The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
122<br />
Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165), claimed that "it is possible now to see among us men and<br />
women who possess gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> <strong>of</strong> God." 11 In his "A Dialogue with Trypho" he claimed that<br />
<strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> prophecy existed among <strong>the</strong> Christians. He also felt that <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> which<br />
used to be manifested by <strong>the</strong> Jewish prophets were now <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church. This was<br />
evidenced by <strong>the</strong> cessation <strong>of</strong> Jewish prophets and <strong>the</strong> appearance <strong>of</strong> gifts among Christians. 12<br />
Origen refers to exorcisms, healings and predictions (prophecy). He claims that, while<br />
miracles are less frequent in his day (<strong>the</strong> third century) <strong>the</strong>y still remain "in <strong>the</strong>m that live<br />
according to <strong>the</strong> Logos." 13<br />
Irenaeus (A.D. 130-200) states that "many" in his time were heard "speaking through <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Spirit</strong> in all kinds <strong>of</strong> tongues." 14 In all probability he was referring to foreign languages, since <strong>the</strong><br />
early church fa<strong>the</strong>rs usually construed <strong>the</strong> tongues <strong>of</strong> I Corinthians in terms <strong>of</strong> languages <strong>of</strong> Acts<br />
2, which were foreign languages. He also says, "O<strong>the</strong>rs have foreknowledge <strong>of</strong> things to come:<br />
<strong>the</strong>y see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. O<strong>the</strong>rs still, heal <strong>the</strong> sick by laying <strong>the</strong>ir hands<br />
upon <strong>the</strong>m, and <strong>the</strong>y are made whole." 15 Hermas as well refers to prophets with visions,<br />
revelations and o<strong>the</strong>r prophetic utterances. 16<br />
Tertullian (A.D. 160-220), said: "We acknowledge spiritual gifts." He <strong>the</strong>n went on to list<br />
prophecy, revelation and visions as examples, and concluded that "<strong>the</strong> apostle most assuredly<br />
foretold that <strong>the</strong>re were to be 'spiritual gifts' in <strong>the</strong> church." 17 Although he witnessed extraordinary<br />
gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>, <strong>the</strong>ir manifestation was waning.<br />
Tertullian and o<strong>the</strong>rs attributed this decrease to <strong>the</strong> increasing formalism <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church. As<br />
a strong defender <strong>of</strong> orthodox <strong>Christianity</strong> he vigorously maintained that spiritual gifts constituted<br />
<strong>the</strong> full Christian experience and challenged his skeptical contemporaries by citing <strong>the</strong> apostle<br />
Paul. 18<br />
Unfortunately Tertullian became a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Montanist movement, a reform movement<br />
which protested against <strong>the</strong> religious establishment urging a return to apostolic purity with a<br />
revival <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>. Zealous missionary pioneers and martyrs sprang forth from this<br />
movement. But <strong>the</strong>ir zeal and reckless enthusiasm antagonized <strong>the</strong> church leaders and many <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>m fell into fanaticism and heresy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> church thus became wary <strong>of</strong> supernatural manifestations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>. It was <strong>the</strong> typical<br />
overreaction against fanaticism which served to tighten fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> ecclesiastical control against<br />
which <strong>the</strong> Montanists were protesting. 19