John MacArthur and many within the Reformed/Calvinist camp describe themselves as cessationists. In the above video, Macarthur's argument against continuationism is based on the false premise that spiritual gifts (charismata) were limited to "the signs of an apostle". (2 Corinthians 12:12). MacArthur argues his case regarding apostolic gifts as if this settles the argument. Unfortunately, MacArthur completely ignores Paul's further teaching regarding "varieties of gifts", including the utterance of knowledge, wisdom, faith, healing, miracles etc. amongst the congregation at Corinth. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31 cf. Romans 12:6-8). These further passages indicate that the Holy Spirit apportions charismata "to each one as He determines". (1 Corinthians 12:11). MacArthur also ignores evidence that the early Church Fathers recognized and practiced charismata. I abhor the abuse and perversion of modern charismata as much as the cessationists, but since MacArthur and others do not base their view on sound exegesis, they fail to present a credible argument.
The early Church Fathers and the charismatic gifts {1}
Justin Martyr 100-165AD: Dialogue with Trypho, chapter 82: “For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time.” Chapter 87:“..to those who believe in Him, according as He deems each man worthy thereof.” Chapter, 88,: “Now, it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God.”
Second Apology, chapter 6: “And now you can learn this from your own observation. For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations and drugs”
Irenaeus (130-202): Irenaeus’ magnum opus Against Heresies:“Those who are in truth Jesus’ 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” (2:32:4). The Spirit, then, does miracles, casts out demons, reveals the future, delivers the sick and even raises the dead!
Irenaeus (130-202): Irenaeus’ magnum opus Against Heresies:“Those who are in truth Jesus’ 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” (2:32:4). The Spirit, then, does miracles, casts out demons, reveals the future, delivers the sick and even raises the dead!
5:6:1: For this reason does the apostle declare, “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect”, terming those 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 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, whom also the apostle terms “spiritual”, they being spiritual because they partake of the Spirit, and not because their flesh has been stripped off and taken away, and because they have become purely spiritual.”
Tertullian (150-220): On Baptism, 20: “Therefore, my blessed ones, whom the grace of God awaits, when you ascend from the most sacred font of your new birth [baptism], and spread your hands for the first time in the house of your mother [the Church], together with your brethren, ask from the Father, ask from the Lord, that His own specialties of grace and distributions of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-12) may be supplied you. “Ask,” says He, “and you shall receive.” Well, you have asked, and have received; you have knocked, and it has been opened to you. Only, I pray that, when you are asking, you be mindful likewise of Tertullian the sinner.”
Tertullian (150-220): On Baptism, 20: “Therefore, my blessed ones, whom the grace of God awaits, when you ascend from the most sacred font of your new birth [baptism], and spread your hands for the first time in the house of your mother [the Church], together with your brethren, ask from the Father, ask from the Lord, that His own specialties of grace and distributions of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-12) may be supplied you. “Ask,” says He, “and you shall receive.” Well, you have asked, and have received; you have knocked, and it has been opened to you. Only, I pray that, when you are asking, you be mindful likewise of Tertullian the sinner.”
Tertullian Against Marcion: “Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have both predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart (1 Corinthians 14:25); let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer (1 Corinthians 14:26)- only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him; let him show to me also, that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from among those specially holy sisters of his. Now all these signs (of spiritual gifts) are forthcoming from my side without any difficulty, and they agree too with the rules, and the dispensations, and the instructions of the Creator; therefore without doubt the Christ, and the Spirit, and the apostle belong severally to my God. Here, then, is my frank avowal for anyone who cares to require it.”
Origen 185-254AD: De Principiis 2:10:7: "When, whether by baptism or by the grace of the Spirit, the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge or of any other gift has been bestowed upon a man, and not rightly administered, i.e. either buried in the earth or tied up in a napkin, the gift of the Spirit will certainly be withdrawn from his soul, and the other portion which remains, that is, the substance of the soul, will be assigned its place with unbelievers, being divided and separated from that Spirit with whom, by joining himself to the Lord, it ought to have been one spirit."
Origen 185-254AD: De Principiis 2:10:7: "When, whether by baptism or by the grace of the Spirit, the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge or of any other gift has been bestowed upon a man, and not rightly administered, i.e. either buried in the earth or tied up in a napkin, the gift of the Spirit will certainly be withdrawn from his soul, and the other portion which remains, that is, the substance of the soul, will be assigned its place with unbelievers, being divided and separated from that Spirit with whom, by joining himself to the Lord, it ought to have been one spirit."
