The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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It is God’s purpose to reveal Himself through His Word—not apart from His Word. <strong>The</strong>refore it<br />
is no more possible for one to have <strong>the</strong> prophetic gift now than to add o<strong>the</strong>r inspired books to <strong>the</strong><br />
canon. 17<br />
Merit: This view preserves <strong>the</strong> unique divine authority <strong>of</strong> Scripture. 18<br />
Problem: This view is difficult to prove exegetically. Some supporters cite I Corinthians<br />
13:8-10, where Paul wrote: “Love never fails. But where <strong>the</strong>re are prophecies, <strong>the</strong>y will cease;<br />
where <strong>the</strong>re are tongues, <strong>the</strong>y will be stilled; where <strong>the</strong>re is knowledge, it will pass away. For we<br />
know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, <strong>the</strong> imperfect disappears.” <strong>The</strong><br />
interpretation here is that <strong>the</strong> cessation <strong>of</strong> prophecy occurs when <strong>the</strong> entire New Testament was<br />
completed. <strong>The</strong> “perfection” that was to come is <strong>the</strong> New Testament. <strong>The</strong> “imperfect” that was to<br />
disappear refers to <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> prophecy and tongues.<br />
<strong>The</strong> problem is that Paul clearly placed knowledge in <strong>the</strong> same category as prophecy and<br />
tongues. Are we to conclude that <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> speaking with knowledge ceased with <strong>the</strong> completion<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Testament? This does not seem likely. It seems that in <strong>the</strong> context Paul was not<br />
discussing Scripture. His contrast was more likely between <strong>the</strong> imperfect present age (when<br />
spiritual gifts are needed) and <strong>the</strong> eschatological eternal state (when many, if not all, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gifts<br />
will become irrelevant). “Perfection” refers to Christ’s second coming and <strong>the</strong> eventual moving<br />
into <strong>the</strong> eternal state. 19<br />
Supporters <strong>of</strong> this view also cite Rev. 22:18-19, which states: “I warn everyone who hears <strong>the</strong><br />
words <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prophecy <strong>of</strong> this book: If anyone adds anything to <strong>the</strong>m, God will add to him <strong>the</strong><br />
plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book <strong>of</strong> prophecy, God<br />
will take away from him his share in <strong>the</strong> tree <strong>of</strong> life and in <strong>the</strong> holy city, which are described in this<br />
book.”<br />
It is possible that <strong>the</strong>se statements warn against ei<strong>the</strong>r adding to or deleting from <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
New Testament. But most commentators understand <strong>the</strong>se warnings to refer only to <strong>the</strong> book <strong>of</strong><br />
Revelation, which is more plausible. <strong>The</strong> main problem with this view is <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> an explicit<br />
New Testament statement that revelation has ceased with <strong>the</strong> completion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Testament.<br />
Nor is <strong>the</strong>re an explicit New Testament statement concerning <strong>the</strong> cessation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> prophecy<br />
at <strong>the</strong> time that <strong>the</strong> New Testament was completed. 20<br />
4. <strong>The</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> prophecy, which does not include <strong>the</strong> receiving <strong>of</strong> contemporary divine<br />
revelation, is a permanent gift that remains available today. However, prophecy is <strong>the</strong><br />
application <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> principles revealed in <strong>the</strong> Word <strong>of</strong> God to human society. 21