1 Corinthians 12:10

and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues:

'workings of miracles' -1411. dunamis doo'-nam-is; from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication,. miracle itself): -ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength,violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

While all of the above could be considered 'miracles', this word is given to cover. group of non-healing wonders. This category might include casting out demons, raising the dead, and wonders that harmed instead of healed (Acts 13:9 ff).

'prophecy' -'to speak forth' (Robertson p. 169) At times this gift was used to foretell future events. (Acts 11:27; Acts 21:10)

Points to Note:

1. God recognized that all who claimed to be prophets, were not. (2 Peter 2:1) When. prophet was predicting, accuracy was. must. (Deuteronomy 18:20) But even beyond that, the content of his teaching (did it agree with previous revelation) was even more important. (Deuteronomy 13:1) The Scriptures were an absolute authority and standard, even for the inspired. (Acts 17:11; Galatians 1:6)

2. Prophets were much more than "foretellers", they were "forthtellers", i.e. men who spoke the utterances of God. (2 Peter 1:20; Exodus 2:1)

3. 'Although the prophets often performed symbolic acts...had very little to do with "ecstasy", especially "frenzy" or "mania". For the most part the prophets were understood only too well!' (Fee p. 595)

The point being that the prophets in the Bible, were individuals who were "under control" (1 Corinthians 14:29). Compare the prophet Elijah, with the false prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 2:25) Elijah is "in control", compared to the false prophets who were in an emotional frenzy.

'discernings of spirits' -'distinguishing of spirits' (NASV) 'that gift of spiritual discernment by which, in particular, genuine and counterfeit "prophecy" could be recognized for what they were.' (F.F. Bruce p. 119) 'the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration.' (TCNT)

'In those days marvellous claims flowed as copiously as water. There were those who were gifted by God to infallibly discern between the spiritual motivations behind the claims and words. Prophets also sat in judgement of what people taught (1 Corinthians 14:29)' (McGuiggan p. 170)

Points to Note:

1. God created. 'checks and balances' system. The utterances of the prophets were to be examined. God even commended the Bereans for checking the teaching of one of His own apostles. (Acts 17:11)

2. Uninspired Christians, in possession of the Scriptures could check the messages of the prophets also. (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1 John 4:1) And yet, "certain hard cases" probably arose from time to time.

3. Teachers of truth aren't offended when their messages are examined in light of Scripture.

'divers kinds of tongues' -'various kinds of tongues' (NASV)

'tongues' -1100. glossa gloce-sah'; of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication,. language (specially, one naturally unacquired): -tongue.

Points to Note:

1. 'In recent years, there has been an almost universal tendency to treat this gift as ecstatic utterance.' (Willis p. 424)

'It was the gift enabling men to speak in foreign languages, languages which were unknown to them. (This is why the KJV added the word "unknown". The translators didn't mean the languages were not known languages but that the languages were unknown to the speaker.)' (McGuiggan p. 171)

2. The following evidence convinces me that the gift of tongues was the ability to speak in. foreign language, which you had never learned. (a) The passages in Acts chapter 2. especially 1 Corinthians 2:6-11. (b) Acts 10:46. Again, the message being delivered by the tongues was understandable to others, i.e. 'they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God'. If the tongues were 'ecstatic utterances', then how did the bystanders know they were exalting God? (c) The tongue-speakers in Corinth 'were not uncontrollably emotional as are those who are in. state of ecstasy (1 Corinthians 14:27-33).' (Willis p. 425) (d) Tongue-speaking did reveal truth (Acts 19:6; Acts 2:11 'speaking of the mighty deeds of God.' (e) The very fact that. gift existed for the interpretation of tongues, demands that the tongues could be interpreted, i.e. they were intelligent languages. (f) The term itself means "language".

Unfortunately, when many people encounter chapter 14 of this letter, all of the above information is forgotten or discarded. We must remember that chapter 14 is an assembly context, an assembly in which all the members spoke the same language. Using your gift of tongues in such. assembly without an interpreter would result in zero edification for the assembly. Seeing that no one was present who spoke that particular language.

'the interpretation of tongues' -'Another can tell the meaning of languages.' (Beck)

'interpretation' -2058. hermeneia her-may-ni'-ah; from the same as 2059; translation: -interpretation.

(John 1:38; John 1:42; John 9:7; Hebrews 2:7), 'to translate from one language to another.' (Willis p. 425)

Points to Note:

1. This enabled the gift of tongues to be used in settings beyond it's best use, i.e. in an assembly where everyone spoke the same language and. foreign language was unnecessary.

2. Apparently the same person could have both gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:5)

3. Some have attacked the "foreign language" view of tongues, by saying, 'how could one speak in. foreign language and yet be unable to interpret what they just said.' But the same argument equally applies to the "language of heaven/the angels/or ecstatic utterances" view.