PHILIP E. BLOSSER / CHARLES A. SULLIVAN
The Christian rite of tongues, especially the one practiced in the ancient city of Corinth, is shrouded in mystery and is a perpetual source of controversy, debates, and new solutions. This third volume of Speaking in Tongues: A Critical Historical Examination delves deeply into the rite practiced in Corinth, Alexandria, Rome, and beyond. It is an exploration that traverses through classical, Talmudic, Byzantine, medieval, Reformation, and modern sources to build a comprehensive portrait of the Corinthian assembly, its worship, and its problems. The results demonstrate that St. Paul was addressing liturgical problems between opposing groups with different languages and customs. This explanation is equal to or better than the theories of mystical utterances or glossolalia because of its rich documentation. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, academics, and the intellectually curious who appreciate a higher level of detail. The historical information is sure to prompt the reader to reconsider what tongues and interpreters meant to the earliest participants of the Corinthian assembly.
