TEACHING NOTES ‌ Introduction In this session we will discuss the gifts of the Spirit. While much could be said about this topic, this session will focus on a few major topics and issues around the gifts and how Christians viewed the gifts throughout history. The goal is to understand the purpose of the gifts and how to avoid abusing or misusing them. ‌ Disclaimer: If you align with modern Pentecostalism or the modern Charismatic movement, you may be troubled by some of the information in this study. But please understand that this study is not intended to draw lines of division between various worship styles. We consider all who follow Christ, no matter their view of the spiritual gifts, are brothers and sisters in Christ. Our goal is to ensure that we are practicing the gifts within the boundaries given in Scripture. ‌ Outline of this Session: - Biblical Terms ‌- Doctrinal Terms ‌- Historical Survey ‌- Relevant Passages ‌ Biblical Terms ‌ Spiritual Gifts = Grk. pneumatikos charisma - The word for gift is connected to the word for grace, which is charis. Therefore, we should understand spiritual gifts as the result of God’s grace in our lives. ‌ Doctrinal Terms ‌ Cessationist = The “sign gifts” like miracles, tongues, and prophesy ceased with the death of the apostles and the finishing of the New Testament. ‌ Continuationist = The gifts of the Spirit continue today. ‌ Historical Survey ‌ The First Century (AD 30-100) In the Gospels and the book of Acts, the disciples were given supernatural power. In the Gospels, this power was given by Jesus. In Acts, this power was given by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1-2 describes the moment that the church received the gifts of the Spirit and began to use them. ‌ Early Church Fathers (AD 100-400) The church continues practicing all of the gifts of the Spirit. Only a few writers around AD 400 indicate that miracles had been diminished. However, the majority of writers indicate that all the gifts were continuing to operate in the church. ‌ Montanism: Also called “The New Prophesy” this heretical cult arose in the late 100s AD and had mostly died out in the 400s AD. Montanus believed that he was the Paraklete (Holy Spirit) that Jesus promised to send in John 14:16. Montanus and his two female prophetesses (Prisca and Maximilla) practiced ecstatic visions where they claimed to receive new revelations from God. They also practiced speaking in tongues, but in a way that was condemned by the church fathers. Female leadership within the church was also a unique feature of Montanism. In short, the practices of Montanism as strikingly similar to the abuses of spiritual gifts we see today. ‌ “Daily some are becoming disciples in the name of Christ, … who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worth. These are illumined through the name of this Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of the fear of God.” — Justin Martyr (AD 160), 1.214. ‌ “It was prophesied that, after the ascent of Christ to heaven, He would deliver us from error and give us gifts.… Accordingly, we … have received gifts from Christ.” —Justin Martyr (AD 160), 1.214. ‌ “The prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you should understand that [the gifts] formerly among your nation have been transferred to us.” — Justin Martyr (AD 160), 1.240. ‌ “Those who are truly His disciples, receiving grace from Him, … perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made whole. What is more, as I have said, even the dead have been raised up and remained among us for many years. What more can I say? It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the church throughout the whole world has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them. For, just as she has received without charge from God, so does she minister without charge. Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations, incantations, or any other wicked curious art.… Calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has worked miracles for the benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ even now confers benefits. It cures thoroughly and effectively all who anywhere believe on Him.” — Irenaeus (AD 180), 1.409. ‌ “Traces of those signs and wonders are still preserved among those who regulate their lives by the teachings of the Gospel.” — Origen (AD 248), 4.397, 398. ‌ Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) In Augustine’s early writings he seemed to believe the miraculous gifts had ceased. But he later retracted his earlier statements and carefully documented at least 70 instances of miracles in his own region during a two-year span (see City of God, Book XXII, chps. 8-10). The title of chapter 8 of book 22 is “Of Miracles Which Were Wrought that the World Might Believe in Christ, and Which Have Not Ceased Since the World Believed.” ‌ The Middle Ages Throughout church history the gifts of the Spirit are well documented. However, we also see abuses of the gifts increase in the medieval period. The Catholic Church placed emphasis on relics (bones of saints, etc) and associated miraculous power with these relics. Charging money to touch a relic became a common practice to raise money for the Catholic Church. ‌ The Protestant Reformation (1500s) Since the Catholic Church had a long history of miracles, many of which were dubious or questionable, the Protestant Reformers were extremely skeptical of miracles. The abuse of the gifts led to an avoidance of the gifts. ‌ “Did this ministry which the apostles then performed, still remain in the Church, it would also behave us to observe the laying on of hands; but since that gift has ceased to be conferred, to what end is the laying on of hands? Assuredly the Holy Spirit is still present with the people of God…But those miraculous powers and manifest operations, which were distributed by the laying on of hands, have ceased. They were only for a time.” — John Calvin (Institutes. 4.19.6) ‌ “The Lord, doubtless, is present with his people in all ages, and cures their sicknesses as often as there is need, not less than formerly; and yet he does not exert those manifest powers, nor dispense miracles by the hands of apostles, because that gift was temporary, and owing, in some measure, to the ingratitude of men, immediately ceased.” — John Calvin (Institutes. 