To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 14:45:29
Subject: HF011 - The Corinthian Dilemma (With Appendix)
Hebraics,
This is an 11th Bible study. It has to do with struggles in the Corinthian
Church. The subject is 'The Corinthian Dilemma.'
Rather than reference an initial Scripture for a beginning place, I want to
take a quote from one of the Apostolic Fathers concerning the digression of
the Corinthian group. But before I explain who this writer is, please just
listen to his remarks concerning the Church at Corinth. The writer says,
"Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then
was fulfilled that which is written, 'My beloved did eat and drink, and was
enlarged and became fat, and kicked.' Hence flowed emulation and envy,
strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity.
"So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation
against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young
against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace
are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of
God, and is become blind in his faith, etc." (End of quote.)
The afore quote comes from a letter written by Clement to the Corinthian
congregation. This Clement is commonly thought to be a traveling
companion of Paul. At the time of this writing both Paul and Peter had been
martyred, but not too may years prior.
When Paul speaks of several workers who helped him, he says, "[They]
have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement
also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of
life." (Phil4:3) [Clement lived A.D. 30-100]
This letter by Clement was written either following the destruction of
Jerusalem, or just prior. It was only one of several letters written by those
who knew the apostles, that were read in the Churches. Clement along with
Barnabas, and a couple more writings, were given consideration with regard
to being placed in the New Testament canon of Scriptures. The church
historian Eusebius held Clement in high esteem. (Clement is in the 1st
volume of ANF) Clement is found in the Alexandrian manuscripts.
What were the problems at Corinth? There were so many that it would take
too much effort to try and address them all. However, there was one very
serious situation that called for special concern by the apostle Paul. (I'm
not speaking of the incest situation, which was horrible in itself.)
The City of Corinth was less than 50 miles across the Corinthian Gulf from
Delphi. To the Greeks, Delphi was considered the center of the earth. There
was a stone set in place that was called the navel of the earth. Delphi had
the Delphic oracle, which belonged to the Earth goddess, and was
supposedly guarded by a serpent, Python. (Keep the serpent Python image
in view.)
At the Delphi temple they practiced a pagan glossolalia. It was this
influence of the pagan glossolalia that was strongly felt not only in Corinth,
but also in the Grecian world. (You can study this in most encyclopedias.)
The way the oracle worked was that a male prophet at the temple would
receive a question from an inquirer. The question could be personal, or
about government affairs, or whatever.
The inquirer would be brought into the presence of a young woman
priestess of Apollo who was said to have a "pythonic spirit." Paul
encountered one of these priestesses at Philippi. (Cf. Acts 16:16)
The young woman would fall into a state of frenzied ecstasy, and would
begin to speak in tongues that were unintelligible. The attending priest
would then interpret the language for the inquirer's benefit.
(Now for the benefit of those who do, or do not believe in speaking in
tongues, that is not the issue at stake. And I don't want this to be made an
issue in discussing this Bible study. Just say with the facts as you know
them.)
It is important to understand that Paul never took away from there being a
gifting from God concerning speaking in other languages. But people who
had been to the Delphic priest were beginning to show up in the
congregation, and very likely, even some of the priests and priestesses
were entering. The Christians would have been considered a threat to the
Delphic oracle. Plus the fact that the Corinthian believers would have felt
like they were in competition with the Delphic oracles. This is likely why
there was such a strong stress on speaking in tongues in this group. You
don't find it in the other churches. Paul did his best to bring a balance.
I realize this sounds strange, but if you read the Corinthian letters with this
background in mind, it will help you appreciate some of the things Paul is
addressing. Listen carefully to the language:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
*You know* that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute
idols, however you were led." (1Co12:1,2.) It was the spirit of divination that
was leading them astray. The Delphic oracle. (Keep in view the being 'led
astray.)
Listen again: "Therefore I make know to you that no one speaking by the
Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed'; and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,'
except by the Holy Spirit." (Verse 3)
This tells us that someone was speaking by a power that declared Jesus
was accursed. Paul's contention was that the Holy Spirit would most
certainly not say that Jesus is accursed. And, for someone to truly make
the confession that Jesus is Lord, would be an act of the Holy Spirit. But
these false outbursts of prophecies were leading the people astray.
