The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 8

Having investigated the nature of tongues, we now turn to a matter even more hotly debated than the nature of tongues- when do tongues cease? The Bible clearly states that tongues will cease.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (I Corinthians 13:8).

As we begin this inquiry let me state that I know of few who have honestly interacted with I Corinthians 12-14 and believe that tongues are for today. Among those who do honestly evaluate the Word and come to the cessationist position (that tongues have ceased from use and are not operative today), there are a few varying ideas of exactly when this cessation took place. However, those varying ideas differ very little in terms of time, differing more in terms of events which brought about the end to the era in which the gift of tongues was given.[1] I believe that I Corinthians 13 teaches that the gift of tongues ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture.

If we were to study the previous chapter of I Corinthians we would see that Paul has spoken of the necessity of using the gifts for the good of the entire church body. They are sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and the Corinthian believers are not to desire to have the gifts just for their flashy nature. (The ear should not desire to be the eye, etc.) The individuals of the church should not be desirous of that which would simply elevate their personal status before others. At the close of the chapter, after having listed a number of spiritual gifts in order of importance[2], Paul encourages the church body as a whole to focus on the best gifts, or those gifts of primary importance. He concludes by saying that he will show the Corinthian believers a “more excellent way”. In context, this way refers to the use of the spiritual gifts. The way that he is referring to is the way of love. Paul emphasizes that all of the gifts are to be exercised in love, as opposed to pride. Paul speaks of the supremacy of love in service, overriding any personal ambition or quest for glory. He then makes the statement quoted earlier- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease.

WHAT DO THESE THREE HAVE IN COMMON?

All of these gifts- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge referred to a gift of infallible, God-inspired revelation. We have already demonstrated that both prophecy and tongues were infallible revelatory gifts. But what about knowledge? How can that be considered infallible revelation?

Though some would differ with my interpretation on this point, I believe that knowledge was some manner of gift that allowed infallible interpretation of Old Testament Scriptures.[3] The fact that it is included with two other “flashy” gifts that Paul seems very pointedly to be telling the Corinthians will pass away seems to be indicative of this. In some way, whatever this gift was, it was a gift that the Corinthians were coveting in all the wrong ways. I believe that Paul had a dual goal here. He wanted the Corinthians to focus on using their gifts in love for the church, and he wanted them to understand that the gifts that they believed to be so wonderful and desirable would pass away. The love spoken of throughout the chapter would not pass away, but the “flashy” would.

All three gifts will pass away. The ceasing of tongues was given the strongest word. It speaks of an abrupt, permanent cessation. All three of the gifts would cease. Tongues, however, would cease abruptly and permanently, while the other two would pass away. However, they would all pass away beyond recall. Verse ten speaks of a definite time by which and because of which all revelatory gifts would pass or “vanish” away. This is the future indicative passive of the Greek word katargeo. The verb form speaks of an obliteration beyond recall.[4] It is easy to see why the translators chose the phrase “vanish away”! It is important to note that Biblically speaking, if these gifts passed away at all, at any point in history, they will not be renewed again.

Though tongues are not listed here in particular, I believe that it is there by association as a revelatory gift with the same potential for edification as prophecy when interpreted.

We must now turn our attention to exactly when these gifts, particularly tongues, would “pass away” or cease for all time.

[1] Some believe that tongues ceased with the death of the last apostle. Some believe that they ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture (this author’s position). Yet another view on the cessation of tongues was held by George Gardiner, a former charismatic. This view states that tongues ceased with the destruction of Jerusalem. While these views differ with respect to the exact event that brought about the end of the gift of tongues, they differ very little with respect to the basic time limitations upon the gift of tongues. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. The last book of the Bible to be penned was most likely written around A.D. 95-96. John, the last apostle and the human author of Revelation probably died in the late A.D. 90’s or early A.D. 100’s. The same basic time period is in mind with all views.
[2] I Corinthians 12:27&28 -“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 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.
[3] Some examples may include Peter’s use of Old Testament Scriptures in Acts 2, Peter’s words before the high priest in Acts 4, and Stephen’s defense before the synagogue in Acts 7.
[4] Douglas Judisch, An Evaluation of Claims to the Charismatic Gifts, Baker Biblical Monograph, 1978, p.83.