4.19.19) ‌ American Revivalism & Pentecostalism ‌ Charles Finney (1792-1876) Finney provided two major contributions to what would become American Pentecostalism. (1) Finney taught that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from conversion or water baptism. (2) Finney believed and practiced highly emotional methods in his meetings and revivals, which he said was intentional. ‌ Azusa Street Revival (1906) Launched by William J. Seymour, an illiterate Baptist pastor turned holiness preacher, the Azusa Street Revival lasted about three and half years. During most of the revival, Seymour rarely preached and spent much of the time behind the pulpit in a packing crate. The meetings mostly consisted of loud and chaotic “manifestations of the Spirit” where attendees spoke in tongues and fell into ecstatic trances. Their meetings were so abnormal that the leaders of other Pentecostal movements said that Azusa was extreme and fanatical. However, many modern Pentecostal denominations proudly trace their origins to Azusa. ‌ Relevant Passages ‌ Romans 12:3-8 Gifts Mentioned: prophesy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, acts of mercy. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12-14 Gifts Mentioned: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, helping, leadership, tongues, translation of tongues. ‌ Ephesians 4:1-12 Gifts Mentioned: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers. ‌ The Context of Corinthians There are numerous debates about the meaning of several passages in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Here are a few: - How does Paul define prophesy? - How does Paul define speaking in tongues? - Why does Paul say that women should keep silent? When reading Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, we must understand the context of what is going on and why Paul was writing. Corinth was an extremely pagan and immoral port city where ecstatic worship and sexual deviancy was common in pagan worship. When worshiping in a pagan temple, having sex with a temple prostitute was a normal part of that worship. Also, Corinth was a multilingual culture where different groups spoke various languages. ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 “4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” ‌ Key Points: - Variety of gifts, service, activities empowered by one Spirit. - Gifts are given for the common good. ‌ Prophetic Gifts = wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, discernment ‌ Tongues = languages and interpretation/translation ‌ 1 Corinthians 12:27–31 “27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” ‌ Key Points: - Each person is part of the body of Christ. - Each gift serves a specific purpose for the body. - Different people have different gifts. ‌ Apostles = Grk. apostolos - sent one, messenger. In the New Testament there is two categories of apostles. There were “the twelve” who were selected by Jesus. Then there were other apostles who were sent out to start churches. In our culture, missionaries are being apostles. ‌ Prophets = Grk. prophetes - proclaimer of God’s Word. Biblical prophets are not limited to telling the future, though they did this occasionally. Prophets simply speak what they hear or learn from God. This could include a specific message to an individual or group, insight into a person’s heart, or discerning wisdom. In the Bible, the prophets spend most of their time speaking truth against sin and calling people to obey what they have already been told. For example, the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel prophesied against Israel’s sin and warning them that God would allow a foreign enemy to conquer them. This was not new information, but was actually a reminder of Moses’ warnings in Deuteronomy. ‌ Teachers = Grk. didaskalos - instructor, teacher. ‌ Miracles = Grk. dynamis - power, ability, strength. It’s important to realize that miracles are done by believers and unbelievers in the Bible. In Exodus, the magicians of Pharaoh performed some of the same miracles as Moses. In the New Testament, Christians and demonic spirits perform supernatural acts. This means we should be careful about assigning a miracle to God. ‌ Healing = Grk. iamaton - power to heal, cure. ‌ Helping = Grk. antilempsis - to give aid. Whereas lempsis is to receive, antilempsis is to give. This gift is about generosity and serving others. ‌ Administrating = Grk. kybernesis - guidance, directing, leadership. ‌ Various kinds of tongues = Grk. genes glosson - different languages. Acts 2 helps us understand what “tongues” is about. This is not some “spiritual” or “heavenly language.” Glossa refers to actual languages spoken by people of various nations or regions. In Corinth, there was a variety of languages spoken. Some spoke Greek, some Latin, some Aramaic/Hebrew, some Syriac, etc. The church in Corinth, and churches in other Roman cities as well, needed people who could speak and translate several languages. ‌ Interpretation of tongues = Grk. hermeneia glosson - translation of languages. ‌ Observation: It’s interesting that in Paul’s lists of spiritual gifts, the prophetic gifts (wisdom, knowledge, teaching) are always listed first, while tongues is always at the end of the list. This ordering is likely because Paul clearly believed that prophesy was greater than tongues (1 Cor. 14:5). ‌‌ Paul’s Guidelines (1 Cor. 14) In 1 Cor. 14, Paul gives the church some guidelines about some of the gifts. In addition to many other issues in the church, the worship gatherings of the church in Corinth were a bit chaotic and the gifts were being misused. ‌ - Pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1) - Prophesy is greater than tongues (1 Cor. 14:2-5) - Tongues without interpretation is useless (1 Cor. 14:6-25) - Worship must be orderly, not chaotic (1 Cor. 14:26-33) ‌ Ephesians 4:8–12 “8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” ‌ Key Points: - Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers are often seen as positions in the church. But Paul describes them as gifts, not positions. - These purpose of these gifts is not to do all the ministry of the church, but to equip the church members to do the work of ministry. ‌ Conclusion ‌ There is no biblical nor historical reason to believe that any of the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. ‌ Different people have different gifts. No one has all the gifts and no specific gift proves a person’s salvation or presence of the Spirit. ‌ The gifts of the Spirit must be practiced in accordance with the Scriptures that were inspired by the Spirit. ‌ 1 Corinthians 14:37–40 “37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.” ‌