Testing the Spirits: Inspiration Distinguished from Infallibility

Saint Paul instructs the Corinthian church that private inspiration must always be judged by general inspiration—no utterance deserves acceptance merely because it is spoken. Inspiration and infallibility are not identical. Elohim the Holy Ghost, as a sanctifying Spirit, dwells within human beings who possess partial sin; were He to do otherwise, He could not inhabit mankind at all. Therefore Paul declares that the spirits of the prophets must remain subject to the prophets themselves. The afflatus (divine breath) is not irresistible; a man is not to be swept away by his gift but must master it and bear responsibility for it.

Neglect of this principle has bred fanaticism. The ecstatic state in Corinth became so pleasurable, and the admiration so readily procured, that many squandered life in display rather than steady service. Uncontrolled religious feeling mingles mere animal sensation with Divine movement—a perilous condition. As feelings intensify, discipline becomes essential. When religious life degenerates into mere indulgence of feeling, the believer weakens rather than strengthens.

Yet Paul does not forbid speaking in tongues. He recognizes that part is true and part is error: the true belongs to Elohim's Spirit. Cold, intellectual men who reject all feeling err equally, for only the Spirit can interpret the Spirit. The church must prefer gifts useful to others over those drawing admiration to self, and seek unity of heart rather than brilliance of display.