08 - Appendix 2, NT Prophecy and Tongues? · The$Doctrine$of$Holy$Scripture:$NT$Prophecy$and$Tongues?$$ Version$1.0$ Robert'Gonzales,'Jr.' Page'6' 11/29/14' continues(to(reveal(himself(through(Scripture((Ps.(19

The$Doctrine$of$Holy$Scripture:$NT$Prophecy$and$Tongues?$$ Version$1.0$

Robert'Gonzales,'Jr.' Page'1' 11/29/14'

APPENDIX(2:(NT(PROPHECY(AND(TONGUES(TODAY?(

Perhaps(one(of(the(most(debated(topics(among(modern(Christians(is(the(subject(of(New(Testament((NT)(prophecy(and(tongues.(Many(believers(in(our(day(are(raising(the(question,(“Are(the(New(Testament(gifts(of(prophecy(and(tongues(still(for(today?”(This(isn’t(just(a(modern(question.(It’s(been(raised(from(time(to(time(throughout(the(history(of(the(church.((In(the(early(church(there(were(different(responses(to(that(

question.(For(example,(the(early(church(fathers(Irenaeus((c.(130M200)(and(Tertullian((c.(150M212)(both(refer(to(ongoing(manifestations(of(prophecy(and(tongues(in(their(day((i.e.,(2nd(and(3rd(century).(On(the(other(hand,(both(Chrysostom((c.(350M407)(and(Augustine((354M430)(argue(that(the(gift(of(tongues(had(ceased(by(their(time((i.e.,(4th(and(5th(century).((During(the(Protestant(Reformation(various(Anabaptist(sects(

claimed(to(be(recipients(of(direct(revelation.(Luther(and(Calvin(were(skeptical(of(these(claims.(In(general(the(Reformers(seem(to(argue(for(the(cessation(of(extraMordinary(gifts.(But(there(are(inconsistencies(in(their(writings.(For(example,(in(his(commentary(on(Ephesians(4:11,(Calvin(argues(that(the(offices(of(apostle,(prophet,(and(evangelist(have(ceased,(and(only(the(offices(of(pastor(and(teacher(are(perpetual.1(In(his(Institutes,(however,(Calvin(suggests(that(the(Lord(“now(and(again(revives(them(as(the(need(of(the(times(demand.”2(A(more(thorough(and(consistent(answer(to(the(question(of(

prophecy(and(tongues(did(not(develop(until(the(modern(era.(It(was(not(until(the(emergence(of(the(Pentecostal(and(Charismatic(movements(that(more(definitive(and(clear(positions(were(taken.((

1(Calvin’s)New)Testament)Commentary,(vol.(11,(ed.(David(Torrance(and(Thomas(Torrance((Eerdmans,(1965),(179M80.(

2(The(Institutes(of(the(Christian(Religion,(ed.(John(T.(McNeill((Westminster(Press,(1960),(IV,(3.4.(



THREE%BASIC%POSITIONS%

There(are(basically(three(positions(that(are(held(among(BibleMbelieving(Christians(in(modern(times.3(The(Continuationist((Non?cessationist)(Position(

This(view(argues(that(all((or(nearly(all)(the(NT(gifts(of(the(Holy(Spirit(are(for(today,(including(the(gift(of(prophecy(and(tongues.4(Modern(representatives(would(include(Pentecostals,(Charismatics,(and(the(Third(Wave(movement.(There(are(also(a(number(of(ministries(emerging(that(are(reformed(in(their(soteriology(but(charismatic(in(their(pneumatology.5((The(Cessationist(Position(

The(cessationist(view(argues(that(the(NT(miraculous(gifts(were(revelatory(and(therefore,(they(belonged(to(the(foundational(stage(of(church(history.(Since(that(stage(has(been(completed(and(since(canonicalMlevel(revelation(has(ceased,(the(NT(revelatory(gifts(are(not(for(today.(Both(Dispensational(and(also(Reformed(theologians(defend(this(position.(The(Westminster(Confession((WCF)(and(the(Second(London(Baptist(Confession(of(Faith(of(1689((2LBCF)(appear(to(adopt(or(at(least(to(favor(this(position6(though(some(debate(whether(these(confessions(actually(take(a(clear(and(definitive(position.7(Whatever(the(

3(For(historical(surveys,(see(Victor(Budgen,(Charismatics(and(the(Word(of(God,(2nd(ed.((Evangelical(Press,(1989),(and(Benjamin(B.(Warfield,(Counterfeit(Miracles((1918;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1995).(

4(For(a(summary(of(the(varying(positions(among(evangelical(continuationists,(see(Wayne(Grudem,(ed.,(Are(Miraculous(Gifts(For(Today?(Four(Views((Zondervan,(1996),(10M13.(

5(These(would(include(many(of(the(soMcalled(“New(Calvinists,”(such(as(John(Piper,(C.(J.(Mahaney,(and(Mark(Driscoll.(Mahaney(is(actually(part(of(a(denomination(formerly(called(PDI(or(“People(of(Destiny(International”(and(now(called(Sovereign(Grace(Ministries(that(requires(its(ministers(to(affirm(a(Reformed(soteriology(and(continuationist(pneumatology.(One(can(find(more(information(about(Sovereign(Grace(Ministries(here:(http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/.(

6(Compare(the(following(references(in(the(2LBCF:(1.1,(6,(10;(8.8;(10.1;(18.3;(22.1.(See(also(the(Association(of(Reformed(Baptist(Churches(of(America’s(position(paper(entitled,(“Revelatory(Gifts(in(the(Present(Day,”(which(is(available(on(ARBCA’s(website:(http://www.arbca.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=65.((

7(See(Dean(R.(Smith,(“The(Scottish(Presbyterians(and(Covenanters:(A(Continuationist(Experience(in(a(Cessationist(Theology,”(Westminster(Theological(Journal(63((Spring(2001),(39M63;(Byron(Curtis,(“‘Private(Spirits’(in(The(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(§(1.10(and(in(CatholicMProtestant(Debate((1588M1652),”(Westminster(Theological(Journal(58((Fall(1996),(256M67;(Garnet(H.(Milne,(“‘Private(Spirits’(in(the(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(and(in(ProtestantMCatholic(Debates:(A(Response(to(Byron(Curtis,”(Westminster(Theological(Journal(



position(of(the(Reformed(confessions,(there(have(been(and(are(Reformed(Christians(who(have(been(open(to(the(possibility(that(God(could(revive(some(of(the(extraordinary(gifts(in(unique(situations,(which(leads(to(a(third,(mediating(position.(The(Open(but(Cautious(Position(

Those(who(hold(to(this(position(are(open(to(the(possibility(of(miraculous(gifts(today((perhaps(as(a(precursor(to(the(Second(Coming(of(Christ).(They(are(cautious,(however,(and(often(skeptical(about(many(modern(claims(of(miraculous(gifts.(For(example,(Martin(LloydMJones,(a(Reformed(pastor(and(commentator,(said(of(the(extraordinary(gifts,(“In(the(sovereignty(of(the(Spirit,([God](can(give(any(one(of(these(gifts(at(any(time;(we(must(therefore(be(open.(But(we(must(also(always(be(cautious(and(careful.”8(This(may(be(the(most(prevalent(view(among(mainline(evangelicals(today.(I(plan(to(argue(for(the(cessationist(position(and(I’d(like(to(frame(my(

argument(for(the(cessation(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(in(the(form(of(a(syllogism:(Major&Premise:(All(ScriptureMquality(special(revelation(has(been(completed(and(has,(therefore,(ceased.(Minor&Premise:(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(are(forms(of(ScriptureMquality(special(revelation.(Conclusion:&Therefore,(tongues(and(prophecy(have(ceased.&

61((Spring(1999),(102M11.(Milne(recently(published(his(dissertation(in(which(he(concludes(that(the(framers(of(the(WCF(intended(to(affirm(a(cessationist(view(of(special(revelation(with(some(qualification:(“The(Westminster(divines(intended(the(cessationist(clause(to(affirm(that(there(was(to(be(no(more(extraMbiblical,(‘immediate’(revelation(for(any(purpose(now(that(the(church(possessed(the(completed(Scriptures….(At(the(same(time(the(divines(did(not(intend(to(deny(that(God(could(still(speak(through(special(providences(that(might(involve(dreams(or(the(ministry(of(angels,(for(example,(but(such(revelation(was(always(to(be(considered(‘mediate.’(The(primary(means(was(held(to(be(the(written(Scriptures,(illuminated(by(the(Holy(Spirit.(The(unity(of(the(Word(and(Spirit(was(maintained,(and(God’s(freedom(to(address(individual(circumstances(remained(intact.”(The)Westminster)Confession)of)Faith)and)the)Cessation)of)Special)Revelation:)The)Majority)Puritan)Viewpoint)on)Whether)ExtraDBiblical)Prophecy)is)Still)

Possible((Wipf(&(Stock,(2007),(xviMxvii.(8(Cited(by(Iain(Murray,(D.)Martyn)LloydDJones:)The)Fight)of)Faith((Banner(of(Truth,(1990),(

487.(



DEFINING%THE%TERMS%AND%SETTING%THE%TONE%

Before(I(attempt(to(develop(this(argument,(I’ll(need(to((1)(define(some(of(the(terminology(and((2)(set(the(tone(for(the(spirit(of(the(argument.(“Special(revelation”(

Bible(scholars(and(theologians(commonly(distinguish(general(revelation(and(special(revelation.(In(general(revelation,(God(reveals(himself(to(humanity(through(creation((Ps(19:1M6;(Rom(1:18M21),(providence((Acts(14:16M17;(17:24M28),(and(the(human(conscience((Acts(28:4;(Rom(1:32;(2:12M15).9(In(special(revelation,(God(reveals(himself(through(special(means,(including(theophanies(and(audible(speech((Gen(1:28M29;(2:16M17;(Deut(4:12,(33),(special(symbols(or(sacraments((e.g.s.,(tree(of(knowledge(and(tree(of(life,(rainbow,(circumcision,(sacrifices,(the(tabernacle(and(temple,(baptism(and(the(Lord’s(Supper;(etc.),(miracles((e.g.s.,(the(signs(and(wonders(associated(with(the(Exodus(and(with(Christ’s(ministry),(dreams(and(visions((Jacob;(Joseph;(Pharaoh;(Peter;(etc.),(prophetic(messages((Moses(the(Prophet,(Elijah(and(Elisha,(Isaiah,(Jeremiah,(Ezekiel,(John(the(Baptist,(etc.),(and(Scripture.((One(the(one(hand,(both(general(and(special(revelation(are(equally(

authoritative.(God(speaks(with(the(same(authority(through(creation(or(through(conscience(as(when(he(communicates(through(a(theophany(or(through(Scripture.((On(the(other(hand,(Special(revelation(is(clearer(and(more(specific(

than(general(revelation.(General(revelation(is(clear(enough(to(reveal(that(there(is(a(God(who’s(created(the(world(and(who’s(powerful,(holy,(wise,(just,(good,(and(truthful.(It’s(clear(enough(to(reveal(that(all(humans(as(images(of(their(Creator(are(obligated(to(reflect(him(ethically.(Our(conscience(tells(us(that(we’re(to(be(holy(as(God(is(holy.(But(general(revelation(does(not(reveal(God’s(attributes(and(God’s(law(as(clearly(and(with(the(same(amount(of(details(as(special(revelation.((

9(The(scope(of(general(revelation(is(universal,(and(the(content(of(general(revelation(is(God’s(divine(nature(and(his(moral(law.(General(revelation(is(sufficient(to(leave(all(men(without(excuse((Rom(1:18)(but(it’s(not(sufficient(to(reveal(the(way(of(salvation.(Like(an(XMRay(machine,(general(revelation(can(reveal(the(problem,(but(it(cannot(provide(the(remedy.(



Moreover,(general(revelation(can(convict(us(of(our(sinfulness(and(alienation(from(our(Creator.(But(it(cannot(show(us(the(way(of(salvation.(We(need(God(to(reveal(himself(to(us(in(special(ways(that(are(clearer(and(more(specific(than(creation,(providence,(and(conscience(if(we(would(be(saved.(Accordingly,(the(greater(clarity(and(specificity(of(special(revelation(give(it(a(priority(over(general(revelation.(Both(are(God’s(word,(and(therefore,(both(equally(authoritative.(But(because(special(revelation(tells(us(who(God(is(and(what(he(requires(with(greater(clarity(and(detail,(it’s(authority(for(us(is(relatively(superior(to(general(revelation.(“Scripture?quality”(

Not(all(special(revelation(has(been(inscripturated.(For(instance,(Jesus(taught(many(things(and(performed(many(miracles(that(weren’t(recorded(in(the(Gospels((John(20:30M31;(21:25).(But(these(nonMinscripturated(teachings(and(miracles(of(Christ(are(of(the(same(quality(of(revelation(as(those(recorded(in(Scripture.(Likewise,(the(apostle(Paul(expected(the(churches(he(founded(and(cared(for(to(submit(to(his(apostolic(teaching(or(tradition(whether(it(came(to(them(orally(or(in(the(form(of(writing((2(Thess(2:15).(It’s(even(likely(that(some(of(Paul’s(apostolic(letters(never(made(it(into(the(NT(canon((1(Cor.(5:9;(Col.(4:16).(But(that(fact(doesn’t(require(us(to(place(them(into(a(different(category(of(revelation(from(Scripture.(By(ScriptureMquality(revelation,(we’re(referring(to(revelation(that(is(by(its(nature(divinely(authoritative,(infallible,(and(inerrant.((“Ceased”((i.e.,(the(cessation(of(special(revelation)(

The(claim(that(special(revelation(has(ceased(calls(for(immediate(clarification.(After(all,(does(not(God(still(reveal(Himself(to(men?(If(so,(is(it(really(biblical(to(speak(of(the(cessation(of(special(revelation?(I(believe(it(is(biblical(and(even(necessary(to(speak(of(the(cessation(of(special(revelation(provided(that(we(clarify(what(is(meant.(Negatively,(the(“cessation(of(special(revelation”(does(not(mean(God(has(ceased(to(reveal(Himself(to(men.(Not(only(does(God(continue(to(reveal(Himself(to(men(through(creation,(providence,(and(conscience,(but(He(also(



continues(to(reveal(himself(through(Scripture((Ps.(19:7;(Heb.(4:12).(And(so,(God(still(reveals(Himself(through(special(revelation.10((In(what(way,(then,(has(special(revelation(ceased?(Positively,(by(the(

“cessation(of(special(revelation,”(we(are(arguing(that(the(process(whereby(God(imparts(new(revelation(has(ceased.(In(other(words,(God(has(said(everything(He(needs(to(say(for(the(salvation(of(sinners(and(for(the(good(of(the(church,(and(therefore,(we(should(not(expect(any(new(revelations(from(God(until(Jesus(Christ(returns.(Technically,(then,(we(might(speak(of(the(cessation(of(“preMparousia”(special(revelation.(Stated(as(a(formal(proposition,(the(Scriptures(of(the(Old(and(New(Testaments(are(the(final(form(and(goal(of(preMparousia(redemptive(revelation.(Therefore,(with(the(completion(of(Scripture(preMparousia(special(revelation(has(ceased.(The(Tone(of(the(Argument(

I(do(want(to(make(clear(at(the(outset(that(the(question(of(tongues(and(prophecy(is(not(a(simple(issue.(There’s(not(one(conclusive(proofMtext,(to(my(knowledge,(that(settles(the(issue(for(any(position.(The(advocates(of(each(position(appeal(to(Scripture(and(advance(theological(arguments(for(their(viewpoint.(Nevertheless,(I(do(believe(the(weight(of(biblical(evidence(tips(the(scales(toward(the(cessationist(position.(Hence,(by(God’s(grace(I(shall(argue(for(the(cessationist(position(in(a(spirit(of(grace(and(humility,(acknowledging(that(there(are(good(men(representing(each(of(these(positions.11(A%CESSATIONIST%ARGUMENT%

Now(we’re(ready(to(develop(an(argument(for(the(cessation(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues.((

10(I(would(also(affirm(that(the(Holy(Spirit(is(still(at(work(convicting(hearts(of(sin((John(16:8),(illuminating(minds(to(understand(God’s(word((1(Cor.(2:12M15),(bearing(witness(to(our(spirits(that(we(are(the(children(of(God((Rom.(8:16),(granting(the(ability(to(make(wise(decisions(based(on(the(light(of(nature(and(principles(of(Scripture((James(1:5),(interceding(for(us((Rom.(8:26M27),(sanctifying(us((Gal.(5:22M24;(Eph.(5:18ff.),(and(enduing(God’s(people(with(boldness(to(speak(the(truth(with(love((Acts(2:4;(4:8,(31;(13:9M11).(Moreover,(I(affirm(the(supernatural(and(God’s(ongoing(prerogative(and(freedom(to(perform(miracles(today.((

11(When(teaching(this(series(in(an(adult(Sunday(School(class,(I(placed(framed(photographs(of(D.(MartynMLloyd(Jones,(John(Piper,(and(a(wellMknown(and(loved(Reformed(Baptist(missionary(on(the(pulpit(so(that(they(were(visible(to(me(and(to(my(audience.(I(wanted(to(present(the(case(for(cessation(as(if(these(highly(esteemed(men(who(are(not(cessationists(were(present.(



Major(Premise:(The(Canon(Is(Closed(

As(I(have(argued(in(our(previous(lecture,(special(revelation(has(reached(its(ultimate(historical(goal(in(the(apostolic(witness(to(the(person,(words,(and(work(of(Jesus(Christ.((And(this(inspired(apostolic(witness(has(reached(its(final(covenantal(form(in(the(canonical(writings(of(the(New(Testament.12((Therefore,(since(special(revelation(has(reached(its(ultimate(goal(and(final(form,(then(the(church(should(not(expect(any(more(such(revelation(until(the(bodily(return(of(Christ.(This(has(been(the(historical(position(of(the(Christian(church,(both(

