Cessationism vs Continuationism
The debate over the “sign gifts” (miracles), experienced in New Testament times and written about in New Testament writings, is argumentation regarding whether those gifts were intended by God to cease, and if so, when. The debate involves the entire list of “sign gifts” found in I Corinthians 12: 8-10.
It is noteworthy that biblical history shows God’s use of miracles in His servant’s ministries was not a normative experience and in fact was relatively rare. Miracles are recorded in the lives and ministries of Moses (Exodus); Elijah and Elisha (I & II Kings); The Lord Jesus (The Gospels) and the Apostles (Acts). These were brief periods of time relative to the thousands of years of biblical history. There are other miraculous events recorded in Scripture, but the use of miracles was primarily given to authenticate the messengers and their message to unbelieving hearers. The debate at hand is related to the miraculous signs that began on the day of Pentecost. Are they continuing today or have they ceased?
Various scriptures are presented by those on both sides of the issue. One passage, I Corinthians 13: 8-13, stands out as determinative, because it gives specific information on the gifts, their cessation and the timing of their cessation. Only three of the sign gifts are mentioned in this text, but are seen as representative of all. Perhaps they are mentioned, because they were the main issues of contention in the Church of Corinth.
I Corinthians 13:8-13
It is stated in verse 8 that while charity would never fail, “pipto”, prophecies and knowledge would fail, “katergeo” (vanish away, be abolished, reduced to inactivity) and tongues would cease. “pauo”. The teaching of Cessation is absolutely clear. The text leaves no doubt that tongues, prophecies and knowledge would at some point stop. The real debate moves quickly to when.
Verse 8 says tongues would cease “pauo”. The term means to stop. The text says tongues would simply end at some point. On the other hand, prophecies and knowledge would be reduced to inactivity and be abolished, as suggested by the use of “katergeo” to describe their cessation. Verses 9 and 10 explain why prophecies and knowledge would be reduced to inactivity. The text says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” “Done away” is “katergeo”. The reason prophecies and knowledge would be done away is because they would be rendered unnecessary, “when that which is perfect is come”.
“When” cessation would occur, is determined by interpretation of the words, “when that which is perfect is come.” The interpreter must decide to what “that which is perfect”, refers. One common interpretation says, “that which is perfect” is the Lord Jesus Christ and that when he comes again, the sign gifts will end. A second interpretation says “that which is perfect” is a reference to the completion of the scriptures, which occurred near the end of the first century AD.
Standpoint holds to the second position and espouses the view that cessation of the sign gifts occurred in harmony with the closing of the canon, near the end of the first century AD.
An Apologetic for Cessationism from the text of I Corinthians 13: 8-13:
It is noteworthy that biblical history shows God’s use of miracles in His servant’s ministries was not a normative experience and in fact was relatively rare. Miracles are recorded in the lives and ministries of Moses (Exodus); Elijah and Elisha (I & II Kings); The Lord Jesus (The Gospels) and the Apostles (Acts). These were brief periods of time relative to the thousands of years of biblical history. There are other miraculous events recorded in Scripture, but the use of miracles was primarily given to authenticate the messengers and their message to unbelieving hearers. The debate at hand is related to the miraculous signs that began on the day of Pentecost. Are they continuing today or have they ceased?
Various scriptures are presented by those on both sides of the issue. One passage, I Corinthians 13: 8-
I Corinthians 13:8-
It is stated in verse 8 that while charity would never fail, “pipto”, prophecies and knowledge would fail, “katergeo” (vanish away, be abolished, reduced to inactivity) and tongues would cease. “pauo”. The teaching of Cessation is absolutely clear. The text leaves no doubt that tongues, prophecies and knowledge would at some point stop. The real debate moves quickly to when.
Verse 8 says tongues would cease “pauo”. The term means to stop. The text says tongues would simply end at some point. On the other hand, prophecies and knowledge would be reduced to inactivity and be abolished, as suggested by the use of “katergeo” to describe their cessation. Verses 9 and 10 explain why prophecies and knowledge would be reduced to inactivity. The text says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” “Done away” is “katergeo”. The reason prophecies and knowledge would be done away is because they would be rendered unnecessary, “when that which is perfect is come”.
“When” cessation would occur, is determined by interpretation of the words, “when that which is perfect is come.” The interpreter must decide to what “that which is perfect”, refers. One common interpretation says, “that which is perfect” is the Lord Jesus Christ and that when he comes again, the sign gifts will end. A second interpretation says “that which is perfect” is a reference to the completion of the scriptures, which occurred near the end of the first century AD.
Standpoint holds to the second position and espouses the view that cessation of the sign gifts occurred in harmony with the closing of the canon, near the end of the first century AD.
An Apologetic for Cessationism from the text of I Corinthians 13: 8-
1. The term “perfect” (v.10) is a translation of the Greek term “teleios” referring to being mature, completed or finished, as opposed to being flawless or spotless. It harmonizes with the text’s description of knowledge and prophecy being “in part” (v.9), but eventually being completed. It does not suggest the “perfect” Christ.
2. The term “that which” describing the “perfect one/thing to come” is found to be neuter in the Greek text, not masculine. If “that which is perfect” was the Savior, the article would have to be masculine. The verse would read, “…when he which is perfect is come…” As a neuter, it refers to a thing not a person. Thus the grammar and context suggest, “that which is perfect”, refers to the scriptures as opposed to the Lord.
3. In verse 11 Paul continues the imagery of maturing when he describes childhood experience compared to being a man. When he matured to manhood, he “put away childish things”. The term put away is “katergeo” translated in vs. 8-10 as “fail, vanish away and done away”. Paul put away childish things as he came to maturity. So prophecies and knowledge were to be put away when the scriptures were complete.
4. Verse 12 says, “Now we see through a glass (mirror) darkly” The imagery of the glass represents scripture and was used in II Corinthians 3:18 in the same way. Paul saw through the scriptures darkly, because they were incomplete. The phrase “then face to face” suggests that when the scriptures were complete the glass would give a clear reflection and one would no longer see “darkly”.
5. The last segment of v.12 says “…now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.” The phrase, “now I know in part” is a description of Paul’s current situation as previously stated in v.9. The phrase, “then shall I know” is a reference to the future time, when partial knowledge would be complete. The key term is, “kathos”, translated “even as” (most often translated “as” and also “according as”). Paul’s message was not that someday he would know God in the same way God knew him, but that someday he would know the complete message of revelation through the scriptures, as God completely knew him.
6. The elements of time and timing continue in v.13 where Paul acknowledges that though the sign gifts would end, there would be a continuance of faith, hope and charity. Faith and hope will end in glory, but charity will continue forever, and is declared to be the greatest of the three.
7. It is acknowledged that scripture suggests a renewal of the sign gifts during the Tribulation Period as shown in Revelation 11.
Therefore, Standpoint espouses the view that the sign gifts were given temporarily to authenticate the apostolic messengers and their message. They ended in harmony with the completion of the scriptures and the end of the Apostolic Age. They will not be given by God again in this age, but will be given during the ministry of the two witnesses in the Tribulation.
In summation, Standpoint holds that the 9 sign gifts identified in I Corinthians 12:8-