Now you are the body
of Christ, and members individually.
And God has appointed
the ease in the church,
first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers,
after that miracles,
then gifts of healings,
helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues.
All are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all
teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
Do all have gifts of
healings? Do all speak with tongues?
Do all interpret? But
earnestly desire the best gifts.
And yet I show you a
more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12: 27
-- 31
The apostle
Paul in referring to the Church of Jesus Christ observes the relation wherein
Christians stand to Christ, and to one another. Paul ensures us, and them, that every Christian is a member of
the body of Jesus Christ, and every other Christian stands related to him as a
fellow worker. Every Christian has
dependence one upon another and the responsibility of mutual care for one
another. Paul has spoken about the members
of the natural body and then compares that in contrast that and even aligns
that with the members of the mystical body and how they are to be disposed,
that is, how they are to be used. In
some sense there is difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of some of the
offices outlined, and their specific differences, and their relative
importance; especially whether they were all vested in distinct persons, or, if
several of them were exercised by the same individual. It is also unclear, and not decided, if all
the offices that Paul enumerated were extraordinary, and connected with the
possession of supernatural gifts. It is
clear that certain of those offices such as administration, or helps, and even
teachers could be gifts that were natural with a person and not of a
supernatural nature. It is also unclear
if some of those offices were meant to be permanent in the church; or whether
they are in enumerated according to their relative importance, and whether they
answer to the classification of gifts given in versus 8 through 10. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit given to
the apostle Paul describes a variety of offices instituted by Jesus Christ, and
that a gift or favors are dispensed by Him.
By the writings of the apostle Paul to the Corinthian Christians, we can
notice that the gifts afforded to the Corinthian church, and the church in
general, as will be pointed out, and in our day as well, they are put on a high
pedestal and make it a cause for everyone to want that gift. Then as now, some people went to church for
the honor they could get out of it for themselves. Paul and discussing those gifts discusses about the relative
value of those very scarce in which he has set forth in Chapter 13 a greater
gift that is love. Paul did not sit apathetically by and not notice the misuse
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and wrote: “…that there should be no schism
in the body…” (1Corinthians 12: 25a).
If there is
any major dispute in contention among Christians, it is about the use and the
spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
It is these disputing people who are Christians and even though desiring
to serve God are often going far above what God has commanded and there are
those who go far below what God has commanded.
Therefore, we should look at some of the early writings of the early Church
fathers in regards to the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit that were, or were
not, given to Christians. Cessationists argue that the moment the last Apostle
died, or when the final sentence of the last book of the Bible had been
written, all miracles including speaking in tongues ceased. Are they correct?
Let’s first establish the date that miracles supposedly ceased: The Apostle
Paul died somewhere between 64 AD and 69 AD, and the last Apostle, the Apostle
John, died in 110 AD. So let’s compare the cut-off date, the year of the last
Apostle’s death, with the timeline of events in the Early Church: Justin Martyr (100 A.D.–165 A.D.) was only 10 years old when the Apostle John died. He was an
early Christian apologist. His works are the earliest Christian apologies, of
substantial size, to survive to today. Forty years after the Apostle
John’s death, he writes in 150 AD:
“For the prophetical gifts
remain with us, even to this present time.” Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 82
And, “Now, it is possible to
see amongst us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God;” (Dialogue
with Trypho, Chapter 88). Irenaeus (c.130-202
A.D.) was born 20 years after the last Apostle died.
He was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, which is now Lyon,
France. His writings were formative in the early development of Christian
theology. Like Justin Martyr, he was an early Christian apologist. His writings
carry significant weight because he was a disciple of Polycarp, who had been a
disciple of the Apostle John.
Irenaeus writes of believers in his day: “Wherefore, also, those who are in truth His disciples,
receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform [miracles], so as to promote
the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received
from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who
have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ]
and join themselves to the Church. 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. Yea, moreover, as I
have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many
years. And what shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of
gifts which the Church, [scattered] throughout the whole world, has received
from God, in the name of Jesus Christ,” Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book II,
Chapter 32, section 4. Additionally Irenaeus writes: “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect, terming those
persons “perfect” who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the
Spirit of God do speak in all languages, as he used Himself also to speak. In
like manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic
gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to
light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the
mysteries of God,” –Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book V. Chapter 6. section 1. The
writings of Irenaeus carry significant weight, especially concerning spiritual
gifts considering: Irenaeus had learned directly
from Polycarp who had sat under the instruction of the Apostle John. John had
traveled with Christ and had spoken in tongues at Pentecost. Surely the Apostle
John knew genuine prophecy and genuine speaking in tongues when he experienced
them and heard them in others. It is only reasonable to assume that John passed
clear teachings on to Polycarp, who in turn, passed such teachings and
understandings on to Irenaeus.
Had John given any warning
that the gifts would cease upon his death, both Polycarp and Iraneaus would
have known of it. Irenaeus testifies, in writings that exist to
this day, that “prophetic expressions” and
believers “who through the Spirit speak all kinds
of languages” were so common and widespread in his life (130 – 202
AD) that “…it is not possible to name the number
of gifts…” His comments were written probably 80 to 90 years after
the last Apostle died. If these gifts ceased 90 years previously, then to what
was Irenaeus referring?
Don't rush
to judgment in regard to the Holy Spirit giving spiritual gifts to some for the
benefit of the Church and determined that you now have proof that those guests,
in part, or in whole, are to be used in the Church today. Because of the seriousness of this
discussion, the next blogs will continue to talk about the spiritual gifts so
that we can come to a scriptural understanding as to whether or not those gifts
that are dividing and have divided the church for many years are being
correctly understood and used. Look for
this in the next upcoming blogs.
"Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
to go to
the gardens after an idle in the midst,
eating swine’s flash and the abomination and the mouse,
shall be consumed together,"
says the LORD.
"For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be
that I will
gather all nations in tongues; and then
they shall come and see My glory.
Isaiah 66: 17 -- 18
Hear the word of the LORD
Richard L. Crumb
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