The signs of the Great Commission
Snake-handling?
Another passage that some use to substantiate the claim that tongues is not for all believers is the following:
Mark 16:14-18
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (NIV)
They argue that since not all believers pick up snakes and drink deadly poison, then neither is tongues is a sign that will accompany all believers. However, this verse 18 has to be the most poorly-translated verse I have ever seen. I looked up verse 18 in the Greek and found that the green word for “when” can be translated as “if”. King James concurs:
|
And these signs
shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; |
||
|
They shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover. |
This rendering would be congruent with Christ’s response the Devil’s temptation to jump off a cliff.
Matt 4:6-7
6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (NIV)
Jesus did not seek out deadly poison to drink, and neither should we. However, if we do by accident—in the course of doing God’s will, then it will not harm us.
Acts 28:1-6
1 Once
safely on shore, we found out that the island was called
2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.
3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
(NIV)
Speaking of snakes, the phrase above in red (regarding the snakes) is represented in Greek with only two words: “chier” and “ophis”. Let’s look at Strong’s and Thayer’s definitions of these words.
pick up with their hands -5495 cheir (khire); perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively [power]; especially [by Hebraism] a means or instrument):
KJV-- hand.
Thayer’s Greek definition speaks of God’s (or anyone’s) power:
5495 cheir-
1) by the help or agency of any one, by means of anyone
2) figuratively applied to God symbolizing His might, activity, power
a) in creating the universe
b) in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one)
c) in punishing
d) in determining and controlling the destinies of men
serpents -3789 ophis (of'-is); probably from 3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan: KJV-- serpent.
I am not a Greek translator, but I see a word that speaks of God’s power followed by a word that can be translated as “Satan”. Applying the power of God to the works of the devil is a sign that should follow all believers. Here is a translation that is easier to understand since it does not rely upon an antiquated idiom:
18 they will apply the power of God to [the works of] the devil; and if they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (NIV)
I put [the works of] in brackets to clarify that we all do not interact with the devil himself, since he is only one created being who can only be in one place at one time. When Jesus interacted with the devil himself, Satan’s identity is clearly stated. However, in most cases of demonic interaction, Jesus and His disciples rebuked a demon; one of Satan’s minions.
Acts
10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and
how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil,
because God was with him.
Matthew
10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out
evil[ 10:1 Greek unclean] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew
10 In context: Matthew
10:1-2)
Handling Satan
So, it appears that my translation of the “handling snakes” idiom is consistent with the other scriptures, but not with any other translation that I am aware of. This one is funny:
|
They will be able to handle
snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt
them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them." |
Like many other translations, it speaks of “handling” ophis (snake, or satan). Casting out devils is one thing, but having the power to “handle” them is something more.
Matthew 4
43"When an evil[6] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.
John 5
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Indeed, continuing in deliverance is even more important than initially receiving it. That is why the preaching of repentance from all sin is essential to healing and deliverance ministry.
Mark 6
12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Matthew 10
7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
8Heal the sick, raise the
dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[1]
drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Whole Chapter: Matthew
10 In context: Matthew
10:7-9)
Acts
14:3
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the
Lord, who confirmed the message of
his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
(Whole Chapter: Acts
14 In context: Acts
14:2-4)
Romans
15:19
by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So
from
(Whole Chapter: Romans
15 In context: Romans
15:18-20)