Against Celsus 1:46:“There are still preserved among Christians traces of that Holy Spirit which appeared in the form of a dove. They expel evil spirits, and perform many cures, and foresee certain events, according to the will of the Logos”
Novatian (200-258): On the Trinity, 29: "This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed.”
Novatian (200-258): On the Trinity, 29: "This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed.”
Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386): Catechetical Lectures during the fourth century. 17:37:“If you believe, you shall not only receive remission of sins, but also do things which pass man’s power. And may you be worthy of the gift of prophecy also! […] All your life long will your Guardian the Comforter abide with you; He will care for you, as for His own solider; for your goings out, and your comings in, and your plotting foes. And He will give you gifts of grace of every kind, if you grieve Him not by sin […] Be ready to receive grace, and when you have received it, cast it not away.”
17:36: “If you be counted worthy of the grace, your soul will be enlightened, you will receive a power which you had not, you will receive weapons terrible to the evil spirits; and if you cast not away your arms, but keep the Seal upon your soul, no evil spirit will approach you; for he will be cowed; for verily by the Spirit of God are the evil spirits cast out.”
The turning point occurred when Augustine of Hippo took it upon himself to promote the idea that individualized charismata had ceased and were no longer necessary. Augustine's later thoughts on the gifts of the Spirit are set out in Retractationes (427AD) Retractationes was a revision of his early position in De vera religione (390AD). Augustine's later views set the trend for church practice and have been adopted by cessationists today. It is my contention that later tradition does not have the authority to rescind what is written in the scriptures despite the problematic issues arising out of modern charismania. Although Augustine was hugely influential, we should bear in mind that there are a great many problems associated with his theology. (See Further Links)
Retractationes: "These miracles were not allowed to last until our times.. For not even now, when a hand is laid on the baptized, do they receive the Holy Spirit in such a way that they speak with the tongues of all nations; nor are the sick now healed by the passing shadow of the preachers of Christ. Even though such things happened at that time, manifestly these ceased later. But what I said is not to be so interpreted that no miracles are believed to be performed in the name of Christ at the present time. For, when I wrote that book, I myself had recently learned that a blind man had been restored to sight in Milan near the bodies of the martyrs in that very city, and I knew about some other, so numerous even in these times, that we cannot know about all of them nor enumerate those we know." (1.12.7)
Having demolished the theory that the early fathers did not recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit beyond the first generation of believers, we are left with a conundrum due to the shocking fakery of many false teachers within charismatic/NAR circles. Examples are the Copeland/Howard-Browne tongues fiasco; {3} the fakery of Todd White's cold reading and leg-pulling episodes; {4} Shawn Bolz's cold reading scams; {5} Paula White's "angels in Africa" nonsense; {6} not to mention the numerous failed Trump prophesies. The antics of these wolves are enough to deter anyone from even considering the possibility that genuine charismata exist today, hence the persuasive arguments of MacArthur and other cessationists. Despite this, I am not fully convinced by the cessationist line of reasoning. Just as there are many false teachers, false gospels, false prophets, false Christs etc. it is logical to conclude that there are also false charismata. (Matthew 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:4). I would therefore describe myself as a cautious continuationist whilst utterly rejecting those within the NAR who claim to hold the office of contemporary foundational "apostles and prophets". Mark and avoid these wolves. (Romans 16:17-18; 1 John 4:1).
The strategy adopted by Mike Winger's church (Calvary Chapel) is interesting. Although I do not endorse Calvary Chapel in every specific, their approach to the gifts of the Spirit is one way of avoiding a charismatic free for all.
To paraphrase Mike Winger: There is no emphasis on the gifts in general typical gatherings during service times and people do not interrupt the service. However, we are open/very open to someone having a "word from the Lord" that they might share privately for it to be tested. (48:00 mark) {7}
Tongues - known languages or ecstatic utterances?
Speaking in tongues is explicitly mentioned in five places in the New Testament.
Mark 16:17-18 records the prophecy of Jesus Christ to the apostles: "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Acts 2:6-11 confirms that the tongues spoken at Pentecost were known languages: And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Acts 10:46-47 describes how the Holy Spirit fell on the household of Cornelius in Caesarea. This event was compared with what happened at Pentecost and appears to follow the earlier precedent of known languages. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 19:6 describes a group of approximately twelve men at Ephesus who spoke in tongues and prophesied when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Although the text is nonspecific about the precise nature of these tongues, it seems consistent to take the view that this occurrence also followed the precedent of known languages at Pentecost. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
1 Corinthians 12-14 - These chapters in particular have given rise to the theory that there are two different kinds of tongues.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).
The above is Paul's general discussion of the offices and gifts. There is no reason to make the assumption that the tongues mentioned above suggest anything other than known languages.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:8-9).
