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We are nearing the end of our serialization of a small book regarding spiritual gifts and callings. The book was written by a British-Israel minister, Rev. Rupert Thomas, in 1938.
We have not edited the material except for style—such as breaking up large paragraphs for legibility on the two-inch screens of our modern electronic devices. We have also let the English variant spellings as is; e.g., criticised as opposed to our American English of criticized.
All boldface and underlined portions indicate my emphasis. Italics are either by the author or from quoting the KJV, wherein italics indicates words supplied by the KJV translators. All comments in [brackets] and {braces} are mine. QUOTE:
(h) The Gift of Prophecy
“To another prophecy . . . to another divers kinds of tongues: to another the interpretation of tongues.”
Prophecy is that inspirational preaching created by a supernatural revelation to, and exercise of, all mental powers. He who speaks under the power of the gift of prophecy speaks under the impulse of sudden inspiration that implies sudden revelation. Prophecy may be proclamatory, declamatory or hortatory. It will be, when given in the power of the Spirit of God, profitable to exhortation, edification and comfort.
The contents of such prophetic utterances have to be criticised. This is necessary, because the channel by whom the gift is exercised is an imperfect creature capable of allowing his own will and thought to intrude upon and adulterate that which is given to him by supernatural revelation.
The considerations of the last chapter indicate the possibility of a power other than of God utilising a man. Hence, therefore, we have not only the injunction to try the spirits, but
“Despise not prophesyings, prove (test) all things . . . .” 1 Thessalonians 5: 20-21. And, in relationship to the gift we are considering, Corinthians 14: 29 contains an injunction concerning the responsibility of others to judge (“criticise” more literally) that which is set forth by the one inspired by the gift of prophecy.
The manifestation of this gift is an effective balance to the ordinary reading and exposition of the Scriptures, though this, when performed by Spirit-filled men, will be markedly different from its performance by those who are not so filled.
(i) The Gift of Tongues and the Interpretations of Tongues
The gift of “Tongues” and the gift of “Interpretation of Tongues” have been purposely linked together with the gift of prophecy because the exercise of these two gifts, “Tongues” and their “Interpretation” is essentially, in their relation to the edification of the Church, one and the same with prophecy.
This gift of tongues is the ability to express in a language other than one’s own, another tongue supernaturally given, whether of men or of angels, the ecstasy of spiritual emotion whether of joy, or sorrow, intercession, or exhortation, to oneself, or to others.
The gift of interpretation of tongues is that supernatural ability, by the same Spirit, to declare in the language which forms the mother tongue of the people, that which has been uttered in and through the gift of tongues.
The fulfilment of prophecy concerning this age and its inauguration was marked by the manifestation of the gift of other tongues to the Church.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2: 4.
Its initial fulfilment is recorded in Acts 2, and there it is emphatically declared that to every individual who had gathered in the upper room was given an utterance by the Holy Ghost, to speak in other languages; languages which could not have been learned by intellectual effort in their cases: languages which were not necessarily known languages of men, though this, for a special witness, was the peculiar mark of the first day of Pentecost, but the languages also, as Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 8: 1, of angels.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels.”
In the subsequent fulfilments there is further evidence of this manifestation of tongues upon the reception of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, when circumstances were entirely different from those of the first fulfilment. Acts 10: 44-48, cf. 11: 16-17.
“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.” Acts 10: 44-45.
“And when Paul had laid hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them: and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19: 5-6.
The gift of speaking in other tongues is to provide for the personal edification of the individual believer, the channel through which his spirit may express itself when in the movings of ecstasies or deep spiritual emotion, and that he may speak and sing with the understanding also the gift of interpretation is given, and should be exercised. 1 Corinthians 14: 12-19.
Then speaking in tongues, even when without interpretation,
“he edifieth himself,” and “he speaketh mysteries with God.”
But, for the profit of the Church assembled, the manifestation of this gift is only legitimate when there is also present one having the gift of interpretation. By the exercise of this companion gift, that which is uttered through tongues is opened to the edification of all, and to the conviction of any unsaved or unlearned, of the presence and power of God in the place.
“Thus the secrets of his heart are manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” 1 Corinthians 14: 25.
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 14: 2.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself….” 1 Corinthians 14: 4.
“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.” 1 Corinthians 14: 5.
“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret”. . .” wherefore tongues are for a sign.” 1 Corinthians 14: 13 and 22.
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.”
“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:37-39.
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(To be continued.)
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