Catholic(and(Protestant.(For(the(past(twentyMone(centuries,(the(church(has(recognized(no(inspired(writings(later(than(those(of(the(apostolic(period.13(Only(cults(like(the(Mormon(Church(and(a(few(radical(Pentecostal(groups(argue(for(an(“open(canon.”(In(fact,(nearly(all(evangelical(Pentecostals(and(Charismatics(believe(the(canon(of(Scripture(is(closed.14(For(example,(Wayne(Grudem,(a(leading(exponent(of(the(continuationist(position,(is(unambiguous(in(his(support(for(the(cessation(of(ScriptureMrevelation:(The(New(Testament(writings(contain(the(final,(authoritative,(and(sufficient(interpretation(of(Christ’s(work(of(redemption.((The(apostles(and(their(close(companions(report(Christ’s(words(and(deeds(and(interpret(them(with(absolute(divine(authority.((When)they)have)finished)their)writing,)there)is)no)more)to)be)added)with)the)

same)absolute)divine)authority.((Thus,(once(the(writings(of(the(New(Testament(apostles(and(their(authorized(companions(are(completed,(we(have(in(written(form(the)final)record)of)everything)that)God)wants)us)to)know(about(the(life,(death,(and(resurrection(of(Christ,(and(its(meaning(for(the(lives(of(believers(for(all(time.((Since(this(is(God’s(greatest(revelation(for(mankind,(no)more)is)to)be)expected)once)this)is)complete.((In(this(way,(then,(Hebrews(1:1M2(shows(us(why(no)more)writings)can)be)added)to)the)Bible)after)the)

12(See(the(diagram,(“The(Inscripturated(Word(of(the(Incarnate(Word:(The(Final(Covenantal(

Form(and(Historical(Goal(of(Special(Revelation.”(((13(For(a(survey(of(the(historical(development(and(recognition(of(the(canon,(see(F.(F.(Bruce,(

The)Canon)of)Scripture)(Downers(Grove:(Intervarsity,(1988).(14(Of(course,(many(Pentecostal(and(Charismatic(Christians(are(inconsistent.((On(the(one(

hand,(they(hold(that(the(canon(of(Scripture(is(closed.((On(the(other(hand,(they(fail(to(make(a(clear(distinction(between(the(canonical(revelation(of(Scripture(and(the(lessMthanMcanonical(revelation(of(tongues(and(prophecy.((I(shall(argue(below(that(such(a(distinction(does(not(exist(in(Scripture.((Thus,(their(inconsistency(suggests(a(problem(with(their(continuationist(position.(((



time)of)the)New)Testament.))The)canon)is)now)closed)[emphasis(mine].15((Grudem’s(affirmation(of(the(cessation(of(ScriptureMrevelation(is(

important(for(two)reasons:(Clarifying%the%point%of%debate%

The(real(issue(for(most(evangelicals(is(not(whether(ScriptureMquality(revelation(has(ceased.(Nearly(all(BibleMbelieving(Christians(would(affirm(that(to(be(true.(The(question(is(whether(the(miraculous(gifts(of(prophecy(and(tongues(are(forms(of(canonical(special(revelation.(Dr.(Grudem(argues(that(the(revelation(of(Scripture(falls(in(a(different(category(of(revelation(than(that(of(NT(tongues(and(prophecy.(Therefore,(Grudem(can(argue(for(the(cessation(of(ScriptureMrevelation(on(the(one(hand(and(the(continuation(of(prophecy(and(tongues(on(the(other.(Thus,(the(debate(over(tongues(and(prophecy(really(hinges(upon(the(nature(of(these(forms(of(revelation.(Avoiding%Misrepresentation%

Sometimes(cessationists(portray(all(continuationists(as(if(they(have(a(low(view(of(Scripture(and(disregard(its(authority.(In(some(cases,(there(has(been(warrant(for(this(concern.(In(the(preface(to(his(book(entitled,(The(Spirit(Bade(Me(Go,(David(du(Plessis,(former(secretary(of(the(World(Conference(of(Pentecostal(Churches,(makes(the(following(astounding(claims:(It(was(my(privilege(to(edit(and(prepare(for(publication(in(this(form(those(revelations(that(I(received(from([the(Spirit](while(ministering(in(conferences….(Friends(have(been(pleading(with(me(to(put(into(print(the(things(I(have(said,(or(rather(those(things(that(the(Holy(Ghost(has(said(through(me.((To(attempt(to(write(about(these(things(would(not(be(quite(the(same(as(quoting(more(directly(the(utterances(made(under(the(unction(of(the(Spirit.16(Du(Plessis(clearly(seems(to(place(his(utterances(on(a(level(with(

divine(canonical(revelation.(This(is(why(cessationists(have(generally(been(very(wary(about(people(who(advocate(the(ongoing(gift(of(prophecy.(There(are(Pentecostal(and(Charismatic(brothers,(however,(

15(Wayne(Grudem,(Systematic)Theology)(Grand(Rapids:(Zondervan,(1994),(64.(16(Cited(by(Walter(Chantry,(Signs(of(the(Apostles((Banner(of(Truth,(1979),(24M25.(



who(have(a(high(view(of(Scripture(and(treat(the(Bible(as(their(supreme(authority(in(faith(and(practice.(Donald(Gee,(an(Assembly(of(God(theologian,(exhibits(a(cautious(view(towards(the(gifts(as(well(as(a(high(view(of(Scripture(when(he(writes,([There(are](grave(problems(raised(by(the(habit(of(giving(and(receiving(personal(‘messages’(of(guidance(through(the(gifts(of(the(Spirit….(Many(of(our(errors(where(spiritual(gifts(are(concerned(arise(when(we(want(the(extraordinary(and(exceptional(to(be(made(the(frequent(and(habitual.((Let(all(who(develop(excessive(desire(for(‘messages’(through(the(gifts(take(warning(from(the(wreckage(of(past(generations(as(well(as(of(contemporaries(….(The(Holy(Scriptures(are(a(lamp(unto(our(feet(and(a(light(unto(our(path.17(Therefore,(those(of(us(who(disagree(with(our(continuationist(

brothers(must(strive(to(be(fair(and(gracious(in(the(way(we(represent(them.(The(Bible(itself(forbids(us(to(“bear(false(witness(against(our(neighbor”((Exod.(20:16;(Deut.(5:20;(cf.(Exo.(23:6M7;(Eph.(4:31;(Jas.(4:11).(For(this(reason,(I(have(attempted(to(highlight(the(various(shades(of(difference(among(continuationists(in(the(following(table:(

17(Spiritual(Gifts(in(the(Work(of(Ministry(Today((Springfield,(Mo.:(Gospel(Publishing(House,(1963),(51M52.(



As(the(table(above(illustrates,(there(are(various(shades(or(degrees(of(difference(among(continuationists.(The(more(radical(continuationists,(like(the(Mormons(or(the(Apostolic(Christian(Church(of(America,(not(only(believe(in(ongoing(manifestations(of(tongues(and(prophecy(but(also(believe(in(ongoing(canonical(revelation.(They(would(argue(that(there(are(still(living(Apostles(today(who(are(still(receiving(direct(inspired(revelation(from(God.(The(Mormon(Church(has(even(added(certain(books(to(the(canon(of(Scripture.(Secondly,(there(are(“inconsistent”(Continuationists.(These(are(

Pentecostals(or(Charismatics(who(sometimes(speak(as(if(the(canon(is(closed(and(sometimes(as(if(God(is(still(giving(canonical(revelation.(For(example,(W.(R.(Jones(calls(NT(prophecy(“a(supernatural(utterance,”(which(has(“no(connection(with(human(thought,(reasoning,(and(intellect.”(In(other(words,(he(seems(to(regard(the(very(utterance(as(a(form(of(divine(revelation.(Yet,(Jones(goes(on(to(say(that(NT(prophecy(is(“not(to(take(the(place(of(the(Written(Word(of(God.”18(And(often(times,(Pentecostals(and(Charismatics,(like(Jones,(are(inconsistent(in(maintaining(a(distinction(between(the(canonical(revelation(of(Scripture(and(the(nonMcanonical(revelation(of(tongues(and(prophecy.(But(as(the(third(column(in(our(diagram(illustrates,(there(are(

continuationists(today(who(do(seek(to(maintain(a(consistent(distinction(between(the(canonical(revelation(of(Scripture(and(what(they(see(as(the(nonMcanonical(revelation(of(tongues(and(prophecy.(In(their(view,(Scripture(is(infallible(and(supremely(authoritative.(Modern(tongues(and(prophecy(are(not(infallible(and(are(subordinate(to(Scripture(in(the(life(of(the(church(and(the(believer.(Finally,(there(is(the(position(of(many(evangelicals(and(some(

reformed(Christians(who(are(“open(but(cautious”(about(the(question(of(tongues(and(prophecy,(and(yet(they(are(firmly(committed(to(the(cessation(of(Scripture.(The(point(in(recognizing(these(various(distinctions(is(to(avoid(the(

sin(of(misrepresentation.(I(do(not(appreciate(it(when(a(charismatic(brother(portrays(me(as(someone(who(denies(the(supernatural(and(

18(Quoted(by(James(Garrett,(Systematic)Theology:)Biblical,)Historical)&)Evangelical,(vol.(2((Grand(Rapids:(Eerdmans,(1995),(215.(



depreciates(the(work(of(the(Holy(Spirit(because(that’s(not(true.(I(do(believe(in(the(supernatural,(and(I(don’t(make(light(of(the(Holy(Spirit.(At(least(I(hope(I(don’t.(I(want(to(be(fairly(represented.(May(God(help(me(to(treat(my(continuationist(brother,(as(I(would(want(him(to(treat(me((Matt.(7:12)!(Minor(Premise:(NT(Prophecy(and(Tongues(as(Scripture?Quality(

Revelation(

If(it(can(be(demonstrated(that(the(revelation(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(belongs(to(the(same(category(as(the(revelation(of(Scripture(and(if(we(grant(the(cessation(of(Scripture(revelation,(then(I(think(we’re(forced(to(conclude(that(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(have(ceased.(Continuationists,(like(Wayne(Grudem,(concede(the(force(of(this(argument.(Grudem(writes,(“Now(if(New(Testament(congregational(prophecy(was(like(Old(Testament(prophecy(and(New(Testament(apostolic(words(in(its(authority,(then(this(cessationist(objection(would(be(true.”19((It(is(for(this(reason(that(Grudem(and(other(continuationists(are(

forced(to(argue(for(a(distinction(between(the(revelation(of(Scripture(and(that(of(NT(tongues(and(prophecy.(Since(Wayne(Grudem(is(a(leading(exponent(for(this(position,(we(will(examine(his(basic(arguments(for(a(distinction(between(canonical(prophecy(and(NT(congregational(prophecy.20(Then(we(will(attempt(to(offer(a(biblical(refutation,(demonstrating(that(NT(congregational(prophecy(belongs(to(the(same(class(of(revelation(as(Scripture.((The%Continuationist%Argument%

Grudem(defines(the(NT(gift(of(prophecy(as(“telling(something(that(God(has(spontaneously(brought(to(mind,”(which(is(communicated(in(the(prophet’s(own(words.21(Then(he(attempts(to(make(a(careful(distinction(between(the(canonical(prophecy(of(Scripture(and(the(NT(congregational(prophecy(and(tongues.(The(following(illustration(of(

19(Grudem,(Systematic(Theology,(1039.(20(Grudem(did(his(doctoral(dissertation(on(this(subject,(and(he(edited(it(into(popular(form(

in(a(book(entitled,(The(Gift(of(Prophecy(in(the(New(Testament(and(Today((Crossway,(1988),(and(then(incorporated(his(argument(in(his(Systematic)Theology((Zondervan,(1994).(I(will(be(drawing(primarily(from(this(latter(publication.(

21(Grudem,(Systematic(Theology,(1049M1057.(



Grudem’s(distinction(between(these(two(levels(of(revelation(should(help(you(to(conceptualize(His(view.(

Not(all(continuationists(are(careful(in(making(this(distinction.22(Grudem,(however,(argues(that(NT(gift(of(prophecy(was(semiMrevelational,(potentially(fallible,(and(only(relatively(authoritative.(I(will(only(focus(on(his(three(primary(arguments,(which(we(can(summarize(as(follows:(

1)(The(NT(apostles(alone(are(the(counterparts(to(the(OT(prophets;(

only(the(NT(apostles(uttered(infallible(revelation.(

In(the(NT(there(were(people(who(spoke(and(wrote(God’s(very(words(and(had(them(recorded(in(Scripture,(but(we(may(be(surprised(to(find(that(Jesus(no(longer(calls(them(“prophets”(but(uses(a(new(term,(“apostles.”(The(apostles(are(the(NT(counterparts(to(the(OT(prophets((see(1(Cor.(2:13;(2(Cor.(13:3;(Gal.(1:8M9;(11M12;(1(Thess.(2:13;(4:8,(15;(2(Peter(3:2).(According(to(Grudem,(it(is(the(NT(apostles(and(not(the(NT(prophets,(who(have(authority(to(write(the(words(of(New(Testament(Scripture.23(

22(As(noted(in(Part(5,(W.(R.(Jones(calls(NT(prophecy(“a(supernatural(utterance,”(which(has(“no(connection(with(human(thought,(reasoning,(and(intellect.”(Yet,(Jones(goes(on(to(say(that(NT(prophecy(is(“not(to(take(the(place(of(the(Written(Word(of(God.”(Cited(by(James(Garrett,(Systematic(Theology:(Biblical,(Historical(&(Evangelical,(vol.(2((Eerdmans,(1995),(215.(

23 Grudem, Systematic Theology, 1050.



2)(The(NT(seems(to(contain(examples(of(fallible(prophecy(uttered(by(

NT(believers(or(prophets((Acts(21:4,(10?11,(cf.(33;(22:29).(

In(particular,(Grudem(focuses(upon(certain(passages(in(Acts(which,(he(alleges,(provide(us(with(clear(examples(of(fallible(prophecy.(Allow(me(to(quote(his(comments(on(two(passages(in(particular:(In(Acts(21:4,(we(read(of(the(disciples(at(Tyre:(‘Through(the(Spirit(they(told(Paul(not(to(go(on(to(Jerusalem.’((This(seems(to(be(a(reference(to(prophecy(directed(towards(Paul,(but(Paul(disobeyed(it!((He(never(would(have(done(this(if(this(prophecy(contained(God’s(very(words(and(had(authority(equal(to(Scripture….(Then,(in(Acts(21:10M11,(Agabus(prophesied(that(the(Jews(at(Jerusalem(would(bind(Paul(and(‘deliver(him(into(the(hands(of(the(Gentiles,’(a(prediction(that(was(nearly(correct(but(not(quite:(the(Romans,(not(the(Jews,(bound(Paul((v.(33;(cf.(22:29),(and(the(Jews,(rather(than(delivering(him(voluntarily(tried(to(kill(him(and(he(had(to(be(rescued(by(force((v.(32).24(3)(The(fact(that(NT(prophecy(was(subject(to(evaluation(and(criticism(

seems(to(imply(fallibility(and(lesser(authority((1(Cor(14:29;(1(Thes(5:19?

21).(

Paul(tells(the(Thessalonians,(“Do(not(despise(prophesying,(but(test(everything;(hold(fast(what(is(good”((1(Thess.(5:20M21).(According(to(Grudem,(Paul’s(admonition(assumes(that(both(he(and(the(Thessalonians(saw(a(distinction(between(canonical(prophecy(and(NT(congregational(prophecy.(The(Thessalonians(had(“received”(and(“accepted”(the(Apostle(Paul’s(preaching(as(God’s(Word((1(Thess.(2:13;(cf.(4:15).(But(they(seemed(to(have(a(lesser(view(of(NT(prophecy.(Apparently,(they(were(even(tempted(to(look(down(on(it.(Furthermore,(Paul’s(injunction(to(“test”(NT(prophecy(and(his(command(to(“hold(fast(what(is(good”(implies(that(NT(prophecies(may(contain(some(things(that(are(good(and(some(things(that(are(not(good.(According(to(Grudem,(Paul(would(never(tell(the(Thessalonians(to(treat(Scripture(that(way.(Therefore,(the(revelation(of(NT(prophecy(must(be(inferior(and(less(authoritative(than(ScriptureMrevelation.25(

24(Ibid.,(1052.(25(Ibid.,(1054.(



Grudem(also(marshals(the(text(in(1(Corinthians(14:29,(where(Paul(says,(“Let(two(or(three(prophets(speak,(and(let(the(others(pass(judgment”((NAS).(Obviously,(Paul(is(calling(upon(the(Corinthian(believers(to(carefully(evaluate(NT(prophecy.(And(in(light(of(this,(Grudem(remarks,(We(cannot(imagine(that(an(Old(Testament(prophet(like(Isaiah(would(have(said,(‘Listen(to(what(I(say(and(weigh(what(is(said—sort(the(good(from(the(bad,(what(you(accept(from(what(you(should(not(accept!’(If(prophecy(had(absolute(divine(authority,(it(would(be(a(sin(to(do(this.(But(here(Paul(commands(that(it(be(done,(suggesting(that(New(Testament(prophecy(did(not(have(the(authority(of(God’s(very(words.26(These(are(Grudem’s(three(primary(arguments(for(a(distinction(

between(canonical(prophecy(and(NT(congregational(prophecy.(How(shall(we(assess(these(arguments?(The%Cessationist%Rebuttal%

I(have(five(lines(of(response(to(Grudem’s(arguments(by(which(I(want(to(argue(that(the(Scriptures(do(not(support(Grudem’s(distinction(between(OT(canonical(prophecy((infallible)(and(NT(congregational(prophecy((potentially(fallible).(In(contrast,(the(data(of(Scripture(seems(to(place(NT(prophecy(in(the(same(divine(and(authoritative(category(as(OT(prophecy.((

1)(OT(prophets(spoke(the(very(words(of(God.(

The(nature(of(OT(prophecy(is(highlighted(in(three(key(passages.(Exodus%7:1K2%

Here,(Yahweh(declares(to(Moses,(See,(I(have(made(you(as(God(to(Pharaoh,(and(Aaron(your(brother(shall(be(your(prophet.(You(shall(speak(all(that(I(command(you.(And(

