Date

9-17-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)

Chair

Myron Kauk

Keywords

Glossolalia, Speaking in Tongues, Tongues, Prophecy, Spiritual Gifts, Gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Pneumatology, Spirit Baptism, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, First Corinthians, First Corinthians 12–14, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 14, Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Theology, Charismatic Theology, Charismatic Movement, Cessationism, Continuationism, Tongues as Human Languages, Human Languages, Prayer Language, Private Prayer Language, Interpretation of Tongues, Gift of Tongues, Gift of Prophecy, Prophetic Gifts, Spiritual Utterance, Pneumatika, Pneumatikon, Charismata, New Testament, Pauline Theology, Pauline Epistles, Apostle Paul, Biblical Exposition, Biblical Interpretation, Biblical Hermeneutics, Exegesis, Greek New Testament, Koine Greek, Early Christianity, Early Church, Church Fathers, Patristics, History of Tongues, History of Glossolalia, Acts, Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19, Day of Pentecost, Pentecost, Miraculous Gifts, Sign Gifts, Ecstatic Speech, Pagan Ecstasy, Corinthian Church, Corinth, Worship, Order in Worship, Corporate Worship, Edification, Church Edification, Spiritual Maturity, Revelation, Knowledge, The Perfect, First Corinthians 13:8–12, Initial Evidence, Initial Physical Evidence, Subsequent Baptism, Subsequent Experience, Subsequentialism, Pentecostal Doctrine, Assemblies of God, Classical Pentecostalism, Charismatic Gifts, Spiritual Gift Theology, Biblical Theology, New Testament Theology, Historical Theology

Disciplines

Religion

Abstract

The gifts of the Holy Spirit have been controversial throughout the ages. Many theologians, apologists, and church fathers have tried to clarify glossolalia. This dissertation is an exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 that argues that glossolalia is an actual human language that supports the gift of prophecy for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, but was being misused within the church at Corinth as ecstatic speech, which was not the valid biblical gift of glossolalia. It will demonstrate that this gift served as a divine means to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who spoke different languages before its cessation in history.

In order to accomplish this thesis, the dissertation will provide a historical context of the church of Corinth. The milieu and myriad of pagan religions in the area of the church of Corinth caused the confusion and misuse of legitimate spiritual gifts. Paul addressed this issue to guide them into the proper function of spiritual gifts and how they were to be exercised. Examining the practices and "gifts” of pagan religions in the time of the Corinthian letter provides valuable context for exegesis. Paul introduces the themes of unity, spiritual elitism, and wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1–2, using the terms pneumatikos to critique divisions within the community. This dissertation will demonstrate how Paul critiques the Corinthian pneumatikos in 1 Corinthians 12–14, who equated being spiritual with speaking in tongues, by contrasting their actions with his vision of true maturity characterized by love and the edification of the church. Elders in the Corinthian church held fast to human wisdom and speech and based a hierarchy of each other on things such as speech and spirituality. This misunderstanding led to an improper view of the true gifts of the Holy Spirit and resulted in the misuse of glossolalia and prophecy, which Paul emphasizes should work together to edify the church and proclaim Christ. The dissertation will show that love is the greatest gift by expositing Paul's use of metaphors. In 1 Corinthians 14, the understanding is placed on the edification of prophecy and tongues. The dissertation will show that prophecy and tongues seek to accomplish the same outcome. Tongues, once it is interpreted, will be shown to edify the church by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul's rhetoric to the Corinthians also determines what prophecy is within the age of the risen Christ. Prophecy will be demonstrated as the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and tongues will be shown as intelligible languages of the times that were translated so that others could understand. To support the exegetical findings that prophecy now involves spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and that tongues are intelligible languages capable of interpretation, the dissertation examines how the Holy Spirit is understood in the Old Testament, exploring how these perspectives would have informed Paul in his writings. It also considers why Paul could readily understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given their use since Old Testament times. Given this discussion, the dissertation will compare the findings to modern Pentecostal and charismatic beliefs concerning spiritual gifts such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing. The dissertation then discusses the application of the exegesis.

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