But a question remains - Can someone say that Jesus is Lord and it not be
of the Holy Spirit? Yes, if there is an occultic spirit involved. How can this
be? It depends on which Jesus you are speaking of. Paul addresses this
issue in his second letter. He explains that it is possible to preach a Jesus
who is not the Jesus of the Bible. (See the book 'The Beautiful Side of Evil
by Michaelson.)
Again listen to Paul: "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by
his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of
devotion to Christ." (2Co11:3) Even in this second letter, Paul is having to
come even more strongly against the people being led astray.
Again notice the background of being led astray is the 'serpent.' The
inference may be to the pythonic spirit again. 'Led astray' is the Greek word
phtheiro, which means to corrupt or spoil. The corrupting is a spiritual
deception. This word is used in Rev19:2, where it says, "He has judged the
great harlot who was corrupting (phtheiro) the earth with her immorality, and
He has avenged the blood of His bondservants on her."
Paul shows how this corrupting influence works. He said, "For if one comes
and preaches another Jesus who we have not preached, or you receive a
different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you
have not accepted you bear this beautifully" (2Co11:4)
The Corinthian group was coming under the influence of the occultic. There
is no other way to explain this. How do you explain involvement with a
different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. You may think this
is hard to do, but Church history has proven that this will always be a real
danger for believers.
As a side note - The letters to the Corinthian Church are filled with
wonderful instructions for believers of all ages. Paul did not withhold true
teachings from this Church group. And not everyone in the group was being
misled. Actually Paul is answering questions that had been sent to him by
certain believers in the Corinthian Church.
To find a closing place, let's come back to Clement's letter which was
written after the passing of Paul and Peter. I want to share just a few
notable quotes:
"Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has
given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your
sedition continues."
"The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God.
Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in
all things. ... Love admits no schisms."
"All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but
those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love, now
possess a place among the godly."
"Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the
Church have been persecuted and put to death. ... Peter, through
unrighteous envy ... Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance,
after being seven times thrown into captivity ... Thus was he removed from
the world and went into the holy place..."
Did the Church at Corinth ever revert itself? I hope so. We have a promise
that the Lord will not lose any that belong to Him. It is possible that the
Lord simply removed His people to a place of His choosing. But this is
speculation. My thinking is that in removing a candle, the Lord is referring
to His people. We are the light of the world.
In discussing this Bible study, remember your introduction to Hebraic-
Foundations, which says, "No attack on any Christian group is permitted.
We believe all Christians share in a common heritage of the early Church."
Stay within Biblical perimeters. The Bible study itself will cause folk to want
to seek further information. If you have information to add, please do so, but
do it in kindness and without bias. We are not here to hurt anyone, but to
educate.
Finally, if you have a question that troubles you, but do not want to disturb
the Bible study group, please write me off forum. I will be happy to discuss
anything with you.
Appendix.....
I want to complete the study HF011 - The Corinthian Dilemma, with
this appendix. Our view remains on pre-325 a.d. Christianity. In your
responses, please remain the the Scriptures and with early Church history.
Historically there is no evidence that 'glossais lalein' played a
continuing role in the advance of early Christianity. Paul gives the only
Scriptural explanation that we can find as to why. Some find this a
difficult Scripture, but it needs to be considered.
Paul said, "Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy,
they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if
there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and
we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will
be done away with." (1Co13:8-10)
Remember the apostle's statements:
"[prophecy] will be done away." The Greek word 'katargeo' means to
render inoperative, or be released from. It can also mean to leave
unemployed or rendered idle, or useless. Actually the word speaks of the
replacement of a thing with something more powerful or of a superior
quality. (Keep this last definition in view. We will return to it later.)
"[tongues] will cease." The Greek word 'pauo' is a very interesting word.
It means to stop or restrain. The idea is to cause something or someone
to cease from activity, or to cause to rest. Perhaps even 'pause.'
"knowledge" will be done away." (See 'katargeo' above.)
Paul doesn't seem to say when these things will happen. Some think
he is speaking of heaven. Others think he is speaking of the apostolic era.
But there is a word that Paul uses that may be the key. It doesn't speak of
heaven or of the apostolic era perse.
