanists claimed to have the sign gifts in
their midst. Other writers of the time, even those opposed to Montanism, do not seem to
regard the appearance of these spiritual gifts as either inconsistent or impious.

The Middle Ages. The appearance during this time of protesting groups such as the
Waldenses and Huguenots brought a renewed manifestation of spiritual gifts. According to
A.G. Daniells, a contemporary observer said of a group in southeastern France: "They were
all people without malice, in whom I perceived nothing that I could suspect of being their
invention."- Quoted in A.G. Daniells, The Abiding Gift of Prophecy, p. 227.

Adventists are familiar with the gift of prophecy in our church, and Ellen White affirms the
continuance of other spiritual gifts: "But the gifts of the Spirit are promised to every believer
according to his need for the Lord's work. The promise is just as strong and trustworthy now
as in the days of the apostles. 'These signs shall follow them that believe.' This is the
privilege of God's children, and faith should lay hold on all that it is possible to have as an
endorsement of faith." The Desire of Ages, p. 823. Italics supplied.

Suppose we agree that the Bible teaches that all believers have spiritual gifts for
ministry. How can you explain why churches through the centuries did not include this
truth in their central teaching? (See Ellen While, The Great Controversy, chapter 3.)

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND THE LATTER RAIN (Zech. 10:1).

During the latter rain, spectacular gifts of the Spirit will again be manifested. "The great
work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked
its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the
opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close." - The Great
Controversy, p. 611.

Joel describes the latter rain in Joel 2:23, 27-32. Peter applied this prophecy to
Pentecost, the former rain. How do we know it also applies to the latter rain? Zech.
10:1; Hosea 6:3; Rev. 18:1.

"Near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to
prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened
to the failing of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their
petitions to the Lord of the harvest 'in the time of the latter rain.' In response, 'the Lord shall
make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain.' 'He will cause to come down.-.. the rain,
the former rain, and the latter rain.' Zechariah 10:1; Joel 2:23." - The  Acts  of  the  Apostles, p.
55.

What kind of power and manifestations of spiritual gifts can we expect during the latter
rain? Mark 16:15-20.

Ellen White cites this passage and describes what will happen during the latter rain.
"Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten
from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over
the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and
signs and wonders will follow the believers." - The  Great  Controversy, p. 612.

"I saw the latter rain was coming as the midnight cry [The Millerite Movement], and with ten
times the power." Ellen G. White, Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 4.
The latter rain is the last gospel invitation before the close of probation. It is the ultimate,
premillennial call to accept the Lord's complete system of truth. The Lord will again
empower large numbers of disciples with the sign gifts as evidence of His power.

Praying for the latter rain to fall is serious business. What commitments are involved in
praying for the latter rain?

IDENTIFYING COUNTERFEIT GIFTS (1 Thess. 5:19-21).

Whenever something true appears, Satan supplies a counterfeit. Spiritual gifts are no exception.
For instance, divine healing is all too easy to falsify. Speaking in tongues is a perennial problem for
many churches. Outbreaks of self-proclaimed prophets and apostles cause incredible difficulties in
many church communions.

What did Paul say about authenticating spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy? 1
Thess. 5:19-21. What did Jesus say about counterfeit signs and wonders? Matt. 24:24.

There have been periodic outbreaks of Pentecostal-type movements in Adventist history. An

interesting one was the case of a Mr. and Mrs. Mackin. Visiting Ellen White in 1908, Mr. & Mrs.
Mackin related how they sang in the Spirit, spoke in tongues (in their case unlearned foreign
languages), and cast out demons. Mrs. Mackin also felt she had the gift of prophecy. Ellen White's
response came through a vision. The Mackins were cautioned that their type of experience usually
brought the cause of God into disrepute. "The Holy Spirit works," Ellen White told them, "in a
manner that commends itself to the good judgement of the people." - Selected Messages, book 3,
p. 371.

What is the relationship of spiritual gifts to the authority of the Bible? Isa. 8:20; 1 Cor. 14:32,
37 (compare 1 Cor. 15:1, 2; 2 Tim. 1:11-14).

Spiritual gifts are always governed by the revealed Word of God and must be exercised only within
the boundaries set by the Bible. One problem with the contemporary charismatic movement is
that people's subjective experiences often replace the Bible as final authority in their lives. J.N.
Andrews put it well: "The Bible expressly teaches that the existence of these gifts is as necessary
to the church of Christ, as the different members are necessary to the well-being of the body.
While, therefore, the Bible recognizes the gifts of the Spirit, these are not given to supersede the
Bible, nor yet to fill the same place as the Bible."- Review and Herald, Feb. 15, 1870.

Have you ever been involved in a religious experience that seemed true at first but turned out
to be counterfeit? How did you come to the conclusion that it was counterfeit?

