De Moor IX:10: The Angelic Faculty of Power, Part 3

Quite pleasing to me are those things that the Reverend STARINGH,[1] in his Bybels zakelyk Woordenboek, on the term SCHELLE, part 7, section 2, page 193b, recently commented on the cited passage of Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:1, concerning the Tongues of Angels:  “I take the verb λαλῶ, I speak, with that emphatic signification, which it has elsewhere and also in this Epistle of Paul, concerning the Speaking of the Word of God, the preaching of the Gospel, and thus concerning attendance upon that great errand upon which the Apostles had been sent.  By τὰς γλώσσας τῶν ἀνθρώπων, the tongues of men, I understand the diverse languages of whatever peoples that are under the whole heaven.  By τὰς γλώσσας τῶν ἀγγέλων, the tongues of angels, I simply understand the faculty of setting forth the Word of God in those strange Tongues of Men in a manner agreeable to its excellence and gravity, as Angels, consummately illuminated, would do, if they were furnished with bodies and the organs of speech, and were sent forth for this ministry; and actually have done, as often as they have been sent forth by God for this.  This faculty was absolutely necessary for the Apostles:  That of the Tongues of the Men, if they, going forth into the whole world, were going to preach the Gospel to all creatures; that of the Tongues of Angels, if their preaching was not to be mocked as if it were μωρολογία, foolish talking;[2] and, if, on the other hand, with the force of persuasion they were to prevail in commending Evangelical truths to the consciences of men.  Therefore, this also had been given to them on the great day of Pentecost:  Not just the Gift of many Human Languages; but also the faculty of setting forth in them the momentous objects that they were treating, with such force of weighty eloquence, as if they were Angels that were speaking.  Whence also the Strangers from whatever regions were astonished, that they were hearing them speak, ἕκαστος τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἑαυτῶν διαλέκτῳ, each in his own language; but also that they heart them in them speaking τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Θεοῦ, the wonderful works of God, Acts 2:6-11.”  Out of the observations made on 1 Corinthians 13:1 by the most illustrious ODÉ in the passage cited and the reverend STARINGH in the words just now recounted, more easily precluded is the Objection of Löers, arguing from that passage of Paul for the Bodies of Angels:  “All hyperbole in this passage is to be rejected, both, because the Tongues of Angels and of men are conjoined, so that one admitting or rejecting one ought to admit or reject both:  and also, because that appears inept and ridiculous, if the Apostle had wished to compare that which actually exists with the being of reason, namely, the speech of man, who is not mute, with the speech of Angels, who are mute:  and finally, those excuses, which are used as a pretext for hyperbole, are devoid of all excuse; for, that Angels both speak and are articulate, all history speaks for them; however many Angels appeared to me, they spoke:”  for the refutation of which the most illustrious ODÉ in the passage cited labors:  more successfully, I say, than if we should simply say with the illustrious VITRINGA, Commenatione on 1 Corinthians 13:1, 2, § 13, Symbolis literariis, tome 2, part 1, pages 21, 22:  “It hardly appears doubtful, that the Apostle here speaks figuratively and hyperbolically, and these words (καὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων, and of Angels) were added by Paul merely to augment the meaning, so that the sense of the Apostolic expression might be altogether pain:  if one should speak with the tongues of men, and if there were any more excellent than the tongues of men, he would even speak in the very tongues of the Angels, if one be allowed to suppose that Angels have any tongues; yet whoever he may be, if lacking charity, he is a tinkling cymbal….  But such hyperboles are quite common in Paul, when he wishes to add singular weight to his expression, as in Galatians 1:8, if an Angel from heaven should preach any other Gospel, etc., said hyperbolically, because something of this sort is not able to be expected from a heavenly Angel….  Therefore, this saying of the Apostle pertains only to the gravity and weight of the sentence, namely, those things that obtain among Angels are always reckoned to be more excellent than those that obtain among men.  For, the former are positioned by God in more sublime degree of perfection and glory, so that, if tongues should obtain among them, those would also have to be more perfect than the tongues of men, in accordance with the hypothesis, that they also would more elegantly express their thoughts in these tongues, than men are commonly wont to do; the Apostle, hypothetically considering this one thing, says, though I speak with the tongues of Angels.”

[1] Jacobus Gerardus Staringh (1717-1804) was a Dutch Reformed minister and scholar, serving at Gouderak.

[2] Ephesians 5:4:  “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking (μωρολογία), nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”