Listen carefully. Paul said, "But when the perfect comes, the
partial will be done away." (Vs10) If we stopped there, it could
easily mean heaven. But Paul continues; "When I was a child, I use
to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I
became a man, I did away with childish things." (Vs11)
Paul is using a word here that he only uses with regard to maturity. He
said, 'But when the perfect (teleois) comes, the partial will be done
away." I can't emphasis enough the usage of this word. It is never used
with regard to heaven. It means when something reaches its desired goal, or
a state of maturity.
What did Paul mean by perfect? It is possible that he had the transition of
covenants in view. It is interesting that we find no reference to 'glossais
lalein' after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d.
Listen to this statement in Hebrews 8:13; "When He said, 'a new covenant,'
He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is *becoming obsolete and
growing old* is ready to disappear." The old covenant had not disappeared
as long as the temple was visible. As long as the temple sacrifices were
in place the former covenant was still visible for all to see.
Yet, the temple sacrifices offered no atonement for sin. (Also keep in
mind that a great many priests had received Jesus as Lord, and, yet, were
possibly still involved in temple sacrifices. Cf. Acts 6:7) The book of
Hebrews was written not long before the destruction of Jerusalem. It was
like a final warning to the Jewish peoples.
This brings us back to the prophet's testimony concerning the purpose of
'glossais lalein.' God speaking in Isaiah 28:11,12, said, "Indeed He will
speak to this (Jewish) people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue
... but they would not listen."
Follow through with Isaiah 28:13; "... they may go and stumble backward,
be broken, snared and taken captive."
This is exactly what happened in 70 a.d. The temple was destroyed,
Jerusalem burned to the ground, and the peoples taken captivity into the
nations. In addition, there was no longer any visible evidence of the
former covenant in place.
What had happened? The superior power was fully in place. This is likely
what Paul had in mind, when he said said that prophecy would be done away
with and tongues would cease. (Remember the definition above concerning
prophesy. Replaced by something superior, etc.)
But there is more to be said. This is where believers even today need to
learn to live their life on a new covenant level. When Paul speaks of
prophecy, it is likely he was speaking of a prophet sharing from the voice
of God. Yet in the new covenant experience, that is not God's best. One of
the defining marks of the new covenant, is that every person hears God
personally. Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice, and another they will
not follow."
Notice how the book of Hebrews begins; "God, after He spoke long ago to
the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these
last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all
things, through whom also He made the world." (1:1,2)
The point being that the Old Testament prophetic ministry had come
to a close. If you recall on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and
Elijah disappeared. A voice said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased; LISTEN TO HIM." (Caps for emphasis only.) Did not Jesus say
that the law and the prophets were until John?
In the new covenant every true believer has the attending voice of
Jesus speaking into his or her life. This is one of the validating
factors that we have entered the kingdom of the beloved Son.
In the former covenant, you had to seek out a prophet. Not so in the
covenant of Christ. God spoke through the prophet, and said, "For all
will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be
merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."
Coming back to 'glossais lalein.' There is a hint in Paul's teaching in
1 Corinthians 13, that speaking in tongues and the prophetic voice can be
brought forward at any time. This would be entirely according to the
Lord. (In the book of Revelations we have the two prophets.)
And here is where we need to use caution. Paul did not say that
these elements would be 'destroyed.' What he said was that they
would be rendered useless, or, 'idled.' Paul was simply telling the
Corinthians, not to get centered on these particular gifts.
As I complete the study on 'glossais lalein' and the Corinthian
Dilemma, I realize everyone has their own thoughts, opinions, and
experiences. But in the study of Scriptures, it is important not to let
our experiences determine what we believe. We must learn to be true to
the Scriptures. Look again at what Paul was teaching with a fresh view.
There is no question that 'glossais lalein' in the Scriptures was a
fulfilment of the Isaiah 28 prophecy. Can the Lord bring them back if
He wishes? Most certainly. I've heard of cases where the missionary was
enabled to speak to a native group in the language of the group, and yet
he did not know nor understand the language. The missionary was speaking
in English.
Is there a prayer language that consist of tongues? Some say yes.
Some say no. Well, it is up to each person to decide that for
themselves. But at the same time, it is alright to question
something that you feel may not be Scriptural.
This completes my study on 'glossais lalein' and 'the Corinthian
Dilemma.'
Certainly it is open for discussion. (Pleasantly.)
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org