FURTHER STUDY:
 For more information on deceptive teachings and counterfeits, see Selected Messages, book
2, sections I and II. For specific information on Pentecostal-type movements within
Adventism, see Selected Messages, book 2, pp. 31-39, and George R. Knight, From 1888 to
Apostasy (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald, 1987), pp. 167-171. For information on the
continuing validity of spiritual gifts, see A.G. Daniells, The Abiding Gift of Prophecy (Boise,
Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn.), 1936. Daniells traces prophecy and other spiritual gifts
through the Bible and history into the twentieth century.

The fact that some individuals abused spiritual gifts does not mean that the gifts
themselves or faithful believers practicing them were at fault. Referring to the rise of the
Advent movement in later centuries, Ellen White records: "In every generation God has sent
His servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church.... Many reformers, in
entering upon their work, determined to exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of the
church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure Christian life, to lead the
people back to the doctrines of the Bible. But the Spirit of God came upon them as it came
upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a wicked king and an apostate people; they
could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances of the Bible-doctrines which they had
been reluctant to present.... The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of
consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning." -
The Great Controversy, p. 606.

The latter rain. For more information, see The Great Controversy, pp. 611, 612.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Compile a list of evidences that spiritual gifts are still valid today. How does this
support the Adventist emphasis on the gift of prophecy?
2. How do you account for the fact that it was not until 1980 that all spiritual gifts
were included in one of our fundamental belief statements?
3. How does the inclusion of all spiritual gifts in our church's belief system affect
our concept of ministry and the priest- hood of all believers?

SUMMARY:   This lesson traces the functioning of spiritual gifts throughout the centuries.
There is strong biblical and historical evidence that the gifts mentioned in the Bible are still
valid today. Spiritual gifts can be counterfeited. We must take care to follow the Bible's
guidance to ensure that the gifts are exercised correctly.

Speaking in tongues in 1 Corinth. 14

Is the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 unintelligible utterances or foreign languages?
There are three main interpretations of the manifestation of the gift of tongues in the church
at Corinth.
The first one argues that the gift was the ability to speak the language of angels. This is based
on Paul's reference to the "tongues of . . . angels" (1 Cor. 13:1).* The second interprets that the
gift of tongues was the capacity to speak other languages through the power of the Spirit (Acts
2). The third interpretation states that the gift designates ecstatic or unintelligible utterances
under the influence of the Spirit, in that Paul says the messages were unintelligible (1 Cor.
14:2).
To decide which is the right interpretation, we must begin with 1 Corinthians 14. Can we gain
from it a clear understanding of the nature of the gift in that particular church? Paul does not
provide a detailed description of the manifestation of the gift in that chapter. Therefore, we
must allow for different possibilities. We can then ask, based on the Scriptures, which is the
most probable interpretation.
1. Larger Context: The larger context is the biblical passages in which we find references to the
gift of tongues. The best known is Acts 2. There is general agreement that the gift of tongues
refers to foreign languages: they "began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them"
(verse 4). Those listening understood in their own tongue (verse 6). This seems to be the nature
of the gift in the rest of the book of Acts.
      In Mark 16:17 the evangelical commission includes the phrase "they will speak in new
tongues," which could hardly refer to anything but foreign languages. Apart from 1 Corinthians
14, the gift of tongues designates the capacity granted by the Spirit to speak other languages.
      Here we should recall the principle of biblical interpretation, according to which a difficult
passage (1 Cor. 14) should be interpreted on the basis of passages in which the same topic is
discussed and is clear in content and purpose (Acts 2; Mark 16:17). But we must look at the text
to determine whether or not the identical phenomenon is being discussed.
      2. Immediate Context: What do we learn about the gift of tongues from 1 Corinthians 14
itself? The first and most striking thing is that the gift seems to be unintelligible: "No one
understands him" (verse 2). This is radically different from the manifestation of the gift in Acts
2 and has led some to conclude that the gift had more than one expression. Others try to
harmonize both cases, arguing that in Corinth the gift was unintelligible because the languages
spoken were unknown to the hearers and that translation was needed, as Paul himself
suggested (verse 13).
      Second, Paul states that the gift does not result in the loss of self-control. In church, only
two or three should speak in tongues; and if there is no interpreter, those who are being used
by the Spirit to speak in tongues should keep quiet (verses 27, 28). The capacity to control the
expression of the gift seems to indicate that we are not dealing here with ecstatic utterances
during which the individual loses self-control.
      Third, over against prevailing ideas in the religious world today, Paul does not expect or
encourage every church member to receive this gift. In fact, he seems to discourage it, at least
in church. For Paul the gift of prophecy in the church is more meaningful and important than
the gift of tongues. He does not consider it to be an indispensable sign of conversion or of the
reception of the Spirit.
      My comments simply illustrate the difficulty of coming to a definite answer to your
question. The biblical support for the interpretation of the gift of tongues as languages is very
strong. In fact, the Greek word glossa, when used to designate a gift, does not mean "tongue"
but "language." The modern manifestation of "speaking in tongues" should not be equated
with the gift as described in the New Testament.
 
*Bible texts in the article are from the New International Version.
Copyright: 
Copyright © Biblical Research Institute General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®
Date: 
4/8/99