The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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