MacArthur and other cessationists argue that the above verses are evidence that tongues ceased with the death of the apostles. {8} Continuationists make a good case that "when the perfect comes" is a reference to the eternal state.
Paul discusses the gift of tongues in detail in 1 Corinthians 14. The ambiguity within this chapter has led many within the charismatic camp to believe that there are two kinds of tongues.
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ..Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. (1 Corinthians 14:2-6,9).
The conclusion some draw from the above verses is that Paul is referring to heavenly languages. The counterargument is that an unrecognized tongue may just as easily refer to an earthly language. In fact, Paul does refer to earthly languages in this very discussion. (1 Corinthians 14:10-11). It seems that because tongues were distinctive and showy, the Corinthians were flaunting this gift amongst each other. Paul's concern is edification. (1 Corinthians 14:12). The person who speaks in a tongue (glōssē) without an interpretation cannot edify others, whereas the one who prophesies edifies the church. Paul concludes his discussion by clarifying that the purpose of tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:22). This seems to reiterate the Acts 2 precedent of tongues as known languages and a sign for unbelievers. If tongues are a sign for unbelievers, how will they benefit from an unknown tongue unless there is an interpreter? (1 Corinthians 14:23,27). In my view, the gibberish we observe today in many charismatic/NAR churches are not the tongues described in the scriptures.
Evidence from church history that glōssais were known languages
American evangelist FF Bosworth, one of the founders of the Assemblies of God, held Parham solely responsible for theologically separating speaking in tongues into two separate definitions. {10}
1. CHURCH FATHERS: Home (newadvent.org)
2. Augustine on the Tongues of Pentecost (charlesasullivan.com)
3. (20) Tongue fight! - YouTube..
4. (20) Todd White’s Newest Leg Lengthening Video 2022 - YouTube
5. (20) Social Media Prophet? Shawn Bolz | Don't Be Duped - YouTube
6. (20) When the Angels in Africa heard Paula White praying - YouTube
7. (15) Does This Verse Teach Cessationism? And a Bit On Bethel. 1 Cor 13:10-12 - YouTube
8. (23) MIRACLES, HEALINGS AND TONGUES(selected scriptures) By John MacArthur. - YouTube
9. Charles Fox Parham - Wikipedia
10. Charles Parham on Speaking in Tongues (charlesasullivan.com)
11. (PDF) Bosworth Blamed Charles Parham: He Criticized Him for His 'Wrong and Unscriptural" Teachings on Speaking in Tongues (researchgate.net)
SINS OF AUGUSTINE (gospeltruth.net)
FF Bosworth: "Charles Parham who came forward with this doctrine in the year 1900, is the first man in the history of the world to teach it. He saw that it was not possible to teach that speaking in tongues will in every case accompany the Baptism in the Spirit, unless he could make it appear that speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost was something separate and distict from the gift of tongues at Corinth. He is also the first man in the history of the world to teach that none have ever been baptized in the Spirit unless they have spoken in tongues". {11}
Mike's comment from a previous post of mine summarizes the history of glossolalia: "Ecstatic, unintelligible speech is well known in pagan religions inc Wicca and Voodoo and manifested well before Parham and Seymour in the cults of Montanus, the so-called French prophets, the Shakers, the Irvingites and the Mormons (who labelled it the 'Adamic language') . Reputable ministers went to Azusa st and called it 'the last vomit of Satan' as the behaviour was close to that displayed at Toronto, Lakeland etc."
This critical information should make every charismatic tongue-speaker question the teaching they have received promoting glossolalia.
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| Writing in tongues is never mentioned in the New Testament! |
1. CHURCH FATHERS: Home (newadvent.org)
2. Augustine on the Tongues of Pentecost (charlesasullivan.com)
3. (20) Tongue fight! - YouTube..
4. (20) Todd White’s Newest Leg Lengthening Video 2022 - YouTube
5. (20) Social Media Prophet? Shawn Bolz | Don't Be Duped - YouTube
6. (20) When the Angels in Africa heard Paula White praying - YouTube
7. (15) Does This Verse Teach Cessationism? And a Bit On Bethel. 1 Cor 13:10-12 - YouTube
8. (23) MIRACLES, HEALINGS AND TONGUES(selected scriptures) By John MacArthur. - YouTube
9. Charles Fox Parham - Wikipedia
10. Charles Parham on Speaking in Tongues (charlesasullivan.com)
11. (PDF) Bosworth Blamed Charles Parham: He Criticized Him for His 'Wrong and Unscriptural" Teachings on Speaking in Tongues (researchgate.net)
Further Links