26(Grudem,(Systematic(Theology,(1054.(Grudem(also(refers(to(Paul’s(comments(in(verses(

37(and(38(as(proof(that(the(NT(prophets(were(on(a(lower(level(of(authority(than(Paul(as(an(apostle.(But,(as(Richard(Gaffin(Jr.(observes,(“Nor(does(Paul’s(peremptory(command(to(the(prophets(in(1(Corinthians(14:37M38(establish(their(lower(authority—any(more(than(his(sharp(rebuke(of(Peter(in(Galatians(2:11M14(means(that(the(latter(did(not(teach(with(full,(infallible(authority(when(he(properly(exercised(his(apostolic(office,”(Are(Miraculous(Gifts(For(Today?(Four(Views((Zondervan,(1996),(50.(



Aaron(your(brother(shall(speak(to(Pharaoh(to(send(the(children(of(Israel(out(of(his(land.(In(this(case,(Moses(was(God’s(prophet(and(Aaron(was(Moses’(

prophet.(God’s(word(is(relayed(through(Moses,(and(then(again(through(Aaron.((Notice,(however,(that(the(final(message(delivered(by(Aaron(comes(to(Pharaoh(with,(to(use(O.(Palmer(Robertson’s(words,(“undiminished(authority.”27(In(this(case,(the(prophetical(words(of(Aaron(are(absolutely(canonical.(

Deuteronomy%18:15K19%

In(this(passage,(God(assures(His(people(that(when(Moses(passes(off(the(scene,(he(will(raise(up(another(prophet(like(Moses.(For(our(purposes,(notice(how(this(passage(depicts(the(nature(of(true(OT(prophecy:(The(LORD(your(God(will(raise(up(for(you(a(Prophet(like(me(from(your(midst,(from(your(brethren.(Him(you(shall(hear,(according(to(all(you(desired(of(the(LORD(your(God(in(Horeb(in(the(day(of(the(assembly,(saying,(‘Let(me(not(hear(again(the(voice(of(the(LORD(my(God,(nor(let(me(see(this(great(fire(anymore,(lest(I(die.’(And(the(LORD(said(to(me:(‘What(they(have(spoken(is(good.(I(will(raise(up(for(them(a(Prophet(like(you(from(among(their(brethren,(and(will(put(My(words(in(His(mouth,(and(He(shall(speak(to(them(all(that(I(command(Him.(And(it(shall(be(that(whoever(will(not(hear(My(words,(which(He(speaks(in(My(name,(I(will(require(it(of(him.’(Once(again,(this(passage(portrays(a(prophet(as(God’s(spokesman.(

Notice(that(God(does(not(merely(place(his(words(in(the(prophet’s(head(but(rather(in(his(mouth((v.(18).(A(prophet(does(not(merely(receive(revelatory(concepts(in(his(mind,(but(he(actually(speaks(divine(revelation.(Finally,(Moses(makes(it(clear(in(verse(15(and(19(that(the(prophet’s(words(will(be(canonical:(“You(shall(listen(to(him(….(It(shall(come(about(that(whoever(will(not(listen(to(my(words(which(he(shall(speak(in(my(name,(I(myself(will(require(it(of(him.”(What’s(interesting(for(our(purposes(is(the(way(in(which(Peter(

interprets(this(text(in(Acts(3:22M23.(According(to(Peter,(this(passage(finds(fulfillment(not(just(in(the(line(of(prophets(following(Moses(but(primarily(in(the(prophetic(ministry(of(Jesus(Christ,(who(may(be(rightly(

27(The(Final(Word((Banner(of(Truth,(1993),(6.(



called(the(“Second(Moses.”(Certainly,(this(passage(underscores(continuity between(the(revelation(of(Old(Covenant(prophecy(and(the(revelation(of(New(Covenant(prophecy(of(Christ.(

2%Peter%1:20K21%

Peter(refers(specifically(to(the(“prophecy(of(Scripture,”(which(at(the(time(of(his(writing(was(primarily(OT(Scripture.(Regarding(the(nature(of(that(prophetic(revelation,(Peter(writes,(Knowing(this(first,(that(no(prophecy(of(Scripture(is(of(any(private(interpretation,(for(prophecy(never(came(by(the(will(of(man,(but(holy(men(of(God(spoke(as(they(were(moved(by(the(Holy(Spirit.(Peter(stresses(the(fact(that(the(prophecy(of(Scripture(does(not(

originate(with(man(but(with(God.(Furthermore,(Peter(argues(that(the(Spirit(not(only(superintends(the(thoughts(of(the(prophet(but(the words,(which(the(prophet(utters—”holy(men(of(God(spoke(as(they(were(moved(by(the(Holy(Spirit.”(In(conclusion,(the(Bible(clearly(portrays(OT(prophecy(as(inspired(

revelation(in(the(fullest(sense,(which(is(absolutely(authoritative.(With(this(point,(Dr.(Grudem(has(no(quarrel,(which(leads(to(our(second(line(of(argumentation.(

2)(The(Bible(assumes(an(essential(continuity(between(OT(and(NT(

prophecy.(

Let’s(travel(back(in(time(to(the(Day(of(Pentecost.(Here(Peter(and(the(other(apostles(were(“filled(with(the(Holy(Spirit”(and,(according(to(Acts(2:4,(they(“began(to(speak(with(other(tongues,(as(the(Spirit(gave(them(utterance.”(In(the(context,(the(word(“tongues”(is(referring(to(foreign(languages(other(than(Hebrew((vv.(8,(11).(Then,(in(order(to(put(this(strange(phenomenon(in(proper(perspective,(Peter(cites(an(OT(prophecy(of(which(their(speaking(in(tongues(is(a(fulfillment.(The(OT(text(is(Joel(2:28M32,(which(Peter(cites(in(verses(17M18:(‘And(it(shall(come(to(pass(in(the(last(days,’(says(God,(‘That(I(will(pour(out(of(My(Spirit(on(all(flesh;(Your(sons(and(your(daughters(shall(prophesy,(Your(young(men(shall(see(visions,(Your(old(men(shall(dream(dreams.(And(on(My(menservants(and(on(My(maidservants(I(will(pour(out(My(Spirit(in(those(days;(And(they(shall(prophesy’((Acts(2:17M18).(



The(prophet(Joel(is(pointing(forward(to(“the(last(days,”(when(God(will(do(something(new(and(unusual.(In(these(days,(Joel(says,(prophecy(will(no(longer(be(limited(to(a(certain(class(of(individuals.(God(will(pour(out(his(Spirit(on(“all(flesh,”(that(is,(upon(“all([kinds](of(mankind.”(Men(and(women,(young(and(old,(slave(and(freeman(will(all(prophesy.(Thus,(New(Covenant(prophecy(will(be(much(more(widely(distributed(than(Old(Covenant(prophecy.(((There(is(no(indication,(however,(that(this(NT(prophecy(will(be(nonM

canonical.(On(the(contrary,(the(equation(of(prophecy(with(“visions”(and(“dreams”((v.(17)(strongly(suggests(that(NT(prophecy(is(of(the(same(inspired(character(as(OT(prophecy.28(It(seems(probable(that(Joel’s(audience(would(have(interpreted(Joel’s(promise(of(future(prophecy(as(a(reference(to(special(revelation(in(the(fullest(sense(of(the(word.(Just(as(God(had(authoritatively(and(infallibly(revealed(himself(to(Israel(through(Moses(and(the(OT(prophets,(so(the(day(is(coming,(says(Joel,(when(God(would(pour(out(His(Spirit(again(upon(the(Gentile(as(well(as(the(Jew,(and(God’s(Spirit(would(provide(His(people(with(fresh(supernatural(revelation.(According(to(Peter,(Joel’s(prophecy(was(fulfilled(at(Pentecost.(The(“tongues”(of(Pentecost(were(the(evidence(of(an(outpouring(of(God’s(Spirit(that(resulted(in(new(revelation,(which(was(on(the(same(level(of(inspiration(and(authority(as(OT(prophecy.(Moreover,(we(cannot(limit(this(new(canonical(prophecy(to(the(apostles(since(the(fulfillment(of(Joel’s(promise(extends(to(women(as(well(as(to(men((vv.(17M18).(

3)(Several(NT(passages(treat(NT(prophecy(as(inspired(and(on(a(level(

with(OT(prophecy(as(canonical(revelation.(

Acts%13:1K4%

The(first(passage(I’d(like(us(to(look(at(is(probably(the(least(conclusive.(Acts(13:1M4(clearly(teaches(that(the(Holy(Spirit(commissioned(Paul(and(Barnabas(to(do(missionary(work.(Second,(the(likely(assumption(is(that(the(Spirit’s(revelation(came(to(them(through(the(agency(of(NT(prophets(who(happened(to(be(in(their(company.(

28(The(Old(Testament(often(places(“dreams”(and(“visions”(in(the(category(of(canonical(revelation((cf.(Num.(12:6;(24:3,(4;(2(Sam.(7:17;(2(Chron.(32:32;(Prov.(29:18;(Isa.(1:1;(Jer.(23;(Oba.(1:1;(Nah.(1:1).(



Now(in(the(church(that(was(at(Antioch(there(were(certain(prophets(and(teachers:(Barnabas,(Simeon(who(was(called(Niger,(Lucius(of(Cyrene,(Manaen(who(had(been(brought(up(with(Herod(the(tetrarch,(and(Saul.(As(they(ministered(to(the(Lord(and(fasted,(the(Holy(Spirit(said,(“Now(separate(to(Me(Barnabas(and(Saul(for(the(work(to(which(I(have(called(them.”(Then,(having(fasted(and(prayed,(and(laid(hands(on(them,(they(sent(them(away.(So,(being(sent(out(by(the(Holy(Spirit,(they(went(down(to(Seleucia,(and(from(there(they(sailed(to(Cyprus.(Commenting(on(the(passage,(F.(F.(Bruce(writes,(As(these(prophets(and(teachers(were(carrying(out(their(appointed(ministry(in(the(church,(the(Holy(Spirit(made(known(his(will(to(them—doubtless(through(an(inspired(utterance(from(one(of(their(number.29(I(believe(that(we(can(also(assume(that(this(SpiritMinspired(prophecy(

was(canonical(in(the(sense(of(being(infallibly(and(absolutely(authoritative.(Just(as(God(called(Moses(and(Isaiah(and(Jeremiah,(so(now(He(commissioned(Paul(and(Barnabas.(Not(by(the(enlightened(exhortation(of(the(church,(but(the(direct(revelation(of(His(Spirit.(In(other(words,(God’s(word(came(to(Barnabas(and(Paul(with(absolute divine authority.30(If(this(is(a(proper(reading(of(the(passage,(then(we(have(a(case(of(NT(prophecy(which(is(fully(inspired(and(infallible.(

Ephesians%2:20;%3:1K5%

We(find(a(clearer(statement(on(NT(prophecy(in(Ephesians(2:20(and(3:1M5.(We’ve(already(noted(how(Ephesians(2:20(supports(the(cessation(of(ScriptureMquality(revelation.(In(that(verse,(Paul(clearly(speaks(of(the(ministry(of(apostles(as(the(foundational(stage(of(the(NT(church’s(formation:(“having)been)built(on(the(foundation(of(the(apostles(and(prophets,(Jesus(Christ(Himself(being(the(chief(cornerstone”((emphasis(added).(For(our(purposes,(I(want(you(to(note(that(Paul(refers(not(only(to(NT(

“apostles”(but(also(to(NT(“prophets”(as(making(up(the(foundation(of(the(NT(church.(That(the(“prophets”(in(view(are(NT(prophets(is(clear(from(the(sequence(in(which(the(two(words(occur.(When(OT(prophets(are(compared(to(NT(apostles,(they(are(listed(before(the(apostles(in(

29(F.(F.(Bruce,(The(Book(of(the(Acts((Eerdmans,(1988),(245.(30(Notice(that(the(word(was(authoritative(even(before(Luke(recorded(it(in(the(Scriptures!(



sequence((2(Pet.(3:2).(When(the(term(“prophets”(follows(apostles,(however,(then(NT(prophets(are(in(view((e.g.,(1(Cor.(12:28,(29;(Eph.(2:20;(3:5;(4:11).(Furthermore,(we(know(these(are(NT(prophets(because(they(along(with(the(apostles(were(the(recipients(of(NT(revelation,(which(had(not(been(revealed(to(the(OT(prophets(in(the(same(degree.(This(point(is(underscored(in(3:1M5:(For(this(reason(I,(Paul,(the(prisoner(of(Christ(Jesus(for(you(Gentiles(—(if(indeed(you(have(heard(of(the(dispensation(of(the(grace(of(God(which(was(given(to(me(for(you,(how(that(by(revelation(He(made(known(to(me(the(mystery((as(I(have(briefly(written(already,(by(which,(when(you(read,(you(may(understand(my(knowledge(in(the(mystery(of(Christ),(which(in(other(ages(was(not(made(known(to(the(sons(of(men,(as(it(has(now(been(revealed(by(the(Spirit(to(His(holy(apostles(and(prophets((emphasis(added).(Obviously,(this(passage(places(NT(prophets(on(a(level(with(the(

apostles.(The(Spirit(of(God(revealed(to(them,(as(well(as(to(the(apostles,(“the(mystery(of(Christ,”(which(He(had(not(made(known(to(the(sons(of(men(to(the(same(degree(as(He(was(now(doing(to(the(apostles(and(the(prophets.(According(to(one(of(my(Greek(Lexicons,(the(word(“mystery”(can(refer(to(“what(can(be(known(only(through(revelation(mediated(from(God((Mat(13:11)”(or(“as(a(supreme(redemptive(revelation(of(God(through(the(Gospel(of(Christ(mystery((Rom(16:25;(Eph(3:9).”31((Thus,(the(prophets,(along(with(the(apostles,(communicated(divinely(

authoritative(revelation(to(the(church((cf.(Acts(13:1M4).(What(is(more,(as(we’ve(pointed(out,(the(NT(prophets(belonged(to(the(foundational(period(of(the(church,(which(makes(it(likely(that(they,(along(with(the(apostles,(passed(off(the(scene(once(the(NT(canon(was(completed.(Sensing(the(force(of(this(argument,(Grudem(attempts(to(view(the(

dual(reference(as(a(hendiadys.(The(term(“hendiadys”(comes(from(three(Greek(words:(hen(=(“one,”(dia(=(“through,”(dys(=(“two.”(It(refers(to(a(literary(device(in(which(two(words(are(used(to(describe(one(basic(idea.(Thus,(Grudem(interprets(the(phrase(“apostles(and(prophets”(as(

31(Analytical(Lexicon(to(the(Greek(New(Testament(in(Bible(Works(4.0((Copyright(1999),(en(loc.(



referring(to(one(class(of(individuals(and(translates(it,(“the(apostles(who(are(the(prophets.”32(Linguistic(studies(on(the(structure(of(Paul’s(statement(in(the(

original(have(shown(Grudem’s(interpretation(to(be(improbable.33(Moreover,(other(NT(passages(like(1(Corinthians(12:28M29,(Ephesians(4:11,(and(Revelation(18:20(clearly(distinguish(NT(apostles(from(NT(prophets.(The(passage(in(Ephesians(4(is(especially(relevant(since(it(occurs(in(the(same(letter(as(the(reference(in(2:20(and(3:5.(Therefore,(according(to(the(exegetical(evidence(of(Ephesians(2:20(and(3:5,(both(apostles(and(NT(prophets(were(the(recipients(and(the(agents(of(divinely(authoritative(revelation.(

1%Corinthians%13:2;%14:1K3%%

The(next(two(passages(I(would(like(us(to(examine(are(found(in(Paul’s(First(Epistle(to(the(Corinthians.(First,(let’s(read(1(Corinthians(13:2:(“And(though(I(have(the(gift(of(prophecy,(and(understand(all(mysteries(and(all(knowledge,(and(though(I(have(all(faith,(so(that(I(could(remove(mountains,(but(have(not(love,(I(am(nothing.”(In(this(first(text,(I(want(you(simply(to(note(that(Paul(portrays(NT(prophecy(as(a(revelatory(gift(by(which(the(one(who(possess(the(gift(comes(to(understand(“all(mysteries.”(Remember(that(according(to(Ephesians(3,(the(term(“mysteries”(refer(to(divine(revelation(of(redemptive(truth(previously(unknown—at(least(not(to(the(same(degree.(With(this(in(view,(let’s(turn(to(a(complementary(passage(in(1(Corinthians(14:1M3:(Pursue(love,(and(desire(spiritual(gifts,(but(especially(that(you(may(prophesy.(For(he(who(speaks(in(a(tongue(does(not(speak(to(men(but(to(God,(for(no(one(understands(him;(however,(in(the(spirit(he(speaks(mysteries.(But(he(who(prophesies(speaks(edification(and(exhortation(and(comfort(to(men.(

32(The(Gift(of(Prophecy(in(the(New(Testament(and(Today((Crossway,(1988),(45M63.(33(D.(B.(Wallace,(“The(Semantic(Range(of(the(ArticleMNounMKAIMNoun(Plural(Construction(in(

the(New(Testament,”(Grace)Theological)Journal(4((1983),(59M84;(R.(Fowler(White,(“Gaffin(and(Grudem(on(Eph(2:20:(In(Defense(of(Gaffin’s(Cessationist(Exegesis,”(Westminster)Theological)Journal(54((Fall(1992),(304M21.(See(also(the(helpful(analysis(provided(by(Jonathan(Christman,(one(of(Grudem’s(former(students,(which(may(be(accessed(here:(“Wayne(Grudem(on(Ephesians(2:20MAn(Exegetical(Analysis”((http://epangelia.blogspot.com/2009/03/wayneMgrudemMonMephesiansM220.html).(



