DHK,
"If it is a distinct possibility that Paul spoke with the tonges of angels (which it isn't), then logically it is a distinct possiblity that Paul "had all knowledge" a claim to deity which is blasphemous."
We have already gone round and round about 3 times on that, and I have used the scriptures to show your view to be wrong.
Rather than type out a long response
yet again, here is one of my posts again from much earlier in this thread...
DHK,
Here again is the passage of scripture that speaks of some brothers and sisters being able to speak a heavenly language by means of the gifting of the Holy Spirit...
(bolding mine)
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
You say that the little word "all" is to be taken *literally*, meaning that Paul means by the word "all" that he is saying... "If I were Almighty God with complete and total knowlege of this subject as completly as God knows it."
This is
in spite of the fact that these passages of scripture...and there are of course hundreds if not thousands of others as well...that use the word
all in *precisely* the same way...
I have become all things to all people"
"Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches"
"Indeed, I have all and abound"
"Because of the word that the woman testified, 'he told me all that I ever did'."
...and in
none of those cases is the word "all" to be taken as you want to take the word "all" in the 1st passage
In adition...why are you choosing to ignore the passages that do no use that word?
"Though I speak with the tongues of men"
He doeasnt say "ALL the tongues of ALL mean, as if I were God Himself"
"though I have the gift of prophecy"
He doesnt say "have ALL the gift of prophecy that is possible, as if I were God Himself"
" though I give my body to be burned"
Nothing about being God Almighty there. Simply being a martyr.
Paul makes no great and mighty claim with those, just like he makes no great and mighty claim regarding having knowledge, having faith, or understanding mysteries. He is
clearly bringing up many many things which are
possible for us to participate in...including speaking in a heavenly language by gifting of the Holy Spirit...and he is making the point that all of it is secondary to love.
Nothing that you have posted disturbs
in the least bit the point that the scriptures, and those such as myself and several others on this thread are making, regarding the gift of tongues. You are taking the interpretation
of men regarding these passages, found in
some commentaries and in
some denominational seminaries...men who for whatever reasons are
biased against these gifts...and imo taking
their word for it, rather than simply
reading the scriptures as written by God.
This is
exactly what the Catholics do regarding what they are told they must believe from the Hierarchy of their false church!
I'm not trying to put you down in the least, brother. I'll
proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with you in any number of situations...as
you know I have in other threads here at this fine forum site(such as the Catholic ones)...and if some heathen or pagan wants to go toe to toe with you they will have me to deal with as well. I'll "have your back" as the kids say.
But so many brothers and sisters on this thread have given scripture after scripture after scripture after scripture after scripture, and yet you say things like "you have offered no scriptural proof".
Yes we have. Over and over again.
In His love,
Mike</font>[/QUOTE]There...now that was a whole lot easier that typing it all out again!
Grace and peace,
Mike