The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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In a world where people accepted the miraculous power of pagan gods, the God of the Bible
was presented first and foremost as a God who works miracles. His power was declared to be
greater than the power of the pagan gods. It was a power for good, not evil, and it promised
eternal life.
MacMullen points out that in the early centuries very few pagans were converted because of
Christian doctrine or because of logical presentations of truth. Christianity swept through the
Roman Empire because the people could see with their own eyes that Jesus did miracles greater
than any gods they had known.
Christian preachers in those days were so sure of the power of God that they did not hesitate
to engage in power encounters. They would challenge in public the power of pagan gods with the
power of Jesus.
For instance, MacMullen tells of how the author of Acts of Peter confronted and challenged
demons in the presence of a highly interested crowd. This involved "the manhandling of demons--
humiliating them, making them howl, begging for mercy, telling their secrets, and departing in a
hurry." 5 By the time the Christian preachers got through, no one would want to worship such
"nasty, lower powers." 6
MacMullen concludes his careful study with the fact that the supernatural power of God
"driving all competition from the field" should be seen as "the chief instrument of conversion" in
those first centuries. 7
Historical research is showing that there never was a time when miracles ceased, especially on
the frontiers where the gospel of the Kingdom was proclaimed to new people.
In the immediate post-apostolic age there was no distinction between the natural and
supernatural or extraordinary gifts. Apostles and prophets are mentioned in the Didache (The
Teaching of the Twelve) which was written before A.D. 100. Apostleship, in the broader sense,
was not regarded as unique to the apostolic period. Miracles, especially healings, do not call for
special notice as though they were unusual or extraordinary. Ignatius (A.D. 35-107), personally
prophesied. 8
A Phrygian physician named Alexander was "not without a share of the apostolic grace
[charisma]. 9 Papias (A.D. 60-130), bishop of Heirapolis in Phrygia, is said to have been told by
the daughters of Philip of the resuscitation of a man from the dead. 10