You’ll(recall(that(in(Acts(2,(Peter(equates(tongues(with(prophecy.(According(to(that(passage,(“tongues”(is(the(gift(of(prophecy(uttered(in(a(foreign(language.(In(this(passage((and(in(chapter(13),(however,(Paul(seems(to(contrast(the(two.(How(do(we(explain(this?(First,(we(should(not(view(Paul’s(distinction(between(prophecy(and(tongues(as(a(contrast(between(rational(speech(and(irrational(noise(and(babbling.(The(Greek(word(translated(“tongues”(simply(refers(to(language((cf.(Isa.(28:11M12).34(Genuine(language(is(not(a(lot(of(irrational,(incoherent(noise.(True(language(is(always(characterized(by(real(words(that(are(structured(together(in(a(coherent(and(rational(fashion((cf.(1(Cor.(14:19).35(Second,(Paul’s(contrast(between(prophecy(and(tongues(is(not(a(

contrast(between(human(speech(and(angelic(speech.(Some(modern(Pentecostals(and(Charismatics(appeal(to(1(Corinthians(13:1(where(Paul(writes,(“Though(I(speak(with(the(tongues(of(men(and(of(angels,(but(have(not(love,(I(have(become(sounding(brass(or(a(clanging(cymbal.”(On(the(basis(of(this(verse,(they(argue,((1)(that(angelic(language(may(be(contrasted(with(human(language,((2)(that(angelic(language(may(be(spoken(by(humans,(and((3)(that(angelic(language(may(sound(unintelligible(and(irrational(to(humans,(like(“sounding(brass(or(a(clanging(symbol.”(In(response(to(this(interpretation,(note(first(that(the(“sounding(

brass(and(clanging(symbol”(refer(to(human(speech(as(well(as(angelic(speech(that(is(not(accompanied(by(love.(The(point(is(not(that(human(speech(is(intelligible(while(angelic(speech(is(unintelligible.(The(point,(rather,(is(that(preaching(the(gospel—whether(in(a(human(tongue(or(an(angelic(tongue—makes(no(sense(if(we(are(not(living(the(gospel.(Second,(Paul’s(reference(to(the(“tongues(…(of(angels”(may(simply(be(a(form(of(hyperbole—a(way(of(saying,(“Though(I(preaching(the(gospel(with(the(eloquence(of(an(angel.”(Third,(even(if(Paul(is(alluding(to(an(

34(Walter(Bauer,(William(Arndt,(and(F.(Wilbur(Gingrich,(A(GreekMEnglish(Lexicon(of(the(New(Testament,(2nd(edition((University(of(Chicago(Press,(1979),(162.(

35(When(I(was(a(new(believer,(a(friend(invited(me(to(a(Pentecostal(Bible(study(where(the(subject(of(tongues(was(discussed.(At(the(end(of(the(study,(the(leader(of(the(group(asked(us(all(to(stand(and(pray(for(the(Spirit.(Everyone(except(me(lifted(their(hands(and(began(praying.(Soon(the(woman(standing(next(to(me(began(dancing(around(and(repeating(over(and(over(the(phrase,(“Babble(…(babble(…(babble.”(That(literally(happened!(But(I(don’t(very(much(that’s(what(Paul(had(in(view(when(speaking(of(“tongues.”(



actual(language(spoken(by(angels,(he(nowhere(clearly(identifies(that(angelic(language(as(the(tongues(being(uttered(in(the(Corinthian(church.(In(fact,(there(are(indications(in(the(context(of(1(Corinthians(14(that(Paul(has(actual(human(languages(in(view.(Paul’s(illustration(in(verses(10(and(11(points(to(a(human(language(rather(than(an(angelic(language:(There(are,(it(may(be,(so(many(kinds(of(languages(in(the(world,(and(none(of(them(is(without(significance.(Therefore,(if(I(do(not(know(the(meaning(of(the(language,(I(shall(be(a)foreigner(to(him(who(speaks,(and(he(who(speaks(will(be(a)foreigner(to(me([emphasis(added]((1(Cor.(14:10M11).(Moreover,(Paul’s(reference(to(tongues(as(a(“sign(to(unbelievers”(in(

verses(21(and(22(is(based(upon(Isaiah(28:11M12,(and(that(OT(passage(is(referring(to(a(human(language(which(is(foreign(and(unintelligible(to(the(recipient((cf.(Deut.(28:49;(Jer.(5:15).(For(these(reasons,(it(is(best(to(view(the(gift(of(NT(tongues(neither(as(irrational(babble(nor(as(angelic(speech,(but(rather(as(prophecy(in(a(foreign(language,(which(corresponds(to(the(tongues(spoken(on(the(Day(of(Pentecost((Acts(2:8,(11).(Paul’s(contrast,(then,(is(not(between(tongues(and(prophecy(per(se(but(between(revelation(uttered(in(a(language(intelligible(to(the(church(and(revelation(uttered(in(a(language(that(is(foreign(to(the(church.36(What(I(really(want(to(call(your(attention(to(is(the(fact(that(according(

to(13:2(and(14:2(both(prophecy(and(tongues(reveal(“mysteries.”(The(term(“mysteries”(is(not(referring(to(garbled(nonsense.37(That(term(translates(the(same(Greek(word(that(Paul(used(in(Ephesians(3(to(speak(of(the canonical-level NT special revelation(uttered(by(apostles(and(

36(Some(have(cited(verses(14(and(15(as(proof(that(“tongues”(is(a(nonMintelligible(utterance:(“for(if(I(pray(in(a(tongue,(my(spirit(prays,(but(my(understanding(is(unfruitful.(What(is(the(conclusion(then?(I(will(pray(with(the(spirit,(and(I(will(also(pray(with(the(understanding.(I(will(sing(with(the(spirit,(and(I(will(also(sing(with(the(understanding.”(They(argue(that(since(one’s(understanding(remains(“unfruitful”(when(uttering(a(tongue,(then(it(must(refer(to(something(distinct(from(a(human(language(since(even(the(one(speaking(cannot(understand(it.(In(verse(4,(however,(Paul(seems(to(imply(that(the(speaker(could(understand(it:(“He(who(speaks(in(a(tongue(edifies(himself.”(Consequently,(we(may(interpret(the(phrase(“my(understanding(is(unfruitful”(as(shorthand(for,(“My(understanding(of(the(divine(revelation(does(not(produce(fruit(in(the(hearers(when(it(is(uttered(in(a(foreign(language”((cf.(Matt.(13:22;(2(Pet.(1:8).(

37(Charles(Hodge(comments,(“The(meaning(obviously(is,(that(although(not(understood,(yet(what(he(utters(contains(divine(truth.(The(difficultly(was(in(the(language(used,(not(in(the(absence(of(meaning,(or(in(the(fact(that(inarticulate(sounds(were(employed.”(A(Commentary(on(I(and(II(Corinthians((1857;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1988),(280.(



prophets.(And(according(to(these(passages(in(1(Corinthians,(these(“mysteries”(are(“known”(through(the(gift(of(prophecy((13:2)(and(they(are(“spoken”(through(the(gift(of(tongues((14:2).(Therefore,(according(to(these(passages,(not(only(does(the(special(revelation(of(NT(prophecy(reach(the(mind(but(it(is(uttered from the mouth(as(well!((The(Spirit(does(not(merely(provide(the(thoughts(to(think,(but(He(gives(the very words(to(say.(I(do(not(believe(these(passages(are(compatible(with(Grudem’s(

position.(Grudem(argues(that(in(the(case(of(NT(congregational(prophecy,(revelation(only(extends(to(the(mind(and(not(necessarily(to(the(mouth((see(Grudem’s(view(illustrated(above).(But(here,(the(one(who(speaks(in(tongues(actually(“speaks”(the(mysteries.(This(is(not(to(deny(that(prophets(may(have(added(their(own(interpretation(to(a(prophet’s(message(at(a(later(time.(But(in(that(case,(we(must(distinguish(their(interpretation(from(the(prophecy(itself.(NT(prophecy(by(its(very(nature(is(divinely(inspired(revelation—nothing(more(and(nothing(less.(

Revelation%1:3;%22:7,%10;%18K19%%

The(Apostle(John(identifies(his(writing(as(NT(prophecy((1:3;(22:7,(10).(Furthermore,(he(claims(absolute,(canonical(authority(for(this(NT(prophecy((22:18M19;(cf.(Deut.(4:2).(I(testify(to(everyone(who(hears(the(words(of(the(prophecy(of(this(book:(if(anyone(adds(to(them,(God(will(add(to(him(the(plagues(which(are(written(in(this(book;(and(if(anyone(takes(away(from(the(words(of(the(book(of(this(prophecy,(God(will(take(away(his(part(from(the(tree(of(life(and(from(the(holy(city,(which(are(written(in(this(book((22:18M19).(I(realize(Grudem(would(grant(that(John’s(prophecy(was(completely(

inspired,(inerrant,(and(divinely(authoritative.(In(fact,(he(refers(to(this(as(a(kind(of(exception(to(the(rule.38(But(I(want(to(suggest(that(the(prophecy(we(find(elsewhere(in(the(NT(is(the(same(kind(of(prophecy(uttered(and(inscripturated(by(John(in(the(Book(of(the(Revelation.(And(

38(“Of(course,(the(words(prophet(and(prophecy(were(sometimes(used(of(the(apostles(in(contexts(that(emphasized(the(external(spiritual(influence((from(the(Holy(Spirit)(under(which(they(spoke((so(Rev.(1:3;(22:7;(and(Eph.(2:20;(3:5),(but(this(was(not(the(ordinary(terminology(used(for(the(apostles,(nor(did(the(terms(prophet(and(prophecy(in(themselves(imply(divine(authority(for(their(speech(or(writing.”(Systematic(Theology,(1051.(



as(John(the(Apostle(makes(clear(by(the(closing(words(the(book,(such(prophecy(carries(absolute(divine(authority.(In(summary,(then,(I(believe(the(Biblical(evidence(supports(the(view(

that(Old(Testament(prophecy(and(New(Testament(prophecy(belong(to(the(same(category(of(divine(revelation.(They(are(both(special(revelation(in(the(fullest(sense(of(the(word.(But(what(about(Grudem’s(examples(of(soMcalled(“fallible”(NT(prophecy?(And(what(about(the(texts(that(portray(NT(prophecy(as(susceptible(to(evaluation?((

4)(Grudem’s(examples(of(so?called(fallible(prophecy(are(inconclusive.(

Let’s(look(again(at(Acts(21:4.(We’ll(read(the(verse(in(its(context,(beginning(with(verse(one(of(the(chapter:(Now(it(came(to(pass,(that(when(we(had(departed(from(them(and(set(sail,(running(a(straight(course(we(came(to(Cos,(the(following(day(to(Rhodes,(and(from(there(to(Patara.(And(finding(a(ship(sailing(over(to(Phoenicia,(we(went(aboard(and(set(sail.(When(we(had(sighted(Cyprus,(we(passed(it(on(the(left,(sailed(to(Syria,(and(landed(at(Tyre;(for(there(the(ship(was(to(unload(her(cargo.(And(finding(disciples,(we(stayed(there(seven(days.(They(told(Paul(through(the(Spirit(not(to(go(up(to(Jerusalem.(The(key(sentence(for(Grudem’s(thesis(comes(at(the(end(of(verse(4:(

“[the(disciples](told(Paul(through)the)Spirit(not(to(go(up(to(Jerusalem”((emphasis(added).(According(to(Grudem,(the(disciples(uttered(a(prophecy(which(Paul(disobeyed.(Since(Paul(disobeyed(this(prophecy,(he(must(not(have(viewed(it(as(absolutely(authoritative(and(equal(with(Scripture.39(Did(Paul(disobey(canonical((fully(inspired)(prophecy?(Or(was(this(

NT(prophecy(nonMcanonical((i.e.,(semiMinspired)?(J.(A.(Alexander(offers(a(third(alternative:(“This(was(not(a(divine(command(to(Paul,(but(an(inference(of(the(disciples(from(the(fact,(which(was(revealed(to(them,(that(Paul(would(there(be(in(great(danger.”40(In(other(words,(the(phrase(“though(the(Spirit”(may(simply(be(shorthand(for(“because(of(or(in(

39(Systematic(Theology,(1052.(40(A)Commentary)on)the)Acts)of)the)Apostles((reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1984),(260.(



connection(with(the(Spirit’s(prophecy.”41(Even(Grudem(seems(to(allow(for(this(when(he(offers(the(following(conjecture:(Suppose(that(some(of(the(Christians(at(Tyre(had(some(kind(of(“revelation”(or(indication(from(God(about(the(suffering(which(Paul(would(face(at(Jerusalem.(Then(it(would(have(been(very(natural(for(them(to(couple(their(subsequent(prophecy((their(own(report(of(this(revelation)(with)their)own)(erroneous))interpretation,(and(thus(warn(Paul(not(to(go((emphasis(added).42(In(other(words,(Paul(recognized(the(difference(between(the)inspired)

revelation(given(by(the(Holy(Spirit(and(the)fallible)interpretation(placed(upon(the(prophecy(by(his(brethren.(Consequently,(he(rejected(their(advice.(The(interchange(probably(went(something(like(this:(the(Spirit(revealed(to(the(disciples,(as(He(had(to(Paul(and(others,(that(Paul(faced(great(danger(and(suffering(in(Jerusalem.(The(disciples(then(inferred(from(that(inspired(prophecy(that(Paul(should(refrain(from(going(to(Jerusalem((cf.(vv.(10M12).((However,(Paul(had(already(received(direct(revelation(from(the(

Spirit(and(from(the(Lord(Jesus(Christ(that(he(should(go(Jerusalem(as(Christ’s(witness(despite(the(danger(of(persecution.(The(reader(should(note,(for(example,(the(account(of(Paul’s(conversion(in(Acts(9.(Christ(has(revealed(himself(to(Paul(on(the(road(to(Damascus.(Paul(has(been(smitten(with(blindness.(Christ(calls(a(disciple(named(Ananias(to(take(the(gospel(to(Paul(and(to(lay(his(hands(upon(Paul’s(eyes.(Ananias(at(first(objects(because(he(has(heard(of(Paul’s(reputation(as(a(persecutor(of(the(church.((But(notice(Christ’s(response(in(verses(15(and(16:(But(the(Lord(said(to(him,(“Go,(for(he(is(a(chosen(vessel(of(Mine(to(bear(My(name(before(Gentiles,(kings,(and(the(children(of(Israel.(For(I(will(show(him(how(many(things(he(must(suffer(for(My(name’s(sake.”(And(in(Acts(20:22M23,(we(may(have(an(instance(of(the(Spirit(

confirming(Christ’s(words:(And(now,(behold,(bound(in(spirit([better:(‘constrained(by(the(Spirit,’(ESV],(I(am(on(my(way(to(Jerusalem,(not(knowing(what(will(happen(

41(The(Greek(preposition(dia(with(the(genitive(may(indicate)cause((Rom.(12:1)(or(attendant)

circumstances((Acts(14:22).(42(The)Gift)of)Prophecy)in)the)New)Testament)and)Today((Crossway,(1988),(94.(



to(me(there,(except(that(the(Holy(Spirit(solemnly(testifies(to(me(in(every(city,(saying(that(bonds(and(afflictions(await(me.(Now(we’re(ready(to(turn(to(Acts(21:10M11.(Let(me(quote(Grudem’s(

argument(once(more:(Then(in(Acts(21:10M11,(Agabus(prophesied(that(the(Jews(at(Jerusalem(would(bind(Paul(and(“deliver(him(into(the(hands(of(the(Gentiles,”(a(prediction(that(was(nearly(correct(but(not(quite:(the(Romans,(not(the(Jews,(bound(Paul((v.(33;(also(22:29),(and(the(Jews,(rather(than(delivering(him(voluntarily(tried(to(kill(him(and(he(had(to(be(rescued(by(force((v.(32).43(We(may(offer(the(following(responses(to(Grudem’s(argument:(first,(

it’s(possible(that(when(the(Jews(seized(Paul,(they(bound(him,(perhaps(with(his(own(belt((vv.(27M30)!(Second,(prophetic(predictions(need(not(be(interpreted(in(a(hyperMliteral(fashion—as(if(every(detail(must(be(fulfilled.(For(example,(in(Acts(2:16ff(“all(mankind”(did(not(prophesy,(only(the(handful(of(disciples(at(Pentecost.(To(be(more(technical,(they(did(not(“prophesy”(but(spoke)in)tongues.(And(it’s(clear(that(at(that(time(the(sun(was(not(literally(darkened(nor(the(moon(literally(turned(to(blood!44(Third,(Paul(himself(seemed(to(view(Agabus’(prophecy(as(fulfilled:(After(three(days(Paul(called(together(those(who(were(the(leading(men(of(the(Jews,(and(when(they(came(together,(he(began(saying(to(them,(“Brethren,(though(I(had(done(nothing(against(our(people(or(the(customs(of(our(fathers,(yet(I(was(delivered(as(a(prisoner(from(Jerusalem(into(the(hands(of(the(Romans”((NAS).(Finally,(as(one(commentator(has(pointed(out,(“It(is(common(to(

speak(of(the(responsible(party(or(parties(as(performing(an(act(even(though(he(or(they(may(not(have(been(the(immediate(agent(s).”45(For(

43(Systematic(Theology,(1052.(44(The(prophecy(of(Isaiah(may(furnish(us(with(an(OT(example.(Isaiah(45:13(prophecies(that(

Cyrus(would(decree(not(only(the(rebuilding(of(the(temple,(but(also(the(rebuilding(of(the(city(of(Jerusalem.(In(the(unfolding(of(history,(it(was(actually(Artaxerxes(I(who(gave(the(specific(decree(regarding(the(city((Neh.(2:1M8;(cf.(Dan.(9:25).(This(fact(does(not(invalidate(Isaiah’s(prophecy(since(it(was(Cyrus’(decree(that(provided(the(favorable(context(for(Artaxerxes’(later(decree.(In(any(case,(we(have(an(example(of(inspired(prophecy(with(a(“loose”(but(infallible(fulfillment.(

