Much has been written in support and in criticism of a cessationist view of what is commonly called the “sign” gifts. These miraculous gifts were those given to specific individuals, decreed by God Himself, at a specific time, and for God’s specific purposes. The “sign” gifts include prophecy, speaking in tongues, healing, knowledge, etc. Scripture reveals to us that these gifts were given to lend credence and authority to the message given by the apostles during the church’s infancy, (Acts 13:6-12; Romans 15:17-19).

While many boldly claim the office of apostle today, Scripture clearly tells us what is required of a true apostle of Jesus Christ. According to Acts 1:21-22, in order to hold the office of apostle, a man must have accompanied Jesus during His earthly ministry, and he must have been an eyewitness of Christ’s resurrection. The last living apostle was John, who tradition tells us, died near the end of the first century A.D. So, how are people able to claim the office of apostle? Simply because they speak to, and prey upon, people who are ignorant of the Bible and do not take the time to study it for themselves, (2 Timothy 4:3).

What is a miracle?

Like so many other words, the word miracle has been overused and abused. We often refer to things that occur entirely according to the laws of nature as “miracles”. We call a mother giving birth to a healthy child a miracle. We call a drug that brings about an expected recovery, a “miracle” drug. While the birth of a child is certainly a blessing from God, and a cause for rejoicing, there is nothing more natural than human reproduction.

So what is a miracle? A miracle is divine intervention, suspending the laws of nature, in order to bring about a divine result. Scripture is full of stories of God doing miraculous things from creation itself, to the resurrection of Eutychus in Acts 20. I want to be clear. I am not arguing that God, by His power, cannot or does not do miraculous things. I am simply arguing that the miraculous gifts given to men in order to strengthen and give credence to their testimony of Christ, are no longer necessary, because we hold in our hands the complete, inerrant, infallible, authoritative, and sufficient Word of God.

Paul’s First Letter to the Church in Corinth

The 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians has come to be known as “The Love Chapter.” It’s called this as it is rightly referred to as the definition of true, Christian love. However, this chapter is really a continuation of Paul’s treatise on spiritual gifts that he began in chapter 12, and continues into chapter 14. Here, Paul is speaking of the meaninglessness of miraculous gifts when demonstrated apart from love. Then, beginning in verse 8, he says something interesting:

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away,” (1 Corinthians 13:8–10, NASB95).

So, the question before us is, the perfect what. There are many who say this refers to the second coming of Christ. I believe this to be a strain on the context of the passage. The nearest antecedent that “the perfect” must be referring to is knowledge and prophecy. What is perfect knowledge and prophecy? The inerrant and infallible Word of God.

There are others who will say that “the perfect” refers to the eternal state. They base this view on the following verses:

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love,” (1 Corinthians 13:12–13, NASB95).

According to this view, Paul is anticipating full, perfect knowledge when we come into glory. Again, I don’t see this view as consistent with the context. Paul is more likely admitting His own incomplete insight, and anticipates a time when it will be complete (perfect).

Perfect/teleios

The word here translated “perfect” is teleion. Every place in the New Testament where teleion or teleios is used, it refers to something becoming, or something that has become complete, mature, full, etc. Here, the immediate context is referring to what will become complete in knowledge and prophecy. With the completion of the canon of Scripture, special knowledge, prophecy, and miraculous gifts are unnecessary. Also, it would be very strange for Paul to refer to Christ with any other word than Christos.

The time of the apostles is over. As the church, our commission is to take the gospel to a fallen and lost world. Our authority is Jesus Christ who has given us His revealed Word. We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ with power and authority. As previously stated, none of this is to say God cannot, or even does not, do miraculous things.

There are many godly and gifted preachers and teachers, brothers and sisters in Christ, who do not hold to a cessationist view. But, just as with Paul and the Bereans, their teaching must stand the scrutiny of Scripture. God continues to do amazing things and we respond to Him in praise and worship. But, as Jesus said, let us beware.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20, NASB95)