Evaluating Extrabiblical Prophecy and Tongues with Scripture

The New Testament discusses prophecy and tongues as spiritual gifts within the early Christian community, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 ^{[2, 3, 4]}. These passages provide a framework for understanding their function and evaluation.

Prophecy, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:10, is a gift distinct from the working of miracles or speaking in diverse kinds of tongues ^{[2, 4]}. In this context, prophecy does not primarily refer to predicting the future, but rather to delivering a special message directly from God ^[9]. This understanding is supported by other passages like 1 Corinthians 11:4-5, 13:2, 8, and 14:1-25, 29-33, as well as 1 Thessalonians 5:20 ^[9]. The ability to discern whether such a message originates from the Spirit of God or another spirit is also considered a necessary gift for the Christian community ^[9]. John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, frequently references prophetic texts, indicating the importance of prophecy throughout biblical history ^[6]. The Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah, delivered messages from God, which are often cited in the New Testament to show fulfillment ^{[5, 7]}. John Gill notes that the "word of prophecy" often refers to the Old Testament writings concerning Christ ^[10].

Tongues, or "divers kinds of tongues," are also listed among the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:10 ^{[2, 4]}. The term "tongue" can refer to human language in general ^[1]. The gift of tongues is presented as a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers ^{[3, 11]}. Adam Clarke explains that this miraculous gift was intended to instruct unbelievers, demonstrating God's work and encouraging them to embrace the Gospel ^[11]. The confusion of languages at Babel, described in Genesis 11:7, is presented in some traditions as a divine punishment that scattered humanity and originated linguistic diversity ^[1].

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14, provides guidance on the proper use and evaluation of these gifts within the church. He emphasizes that prophecy is more beneficial for believers than tongues, stating that "prophecying serueth not for them that beleeue not, but for them which beleeue" ^[3]. This suggests that while tongues serve as a sign for unbelievers, prophecy builds up the church. The ability to interpret tongues is also mentioned as a distinct spiritual gift, indicating that unintelligible speech requires interpretation to be edifying ^{[2, 4]}.

The evaluation of extrabiblical prophecy and tongues involves discerning the source and purpose of such manifestations. The emphasis on discerning spirits in 1 Corinthians 12:10 highlights the need for careful assessment of any message claimed to be from God ^[9]. The early church fathers, such as Augustine, recognized the challenges of interpreting unknown words and idioms, suggesting that inquiry from those who speak the languages or learning the languages themselves is necessary ^[8]. This principle can be extended to the evaluation of spiritual gifts, where clarity and understanding are paramount for edification.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Language — Of all mankind one at first -- Ge 11:1,6. Called Speech. -- Mr 14:70; Ac 14:11. Tongue. -- Ac 1:19; Re 5:9. Confusion of A punishment for presumption, &c. -- Ge 11:2-6. Originated the varieties in. -- Ge 11:7. Scattered men over the earth. -- Ge 11:8,9. Divided men into separated nations. -- Ge 10:5,20,31. Great variety of, spoken by men -- 1Co 14:10. Ancient kingdoms often comprehended nations of different -- Es 1:22; Da 3:4; 6:25. Kinds of, mentioned Hebrew. -- 2Ki 18:28; Ac 26:14. Chaldea. -- Da 1:4. Syriack. -- 2Ki 18:26; Ezr 4:7. Greek. -- Ac 21:37. L”
King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 12:10 — To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:22 (Geneva1599) — Wherefore strange tongues are for a signe, not to them that beleeue, but to them that beleeue not: but prophecying serueth not for them that beleeue not, but for them which beleeue.”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 12:10 (KJV) — To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 4:14: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet-- (Isa 9:1-2 or, as in Hebrew, Isa 8:23, and Isa 9:1). saying--as follows:”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: 21:13 23:27 24:11 26:27 30:8 Ecclesiastes 1:2 2:4 2:6 2:7 7:2 9:16 12:8 Isaiah 1 1:2 1:2 1:3 1:3 1:7 1:10 1:12 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-17 1:17 1:17-18 1:18 1:19 1:23 4:6 5:2 5:6 5:8 5:8-9 6:1 6:1 6:3 6:4 6:5 6:8 6:10 7:9 7:14 8:3 8:18 9:6 9:6 11:9 11:10 22:31 26:10 26:12 35:10 35:10 40:2 40:3 40:26 42:2-3 43:10 43:10 43:10 43:12 43:25 43:26 43:26 43:26 44:6 44:24 45:1 47:13 48:10 49:16 50:2 50:4 52:5 52:11 52:15 53:7 53:7 53:7-8 53:9 53:9 53:12 54:13 57:17-18 59:2 60:1 65:16 65:17 65:17 66:2 Jeremiah 1:9 3:3 3:3 4:14 4:14 6:20 7:4 8:4 9:1 9:17 10:11 13:”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 14.--HOW THE MEANING OF UNKNOWN WORDS AND IDIOMS IS TO BE DISCOVERED.: 21. About ambiguous signs, however, I shall speak afterwards. I am treating at present of unknown signs, of which, as far as the words are concerned, there are two kinds, For either a word or an idiom, of which the reader is ignorant, brings him to a stop. Now if these belong to foreign tongues, we must either make inquiry about them from men who speak those tongues, or if we have leisure we must learn the tongues ourselves, or we must consult and compare seve”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:10: 12:10 The ability to prophesy does not refer primarily to predicting the future, but to speaking a special message directly from God (see 11:4-5; 13:2, 8; 14:1-25, 29-33; 1 Thes 5:20; cp. Acts 13:1-2; 21:4, 10-11). • The ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit is a necessary gift for any Christian community that is open to hearing a word directly from God (see 1 Cor 14:29; 1 Thes 5:19-21; cp. Acts 16:16-18; 1 Jn 4:1-3). • For Paul, the ability to speak in unknown languages here refers to spiritual language that”
2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:19: Though this word of prophecy is generally understood of the writings and prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, yet different ways are taken to fix the comparison: some think the sense is, that they are more sure than the cunningly devised fables, Pe2 1:16 but as these have no certainty nor authority in them, but are entirely to be rejected, the apostle would never put the sacred writings in comparison with them: and it is most clear, that the comparison lies between this word of prophecy, and the testimony of the apostles, who were eye and ear witnesses ”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:22: Wherefore tongues are for a sign - The miraculous gift of tongues was never designed for the benefit of those who have already believed, but for the instruction of unbelievers, that they might see from such a miracle that this is the work of God; and so embrace the Gospel. But as, in the times of the prophet, the strange Babylonish tongues came in the way of punishment, and not in the way of mercy; take heed that it be not the case now: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a c”

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