45(Robert(Thomas,(“Prophesy(Rediscovered?(A(Review(of(The(Gift(of(Prophecy(in(the(New(Testament(and(Today,”(Bibliotheca)Sacra(149:593((1992),(91.(



instance,(in(Acts(2:23(Peter(says(that(the(Jews(crucified(Christ(whereas(the(Romans(actually(did(it.(In(summary,(Grudem’s(examples(of(soMcalled(fallible(prophecy(

cannot(withstand(close(scrutiny.(But(what(about(the(examples(of(Paul(directing(the(NT(church(to(evaluate(NT(prophecy?(

5)(The(fact(that(NT(prophecy(was(subject(to(evaluation(does(not(

demand(the(view(that(true(prophecy(could(be(fallible.(

Paul(tells(the(Corinthians,(“Let(two(or(three(prophets(speak,(and(let(the(others(pass(judgment”((1(Cor.(14:29).((According(to(Grudem,(these(exhortations(assume(that(true(NT(prophecy(could(be(fallible.46(In(response,(O.(Palmer(Robertson(suggests,(the(Greek(word(translated(“pass(judgment”((diakrinetosan)(may(simply(refer(to(the(process(of(discriminating(whose(turn(it(was(to(speak((cf.(vv.(27M29a).47((There(are(good(reasons,(however,(for(interpreting(Paul’s(

exhortation(as(a(command(to(evaluate(the(prophet(and(his(message.(To(begin(with,(most(lexicons(assign(the(meaning(of(careful)evaluation(to(the(word(as(it(is(used(in(this(passage.48(Thus,(when(Paul(refers(to(passing(judgment,(he’s(not(telling(them(to(decide(whose(turn(it(is(to(speak;(he’s(exhorting(them(to(evaluate(the(prophet(who(is(speaking.(It(might(be(argued(that(Paul(was(not(commanding(them(to(evaluate(the(prophecy(itself(but(rather(the)interpretation(that(accompanied(the(prophecy((cf.(Acts(21:4,(12).(But(the(overall(context(suggests(that(Paul(had(the)prophet(and(the)prophecy(in(view(as(the(object(of(their(evaluation.49(Furthermore,(Paul(uses(a(cognate(form(of(the(verb(“to(pass(

judgment”(in(1(Corinthians(12:10,(where(he(refers(to(individuals(who(have(been(endowed(with(the(gift(of(“discerning(of(spirits.”(Most(

46(Systematic(Theology,(1054M55.(47(The)Final)Word((Banner(of(Truth,(1993),(101.(48(Joseph(Henry(Thayer,(The)New)Thayer’s)GreekDEnglish)Lexicon)of)the)New)Testament)

(Hendrickson(Publishers,(1979,(1981),(138;(Walter(Bauer,(William(Arndt,(and(F.(Wilbur(Gingrich,(A)GreekDEnglish)Lexicon)of)the)New)Testament,(2nd(edition((University(of(Chicago(Press,(1979),(185;(Louw(&(Nida,(Greek)English)Lexicon)of)the)New)Testament)Based)on)Semantic)Domains,(2nd(edition((United(Bible(Societies,(1989),(1:364([30.109].(

49(The(whole(chapter(is(mainly(about(prophecy;(the(verse(itself(identifies(the(speakers(as(prophets;(and(there(is(no(clear(reference(to(interpretations(being(added(to(the(message.(



commentators(agree(that(the(gift(in(view(is(the)ability)to)distinguish)a)false)prophet)from)a)true)prophet.50((This(interpretation(finds(a(parallel(in(1(John(4:1,(where(the(Apostle(

John(exhorts(believers,(“do(not(believe(every(spirit,(but(test(the(spirits,(whether(they(are(of(God;(because(many(false(prophets(have(gone(out(into(the(world.”(In(other(words,(the(process(of(evaluating(prophecy(is(not(a(process(of(sifting(out(some(true(words(from(among(false(words(but(rather(a)process)of)determining)whether)the)prophet’s)claim)to)be)a)genuine)reliable)spokesman)for)God)is)valid)or)invalid.((It(would(be(analogous(to(the(process(of(distinguishing(counterfeit(

currency(from(genuine(currency.(The(object(is(not(to(determine(whether(portions(of(the(currency(are(genuine.(The(point(is(to(determine(whether(the(whole(currency(is(the(real(thing(or(whether(the(whole(currency(is(counterfeit.(The(evaluation(has(an)allDorDnothing)objective.(I(believe(that’s(how(we(should(understand(Paul’s(exhortation(in(1(Corinthians(14:29.(I(also(believe(that’s(how(we(should(interpret(Paul’s(words(in(1(

Thessalonians(5:19M21,(“Do(not(quench(the(Spirit;(do(not(despise(prophetic(utterances.(But(examine(everything(carefully;(hold(fast(to(that(which(is(good.”(Paul(is(not(telling(the(Thessalonians(to(sift(good(words(from(bad(words(in(any(given(prophetic(utterance.(Rather(he(is(calling(them(to(discern(the(true(prophecies(from(the(false,(to(embrace(the(former(and(to(reject(completely(the(latter.(And(this(is(precisely(the(way(the(people(of(Israel(were(to(assess(OT(prophets(and(prophecy.(Deuteronomy(13:1M5(and(18:20M22(are(key(passages(in(this(regard.(Let’s(read(these(two(passages(and(note(their(bearing(upon(the(NT(injunctions(to(evaluate(prophecy:(If(there(arises(among(you(a(prophet(or(a(dreamer(of(dreams,(and(he(gives(you(a(sign(or(a(wonder,(and(the(sign(or(the(wonder(comes(to(pass,(of(which(he(spoke(to(you,(saying,(“Let(us(go(after(other(gods”(—(which(you(have(not(known(—(“and(let(us(serve(them,”(you(shall(not(listen(to(the(words(of(that(prophet(or(that(dreamer(of(dreams,(for(the(LORD(your(God(is(testing(you(to(know(whether(you(love(the(

50(Charles(Hodge,(for(example,(writes,(“It(was(therefore(of(importance(to(have(a(class(of(

men(with(the(gift(of(discernment,(who(could(determine(whether(a(man(was(really(inspired,(or(spoke(only(from(the(impulse(of(his(own(mind,(or(from(the(dictation(of(some(evil(spirit.”(1)&)2)Corinthians((reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1988),(248.(



LORD(your(God(with(all(your(heart(and(with(all(your(soul.(You(shall(walk(after(the(LORD(your(God(and(fear(Him,(and(keep(His(commandments(and(obey(His(voice,(and(you(shall(serve(Him(and(hold(fast(to(Him.(But(that(prophet(or(that(dreamer(of(dreams(shall(be(put(to(death,(because(he(has(spoken(in(order(to(turn(you(away(from(the(LORD(your(God,(who(brought(you(out(of(the(land(of(Egypt(and(redeemed(you(from(the(house(of(bondage,(to(entice(you(from(the(way(in(which(the(LORD(your(God(commanded(you(to(walk.(So(you(shall(put(away(the(evil(from(your(midst((Deut.(13:1M5).(But(the(prophet(who(presumes(to(speak(a(word(in(My(name,(which(I(have(not(commanded(him(to(speak,(or(who(speaks(in(the(name(of(other(gods,(that(prophet(shall(die.(And(if(you(say(in(your(heart,(“How(shall(we(know(the(word(which(the(LORD(has(not(spoken?”(—(when(a(prophet(speaks(in(the(name(of(the(LORD,(if(the(thing(does(not(happen(or(come(to(pass,(that(is(the(thing(which(the(LORD(has(not(spoken;(the(prophet(has(spoken(it(presumptuously;(you(shall(not(be(afraid(of(him((Deut.(18:20M22).(Most(OT(scholars(find(at(least(three)major)criteria(for(validating(a(

genuine(prophet(of(Yahweh(given(in(the(Old(Testament.(First(of(all,(was(the(prophet(an(agent(of(miraculous(signs(and(wonders?(God’s(performing(mighty(and(miraculous(acts(through(Moses(certainly(had(the(effect(of(validating(Moses’(as(God’s(spokesman((Exod.(4:1M9;(7:3;(10:1M2).(This(was(also(true(of(Christ(who(was(the(Greater(Moses((John(2:11,(23;(3:2;(6:2,(26;(9:16;(11:47;(12:37;(20:30).(But(as(Deuteronomy(13(makes(clear,(the(ability(to(perform(“signs(or(wonders”(was(not(to(be(the(chief(criterion(in(judging(a(prophet((vv.(1M2).(Indeed,(God(sometimes(granted(false(prophets(the(ability(to(perform(signs(and(wonders(as(a(test(to(see(whether(His(people(would(adhere(to(the(truth((v.(3;(Matt.(24:24).(Second,(there(was(the(question(of(whether(the(prophet’s(

predictions(about(future(events(came(true?(This(seems(to(be(the(major(criterion(in(the(second(passage(where(Moses(says(in(verse(22,(“when(a(prophet(speaks(in(the(name(of(the(Lord,(if(the(thing(does(not(happen(or(come(to(pas,(that(is(the(thing(which(the(Lord(has(not(spoken;(the(prophet(has(spoken(it(presumptuously;(you(shall(not(be(afraid(of(him”((cf.(Num.(16:29;(1(Kings(22:23M28;(2(Kings(1:10,(12;(Isa.(44:26;(Jer.(28:8M9).(



The(third(and(most(important(criterion(was(whether(the(prophet’s(message(conformed(to(alreadyMestablished(canonical(revelation.(Note(especially(the(point(of(focus(in(Deuteronomy(13(is(whether(the(prophet(is(speaking(any(message(to(draw(God’s(people(away(from(Jehovah(and(His(revealed(will,(verse(5,(“to(entice(you(from(the(way(in(which(the(LORD(your(God(commanded(you(to(walk.”(In(the(words(of(Isaiah(8:20,(if(he(did(not(speak(in(conformity(with(“the(law(and(the(testimony,”(there(is(no(light(in(him.(This(was(the(most(crucial(test(for(distinguishing(a(true(prophet(from(a(false(prophet.((This(was(the(very(test(to(which(the(Jews(in(Berea(subjected(the(

apostle(Paul(when(he(came(preaching(the(gospel(in(their(synagogue.(We’re(told(in(Acts(17:11,(“These(were(more(fairMminded(than(those(in(Thessalonica,(in(that(they(received(the(word(with(all(readiness,(and(searched(the(Scriptures(daily(to(find(out(whether(these(things(were(so.”(They(were(trying(to(discern(whether(Paul(were(a(true(spokesman(for(God(or(not.(And(Paul(did(not(object(to(this(kind(of(scrutiny.(In(fact,(he(tells(the(Galatians,(“if(we,(or(an(angel(from(heaven,(preach(any(other(gospel(to(you(than(what(we(have(preached(to(you,(let(him(be(accursed”((1:8).(The(point(I’m(trying(to(make(is(that(there(seems(to(be(a(parallel(

between(the(commands(to(evaluate(Old)Testament)prophecy)and(the(commands(to(evaluate(New)Testament)prophecy.(In(both(cases,(the(objective(is(not(merely(to(sift(the(good(words(from(the(bad(words(in(any(given(message.(This(cannot(be(the(case(in(those(OT(passages(since(in(both(instances(God(demands(the(false(prophet(be(put(to(death((Deut.(13:5;(18:20).((While(the(NT(passages(do(not(demand(the(death(sentence(for(false(

prophets,(they(do(demand(the(church(refuse(to(allow(false(prophets(to(become(members(and(to(excommunicate(them(if(they(are(members((Rom.(16:17M18;(Gal.(1:8,(9;(1(Tim.(6:3;(2(Tim.(3:5;(Titus(3:10;(2(John(1:10).(Thus,(the(man(who(claimed(to(be(a(prophetic(agent(of(New(Covenant(revelation(had(better(be(telling(the(truth.(If(his(words(did(not(conform(to(the(earlier(revelation(of(the(Old(Testament(and(the(inspired(witness(of(the(chosen(Apostles,(he(would(not(only(be(censured(for(speaking(falsehood,(but(he(would(likely(have(been(put(out(of(the(church(as(a(false(prophet.(



Grudem’s(arguments(for(two(levels(of(prophecy(do(not(have(the(support(of(Scripture.(Paul’s(commands(to(evaluate(NT(prophecy(do(not(distinguish(New(Testament(prophecy(from(Old(Testament(prophecy.(On(the(contrary,(they(serve(to(highlight(the(continuity(between(both(institutions.(Both(OT(prophecy(and(NT(prophecy—if(true—are(to(be(viewed(in(their(entirety(as(the(inspired,(infallible,(authoritative(word(of(God.(Anything(less,(does(not(deserve(to(be(called(“prophecy”(at(all,(at(least(in(the(biblical(sense(of(that(term.(It’s(time(to(bring(our(argument(to(a(conclusion.(We(attempted(to(

demonstrate(as(our(major(premise(that(all(ScriptureMquality(special(revelation(has(been(completed(and(has,(therefore,(ceased.(Continuationists(like(Grudem(affirm(this(premise.(Nevertheless,(Wayne(Grudem(argues(for(a(distinction(between(OT(canonical(prophecy(and(NT(congregational(prophecy.(In(contrast(with(OT(prophecy,(which(is(divine,(infallible,(and(fully(authoritative(special(revelation,(the(NT(gift(of(prophecy(is,(according(to(Grudem,(semiMrevelational,(potentially(fallible,(and(only(relatively(authoritative.((But(we(have(found(Grudem’s(arguments(flawed(and(inadequate(to(

support(his(thesis.(On(the(contrary,(the(biblical(data(portrays(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(as(forms(of(ScriptureMquality((preMparousia)(special(revelation,(which(is(our(minor(premise.(Accordingly,(it(is(difficult(to(resist(the(following(conclusion:(if(ScriptureMquality((preMparousia)(special(revelation(has(been(completed(and(has(ceased((major(premise)(and(if(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(are(forms(of(that(ScriptureMquality((preMparousia)(special(revelation(that(has(ceased((minor(premise),(we(must(conclude(that(NT(tongues(and(prophecy(fulfilled(their(function(and(have(ceased((conclusion).(This(appears(to(be(the(conclusion(reached(by(the(majority(of(our(Puritan(forefathers:(Therefore,(it(pleased(the(Lord(at(sundry(times(and(in(diverse(manners(to(reveal(himself,(and(to(declare(that(his(will(unto(his(church;(afterward(for(the(better(preserving(and(propagating(of(the(truth,(and(for(the(more(sure(establishment(and(comfort(of(the(church(against(the(corruption(of(the(flesh,(and(the(malice(of(Satan,(and(of(the(world,(to(commit(the(same(wholly(unto(writing;(which(maketh(the(Holy(Scriptures(to(be(most(necessary,(those)former)ways)of)God’s)revealing)his)will)unto)his)people)being)now)ceased([emphasis(added]((LBCF(1.1;(cf.(WCF(1.1).(



SOME%COMMON%OBJECTIONS%

We(have(attempted(to(demonstrate(from(the(Scriptures(that(tongues(and(prophecy(are(forms(of(that(ScriptureMquality(special(revelation(which(has(been(completed(with(the(closing(of(the(New(Testament(canon.(The(Christian(church,(therefore,(should(not(expect(the(revelatory(gifts(of(tongues(and(prophecy(today.((Before(we(conclude(our(study,(however,(I’d(like(to(respond(to(five(objections(that(are(commonly(raised(against(the(cessationist(position.((Objection(#1:(The(Bible(commands(the(church(neither(to(despise(the(

prophetic(utterance(nor(to(forbid(speaking(in(tongues,(which(is(a(form(

of(prophecy((1(Thess.(5:20;(1(Cor.(14:39).(Does(not(the(abiding(validity(of(

these(commands(assume(that(tongues(and(prophecy(will(be(an(ongoing(

practice(in(the(church?(

Not(necessarily.(Some(commands,(prohibitions,(promises,(and(institutions(are(unique(to(the(period(of(redemptive(history(in(which(they(occur.(For(example,(God(forbids(his(people(to(eat(pork(in(Leviticus(11:7.(But(that(prohibition(was(annulled(with(the(coming(of(the(New(Covenant(according(to(Acts(10:13M15.(In(the(OT(God(commanded(His(people(to(circumcise(their(male(children(as(a(sign(of(the(covenant((Gen(17:10).(But(according(to(Galatians(5:6(and(6:15,(that(commandment(is(no(longer(binding.(In(Matthew(10:5M6(Jesus(commissions(his(disciples(to(preach(the(

gospel(exclusively(to(the(lost(sheep(of(Israel.(But(the(provisional(nature(of(that(command(is(seen(in(Jesus’(postMresurrection(commission(to(preach(the(gospel(to(“all(nations”((Matt(28:19).(In(His(Farewell(Discourse,(Jesus(promises(the(disciples(that(the(Holy(Spirit(will(guide(them(into(all(truth((John(16:13).(I(believe(a(proper(interpretation(of(this(passage,(however,(sees(it(as(a(unique(promise(of(inspiration(made(to(His(original(disciples,(which(does(not(apply(in(the(same(way(to(subsequent(generations(of(disciples.(According(to(Ephesians(4:11,(Christ(gives(ministerial(gifts(to(the(church,(including(apostles,(prophets,(evangelists,(and(pastorMteachers.(But,(as(we(have(seen(in(our(study,(Ephesians(2:20(assigns(at(least(two(of(those(ministerial(gifts—the(apostles(and(the(prophets—to(the(foundational(period(of(the(Christian(church.(



