7F00,0000,0000I am presently doing an in depth study of the "arguments" of cessation and non-cessation. I checked the archives but was unable to come up with the specific information I was looking for. Realizing that this particular subject has caused a great deal of division I will ask the questions specifically. Quoting from a document of my study: FF00,0000,0000(1 Cor 13:8 KJV) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Times New Roman 1. prophecy will be done away Sgreekprofhtei=ai katarghqh/sontai Times New Roman 2. tongues will cease Sgreekglw=ssai pau/sontai Times New Roman 3. knowledge will be done away Sgreekgnw=sij katarghqh/setaiTimes New Roman It should be clear from these three phrases that prophecy, tongues and knowledge are temporary gifts; however, we are not told when these three gifts will cease to function, and we are not told why they will cease to function. Now let's examine the grammatical construction of the verbs used to indicate the temporary nature of these three gifts. Sgreek Times New Roman(prophecy) Sgreekkatarghqh/sontai Times New Roman3rd person plural, future passive indicativeSgreek Times New Roman(tongues) Sgreekpau/sontai 3Times New Romanrd person plural, future middle indicativeSgreek Times New Roman(knowledge) Sgreekkatarghqh/setai Times New Roman3rd person singular, future passive indicativeSgreek Times New RomanThere are two major and significant differences in the three verbs used to indicate the temporary nature of these three spiritual gifts: out1. The root verb used with the temporary gift of tongues is different from the root verb used with the other two temporary gifts. out out2. The verb used with tongues is in the "middle voice" while the verb used with both prophecy and knowledge is in the "passive voice." What is the significance of the middle voice as opposed to the passive voice? out1. The middle voice, used with tongues, indicates that the gift of tongues would work against itself to bring about its own termination. out out2. The passive voice, used with prophecy and knowledge, means that the subject receives the action of the main verb. out FF00,0000,0000ArialMy question concerning the aforementioned: Is the aforementioned exegesis proper and correct ?Times New Roman Secondly from the same document: Should Tongues Really be Coveted?: 1 Corinthians 12:31 left1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (KJV) This verse presents a problem for anyone who is translating from the original Greek language. The very first word in the Greek sentence is the word Sgreekzhlou=te,Times New Roman and herein lies the problem. This word can be correctly translated in three different ways.Sgreek Times New Roman Sgreekzhlou=teTimes New Roman second person plural, present active imperative Sgreekzhlou=te Times New Romansecond person plural, present active subjunctiveSgreek zhlou=te Times New Romansecond person plural, present active indicative Each of these grammatical constructions has its own translation. For example: Sgreekzhlou=teTimes New Roman second person plural, present active imperative out The imperative mood is a command, and this translation would demand the force of a command. Unfortunately, this word is translated as a command in the English King James Version, the English New American Standard Version and the English New International Version and Living Letters. Each reads as follows: out King James: "covet earnestly" out New American Standard: "earnestly desire" out New international Version: "eagerly desire" out Living Letters: "try your best to get" Sgreekzhlou=te Times New Romansecond person plural, present active subjunctiveSgreek outTimes New Roman The subjunctive mood recognizes the free will of the individual and then points them in a desired direction. Unfortunately, this word is translated in this manner in the New English Bible. It reads as follows: out New English Bible: "you should aim at" Sgreek zhlou=te Times New Romansecond person plural, present active indicative out No English version of the Bible translates this verb to reflect the indicative mood. To reflect the indicative mood, this verb would be translated in the following manner: out King James: "you are coveting earnestly" out New American Standard: "you are earnestly desiring" out New International Version: "you are eagerly desiring" out Living Letters: "you are trying your best to get" out Only the indicative mood properly reflects the polemic nature of 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. The polemic nature, then, demands that 1 Corinthians 12:31 be understood as Paul exposing a problem in the church at Corinth, namely, the abuse of the gift of tongues. He was not commanding them to seek after a specific gift, namely, tongues. out It is interesting that a footnote on 1 Corinthians 12:31 in the New International Version is the only reference in any modern English version wherein an appropriate translation is rendered. This footnote reads as follows: out New International Version: "But you are eagerly desiring" Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 12:31 does not command present day believers to seek the gift of tongues. In fact, when properly translated, this verse accuses the Corinthian believers of wrongfully seeking the tongues gift. 7F00,0000,0000Same questions as above. If you have websites or expositions on this subject.. I would appreciate the input to my personal e mail addy. That way we can stick to the greek in reference to the two verses and the propsed exegesis of them. thanks Pastor Dan Oglesby http://www.crcc-oca.org --- B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-329W@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu