Cessationism: Tongues, Prophecy, and the Gift of Miracles Have Ceased.

[David Kent]

Does his church speak in tongues only when an interpreter is present?

Does a whole bunch of people in his church speak in tongues all at the same time?

How can one interpret gibberish?

 

[David Kent]

In my view, if more accepted the gifts of the Spirit as described in Corinthians, they would have far less doctrinal error. I disagree with your thinking

It seems to me that when people accept the so called gifts, they have more doctrinal error. Most if not all are members of Churches together who accept any doctrine.

 

[rockytopva]

Short testimony confessing to the miraculous...

Lady speaking in tongues at my church....

 

[Timothy416]

It seems to me that when people accept the so called gifts, they have more doctrinal error. Most if not all are members of Churches together who accept any doctrine.

I was thinking more of these kind of websites when I wrote that. Many seem to have made a God out of head theology, and have a trinity more akin to Father, Son and the bible. And they appear to have some very strange doctrines that I have seldom if ever heard in churches.
But I would agree there are churches who promote the gifts that do not have doctrine in my view they should have(just my view) but they are not alone there are they

 

[NeedyFollower]

Cessationism:
Tongues, Prophecy, and the Gift of Miracles Have Ceased.
(Note: This does not mean miracles have ceased, but it means that the gift of healing or the gift of miraculous gifts and prophecy as seen in the early church has ceased).

Important Note:
Please keep in mind that I am not claiming that all brothers and sisters are automatically liars if they believe they have done genuine miracles or they have seen what they believe to be genuine miracles. I am always open to the possibility that God may operate miraculously today on rare occasions. I am also aware that I am human and fallible and I would not want to speak against the true working of the power of God today. So unless I see or witness a group's miracles and beliefs, I am not claiming all who claim to be working by God's power today are not genuine. In fact, there is a brother I feel close with who believes that he operates by God's power and miracles. I cannot honestly say how God is operating in His life. But yet I know the Bible tells me that miraculous gifts have ceased, though. Perhaps for us, it is a matter of perspective. In either case, here is my Biblical case for Cessationism (The ceasing of miraculous gifts given to the apostles).​

1. Tongues and prophecy have ceased ~ 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Verse 8 says, “...whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;” and verse 8 says, “whether there be tongues, they shall cease;” The question is when do tongues and prophecies cease? Verse 10 says “ when that which is perfect is come”; And verse 11 says, “when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Are we going to be children (and not men) upon this Earth until Christ takes us home?
   
   
2. Both 1 Corinthians 13 and James 1 describe something that is “perfect” and “looking into a mirror.” In 1 Corinthians 13, that which is “perfect” (neuter in the Greek) fits the reference to the “Perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25) (Which would also be neuter). The law of the Lord is “perfect” (Psalms 19:7). All Scripture (the Bible) is profitable so that the man of God may be “perfect” unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). James 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 both describe the Bible as a mirror/glass that we see our reflection in. Some people look into a mirror and forget their physical appearance. Some people look into the Bible mirror and forget their spiritual appearance. Therefore, Glass / Mirror = Perfect = The Word of God. 1 Corinthians 13:12 describes the "perfect" as a glass mirror, just as James 1:23 does. 2 Corinthians 3:18 also shows the glass, and hence the perfect to be the Word of God, which transforms us. It says: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (Also see verse 15 in the same chapter). As we look into God's Word and we see Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the very image of Jesus Christ. "We all" means all believers, seeing in the Bible/glass, the glory of the Lord. "Open face" means that we can hide nothing from God; We must be open and honest with Him.
   
   
3. Tongues were for a sign that the Jews looked for. 1 Corinthians 1:22 says, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” But Jesus says, “ An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;” (Matthew 12:39). Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1 Corinthians 14:22). "In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people (Jews); and yet for all that (all the tongues) will they (Jews) not hear me (warning ignored), saith the Lord". 1 Corinthians 14:21. Tongues here clearly are a warning to the Jews that they ignore. 1 Corinthians 14:21 is quoting from Deuteronomy 28:49 where God warns of judgment coming from "a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand."
   
   
4. The three greatest prophets and miracle workers in the Bible are Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. We see that the miracles that they performed were a way to authenticate them as a messenger from GOD and the Word of God that they provided (that would be immortalized into Scripture). We notice that after each of these prophets, there was a time of silence where no miracles were done. Just like with the prophets Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, miracles authenticated the apostles' message as from God. "And they (apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs (tongues, prophecies, healing, etc.) following. Amen." Mark 16:20. Today the need for tongues and miracles has ceased. God has authenticated the apostles and the New Testament that they penned. This proves the temporary nature of tongues and miracles.
   
   
5. We can see that after the book of Acts, the gifts no longer operated in Paul’s life like they once had. The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Acts—the 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either aren’t mentioned at all or we see—as with the gift of healing—that they were no longer operating in Paul’s life. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn’t heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts (See this article here for the full explanation).
   
   
6. Notice that both 1 Corinthians 13:11 and Ephesians 4:13 equate attaining fullness of knowledge with becoming a perfect or mature man. What have childish things got to do with temporary gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge? Answer: Paul is comparing a human advancing from childhood to adulthood, with the church passing from infancy in the first century marked by prophecy, tongues and knowledge gifts to maturity marked by believers depending on the Bible, faith, hope and charity from 96 AD to the rapture. By 96 AD the childish gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge had ceased, and church manhood had been reached. A man comes to fulness of the knowledge of Christ by Scripture; For all Scripture is profitable for doctrine that the man of God may be perfect unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). (Note: Back in the early church, the gift of knowledge was the giving of special revelation of either history, and or doctrine that the apostles did not have on their own; In the OT, Moses received the gift of knowledge to pen the details of history in the Torah; In the NT, Certain men of God (in the early church) had received new knowledge from God to teach new doctrine, like Peter, James, John, and Paul etc. so as to write inspired Scripture).
   
   
7. While God can heal people directly Himself today, the gift of miracles is not given to any one believer that we know today. No Charismatic can always heal. Yet, the Bible says that they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. This means 100% recovery all the time. No one can do this today, as the apostles could in Acts 5:12-16. "By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.....they (believers) brought forth the sick into the streets.....and they were healed every one". (Acts 5:16).
   
   
8. New revelation (prophecy) or new words from God are not to be added (Revelation 22:18-19). If a person were to add to God’s Word, the plagues that are within the book known as the Bible (not the plagues in Revelation) would be added to them. We have occurrences of this actually happening. See these two links here: Bible Correctors lose Voice Bible Corrector Loses Voice on Ankerberg Show
   
   
9. The Apostles and Prophets were merely the foundation built upon the foundation of Jesus. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;” (Ephesians 2:18-20). We are said to have access by one Spirit unto the Father that is build upon the “foundation” of the apostles and prophets. Being an apostle is a gift (See 1 Corinthians 12:28-31). The qualifications of being an apostle was to have seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ (See Acts of the Apostles 1:22-26). Paul said he met the qualifications as being an apostle because he had seen the risen Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:1 “…Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Paul called himself the “last prophet.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Paul says that God has set forth the apostles last (1 Corinthians 14:9).

10. The context of I Corinthians is rebuking 13 errors, such as tongues, and it is not recommending tongues. The Corinthian church was filled with problems that Paul corrects in this book, such as:​

(a) They were following their favourite human leaders causing divisions. 1:11-14
(b) " " favouring human wisdom. 1:18-2:13
(c) " " carnal, living for self, not controlled by the Spirit. 2:14-3:7
(d) " " forgetting the future Judgment Seat of Christ. 3:8-23
(e) " " proud, thinking of themselves more highly than they ought. 4:1-21
(f) " " failing to discipline, by tolerating a fornicator. 5:1-13
(g) " " taking fellow believers to court. 6:1-20
(h) " " confused about marriage. 7:1-40
(i) " " confused about liberty thinking it meant licence to do as they please, even stumbling others. 8 ,9 ,10.
(j) " " confused about clothing, long hair on men and Lord's Supper. 11
(k). " " confused about spiritual gifts, especially tongues. 12-14
(l) " " confused about the resurrection. 15
(m) " " confused about the collection. 16
​

As we can see the Corinthian church was deep in error and false doctrine. It was the only church that emphasized tongues as today's Charismatics do. Charismatics therefore place themselves in very bad company. Charismatics fail to understand that Paul is not endorsing tongues, but is rebuking the wrong use of tongues and is strongly regulating tongues contrary to today's Charismatics. Today's emphasis on assemblies with more than on person speaking at the same time is plainly wrong (1 Corinthians 14:27). Paul feared that even one person speaking in tongues without proper interpretation would give the appearance of barbarians or insanity (1 Corinthians 14:11) (1 Corinthians 14:23). What would he think of today's mass hysteria? Today's spontaneous, wild use outside of Scriptural limits is wrong. The gift of prophecy, far superior in every way to tongues, was under the control of the prophets For it is written: “Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.” (1 Corinthians 14:32) (NLT). So Paul's repeated instructions about the right use of the gift of tongues required it to be a very controllable gift, not a force or power controlling the user. Paul valued 5 words with the understanding rather than 10,000 words without the understanding (i.e. tongues)! So Preaching is far superior in God's purpose and for the churches' profit (1 Corinthians 14:19) (1 Corinthians 14:39). The gifts had a purpose and a place in time. They were to authenticate the church and the New Covenant. But seeing that which is "perfect" has come (the Bible), we do not need any more revelation. The Bible has all the revelation or instruction that we need today.​

Yes , the Corinthian Church was still very carnal and remember it was very , very Greek . ( Are ye still not carnal ...babes in Christ ? Are ye still not MEN ? ( Interesting choice of words from Paul .) It reminds me of America today ( we get the concept of a republic and democracy both from Greece which was adopted by Rome . ..not to mention the idolatry of sports ...greece . )
Regarding the gifts of the spirit , I don't see a biblical justification for the cessation of the gifts . I think it far more likely that we don't possess enough humility for the Spirit to manifest Himself in that way . We are just too full of ourselves to full of Christ . And of these manifestations have/do happen in some third world countries in modern times ...a TRULY humble Christian would not publicize it ... No brother , my belief for what it is worth is that we think belief and faith are the same and they are not .
I agree with you regarding the false display of "gifts" of many of the charismatic groups but the enemy of the truth is known to appear as an angel of light to disparage the ONE who he hates .

 

[rockytopva]

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. - 1 Corinthians 14:39

There is nothing in the Word of God to forbid the speaking of tongues.

 

[W2L]

Yes, the gift of knowledge (i.e. the writing of NT Scripture) has ceased.

Yes no scripture for 2000 years. This doesnt seem to support the notion of modern apostles and prophets.

 

[1stcenturylady]

God can make changes. In the Old Covenant, you could not eat unclean animals. Yet, in the New Covenant, you can. Jesus first told his disciples to preach to Isreal, and not to go the Gentiles yet. After the resurrection, this changed. Jesus is also the embodiment of change, too. God had never before came into this world by way of a human birth except by Jesus.

The Old Covenant ended. The New Covenant was also given to the Gentiles, who previously represented unclean meat. Two different covenants.

Nothing ended in the first covenant and the law until all was fulfilled, and the same goes for the New Covenant and everything doing with the Spirit.

 

[Chris V++]

lways. There were miracles in the Acts of the Apostles along with the preaching. Again, the Gospel always comes with the Power of God this includes the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit turning such a worm as me dead in my trespasses and sins making alive in Christ Jesus, Praise be to His Holy Name.

Exactly! I never would have repented, confessed, or became regenerated unless I was compelled to belief by God revealing Himself thru a precise coordinated sequence of events unfolding in conjunction with the preaching of Christians in my life at the time. I think of these coordinated events as little miracles but unbelievers would write them off as coincidences. I at least know for certain that the Holy Spirit does work thru people in that regard.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Every now and again someone brings out all the old chestnuts to try and make the Bible say what they want it to say. All they can do is to cobble a number of unrelated verses out of their normal context to "shoehorn" the Bible into their own theology. Anyone can ignore the normal rules of hermeneutics to make the Bible support their prejudicial views.

The reality is that millions of believers who believe that divine healing and tongues are for today, and use these gifts for the betterment of others, will treat these cessationist views as the ramblings of those who are just repeating parrot-fashion what their cessationist mentors have drummed into them.

The fact is, there is no Scripture that plainly says that these gifts have ceased. All these scribblers can produce is half an obscure verse that doesn't say anything substantive. Quoting half a verse to support a doctrine is just bad hermeneutics - any competent Bible scholar will tell you that.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yes no scripture for 2000 years. This doesnt seem to support the notion of modern apostles and prophets.

Show me someone today who has given us revelation or visions or prophecy that is on par with John's Revelation or the other books of the Bible. Has someone made predictions that always come true 100% of the time? Where are they today? Do their predictions seek to glorify Christ in some way or do they uplift themselves?

 

[W2L]

Show me someone today who has given us revelation or visions or prophecy that is on par with John's Revelation or the other books of the Bible. Has someone made predictions that always come true 100% of the time? Where are they today? Do their predictions seek to glorify Christ in some way or do they uplift themselves?

Sorry, you misunderstood my post i think. I dont believe in modern day apostles and prophets.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Show me someone today who has given us revelation or visions or prophecy that is on par with John's Revelation or the other books of the Bible. Has someone made predictions that always come true 100% of the time? Where are they today? Do their predictions seek to glorify Christ in some way or do they uplift themselves?

This makes me think of when Jesus was sent to Herod, and Herod was glad to see Him because he expected Jesus to perform some miracle in front of him. Trouble is that Jesus didn't perform a miracle to try and prove Himself to someone who was just wanting a display to prove something. I don't think that anyone has to prove anything to satisfy skeptics.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Exactly! I never would have repented, confessed, or became regenerated unless I was compelled to belief by God revealing Himself thru a precise coordinated sequence of events unfolding in conjunction with the preaching of Christians in my life at the time. I think of these coordinated events as little miracles but unbelievers would write them off as coincidences. I at least know for certain that the Holy Spirit does work thru people in that regard.

I am not denying that miracles can happen today. What I am saying is that the gifts of a believer having like say the gift of healing, prophecy, etc. is for today. God can certainly heal people, but I believe this is either by prayer or by His call and choosing. There is nobody today who healed like Paul and Peter did. Find me a Christian today who can tell a cripple man since birth to be healed just by speaking to him. Find me a Christian whose clothes can heal others. Find me a Christian whose shadow can heal others.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Sorry, you misunderstood my post i think. I dont believe in modern day apostles and prophets.

Ah, okay. Copy that.

 

[Chris V++]

I've never experienced speaking in tongues, so I 'm not really qualified to comment. I was told once that tongues is a necessary sign of being a true Christian which didn't seem right since not all the first Christians had the same gifts in Acts, so why would everyone at present have to express the same gifts? I don't doubt some can heal either, or that prayer can heal, but you have a point that the apostles seemed to have the healing more 'on demand.'

 

[Bible Highlighter]

This makes me think of when Jesus was sent to Herod, and Herod was glad to see Him because he expected Jesus to perform some miracle in front of him. Trouble is that Jesus didn't perform a miracle to try and prove Himself to someone who was just wanting a display to prove something. I don't think that anyone has to prove anything to satisfy skeptics.

It's not a matter of doubting God can do miracles. I certainly believe God can heal today and do miracles. But I do not think He operates in the way of miracles by gifting certian individuals to heal, etc.

 

[Monk Brendan]

Cessationism:
Tongues, Prophecy, and the Gift of Miracles Have Ceased.
(Note: This does not mean miracles have ceased, but it means that the gift of healing or the gift of miraculous gifts and prophecy as seen in the early church has ceased).

Important Note:
Please keep in mind that I am not claiming that all brothers and sisters are automatically liars if they believe they have done genuine miracles or they have seen what they believe to be genuine miracles. I am always open to the possibility that God may operate miraculously today on rare occasions. I am also aware that I am human and fallible and I would not want to speak against the true working of the power of God today. So unless I see or witness a group's miracles and beliefs, I am not claiming all who claim to be working by God's power today are not genuine. In fact, there is a brother I feel close with who believes that he operates by God's power and miracles. I cannot honestly say how God is operating in His life. But yet I know the Bible tells me that miraculous gifts have ceased, though. Perhaps for us, it is a matter of perspective. In either case, here is my Biblical case for Cessationism (The ceasing of miraculous gifts given to the apostles).​

1. Tongues and prophecy have ceased ~ 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Verse 8 says, “...whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;” and verse 8 says, “whether there be tongues, they shall cease;” The question is when do tongues and prophecies cease? Verse 10 says “ when that which is perfect is come”; And verse 11 says, “when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Are we going to be children (and not men) upon this Earth until Christ takes us home?
   
   
2. Both 1 Corinthians 13 and James 1 describe something that is “perfect” and “looking into a mirror.” In 1 Corinthians 13, that which is “perfect” (neuter in the Greek) fits the reference to the “Perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25) (Which would also be neuter). The law of the Lord is “perfect” (Psalms 19:7). All Scripture (the Bible) is profitable so that the man of God may be “perfect” unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). James 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 both describe the Bible as a mirror/glass that we see our reflection in. Some people look into a mirror and forget their physical appearance. Some people look into the Bible mirror and forget their spiritual appearance. Therefore, Glass / Mirror = Perfect = The Word of God. 1 Corinthians 13:12 describes the "perfect" as a glass mirror, just as James 1:23 does. 2 Corinthians 3:18 also shows the glass, and hence the perfect to be the Word of God, which transforms us. It says: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (Also see verse 15 in the same chapter). As we look into God's Word and we see Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the very image of Jesus Christ. "We all" means all believers, seeing in the Bible/glass, the glory of the Lord. "Open face" means that we can hide nothing from God; We must be open and honest with Him.
   
   
3. Tongues were for a sign that the Jews looked for. 1 Corinthians 1:22 says, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” But Jesus says, “ An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;” (Matthew 12:39). Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1 Corinthians 14:22). "In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people (Jews); and yet for all that (all the tongues) will they (Jews) not hear me (warning ignored), saith the Lord". 1 Corinthians 14:21. Tongues here clearly are a warning to the Jews that they ignore. 1 Corinthians 14:21 is quoting from Deuteronomy 28:49 where God warns of judgment coming from "a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand."
   
   
4. The three greatest prophets and miracle workers in the Bible are Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. We see that the miracles that they performed were a way to authenticate them as a messenger from GOD and the Word of God that they provided (that would be immortalized into Scripture). We notice that after each of these prophets, there was a time of silence where no miracles were done. Just like with the prophets Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, miracles authenticated the apostles' message as from God. "And they (apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs (tongues, prophecies, healing, etc.) following. Amen." Mark 16:20. Today the need for tongues and miracles has ceased. God has authenticated the apostles and the New Testament that they penned. This proves the temporary nature of tongues and miracles.
   
   
5. We can see that after the book of Acts, the gifts no longer operated in Paul’s life like they once had. The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Acts—the 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either aren’t mentioned at all or we see—as with the gift of healing—that they were no longer operating in Paul’s life. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn’t heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts (See this article here for the full explanation).
   
   
6. Notice that both 1 Corinthians 13:11 and Ephesians 4:13 equate attaining fullness of knowledge with becoming a perfect or mature man. What have childish things got to do with temporary gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge? Answer: Paul is comparing a human advancing from childhood to adulthood, with the church passing from infancy in the first century marked by prophecy, tongues and knowledge gifts to maturity marked by believers depending on the Bible, faith, hope and charity from 96 AD to the rapture. By 96 AD the childish gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge had ceased, and church manhood had been reached. A man comes to fulness of the knowledge of Christ by Scripture; For all Scripture is profitable for doctrine that the man of God may be perfect unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). (Note: Back in the early church, the gift of knowledge was the giving of special revelation of either history, and or doctrine that the apostles did not have on their own; In the OT, Moses received the gift of knowledge to pen the details of history in the Torah; In the NT, Certain men of God (in the early church) had received new knowledge from God to teach new doctrine, like Peter, James, John, and Paul etc. so as to write inspired Scripture).
   
   
7. While God can heal people directly Himself today, the gift of miracles is not given to any one believer that we know today. No Charismatic can always heal. Yet, the Bible says that they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. This means 100% recovery all the time. No one can do this today, as the apostles could in Acts 5:12-16. "By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.....they (believers) brought forth the sick into the streets.....and they were healed every one". (Acts 5:16).
   
   
8. New revelation (prophecy) or new words from God are not to be added (Revelation 22:18-19). If a person were to add to God’s Word, the plagues that are within the book known as the Bible (not the plagues in Revelation) would be added to them. We have occurrences of this actually happening. See these two links here: Bible Correctors lose Voice Bible Corrector Loses Voice on Ankerberg Show
   
   
9. The Apostles and Prophets were merely the foundation built upon the foundation of Jesus. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;” (Ephesians 2:18-20). We are said to have access by one Spirit unto the Father that is build upon the “foundation” of the apostles and prophets. Being an apostle is a gift (See 1 Corinthians 12:28-31). The qualifications of being an apostle was to have seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ (See Acts of the Apostles 1:22-26). Paul said he met the qualifications as being an apostle because he had seen the risen Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:1 “…Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Paul called himself the “last prophet.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Paul says that God has set forth the apostles last (1 Corinthians 14:9).

