On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 13:05:14 GMT, (Michael Kennedy) wrote: >On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 7:54:02 +0800, Nigel B. Mitchell ><> wrote: >>On Mon, 13 Nov 2000 22:17:36 +0800, Michael Kennedy wrote >>(in message <>): >>But we are talking about God's gifts to his people here. >> >>Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? >>Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? >> >>In everyday English, and even more so in Greek, the answer to all of these >>questions is "Of course not". Does that make God a "respecter of persons"? > >I agree the answer here is NO, and I have said so many times before. >This passage is talking about the church meetings (gatherings of >Christians), and it is totally correct. Michael, I suspect there is not much point in continuing with this if you are going to be so childish. 1 Corinthians 14 refers to church meetings. 1 Corinthians 12 refers to the church as a whole. 1 Corinthians 13 sits in the middle to remind us of what Jesus taught - that the love Christians are called to have towards God and each other is infinitely more important than anything else, and the only defining characteristic of a Christian that really matters. It only takes a look at the text to see that. > No everyone in the meetings >teach, nor does everyone heal, etc. Each member of the church has a >function in the meeting like the parts of our body do. Someone >teaches, someone else will have a prophecy, someone else will >interpret tongues, etc. All are needed and none is more important than >the other. Just because I am a channel for God's gift of healing does >not make me more important than the other bloke who interprets >tongues. Sort of like "God is not a respector of persons". :o) Indeed. And if God gives you the gift of tongues, and uses me for healing, that does not mean that you are any less a Christian than I am. Or vice versa. God is not a respecter of persons in that he makes some of us more important than others. I am not suggesting that God works that way. God is a respecter of persons in that he calls some of us to be apostles, some to be prophets, to some he gives the gift of healing, and some speak in tongues. That's what 1 Cor 12 says. >Quite true, 1 Cor 14:26 hasn't been used for a while, and it was a >perennial favourite. So for old times sake, and the season is spring. > I note that even though you know it is misleading to use that verse in an incorrect translation, you will do so because it suits your point. Obviously that is as honest as you can get in seeking after truth. Which is sad. ... >And I just checked the NKJV Bible, a modern translation by modern >scholars, and it says the same thing. So much for it being a >misleading outdated translation. Michael, you should know by now that the NKJV is a translation of the KJV into slightly more modern English. It deliberately retains the same teachings (and therefore the same errors) as the KJV. So please don't try to insult my intelligence by pretending otherwise. Now, you mentioned Cornelius, and I agreed that he members of his household spoke in tongues before they were all baptised. I am still waiting for you to show from the Bible that the Ethiopian Eunuch, or Paul's jailer in Acts 16 (and his household), or Timothy, or Luke spoke in tongues. Can I also remind you of my last paragraph. If it is your intention to have a civil conversation (although I doubt that very much after your last post), I would appreciate the courtesy of a response. What I am asking you to recognise is that your interpretation of the Bible is just that - your interpretation (or more accurately, the one that has been taught to you in the tradition of your respective churches). You have every right to hold to your interpretation, and to argue your case forcefully. It is when you cross over into arguments which imply that your interpretation is the only correct one that you become arrogant and offensive. And it is when you imply that people who interpret the Bible differently from you are not Christians at all that you become absurd. cheers N+
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