The Gift Of Tongues And Prophecy -- By: Richard V. Clearwaters

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 15:2 (Summer 1972)
Article: The Gift Of Tongues And Prophecy
Author: Richard V. Clearwaters


The Gift Of Tongues And Prophecy

Richard V. Clearwaters

Chapel Message

Dr. Richard V. Clearwaters is pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, Minneapolis, president of Pillsbury College and Central Seminary.

Today, I am going to speak on the subject of “Tongues—Is it Scriptural?” I would like to consider particularly two things: one, Is the gift of tongues a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? and two, Is it to accompany salvation or to follow salvation, if it is a legitimate gift?

Benjamin War-field has been accepted by most fundamental people as a guide in this when he wrote Miracles, Yesterday and Today. The 13th chapter of I Corinthians, “that whether there he tongues they shall cease, whether there he knowledge it shall pass away,” he takes as an instance that at the end of the apostolic era tongues ceased. Now if we read this passage in its context from verse 8 down through 12, “For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known;” it actually speaks of the second coming of Christ as best we can tell, or the end of the age. A Freshman studying what we call “baby Greek,” might be troubled because of the neuter gender used. The Apostle’s emphasis here is not on the Christ (which would be masculine gender) but upon the changes and circumstances of the end of the age, hence the neuter gender.

For those who still want to follow Warfield, I simply ask them to apply the laws in logic called “elimination” and “parsimony” and answer honestly the questions: Have prophecies failed? (see I Corinthians 14:3). Did knowledge vanish away? Do we now know even as we are known? If we can answer a categorical “yes” to these questions then this passage proves that “whether there be tongues they shall cease,” but we cannot affirm one of the series and deny three others standing in the same frame.

For those still troubled by the Apostle’s accommodation to the neuter gender, as he speaks of the end of the age, think of the Latin and English accommodation in parts of speech, like for instance the gerundive use of the participle. Our position, that tongues have ceased, is not proved solely on the authority of I Corinthians 13:8–12.

In the twelfth chapter of I Corinthians Paul names the various gifts and also diverse kinds of tongues. (The word “diverse” is in italics. In a good translation of the Bible into English, it should show in italics words added that a...

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