As mentioned in our examination of Acts, part of the description of the Holy Spirit’s work included the gifts through the laying on of the apostle’s hands. The first letter to the Corinthians provides this context in chapters 11-14. In particular, chapter fourteen seeks to correct an abusive attitude toward the gifts, especially the gift of speaking in tongues. It was the highly coveted of all the gifts, even though Paul explained he would rather “speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue” (14:19). Prophesying was more profitable because it edified the saints. Edification and exhortation was the far-reaching purpose of their gifts and fellowship (14:1-5, 12, 26, 31). He writes, “When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14:26).
Once again, to remove this context and squeeze this text into our time is a terrible injustice of truth. Today, we witness a poor imitation from those claiming to be gifted by the Spirit. The entirety of 1 Corinthians 14 is butchered in the following ways:
- Tongue speakers are not speaking in verifiable languages as shown in Acts 2.
- Even if they were speaking languages unknown to the speaker, they are not being silent when an interpreter is needed.
- No distinction is made in the purpose of tongues being a sign for the unbeliever or the believer. If the unbeliever is present where there is no interpreter, he or she declares the group has lost their mind.
- As was true then, it seems it is rare to find people today who have a gift outside tongues, healing, and the rarer interpretation of tongues. If these are all necessary, why are we just limited to two or three gifts, today?
- Those claiming to preach by inspiration are neither being directed by the Spirit in declaring all the truth (John 14), nor are they being put in remembrance of what Jesus taught. They may remember some passage of Scripture and then claim that the Spirit put in on their heart. This is no sign of direct guidance of the Spirit as it allows for a very subjective interpretation as to the source of memory. This is like a lady who once interrupted the conversation to remind me that the Spirit just reminded her that where two or three or gathered in my name, there I am in the midst. Did the Spirit remind her or did she remember the words of the Spirit through the Scriptures? How is that to be tested? As far as the listener is concerned, I had no proof to verify the accuracy of her claim. Was it to be a sign and if so, what was it to signify? However, the apostles did not have the written gospels on their person to read and commit to memory. When they remembered the words of Jesus, they had a perfect and accurate recall of all he said to them.
The purpose for these gifted men was to “equip the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). The saints are equipped to serve through the work of Apostles, prophets (revelation), evangelists (foundational principles of the gospel of Christ), and pastors and teachers. As each serves, the people of God are being built up (edified). The apostles and prophets performed their work of revelation. They and the evangelists (like Philip) spread the gospel, confirmed and strengthened the souls of new saints for various lengths of time. Yet, all of these gifts of men are found in different locations throughout the Mediterranean world and abroad. They went from city to city and heralded the message of salvation that had been revealed. An example of an evangelist’s work is found in Titus 1:5 where Paul explains that he left Titus in Crete to set in order things lacking and ordain elders in every city. The New Testament shows Paul and his traveling companions moving from place to place. Some would be left behind, while others would be sent somewhere else by Paul.
Consequently, the universal body is built up as each individual member supplies a needed service toward its growth (Eph. 4:16). No service is done by proxy anymore than a member of our physical body hires another member to do their work. Yet, each service they render is dependent upon the other to be equipped for that service. The work is not exclusively given to the shepherds as they are equipping others for the same or similar service. Therefore, the appearance of brethren in any area has the look of individual saints, under the guidance of the Spirit, teaching/training others for service. Each member is taught and equipped to minister. The process of teaching is seen in 2 Tim. 2:2 where Paul tells Timothy that the things he had learned from Paul should be committed to “faithful men” who will be able to teach others also.
In an institution, we will see the working of an organization. In the “body of Christ,” we see the working of a living organism. In an institution, individuals physically come to receive spiritual blessings from a select few who have received training from a school designed to produce men who support the institution. The membership monetarily supports the institution in exchange of receiving the sanction and spiritual guidance from a professional hireling. The arrangement defeats the entire purpose of individual service required of all who are in the body in preference of a few “priestly” elders providing the need for the entire body. Regarding the gifts given (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers), these are not officials to be set in each local church organization. Rather, they are gifts given to edify each member of the living organism. All are given for the purpose of providing the needed spiritual guidance through teaching. The elders are not a board of directors who hire their job out to evangelists. They are equally involved in teaching to “equip each for the work of service.” They do not teach by “proxy” any more than a member of our physical bodies function by proxy.
The only school was the work of the Holy Spirit, who gave to each a gift as it pleased Him through the “laying on of the apostles’ hands” (1 Tim. 4:14, 2 Tim.1:6). In as much as there are no apostles to impart special gifts through the laying on of their hands, there are no evangelists like Timothy and no elders like first-century elders. Even if such existed, they would not be placed in the work of a local church organization.