the argument for 'the perfect comes' is that with the finalization of the canon that we don't need special revelation like tounges and prophesy.
I don't subscribe to that...
If you want to dig in with me, let me present an alternate view of the spiritual gifts, that might make things more clear.
First Paul loves to list things, if he were writing today, he'd probably use PowerPoint to draft his letters. In 1 Corinthians we have a three part list, and then Paul goes on and details the last part of the list.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 [sup](NASB95)[/sup]
[sup]4[/sup] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. [sup]5[/sup] And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. [sup]6[/sup] There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
The greek is:
gifts -
charisma
ministries -
diakonia
effects -
energema (also called
phanerosis or manefestation).
The weakness in this approach is that we have to go to other books to get the lists of the first two, and Paul is only dealing with the last one, effects or mainifestations, when he detail this.
the Manefestations/Effects:
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 [sup](NASB95)[/sup]
[sup]7[/sup] But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [sup]8[/sup] For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; [sup]9[/sup] to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [sup]10[/sup] and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. [sup]11[/sup] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
What I believe this is talking about is one time effects/manifestations/miracles of God that come and go and are distributed as the Spirit wills individually for the good of the body. So if the body needs to have tounges spoken (a mixed language audience), then the Spirit might bid one to stand and speak in tounges. If the body required someone to discern spirits, the Spirit would manifest in one person the ability to discern.
I believe this places the emphasis where it should be, on the working of the Spirit, rather than the ability of the person.
The other two lists are found elsewhere:
The Spirituals (
charisma)
Romans 12:4-8 [sup](NASB95)[/sup]
[sup]4[/sup] For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, [sup]5[/sup] so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [sup]6[/sup] Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; [sup]7[/sup] if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; [sup]8[/sup] or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
These gifts, I believe are granted to the believer upon conversion, and these are the gifts that we grow in, and they are given for the edification of the church. These gifts work in concert to minister to the body.
The last list, is a list of offices in the church, or ministries:
Ephesians 4:11-13 [sup](NASB95)[/sup]
[sup]11[/sup] And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [sup]12[/sup] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [sup]13[/sup] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
These offices or ministries in a body will be filled by someone that is gifted appropriately, and they in turn are supported by the local body that is gifted to complement the gifting of the offices.
Does that make any sense?
Peace.
