Troublesome Topic: Precepts about Tongues from 1 Corinthians 1:4-7
Lesson 1 of 201 Corinthians 1:4
Translation
As it pertains to you and everything about you,
Go to footnote numberI always thank my THEOS for the grace
Go to footnote numberof THEOS that was given to you in CHRIST JESUS,
Paraphrase
Every time I pray for you and everything that surrounds your situation, I thank THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS whom I serve for His underserved grace that was given to you by the person and redemptive work of THE ANOINTED MESSIAH who is also THE LORD’S SAVIOR,
1 Corinthians 1:5
Translation
that in every ___ you have been enriched in Him, in every ___ __ speech and in all
Go to footnote numberknowledge, (See comment below.)
Paraphrase
and I give thanks that, regarding everything you need to glorify Him, you have been made spiritually wealthy through Christ Jesus – meaning with every type of speech you need, and with all the knowledge you need, (See comment below.)
SETTING THE STAGE
Notice how Paul is setting the stage for what he wants to say in this letter about things like tongues and spiritual gifts in general.
1 Corinthians 1:6
Translation
as the testimony concerning CHRIST has been confirmed in you, (See comment below.)
Paraphrase
as you have done many things which confirm your testimony about what THE ANOINTED MESSIAH has done in you, (See comment below.)
SOME OF THEM HAD A GOOD TESTIMONY
Some of them were living in a way that proved they had been transformed and the Holy Spirit was residing in them and guiding their lives. This cannot refer to those who were doing the opposite of what they were taught about following Jesus.
THREE PAST TENSE VERBS PREPARE THE WAY FOR ONE PRESENT TENSE VERB
Notice also the way Paul has been using past-tense verbs – “was given”, “have been enriched” and “has been confirmed”. Whatever he is about to say about the present in the next verse will be based on what has happened in the past.
1 Corinthians 1:7
Translation
so that you are not lacking not even one gift, while you eagerly await the revealing
Go to footnote numberof our LORD JESUS CHRIST. (See comments below.)
Paraphrase
resulting in the reality that you do not lack any gracious gift of the Spirit, which you exercise as you wait for our SUPREME RULER, who is also THE LORD’S SAVIOR and THE SPIRIT-ANOINTED MESSIAH to be revealed. (See comments below.)
YOU ARE NOT LACKING
Paul’s point was that, when he had been among them and planted the church there, they had received everything they needed to live a productive and fruitful Christian life. They had been enriched (v. 5); they were not deficient and did not lacking anything (v. 7). They already had all the knowledge they needed and all the forms of speech that are required to live for Christ (v. 5). They did not need to go after more spectacular gifts of the Spirit; they did not need to invent new gifts of the Spirit; they already had every spiritual gift they needed (v. 7).
If they had everything they needed, why did Paul come down hard on them on several issues?
The fact that they had available to them everything they needed did not ensure that they were relying on those things or appropriating them to their lives. Especially as it related to spiritual gifts, the pseudo-believers among them were ignoring the meat and potatoes and going only for the desert; and even with the desert, they were rejecting the cake so they could indulge exclusively in the frosting.
We likewise do not lack anything; our spiritual supply is not deficient. Just like those trapped in Berlin before the Berlin Airlift began, if we cannot see where our spiritual supply will come from, and if we don’t think it will be enough, our spiritual supply is never deficient; Unlike America and Britain, our supplier is all-knowing and all-powerful. “His divine power has already supplied everything [we need] for life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3).
We have at our disposal all the truth, power, guidance, and encouragement needed to live in victory over temptation. However, we must avail ourselves of the provision God has made for us in order to live in victory, and we need to be careful to choose what He has given us, and not chase after shiny new counterfeits.
ACTIVE WAITING NOT PASSIVE WAITING
The words “while you eagerly await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” do not mean that we are doing nothing; the type of waiting envisioned here is an active waiting, not a passive waiting. We are to trust in God and live as we should, serving Him by serving others. If we do nothing beyond waiting we are actually violating many of the commands of the Bible.
WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES
Am I relying on myself, or am I utilizing God’s spiritual provisions for me?
Do I trust that God’s provision is sufficient for my needs even if it seems inadequate?
Am I practicing active waiting by serving those around me?
Footnotes
1
The preposition used here is “peri” which we use in English words like “peripheral” etc. It means “around, encompassing.” It is comprehensive word with a strong emphasis on everything pertaining to a person or situation. “all-encompassing” is a good way to render this preposition.
2
This is the Greek word meaning “grace, and favor.” The Greeks got their word for “gift” from their word for “grace” because a gift was something that was given based on grace or favor, not merit. God’s grace to us is undeserved. As we go through the rest of our discussion on spiritual gifts, remember that the word gift is the daughter of the word grace, and it always includes something that is undeserved.
3: "all":
This is the same word that has been used twice already, it means “every and all”.
4: "revealing":
We get our word “apocalypse” from this word, but it is not what we think it is; it means “to reveal.”