Thus,(it(may(be(argued(that(the(commands(not(to(despise(or(forbid(prophecy(and(tongues(were(specifically(intended(for(the(early(church(period(of(redemptive(history.(Of(course,(this(does(not(mean(that(these(commands(no(longer(have(application(today((2Tim.(3:16).(The(Bible(warns(us(not(to(despise(apostolic(instruction((1(Cor.(14:37,(38).(We(do(not(infer(from(this(command(that(there(must(be(living(apostles(present(throughout(the(entire(church(age.(Yet(we(still(apply(that(command(today(in(the(sense(that(it(teaches(us(not(to(despise(the(Scripture.(In(the(same(way,(we(may(use(the(passages(dealing(with(tongues(and(prophecy(to(encourage(a(proper(attitude(towards(the(Scripture.(We(may(also(use(them(in(a(qualified(way(to(encourage(a(proper(response(towards(the(faithful(proclamation(of(Scripture.51(Objection(#2:(The(Bible(warns(us(against(“false(prophets”(in(the(last(

days((Matt.(7:15ff;(24:11,(24;(1(John(4:1).(Do(not(these(warnings(assume(

the(ongoing(presence(of(true(prophets(in(the(last(days?(

Once(again,(these(warnings(may(be(unique(to(the(period(of(redemptive(history(in(which(they(were(given.(Furthermore,(the(presence(of(false(prophets(does(not(demand(the(ongoing(reality(of(true(prophets(any(more(than(presence(of(“false(apostles”(in(the(last(days((2(Cor.(11:13;(Rev.(2:2)(necessitates(the(ongoing(presence(of(true(apostles.(Indeed,(Jesus(warns(us(of(“false(Christs”(and(the(Apostle(John(warns(us(of(“antichrists”(who(will(appear(in(the(last(days((Matt.(24:24;(1(John(2:18).(But(the(potential(threat(of(false(“Messiahs”(in(our(day(does(not(necessitate(the(ongoing(bodily(presence(of(the(Lord(Jesus(in(our(day!(Similarly,(warnings(against(false(prophets(do(not(have(to(assume(the(ongoing(presence(of(true(prophets(in(our(day.(Objection(#3:(By(discounting(the(possibility(of(ongoing(tongues(and(

prophecy,(are(we(not(guilty(of(putting(God(in(a(box?(Are(we(not(limiting(

God’s(sovereign(right(and(ability?(

This(charge(can(be(either(alarming(or(insulting(to(a(Calvinist(who(is(committed(to(the(absolute(sovereignty(of(God.(We(don’t(like(to(be(

51(So(Matthew(Henry(applies(the(prohibition(“despise(not(prophesyings”((1(Thess(5:20)(to(“the(preaching(of(the(word,(the(interpreting(and(applying(of(the(scriptures.”(A)Commentary)on)the)Whole)Bible,(vol.(6((Fleming(H.(Revell(Company,(n.d.),(790M91.(By(“prophesyings”(I(believe(Paul(was(referring(to(more(than(mere(exposition(of(Scripture,(but(I(agree(with(Henry(that(the(passage(has(some(application(to(nonMinspired(preaching.(



accused(of(“putting(God(in(a(box.”(But,(in(reality,(the(cessationist(is(not(attempting(to(put(God(in(a(box.(On(the(contrary,(the(cessation(argues(that(God(has(placed(Himself(within(a(box.52(In(other(words,(God(has(already(revealed(some(of(the(things(He(will(and(will(not(do.(The(Children’s(Catechism(asks:(“Can(God(do(all(things?”(The(answer:(“Yes,(God(does(all(His(holy(will.”(The(implication(is(that(God(will(not(do(what(falls(outside(of(his(holy(will.(There(are(certain(things(God(cannot(do((Titus(1:2)(and(other(things(God(simply(will(not(do(because(He(has(chosen(not(to(do(them.(As(a(practical(example(consider(the(promise(of(Hebrews(9:29.(This(

text(assures(us(that(Jesus(Christ(will(appear(a(“second(time(for(salvation(to(those(who(eagerly(await(Him.”(Would(we(be(putting(God(in(a(box(by(arguing(that(Jesus(will(not(return(until(the(end(of(the(age(and(that(we(should(not(expect(His(ongoing(bodily(presence(throughout(the(church(age?(Would(it(be(putting(God(in(a(box(to(argue(that(Jesus(cannot(have(ten(bodily(“second”(comings(but(only(two?(Of(course(not!(We(believe(on(the(basis(of(God’s(prior(revelation(in(Scripture(that(

Jesus(will(not(return(again(until(the(end(of(the(age.(Furthermore,(we(believe(on(the(basis(of(Scripture(that(tongues(and(prophecy(served(a(vital(purpose(in(the(early(church(but(they(are(no(longer(necessary(for(the(church(today.(We(don’t(believe(that’s(a(box(we’ve(created.(Rather,(we(believe(that(is(the(way(God(Himself(has(chosen(to(work.(In(that(sense,(God(has(placed(Himself(in(a(box!53(Objection(#4:(By(rejecting(all(claims(of(ongoing(tongues(and(prophecy,(

are(we(not(running(the(risk(of(“blasphemy(against(the(Holy(Spirit,”(

which(is(the(unpardonable(sin((Matt.(12:31,(32)?(

Admittedly,(this(objection(causes(the(sensitive(Christian(to(think(twice.(No(one(who(loves(Jesus(Christ(and(who(desires(to(please(God(

52(In(the(words(of(Richard(Gaffin,(“Scripture(as(a(whole(teaches(that(in(his(own(sovereignty(the(Spirit(has(seen(fit(to(circumscribe(his(activity(and(to(structure(it(according(to(the(patterns(revealed(there.(Those(patterns,(not(what(the(Spirit(may(choose(to(do(beyond(them,(ought(to(be(the(focus(and(shape(the(expectations(of(the(church(today.”(Are)Miraculous)Gifts)For)Today?)Four)Views((Zondervan,(1996),(25.(

53(O.(Palmer(Robertson(argues(similarly(when(he(refers(to(Christ’s(death,(resurrection,(and(ascension(and(remarks,(“It(is(not(so(much(limiting(God(by(affirming(that(he(will(not(have(Christ(crucified,(raised(and(lifted(to(heaven(over(and(over(again.((Instead,(it(is(simply(acknowledging(the(onceMforMall(character(of(these(events(in(the(progress(of(redemptive(history.”(The)Final)Word((Banner(of(Truth,(1993),(131.(



would(ever(want(to(attribute(a(work(of(God(to(the(devil.(Nevertheless,(there(are(two(responses(to(this(objection:(This%objection%is%a%twoKedged%sword.%%

It(may(also(be(argued(that(by(endorsing(and(encouraging(the(modern(practice(of(tongues(and(prophecy(one(might(be(guilty(of(giving(heed(to(false(and(seducing(spirits((1(Tim.(4:1;(1(John(4:1;(Rev.(16:13M14).(And(the(Bible(warns(us(against(adding(to(God’s(word(just(as(strongly(as(it(warns(us(against(subtracting(from(God’s(word((Deut.(4:2;(Rev.(22:18M19).(I’m(not(suggesting(that(we(accuse(all(continuationist(believers(of(

“adding”(to(Scripture.(Nor(am(I(suggesting(that(we(label(all(claims(of(ongoing(tongues(and(prophecy(as(demonic.(We(should(be(as(charitable(and(fair(as(possible.(But(I(would(also(encourage(nonMcessationist(brothers(to(be(as(charitable(as(possible(with(us.(Both(sides(need(to(be(careful(how(we(apply(those(warnings.(In(reality,(I(find(it(hard(to(believe(that(the(cessationist(position(is(

displeasing(to(God(when(some(of(the(greatest(revivals(in(church(history(have(occurred(under(the(ministry(of(cessationists.(For(example,(God(used(the(preaching(and(writing(of(Jonathan(Edwards(in(the(revivals(of(the(Great(Awakening.54(Some(of(Edwards’(contemporaries(believed(in(a(restoration(of(the(gifts(just(prior(to(the(Lord’s(return.(But(Edwards(disagreed.(In(his(exposition(of(1(Corinthians(13,(he(concludes,(“Since(the(canon(of(the(Scripture(has(been(completed,(the(Christian(Church(fully(founded(and(established,(these(extraordinary(gifts(have(ceased.”55(Elsewhere(he(writes,(Therefore(I(do(not(expect(a(restoration(of(these(miraculous(gifts(in(the(approaching(glorious(times(of(the(church,(nor(do(I(desire(it.(It(appears(to(me,(that(it(would(add(nothing(to(the(glory(of(those(times([of(future(revival],(but(rather(diminish(from(it.(For(my(part,(I(had(

54(In(particular,(Edwards’(sermon,(“Sinners(in(the(Hands(of(an(Angry(God,”(and(also(his(

books,(Some(Thoughts(concerning(the(Present(Revival(of(Religion(in(New(England(and(A(Treatise(concerning(Religious(Affections,(did(much(to(further(the(revival.(For(a(fuller(account(of(Edwards’(contribution(to(the(Great(Awakening,(see(Joseph(Tracy,(The)Great)Awakening:)A)History)of)the)Revival)of)Religion)in)the)Time)of)Edwards)&)Whitefield((1842;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1989),(and(Iain(H.(Murray,(Jonathan(Edwards:(A(New(Biography((Banner(of(Truth,(1987).(

55(Charity)and)its)Fruits((1851;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1969),(30.(



rather(enjoy(the(sweet(influences(of(the(Spirit,(showing(Christ’s(spiritual(beauty,(infinite(grace,(and(dying(love,(drawing(forth(the(holy(exercises(of(faith,(divine(love,(sweet(complacence,(and(humble(joy(in(God,(one(quarter(hour,(than(to(have(prophetical(visions(and(revelations(the(whole(year.56(Few(would(question(the(genuineness(of(Edward’s(Christianity(or(

the(holiness(of(his(life.(It(seems(clear(that(God(used(Edwards(the(cessationist(to(be(an(instrument(to(bring(spiritual(revival(to(the(land.(While(this(fact(does(not(prove(the(validity(of(the(cessationist(position,(it(does(caution(us(against(viewing(it(as(equivalent(to(blasphemy(against(the(Spirit.(It’s%very%likely%that%the%“blasphemy%of%the%Holy%Spirit”%refers%not%to%the%rejection%of%modern%continuationist%claims%but%to%an%act%of%irreversible%religious%apostasy.%%

Blasphemy(against(the(Holy(Spirit(is(not(the(act(of(a(sincere(Christian(who(cannot(accept(the(claims(of(modern(Charismatics.(Rather,(the(“blasphemy(of(the(Spirit”(is(the(act(of(one(who(has(experienced(the(illumination(and(power(of(the(Spirit(but(who(nevertheless(ends(up(rejecting(these(gracious(influences.(And(he(turns(his(back(upon(the(Christian(faith(in(such(a(highMhanded(and(selfMdetermined(manner(that(he(puts(himself(beyond(the(state(of(repentance,(and(therefore,(beyond(the(possibility(of(forgiveness((cf.(Heb.(6:4M8;(10:26M29;(2(Pet.(2:1M22;(1(John(5:16).57(Objection(#5:(Do(not(passages(like(1(Corinthians(13:8?13(and(Revelation(

11:3?13(indicate(that(the(gifts(of(prophecy(and(tongues(will(continue(

until(the(Return(of(Christ?(

I(have(saved(the(most(serious(objection(for(last.(There(are(two(passages(in(the(NT(that(seem—at(least(on(the(surface—to(present(a(challenge(for(the(cessationist(position.(

56(The)Works)of)Jonathan)Edwards((1834;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth),(2.275.(57(See(Craig(Blomberg,(Matthew,(vol.(22(of(The(New(American(Commentary,(ed.(David(S.(

Dockery((Broadman(&(Holman(Press,(1992),(203M05;(Donald(A.(Carson,(“Matthew,”(in(vol.(8(of(The)Expositor’s)Bible)Commentary,(ed.(Frank(E.(Gaelelein((Zondervan,(1984),(291M92;(William(Hendricksen,(Exposition)of)the)Gospel)of)Matthew((Baker,(1977),(527M29.(



1%Corinthians%13:8K13%

According(to(continuationists,(like(Wayne(Grudem,(1(Corinthians(13:8M13(unambiguously(locates(the(termination(point(of(revelatory(gifts(at(the(end(of(the(age(when(Christ(returns.(To(appreciate(their(argument,(let’s(look(at(the(text:(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.(When(I(was(a(child,(I(used(to(speak(like(a(child,(think(like(a(child,(reason(like(a(child;(when(I(became(a(man,(I(did(away(with(childish(things.(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.(Allow(me(to(make(some(preliminary(observations.(First(of(all,(this(

passage(is(addressing(the(gifts(of(prophecy,(tongues,(and(knowledge((v.(8).(All(three(are(modes(of(divine(revelation,(and(as(such,(they(are(means(through(which(God’s(people(acquire(knowledge(about(divine(things.(Second,(because(of(the(inherent(limitations(of(these(gifts,(they(are(only(able(to(convey(partial)and(fragmentary(knowledge(of(God(and(His(will((vv.(9M12).(Third,(these(revelatory(gifts(and(the(fragmentary(knowledge(that(they(convey(are(only(temporary((8,(10).(From(the(standpoint(of(this(epistle,(the(day(is(coming(when(they(will(no(longer(be(in(operation.(Fourth,(the(question(is(whether(this(passage(specifies(the)precise)time)of)their)cessation.(And(the(answer(to(that(question(depends(upon(the(way(one(interprets(verse(10:(“But(when(the(perfect(comes,(the(partial(will(be(done(away.”(What(is(“the(perfect”?(What(is(“the(partial”?((And(how(do(they(relate(to(the(cessation(of(prophecy(and(tongues?(There(are(at(least(four(different(ways(of(answering(those(questions.(

1)(The(continuationist(interpretation(of(1(Corinthians(13:8?13(

According(to(Wayne(Grudem,(the(“partial”((to)ek)merous)(of(verse(10(“refers(most(clearly(to(knowing(and(prophesying.”(The(“perfect”((to)teleion)(refers(to(“the(time(of(Christ’s(return,”(or(more(precisely(to(“a(method(of(acquiring(knowledge,”(which(will(be(acquired(at(Christ’s(



return.((This(“perfect”(method(of(knowledge(is(referred(to(in(verse(12:(“For(now(we(see(in(a(mirror,(dimly,(but(then(face(to(face.(Now(I(know(in(part,(but(then(I(shall(know(just(as(I(also(am(known.”(“This(means,”(writes(Grudem,(“that(we(have(a(clear(biblical(statement(that(Paul(expected(these(gifts(to(continue(through(the(entire(church(age(and(to(function(for(the(benefit(of(the(church(until(the(Lord(returns.”58(I(must(confess(that(on)the)surface(Grudem’s(exegesis(and(

conclusions(seem(consistent(with(the(text.(Taken(by(itself,(the(passage(could(mean(what(Grudem(alleges.(Of(course,(it(should(be(remembered(that(Paul(believed(Jesus(could(return(in(his(own(lifetime.59(And(Paul(lived(at(a(time(when(there(was(ongoing(revelation(and(the(canon(of(Scripture(had(not(been(completed.60(Thus,(had(Jesus(returned(when(Paul(and(the(Corinthians(were(still(alive,(then(the(revelatory(gifts(would(have(spanned(the(entire(church(age.(In(that(case,(Grudem’s(view(would(have(proved(correct.61(But(cessationist(scholars(are(not(convinced(Grudem’s(conclusion(is(demanded)by(the(text.(In(light(of(the(biblical(evidence(for(the(cessation(of(special(revelation,(they(have(suggested(other(ways(to(understand(Paul’s(statement(in(1(Corinthians(13:10.(

2)(Three(cessationist(interpretations(of(1(Corinthians(13:8?13(

The(three(cessationist(approaches(to(1(Corinthians(13(may(be(described(as(the)completion)of)Scripture)view,(the)age)of)maturity)view,(and(the)agnostic)view.(

#1%K%The%“Completed%Canon”%View%[“perfect”%=%completion%of%special%revelation]%

Those(who(hold(this(view(agree(with(Grudem(that(“the(partial”(refers(to(prophecy,(tongues(and(knowledge(as(incomplete(modes)of)revelation.(They(do(not(see(“the(perfect,”(however,(as(a(reference(to(Christ’s(return.(On(the(contrary,(since(the(“partial”(refers(to(modes(of(

58(Systematic(Theology,(1031M35;(See(The(Gift(of(Prophecy,(227M33.(59(Consider(passages(like(1(Corinthians(1:7;(Philippians(3:20;(1(Thessalonians(1:10;(4:15,(

17;(5:10;(2(Thessalonians(1:6M7.(60(Most(scholars(assign(the(completion(of(the(NT(writes(to(the(last(decade(of(the(first(

century.(61(Of(course,(if(this(had(happened,(neither(Grudem(nor(we(would(have(ever(been(born(and(

the(current(debate(over(tongues(and(prophecy(would(be(none(existent!(



revelation,(the(“perfect”(must(also(refer(to(a)mode)of)revelation)that)has)been)completed.(Therefore,(according(to(this(view,(Paul(is(assuring(the(Corinthians(that(the(revelatory(gifts(of(tongues,(prophecy,(and(knowledge(will(continue(until(the)completion)of)special)revelation,(that(is,(the)close)of)the)canon.(This(view(is(held(by(a(number(of(Reformed(theologians62(though(some(modern(Reformed(scholars(and(expositors(have(rejected(it.(Martyn(LloydMJones,(for(example,(argues(that(this(view(means(that(you(and(I,(who(have(the(Scriptures(open(before(us,(know(much(more(than(the(apostle(Paul(of(God’s(truth….(It(means(that(we(are(altogether(superior(…(even(to(the(apostles(themselves,(including(the(apostle(Paul!((…(indeed,(there(is(only(one(word(to(describe(such(a(view,(it(is(nonsense.63(While(I(would(not(go(as(far(as(Dr.(LloydMJones(in(describing(this(

view(as(“nonsense,”(I(do(share(his(reservations.((It(seems(to(me(that(this(view(depends(largely(on(the(assumption(that(the(“perfect”(is(an(allusion(to(a(completed(canon(of(Scripture.(But(there(is(no(clear(evidence(in(the(immediate(or(larger(context(of(Scripture(that(this(is(what(Paul(has(in(mind(by(“the(perfect.”(Furthermore,(the(church’s(state(of(knowledge(after(the(closing(of(the(canon(sometime(in(the(2nd(century(A.D.(does(not(seem(to(correspond(to(Paul’s(description(of(that(“perfect”(state(in(verse(12—seeing)face)to)face)and)knowing)as)we)are)

fully)known.64(For(these(reasons,(I(do(not(prefer(the(“Completion(of(Scripture”(view,(though(I(would(not(rule(it(out(as(a(possibility.(

