Miraculous Gifts Have Ceased

By

Shelby G. Floyd

July 7, 2006

When Jesus Christ sent the apostles out into the entire world to preach the gospel to every creature, he attended their ministry with signs and wonders and miracles. (Hebrews 2:3-4.) These miracles were designed to confirm the word. (Mark 16:17-20.)

Miraculous Gifts Were to Confirm the Word

Not only were the apostles able to perform all of these wonders, but by the laying on of their hands they were also able to impart spiritual gifts to members of the New Testament church. For example, Peter and John, two apostles were sent down to Samaria to impart spiritual gifts to those who had been baptized for the remission of their sins. Philip, who preceded the apostles to Samaria, was able to work miracles himself; but not being an apostle he was not able to impart them to others, this being reserved for the apostles. (Acts 8:12-19.)

Only the Apostles Could Impart Miraculous Gifts

Today, there are a lot of persons claiming that they have the power to speak in tongues, heal the sick and receive direct revelations from God. This claim is false. In the church at Corinth, there were many members that received miraculous gifts. Later, when there was much discussion about the nature and use of these gifts, Paul wrote a letter to that church correcting their mistaken ideas and informing them of the temporary nature of those gifts. There were several manifestations of the Spirit given to the members of the Corinthian church. Paul enumerates nine of them, they were: the word of wisdom; the word of knowledge; faith; the gifts of healing; the working of miracles; prophecy; discerning of spirits; divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10.) Whereas, the apostles could work all of these miracles, the members of the church received only the gift that God desired them to have. (1 Corinthians 12:11.) The apostle Paul emphasized this point when he said, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 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.)

That Which is in Part Will be Done Away

In chapter 13 of this same letter, Paul, goes on to reveal that spiritual gifts including tongues were temporary, would pass away and be superseded by a better arrangement. A perfect and complete arrangement would take the place of that which was incomplete and partial. Paul said, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10.) Paul does not mention all of the various miraculous gifts, but only three of them, they were: prophecies, tongues and knowledge.

Miraculous Gifts Were to Fail, Cease and Vanish Away

That which was to take place concerning these three gifts would be true of all the spiritual gifts. Paul used three verbs to describe the cessation of these gifts. Prophecies, tongues and knowledge were to fail, cease and vanish away. Let us examine closely the meaning of those three words used to describe the end of all miraculous gifts. First, they shall fail. The root meaning of this word is to cause to cease; put an end to; do away with; annul and to abolish. As it is used here in connection with prophecies it means they were to cease, pass and be done away. In connection with tongues, Paul says, they shall cease. There would be a time when speaking in tongues--languages would stop, be left off. Concerning miraculous knowledge, Paul says, it shall vanish away. How could we have any stronger language describing the end of miraculous gifts?

Love Never Fails

In contrast to the temporary nature of these miraculous gifts, love never fails, which simply means that it would never perish, come to an end, disappear, cease, fail, fall; whereas, these spiritual gifts were soon to pass away. Having stated that prophecy, tongues and knowledge were to fail, cease and vanish away, Paul introduced the reason why this would be in the next verse, saying, “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.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10.) The word “for” which introduces the statement in verses 9-10 indicates that Paul is going to give a reason or cause for the preceding statement which he has just made in verse 8.

The Perfect and Complete Revelation is Here

According to Paul, the reason all spiritual gifts were to fail, cease and vanish away is because they were in part, incomplete. God did not reveal his revelation all at one time, but progressively over a period of 60-70 years. During that period of time the revelation was in part, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” (1 Corinthians 13:9.) You will notice that Paul used the present tense in describing that which was in part.

During the age when prophecy and knowledge were in part, God was revealing his message, a little at a time. This reminds us of the statement made by the great prophet, Isaiah, when he said, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” (Isaiah 28:10-11.) The revelations by prophecy, tongues and miraculous knowledge were not complete, but were in part; they were constituent parts of the whole or complete revelation. We have that complete revelation today in the New Testament. Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved