Welcome to
www.kneillfoster.com

Home	Books by the Fosters	AW Tozer	True&False Prophets	Glossolalia	Small Miracles
eBooks	Editorials	AB Simpson	Academic Articles	Spiritual Warfare

Status: is logged in The Third View of Tongues Intro Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Epilogue Appendix A Appendix B Notes

As we have moved along through this discussion, I have sought to describe the nature and unction of the spiritual gifts which we find mentioned in the various scriptural lists.

Now I wish to write briefly about what could be called the gifts of inference, not named but implied in Scripture.

In 1 Corinthians 13 we have Paul contrasting love with the various gifts and lauding love (though not to the exclusion of spiritual gifts).

 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. -1 Cor. 13:1-3.

In verses one and two the contrast is obviously between love and tongues, prophecy, faith, etc. But in verse three Paul speaks about giving his goods to the poor. Is this a reference to the gift of giving mentioned in Romans 12? It is possible.

Then Paul suggests that if he were to give his body to be burned but did so without love, it would be unprofitable. There is the possibility here that martyrdom might be the ultimate function of the gift of giving. Or perhaps it is a gift in itself. Since we are in the field of inference, the implication of Paul's teaching can only be speculative. But the possibility is there.

Two other scriptures should be mentioned at this point. In 1 Corinthians 14:6 Paul describes, in a corrective context, a meeting of the local church:

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Legitimate parts of that service included tongues, revelation, knowledge, prophesying and doctrine. Some of these manifestations I shall deal with in my chapter on the more supernatural gifts, but by inference (and it is the inference of association), Paul enumerates revelation and doctrine as distinct from the already designated gifts. In verse 26 a psalm is also interjected into this enlarging list of gifts in the same way, by association.

Interestingly, perhaps even surprisingly, Paul distinguishes between knowledge (I assume that he means the word of knowledge mentioned in chapter 12) and revelation.

Revelation

Revelation apparently differs from the word of knowledge.

The root word for revelation has to do with visions. I personally believe that God can and does reveal many things to the Christian so gifted. I have noticed that those who have the gift don't always understand what God is revealing to them. I think good advice to those who have this particular ability is to keep close counsel and not discuss with anyone what God is revealing. Many times the revelation is for the Christian's own direction or encouragement. There are times, however, when revelation can be shared, and the Scriptures speak of revelation in this way (1 Cor. 14:30).

Doctrine

Doctrine may well be associated with teaching, but then again it may be a gift in itself. And since we are in the realm of speculation, I'll not insist that it is indeed a gift.

I must say, however, that church history and contemporary experience do affirm that God does give to some a doctrine. It seems to me that the doctrine of justification by faith was given to Martin Luther. And is not John Wesley's name nearly synonymous with sanctification?

More recently the best-selling book by Chaplain Merlin Carothers, Prison to Praise, appears to indicate that God gives the rediscovery of specific doctrines to certain of His children that they might share it. Mr. Carothers, especially, seems to be publicly identified with the doctrine of praise. (Though I appreciate the book mentioned above, even circulate it, I hesitate to endorse it fully. At one point author Carothers suggests that in order to speak in tongues people should let their minds go blank. That, in my view, is a dangerous passivity, an open invitation to occult invasion and demonic deception.)

More personally, I have a close friend who has a life ministry built around the doctrine of death to self and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. In all situations and before all kinds of audiences, he will deliver a variation of the same message. He is a man with a doctrine. God bless him.

A Psalm

The psalm is the first hint we have had of a musical gift, though prophesying, as we shall learn later, can be done with musical instruments. I find it especially fitting that the Holy Spirit allows a reference to music right alongside the reference to the more conventional and recognized gifts such as tongues and interpretation.

If one takes time to study the importance and power of praise, the possibility of a musical spiritual gift becomes all the more obvious. David had his Asaph; Moody, his Sankey. More particularly, the local church nearly always has one or several musicians, though not always Spirit-gifted.

We must not skip over the possibility raised here (1 Cor. 14:26) that the psalms were sung in the New Testament church as they were in the Old Testament worship.

Now, on to more certain biblical ground.