62(Jonathan(Edwards,(Charity(and(its(Fruits,(29M30;(Walter(Chantry,(Signs(of(the(Apostles,(50M52;(Robert(L.(Reymond,(What(About(Continuing(Revelations(and(Miracles(in(the(Presbyterian(Church(Today?(32M34;(Victor(Budgen,(The(Charismatics(and(the(Word(of(God,(73M89.(

63(Prove)All)Things,(ed.(Christopher(Catherwood,(32M33;(Richard(Gaffin(Jr.,(Perspectives)on)Pentecost,(writes,(“The(view(that(they(describe(the(point(at(which(the(New(Testament(canon(is(completed(cannot(be(made(credible(exegetically”((109).(

64(Reymond(suggests(that(we(understand(“face(to(face”(as(a(reference(to(greater(clarity(as(opposed(to(relative(obscurity((32).(However,(as(Grudem(rightly(notes,(the(expression(more(likely(refers(to(communication(in(personal(encounter((cf.(Gen.(32:20;(Deut.(5:4;(34:10;(Judges(6:22;(Ezek.(20:35([note:(the(texts(in(Genesis(and(Judges(preserve(the(same(Greek(wording(in(the(LXX(as(in(1(Corinthians(13:12]).(



#2K%The%“Age%of%Maturity”%view%[“perfect”%=%maturity%of%church]%

In(an(article(entitled,(“Tongues…Will(Cease,”65(Robert(Thomas(argues(that(“the(perfect”(is(a(reference(to(the(doctrinal(and(spiritual(maturity(of(the(church.(He(points(out(that(the(Greek(word(translated(“perfect”(often(carries(the(meaning(of(maturity.(This(interpretation(fits(will(with(Paul’s(illustration(in(verse(11(and,(to(quote(Thomas,(“pictures(the(Christian(church(collectively,(growing(up(as(one(body,(beginning(with(its(birth,(progressing(through(different(stages(of(development(during(the(present(and(reaching(complete(maturity(at(the(parousia.”66(It(also(finds(a(parallel(in(Ephesians(4:11M16(where(the(church(progressively(reaches(Christlike(maturity(through(indoctrination(in(the(truth.67(Thus,(according(to(Thomas,(the(revelatory(gifts(passed(away(once(the(church(became(doctrinally(mature(and(no(longer(needed(them.(The(problem(with(this(view,(like(the(previous(view,(is(that(it(does(

not(seem(to(correspond(to(the(facts(of(history.(It(could(be(argued(that(the(church(was(doctrinally(immature(for(many(centuries.(It(is(even(questionable(whether(the(church(has(reached(ChristMlike(doctrinal(maturity(today.(Thus,(even(if(one(held(to(Thomas’(interpretation,(he(could(still(argue(for(the(possibility(of(tongues(and(prophecy(today—at(least(in(areas(of(the(world(where(the(church(has(not(reached(doctrinal(maturity.(3.5.1.2.3%The%“Agnostic”%View%[“perfect”%=%the%parousia]%

According(to(cessationists(like(Richard(Gaffin,(the(passage(does(not(really(tell(us(when(prophecy(or(tongues(will(cease.68(These(writers(agree(with(continuationists(that(“the(perfect”(is(a(reference(to(the(

65(Robert(Thomas,(“Tongues…Will(Cease,”(Journal)of)the)Evangelical)Theological)Society(17:2((Spring(1974),(82M97.(

66(Ibid.,(86.(67(The(main(difficulty(associated(with(this(view(is(that(it(requires(the(term(“perfect”(to(do(

double(duty—to(refer(both(to(the(relative(maturity(of(church(during(the(church(age,(and(also(to(the(absolute(maturity(of(the(church(after(the(parousia.(Thomas(concedes(this(difficulty,(but(believes(it(is(warranted(by(the(context((87).(

68(Richard(Gaffin(Jr.,(Perspectives)on)Pentecost,(109M112;(cf.(R.(Fowler(White,(“Gaffin(and(Grudem(on(1(Cor(13:10:(A(Comparison(of(Cessationist(and(Noncessationist(Argumentation,”(Journal)of)the)Evangelical)Theological)Society(35((1992);(Sinclair(Ferguson,(The)Holy)Spirit,(227M29;(Samuel(E.(Waldron,(To)Be)Continued:)Are)the)Miraculous)Sign)Gifts)for)Today?((Calvary(Press,(2005),(62M64.(



glorified(state,(which(will(be(ushered(in(by(the(Second(Coming.(They(argue,(however,(that(Paul’s(primary)focus(is(on(the)state)of)knowledge(rather(than(on(the)revelatory)modes(that(convey(that(knowledge.(Thus,(Gaffin(writes,(Paul(is(not(intending(to(specify(the(time(when(any(particular(mode(will(cease.(What(he(does(affirm(is(the(termination(of(the(believer’s(present,(fragmentary(knowledge(…(when(‘the(perfect’(comes.(The(time(of(the(cessation(of(prophecy(is(an(open(question(so(far(as(this(passage(is(concerned(and(will(have(to(be(decided(on(the(basis(of(other(passages(and(considerations.69(In(other(words,(Paul’s(main)point(is(that(the(fragmentary(state(of(the(

believer’s(knowledge(will(cease(when(Christ(returns(and(the(believer(is(ushered(into(the(very(presence(of(God.(Then(God(will(communicate(with(us(personally,(and(our(knowledge(of(redemptive(truth(will(come(to(maturity.(Paul(does(not(definitively(address(the(question(of(when(the(modes(of(revelation(will(cease.(For(Paul(the(gifts(of(prophecy(and(tongues(might(continue(to(the(end(of(the(age.(Or(they(might(cease(sometime(before(the(end(of(the(age.(It(all(depends(on(when(Christ(returns.(And(as(we(have(already(noted,(Paul(did(not(ultimately(know(the(answer(to(that(question.(Thus,(for(Paul(and(for(the(Corinthians,(the(question(of(whether(the(revelatory(gifts(could(continue(until(the(Return(of(Christ(was,(as(Gaffin(notes,(an(“open(question.”(I’m(not(certain(the(question(is(entirely(“open”(for(us(today.(We(do(

know(that(Christ’s(return(has(been(delayed(for(at(least(20(centuries.(Furthermore,(we(do(know(that(the(writing(of(inspired(Scripture(ceased(after(the(first(century.(And(since(Scripture(belongs(to(the(same(class(of(partial(and(fragmentary(revelation(as(prophecy(and(tongues,(then(we(are(not(entirely(unwarranted(to(conclude(that(the(gifts(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues,(like(the(writing(of(Scripture,(have(ceased.70(Even(a(nonMcessationist(like(Donald(A.(Carson(concedes(that(these(

69(Gaffin,(Perspectives(on(Pentecost,(111.(70(Christ’s(eschatological(triumph(over(death(may(provide(a(helpful(analogy.(According(to(1(

Corinthians(15:23M28,(Christ(will(destroy(death,(the(last(enemy,(at(His(second(coming.(But(when(we(interpret(this(passage(in(light(of(the(overall(teaching(of(Scripture,(we(find(that(Christ’s(triumph(over(death(is(achieved(in(stages,(beginning(with(His(first(coming((cf.(Gen(3:15;(John(19:30;(Rom(16:20;(Rev(2:11).(Similarly,(though(the(“partial”(will(ultimately(terminate(at(the(parousia((1Cor.(13:10),(it(is(conceivable(that(the(“passing(away”(could(occur(in(stages.(



words(would(not(“necessarily(mean(that(a(charismatic(gift(could(not(have(been(withdrawn(earlier(than(the(parousia.”71(Revelation%11:3K13%

According(to(Revelation(11:3M13,(God(will(raise(up(“two(witnesses”(that(will(prophesy(and(perform)miracles(for(the(space(of(1,260(days.(After(this(time,(they(will(be(slain(by(their(enemies,(yet(raised(from(the(dead(unto(glory.((How(should(this(passage(affect(our(view(of(tongues(and(prophecy?(Does(it(support(a(continuationist(view(or(a(cessationist(view(of(tongues(and(prophecy?(The(way(one(answers(these(questions,(depends(on(how(he(interprets(the(timing,(agents,(and(nature(of(this(prophecy.(

1)(The(Timing:(When(does(the(prophesying(take(place?(

Those(who(adopt(a(“preterist”(interpretation(of(Revelation(locate(the(timing(of(this(prophesying(sometime(during(the(first(century,(often(before(the(destruction(of(the(temple(in(A.D.(70.72(On(the(other(hand,(commentators(who(follow(a(basically(“futurist”(interpretation(assign(the(prophesying(to(the(future,(just(prior(to(the(return(of(Christ.((According(to(John(Walvoord,(The(punishments(and(judgments(the(witnesses(inflict(on(the(world(also(seem(to(fit(better(in(the(great(tribulation(period….(It(is(only(at(the(end(of(the(great(tribulation(when(their(ministry(has(been(accomplished(that(their(enemies(temporarily(have(the(upper(hand,(and(this(is(allowed(by(sovereign(appointment(of(God.73(The(majority(of(commentators,(however,(adopt(a(historicist(or(

idealist(interpretation(of(the(passage(and(extend(the(prophesying(of(the(two(witnesses(throughout(the(entire(church(age.(In(the(words(of(William(Hendricksen,(“This(is(the(period(that(extends(from(the(moment(of(Christ’s(ascension(almost(until(the(judgment(day.”74(

71(Donald(A.(Carson,(Showing)the)Spirit:)A)Theological)Exposition)of)1)Corinthians)12D14,(70.(72(See(Kenneth(Gentry,(“A(Preterist(View(of(Revelation,”(in(Four)Views)on)the)Book)of)

Revelation,(ed.(C.(Marvin(Pate,(65M67.(73(The(Revelation(of(Jesus(Christ,(178,(180.(Cf.(Charles(Ryrie,(Revelation,(72M74;(Wilbur(

Smith,(The)Wycliffe)Bible)Commentary,(1510M11;(Mounce,(The(Book(of(the(Revelation,(223.(74(More)Than)Conquerors,(155.(Cf.(G.(K.(Beale,(The)Book)of)Revelation,(572;(G.(R.(BeasleyM

Murray,(The)New)Bible)Commentary,(1182M83;(Phillip(Hughes,(The)Book)of)Revelation,(123.(George(Ladd(combines(the(second(and(third:(“…(the(two(prophets(may(represent(the(witness(of(the(church(to(Israel(throughout(the(age,(which(witness(will(be(consummated(in(the(



2)(The(Agents:(Who(are(the(witnesses(that(are(prophesying?(

There(is(a(great(deal(of(divergence(of(opinion(regarding(the(identity(of(the(“two(witnesses.”(Those(who(assign(the(ministry(of(the(two(witnesses(to(the)first)century(identify(them(either(as(two(unknown(firstMcentury(prophetMmartyrs(or(as(two(of(the(seven(churches(mentioned(in(chapters(two(and(three.(Another(first(century(possibility(would(be(the(NT(apostles(and(prophets(referred(to(by(Paul(in(Ephesians((2:20;(3:5;(4:11).(In(this(case,(the(reference(to(“two”(witnesses(may(also(be(an(allusion(to(Jesus’(practice(of(sending(out(His(apostles(twoMbyMtwo((Luke(10:1).75(On(the(other(hand,(futurist(commentators(interpret(the(“two(

witnesses”(as(two(future(prophetMmartyrs.76(Since(there(are(obvious(parallels(between(the(ministry(of(these(two(witnesses(and(that(of(Moses(and(Elijah,(some(expect(a(reappearance(of(those(two(OT(prophets(just(prior(to(Christ’s(return.77(The(majority(of(commentators,(on(the(other(hand,(seem(to(interpret(

the(“two(witnesses”(more(symbolically.(Less(common(is(to(interpret(this(in(some(sense(as(a(reference(to(Scripture:(either(Moses(and(the(Prophets(or(the(Old(Testament(and(the(New(Testament(or(Law(and(Grace.(More(common(is(the(view(of(Hendricksen(who(writes,(“The(true(church(is(now(represented(under(the(symbolism(of(two(witnesses.”78(G.(K.(Beale(agrees(and(offers(six(arguments(for(viewing(the(two(witnesses(as(“the(entire(community(of(faith.”79( appearance(of(two(prophets(in(the(time(of(the(end.(The(flexibility(of(apocalyptic(symbolism(must(allow(for(such(possibilities.”(A)Commentary)on)the)Revelation)of)John,(154.(

75(So(Hendricksen,(155.(76(Wilbur(Smith,(1510;(Ryrie,(72M74;(Walvoord,(en(loc.(77(Merrill(Tenney,(Interpreting)Revelation,(191.(78(Hendricksen,(155;(Cf.(G.(R.(BeasleyMMurray:(“…(the(Church(in(its(prophetic(capacity”(

(1182);(Albert(Barnes,(Barnes)Notes)on)the)New)Testament,(1645M46;(William(Mounce(believes(the(two(witnesses(are(a(symbol(for(the(church,(but(he(locates(their(witnesses(during(“the(last(tumultuous(days(before(the(end(of(the(age”((p.(223).(Leon(Morris(limits(the(reference(to(Christian(martyrs(in(the(church.(The)Revelation)of)St.)John,(147;(Alan(Johnson(believes(the(reference(is(to(certain(individuals(throughout(and(at(the(end(of(the(church(age(who(are(called(like(John(to(bear(prophetic(witness(to(the(truth.(“Revelation”(in(vol.(12(of(The)Expositor’s)Bible)Commentary,(504M05.(

79(Those(arguments(may(be(summarized(as(follows:((1)(The(witnesses(are(identified(as(“lampstands”((v.(4)(as(are(the(churches(in(Revelation(1:20.((2)(The(reference(to(the(beast(“making(war”(against(the(witnesses(is(based(upon(Daniel(7:21(where(the(final(evil(kingdom(makes(war(against(Israel,(the(people(of(God.((3)(The(reference(to(the(“whole(world”(seeing(the(



If(we(interpret(the(“witnesses”(as(a(symbolic(reference(to(the(church,(we(can(view(the(number(“two”(as(an(allusion(to(the(biblical(requirement(of(at(least(“two(witnesses”(to(make(a(legal(testimony(valid((Deut.(17:6;(19:15;(Matt.(18:16;(26:60;(2(Cor.(13:1;(1(Tim.(5:19;(Heb.(10:28).80(Or,(since(John(also(identifies(the(two(witnesses(as(“two(olive(trees,”(we(can(interpret(this(passage(in(light(of(Zechariah(4:1M11(and(see(it(as(a(reference(to(the(“royal(priesthood”(of(all(believers.81(

3)(The(Nature(of(the(Prophecy:(How(should(we(interpret(the(

prophesying(described?(

Those(who(place(the(ministry(of(the(two(witnesses(in(the(first(century(can(interpret(the(prophesying(as(New(Covenant(revelation(mediated(through(the(NT(apostles(and(prophets.(Those(who(locate(the(ministry(of(the(two(witnesses(just(prior(to(the(Lord’s(return(look(for(a(possible(revival(of(special(revelation(at(the(very(end(of(the(age.82(But(those(who(see(the(church’s(ministry(throughout(church(age(must(interpret(the(“prophesying”(either(as(genuine)special)revelation(or(as(something)less)than)special)revelation.(The(majority(of(commentators(who(interpret(the(“two(witnesses”(as(

a(reference(to(the(church(and(their(ministry(as(extending(throughout(the(church(age(seem(to(interpret(the(“prophesying”(as(faithfully(proclaiming(the(gospel.((Albert(Barnes(argues,(“The(word(prophesy(does(not(necessarily(mean(that(they(would(predict(future(events;(but(the(sense(is(that(they(would(give(utterance(to(the(truth(as(God(had(revealed(it.”83(According(to(Henry(B.(Swete,(“The(witness(of(the( defeat(and(resurrection(of(the(two(witnesses(suggests(the(corporate(church(spread(throughout(the(world(rather(than(two(individuals.((4)(The(witnesses(prophesy(for(“three(and(a(half(years”(which(is(probably(a(symbolic(reference(to(tribulation(throughout(the(church(age((cf.(11:2;(12:6,(14;(13:6).((5)(The(Revelation(elsewhere(represents(to(the(church(as(bearing(“testimony”(to(Jesus((6:9;(12:11,(17;(19:10;(20:4).((6)(The(powers(attributed(to(the(two(witnesses(are(divided(equally(which(suggests(a(nonMliteral(interpretation((pp.,(573M74).(In(my(mind,(the(first,(third,(and(fifth(arguments(are(the(most(persuasive((together(with(the(symbolic(nature(of(the(book).(

80(This(is(the(primary(reason,(I(believe,(Jesus(sent(out(his(disciples(“twoMbyMtwo”((Luke(10:1).(

81(The(passage(in(Zechariah(identifies(the(two(olive(trees(as(the(governor,(Zerubbabel,(and(the(High(Priest,(Joshua((vv.(2,(3,(11).(These(two(men,(in(turn,(represent(the(uniting(of(the(royal(and(priestly(function(in(Messiah.(

82(See(Robert(Saucy,(“Open(But(Cautious”(in(Are)Miraculous)Gifts)For)Today?)Four)Views,(ed.(Wayne(Grudem,(68,(128.(