10. The context of I Corinthians is rebuking 13 errors, such as tongues, and it is not recommending tongues. The Corinthian church was filled with problems that Paul corrects in this book, such as:​

(a) They were following their favourite human leaders causing divisions. 1:11-14
(b) " " favouring human wisdom. 1:18-2:13
(c) " " carnal, living for self, not controlled by the Spirit. 2:14-3:7
(d) " " forgetting the future Judgment Seat of Christ. 3:8-23
(e) " " proud, thinking of themselves more highly than they ought. 4:1-21
(f) " " failing to discipline, by tolerating a fornicator. 5:1-13
(g) " " taking fellow believers to court. 6:1-20
(h) " " confused about marriage. 7:1-40
(i) " " confused about liberty thinking it meant licence to do as they please, even stumbling others. 8 ,9 ,10.
(j) " " confused about clothing, long hair on men and Lord's Supper. 11
(k). " " confused about spiritual gifts, especially tongues. 12-14
(l) " " confused about the resurrection. 15
(m) " " confused about the collection. 16
​

As we can see the Corinthian church was deep in error and false doctrine. It was the only church that emphasized tongues as today's Charismatics do. Charismatics therefore place themselves in very bad company. Charismatics fail to understand that Paul is not endorsing tongues, but is rebuking the wrong use of tongues and is strongly regulating tongues contrary to today's Charismatics. Today's emphasis on assemblies with more than on person speaking at the same time is plainly wrong (1 Corinthians 14:27). Paul feared that even one person speaking in tongues without proper interpretation would give the appearance of barbarians or insanity (1 Corinthians 14:11) (1 Corinthians 14:23). What would he think of today's mass hysteria? Today's spontaneous, wild use outside of Scriptural limits is wrong. The gift of prophecy, far superior in every way to tongues, was under the control of the prophets For it is written: “Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.” (1 Corinthians 14:32) (NLT). So Paul's repeated instructions about the right use of the gift of tongues required it to be a very controllable gift, not a force or power controlling the user. Paul valued 5 words with the understanding rather than 10,000 words without the understanding (i.e. tongues)! So Preaching is far superior in God's purpose and for the churches' profit (1 Corinthians 14:19) (1 Corinthians 14:39). The gifts had a purpose and a place in time. They were to authenticate the church and the New Covenant. But seeing that which is "perfect" has come (the Bible), we do not need any more revelation. The Bible has all the revelation or instruction that we need today.​

These gifts, especially healing, NEVER stopped in the pre-reformation Churches of the East.

 

[W2L]

This makes me think of when Jesus was sent to Herod, and Herod was glad to see Him because he expected Jesus to perform some miracle in front of him. Trouble is that Jesus didn't perform a miracle to try and prove Himself to someone who was just wanting a display to prove something. I don't think that anyone has to prove anything to satisfy skeptics.

The miracles that Jesus and His apostles performed were signs. They were not meant to be performed indefinitely.

John 20:30 Therefore many other [g]signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is [h]the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yes , the Corinthian Church was still very carnal and remember it was very , very Greek . ( Are ye still not carnal ...babes in Christ ? Are ye still not MEN ? ( Interesting choice of words from Paul .) It reminds me of America today ( we get the concept of a republic and democracy both from Greece which was adopted by Rome . ..not to mention the idolatry of sports ...greece . )
Regarding the gifts of the spirit , I don't see a biblical justification for the cessation of the gifts . I think it far more likely that we don't possess enough humility for the Spirit to manifest Himself in that way . We are just too full of ourselves to full of Christ . And of these manifestations have/do happen in some third world countries in modern times ...a TRULY humble Christian would not publicize it ... No brother , my belief for what it is worth is that we think belief and faith are the same and they are not .
I agree with you regarding the false display of "gifts" of many of the charismatic groups but the enemy of the truth is known to appear as an angel of light to disparage the ONE who he hates .

I do see this as a very slim possibility. But until God reveals to me otherwise with His Word I believe the Scripture verses that suggest that the miraculous gifts (not miracles themselves) have ceased. This is not just one verse but several of them.