83(Barnes’)Notes)on)the)New)Testament,(1645.(



church,(borne(by(her(martyrs(and(confessors,(her(saints(and(doctors,(and(by(the(words(and(lives(of(all(in(whom(Christ(lives(and(speaks,(is(one(continual(prophecy.”84(Philip(Hughes(writes,(“The(power(exercised(by(the(Lord’s(witnesses(…(illustrates(…(the(judgment(that(is(effected(through(their(prophecy,(that(is(to(say,(by(their(faithful(proclamation(of(God’s(word.”85(But(G.(K.(Beale(seems(to(follow(the(more(consistent(route(and(

interprets(the(“prophesying”(as(actual(prophecy(when(he(writes,(The(OT(had(prophesied(that(the(entire(eschatological(community(of(God’s(people(would(receive(the(Spirit’s(gift(of(prophecy((Joel(2:28M32).(The(early(Christian(community(understood(that(Joel’s(prophecy(had(begun(fulfillment(in(their(midst((Acts(2:17M21).(This(prophetic(gift(would(be(the(means(by(which(the(entire(church(would(‘witness’(to(the(whole(world.86(Whether(Beale(interprets(the(NT(“gift(of(prophecy”(as(Grudem(does(

is(not(absolutely(clear.(But(on(the(surface,(he(seems(to(be(reading(“prophecy”(as(something(more(than(merely(preaching(and(sharing(the(gospel.87(What(can(we(conclude(from(Revelation(11:3M13(regarding(the(gift(of(

prophecy(and(today?(It(would(seem(from(our(survey(of(commentators(that(the)preterist(interpretation(best(fits(the)cessationist)view(of(prophecy—the(prophecy(John(depicts(is(genuine(revelation(that(occurred(during(the(first(century.(The)futurist)interpretation(best(fits(the)open)but)cautious)view(of(prophecy—the(prophecy(John(depicts(is(genuine(revelation(that(will(occur(just(prior(to(Christ’s(return.(Since(

84(The)Apocalypse)of)St.)John,(132.(85(The)Book)of)the)Revelation,(125;(Cf.(R.(C.(Lenski:(“The(true(church,(as(being(separate(from(

all(those(outside((11:1),(shall(witness(and(prophesy(by(means(of(the(little(book((the(inspired(gospel)(in(its(public(ministry(to(the(whole(obdurate(and(hostile(world(in(order(to(reveal(its(full(guilt.”(Interpretation)of)St.)John’s)Revelation,(338M39.(

86(Beale,(574.(87(On(the(one(hand,(Beale(says,(“The(church(does(not(have(precisely(the(same(prophetic(

authority(as(Moses,(Elijah,(or(Christ(since(the(prophetic(ministry(is(not(now(attested(by(such(miracles”((p.(584).(On(the(other(hand,(Beale(alludes(to(the(Apostle(Paul’s(witness(to(Felix(as(an(example(of(the(church’s(prophetic(witness((p.(585).(Beale’s(former(comment(would(seem(to(indicate(a(less(than(inspired(prophetic(witness.(But(his(latter(would(seem(more(consist(with(a(fullyMinspired(prophetic(witness.(Actually,(Beale(probably(advocates(the(same(view(suggested(in(my(closing(remarks:(the(reference(to(“prophesying”(literally(refers(to(special(revelation,(which(is(used(symbolically,(in(this(context,(for(the(church’s(faithful(proclamation(of(the(gospel.(



Christ’s(return(is(imminent,(the(church(should(be(open(but(cautious(towards(claims(of(the(prophetic(gift.(The)historicist(or(idealist(interpreter(would(seem(forced(to(a(choice.(

Either(he(makes(this(reference(to(prophecy(as(“an(exception(to(the(rule”(and(interprets(it(as(a(nonMinspired(witness(to(the(gospel.(This(allows(for(a(cessationist(view(of(prophecy,(but(it(seems(to(disregard(the(uniform(meaning(of(prophecy(as(inspired(revelation.((Or(he(interprets(John’s(description(of(prophecy(as(genuine(revelation(that(will(be(uttered(by(the(church(throughout(the(church(age.(In(other(words,(he(would(seem(forced(to(adopt(the)continuationist)view(of(prophecy.(There(is,(however,(another(possibility.(In(light(of(the(highly(

symbolic(nature(of(Revelation,(I(believe(it’s(possible(to(interpret(the(activity(of(the(two(witnesses(as(literal)prophecy.(But(just(as(two)literal)witnesses(refer(symbolically(to)the)church,(so(too(the)literal)act)of)prophesying(may(symbolically)refer(to(the)church’s)gospel)witness.(Those(who(object(and(argue(that(the(“prophesying”(described(must(refer(to(actual(divine(revelation(that(occurs(throughout(the(church(age(must(consistently(do(the(same(for(the(Moses(and(ElijahMlike(miracles(described(in(verses(5(through(6.(Since(no(such(catastrophic(miracles(have(literally(occurred(throughout(the(church(age,(it(seems(better(to(interpret(the(miracles(and(the(prophecy(symbolically.88(In(this(way,(we(interpret(the(word(“prophesying”(consist(with(its(biblical(usage—as(divine(revelation—but(we(also(allow(for(a(symbolic(function(of(the(terminology(in(Revelation,(which(is(consistent(with(our(cessationist(viewpoint.89(This(interpretation(may(not(satisfy(all(continuationists.(But(the(

wide(divergence(of(views(and(the(symbolic(nature(of(this(passage(should(caution(us(against(making(it(a(proof(text(for(any(position.((

88(If(the(prophecy(refers(symbolically(to(the(church’s(witness,(then(the(miracles(would(refer(symbolically(to(the(judgments(that(fall(upon(those(who(reject(the(gospel(and(persecute(God’s(witnesses.(As(Richard(Lenski(argues,(“These(Old(Testament(allusions(point(to(fearful(New(Testament(counterparts.(It(ever(was,(is,(and(will(be(a(fearful(thing(for(those(who(are(enemies(of(the(Word(and(the(witnesses(to(fall(into(the(hands(of(the(living(God,(Heb.(10:31”((339).(Cf.(Jesus(words(to(his(disciples(in(Matthew(10:13M15.(

89(I(believe(this(is(Vern(Poythress’(view(when(he(writes,(“…(11:10M14(gives(us(a(general(visionary(representation(of(the(witness(of(the(church(and(of(God’s(preservation(and(vindication(of(that(witness.”(The)Returning)King,(127.(I(suspect(this(is(also(Beale’s(view.(



SOME%CONCLUDING%APPLICATIONS%

I(have(tried(to(demonstrate(that(the(Biblical(evidence(weighs(in(the(favor(of(the(cessationist(position.(I(have(argued(that(preMparousia(special(revelation(ceased(with(the(completion(of(the(New(Testament.(I(also(have(argued(that(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(are(modes(of(preMparousia(special(revelation.(If(these(two(premises(are(true,(then,(I(believe,(we(have(compelling(reason(to(conclude(that(the(prophecy(and(tongues(of(the(NT(have(ceased((see(Part(1,(Part(2,(Part(3,(Part(4,(Part(5,(Part(6,(Part(7,(Part(8).(I’ve(examined(common(objections(raised(by(continuationists(but(have(not(found(them(sufficiently(conclusive(to(overturn(that(conclusion((see(Part(9,(Part(10).(So(I(would(identify(my(position(as(“cessationist.”((Nevertheless,(I(have(to(concede(that(not(all(the(arguments(for(

cessationism(are(equally(clear(and(cogent.(Moreover,(some(passages(of(Scripture,(such(as(First(Corinthians(13(and(Revelation(11,(can(be(interpreted(in(a(way(consistent(with(the(continuationist(position.(Furthermore,(the(testimony(of(the(church(through(history(on(this(issue(is(not(decisively(in(favor(of(an(absolute(cessationist(position.(Even(among(the(Reformers(and(the(Puritans,(there(appear(to(have(been(some(who’ve(affirmed(or(allowed(for(a(revival(of(the(gifts(either(for(unique(situations(throughout(church(history(or(as(a(precursor(to(the(Second(Coming.((As(I(noted(in(my(introduction,(John(Calvin(suggested(that(the(Lord(

“now(and(again(revives(them(as(the(need(of(the(times(demand.”90(Concerning(the(Puritans,(Garnet(Milne(recently(published(a(dissertation(entitled(The)Westminster)Confession)of)Faith)and)the)Cessation)of)Special)Revelation:)The)Majority)Puritan)Viewpoint)on)

Whether)ExtraDBiblical)Prophecy)is)Still)Possible.(Milne(concluded(the(framers(of(the(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(intended(to(affirm(a(cessationist(view(of(special(revelation(with)some)qualification:((The(Westminster(divines(intended(the(cessationist(clause(to(affirm(that(there(was(to(be(no(more(extraMbiblical,(‘immediate’(revelation(for(any(purpose(now(that(the(church(possessed(the(completed(

90 The Institutes of the Christian Religion, ed. John T. McNeill (Westminster Press, 1960),

IV, 3.4.



Scriptures….(At(the(same(time(the(divines(did(not(intend(to(deny(that(God(could(still(speak(through(special(providences(that(might(involve(dreams(or(the(ministry(of(angels,(for(example,(but(such(revelation(was(always(to(be(considered(‘mediate.’(The(primary(means(was(held(to(be(the(written(Scriptures,(illuminated(by(the(Holy(Spirit.(The(unity(of(the(Word(and(Spirit(was(maintained,(and(God’s(freedom(to(address(individual(circumstances(remained(intact.91((So(I(don’t(think(we(can(claim(that(all(the(Reformers(and(Puritans(

were(absolute(cessationists.((Finally,(while(many(if(not(most(of(the(claims(today(to(instances(of(

miraculous(or(revelatory(gifts(appear(to(be(very(questionable(if(not(outright(dubious,(I(have(to(concede(that(some(claims(come(from(people(who(appear(to(be(credible.(In(most(cases,(these(Christians(are(not(claiming(that(a(gift(of(miraculous(healing(or(an(impartation(of(a(special(dream(or(an(enabling(to(speak(the(gospel(in(an(unlearned(foreign(language(is(normative.(They(seem(to(be(claiming(that(God(intervened(in(an(extraordinary(way(in(a(set(of(unusual(circumstances(to(meet(a(specific(need.((Consequently,(in(an(effort(to(be(faithful(to(my(reading(of(the(

Scripture(while(conceding(that(I’m(not(infallible,(I(would(probably(qualify(my(cessationist(position(as(a(“soft(cessationism,”(which(is(somewhere(between(hardcore(cessationism(and(“openMbutMcautious.”(I’m(“doubtful,”(but(I’m(not(“dogmatic.”(That(probably(means(I’m(not(continuationist(enough(for(most(continuationists,(and(I’m(not(cessationist(enough(for(some(cessationists.92((

91(The(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(and(the(Cessation(of(Special(Revelation:(The(Majority(Puritan(Viewpoint(on(Whether(ExtraMBiblical(Prophecy(is(Still(Possible((Wipf(&(Stock,(2007),(xviMxvii.(See(also(Byron(Curtis,(“‘Private(Spirits’(in(The(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(§(1.10(and(in(CatholicMProtestant(Debate((1588M1652),”(Westminster)Theological)Journal(58((Fall(1996),(256M67;(Garnet(H.(Milne,(“‘Private(Spirits’(in(the(Westminster(Confession(of(Faith(and(in(ProtestantMCatholic(Debates:(A(Response(to(Byron(Curtis,”(Westminster)Theological)Journal(61((Spring(1999),(102M11.Dean(R.(Smith,(“The(Scottish(Presbyterians(and(Covenanters:(A(Continuationist(Experience(in(a(Cessationist(Theology,”(Westminster)Theological)Journal)63((Spring(2001),(39M63.(

92(ARBCA’s(position(paper(“Concerning(the(Continuance(of(Revelatory(Gifts(in(the(Present(Day”((March(8,(2000)(takes(a(fairly(hardcore(cessationist(stance(that(allows(no(room(for(“open(but(cautious”(member(churches.(On(the(other(hand,(F.I.R.E.((Fellowship(of(Independent(Reformed(Evangelicals)(identifies(itself(as(“a(noncharismatic(association”(and(its(position(of(Scripture(as(excluding(“additional(revelation.”(But(it(allows(individuals(or(churches(that(“are(



I’d(like(to(close(this(study(by(offering(some(commendation,(caution,(and(exhortation,(which(will(apply(to(those(on(both(sides(of(this(debate.(Commendation(

One(of(the(aims(of(this(series(is(to(highlight(what(I(believe(to(be(some(weaknesses(and(dangers(of(the(continuationist(position.(In(doing(so,(I(do(not(want(to(convey(a(lack(of(appreciation(for(some(of(the(legitimate(concerns(and(emphases(of(our(continuationist(brothers.(For(example,(many(continuationists,(like(Dr.(Grudem,(are(concerned(to(uphold(the(supernaturalism(of(Scripture.(They(firmly(believe(in(the(reality(of(divine(miracles(and(God’s(extraordinary(providences.(They(are(wary(of(a(rationalistic(tendency(among(modern(scholars(to(explain(away(the(miraculous.(I(want(to(commend(them(for(upholding(the(supernaturalism(of(Scripture,(and)we)who)are)cessationists)do)well)to)share)their)concern.(Furthermore,(my(continuationist(brothers(seek(to(give(a(proper(

emphasis(to(the(person(and(work(of(the(Holy(Spirit.(They(take(seriously(the(many(NT(references(to(the(Spirit’s(work(of(empowering(the(people(of(God(for(ministry.(We(who(are(cessationists(should(also(strive(to(give(appropriate(emphasis(to(the(Holy(Spirit(in(our(church(worship(and(life.(We(should(beware(of(developing(a(selfMsufficient(attitude(that(relies(merely(upon(intellect,(eloquence,(or(human(resourcefulness.(On(the(contrary,(we(desperately(need(the(Spirit’s(ongoing(ministry(in(our(lives(as(individuals(and(our(life(as(a(church.(Borrowing(from(Luther’s(language(regarding(the(important(place(of(the(doctrine(of(justification,(George(Smeaton((whom(I(believe(was(a(cessationist)(aptly(remarked,(Wherever(Christianity(has(become(a(living(power,(the(doctrine(of(the(Holy(Spirit(has(uniformly(been(regarded,(equally(with(the(atonement(and(justification(by(faith,(as(the(article(of(a(standing(or(falling(Church.(The(distinctive(feature(of(Christianity,(as(it(addresses(itself(to(man’s(experience,(is(the(world(of(the(Spirit,(which(not(only(elevates(it(far(above(all(philosophical(speculation,(but(also(above(every(other(form(of(religion.93(

not(certain(of(an(absolute(cessationist(position”(to(be(members,(provided(that(they’re(not(proactively(promoting(or(practicing(a(fullMfledged(continuationist(position.((

93(The)Doctrine)of)the)Holy)Spirit((1882;(reprint,(Banner(of(Truth,(1974),(1.(



I(think(cessationists(should(share(Smeaton’s(zeal(for(the(doctrine(and(ministry(of(God’s(Spirit.(Indeed,(in(this(respect,(we(all(should(be(“continuationists”(and(affirm(a(“pneumatic”(Christianity.94(There(are(other(areas(of(concern(and(emphasis(among(some(of(our(

continuationist(brothers(that(also(deserve(our(commendation,(in(my(opinion.(For(example,(I(appreciate(the(emphasis(upon(the(emotions(that(is(present(in(some(Pentecostal(and(charismatic(circles.((Personally,(I(find(that(the(Reformed(tradition(sometimes(

overemphasizes(the(importance(of(the(intellect((usually(in(the(form(of(“the(primacy(of(the(intellect”)(and(underemphasizes(the(emotions(or,(worse(yet,(assigns(the(emotions(to(the(“carnal”(or(“sensual”(nature(of(man.(The(result(is(to(cast(undue(suspicion(upon(what(may(be,(biblically(speaking,(legitimate(expressions(of(emotion(in(worship(and(to(undervalue(the(place(of(right(affections(in(living(out(the(Christian(life.95((In(these(areas(and(perhaps(in(others,(I(believe(those(of(us(who(are(

cessationists(can(and(should(learn(from(our(continuationist(brothers.((Notwithstanding(their(commendable(concerns(and(emphases,(

however,(we(must(also(be(aware(of(some(of(the(weaknesses(and(dangers(of(their(position.(Cautions(

In(particular,(I(believe(there(are(at(least(three(areas(of(weakness(and(potential(danger(connected(with(the(continuationist(position(on(the(subject(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues.96(

94(This(call(is(issued(by(several(authors(who(contribute(essays(in(a(book(recently(edited(by(Daniel(Wallace(and(M.(James(Sawyer(entitled(Who’s)Afraid)of)the)Holy)Spirit)Who’s)Afraid)of)the)Holy)Spirit?)An)Investigation)into)the)Ministry)of)the)Spirit)of)God)Today((Biblical(Studies(Press,(2005),(which(includes(forewords(by(Josh(McDowell(and(Wayne(Grudem.(See(also(John(Frame’s(The)Doctrine)of)the)Word)of)God((Presbyterian(&(Reformed,(2010),(234M36,(as(well(as(Francis(Chan’s(refreshing(study(The)Forgotten)God:)Reversing)Our)Tragic)Neglect)of)the)Holy)Spirit((David(C.(Cook,(2009).((

95(I(also(appreciate(the(emphasis(upon(the(emotions(that(is(present(in(some(Pentecostal(and(charismatic(circles.(Personally,(I(find(that(the(Reformed(tradition(sometimes(overemphasizes(the(importance(of(the(intellect((usually(in(the(form(of(“the(primacy(of(the(intellect”)(and(underemphasizes(the(emotions(or,(worse(yet,(assigns(the(emotions(to(the(“carnal”(or(“sensual”(nature(of(man.(The(result(is(to(cast(undue(suspicion(upon(what(may(be,(biblically(speaking,(legitimate(expressions(of(emotion(in(worship.(

96(I(agree(with(Grudem(that(the(mere(potential(for(danger(does(not(necessarily(provide(an(



The%authority%and%sufficiency%of%Scripture%may%be%subtly%undermined.%

Continuationists(like(Grudem(insist(that(the(gift(of(prophecy(must(remain(subordinate(to(Scripture(and(the(official(teaching(of(the(church.97(I(admire(and(laud(Grudem’s(zeal(to(protect(the(final(authority(of(Scripture.(When(Grudem(and(others(label(certain(NT(prophecies(as(“fallible,”(however,(it(seems(to(me(they(open(the(door(to(allow(for(the(same(assessment(of(other(prophecies(in(the(Bible.(For(example,(in(Matthew(10:23,(Jesus(tells(His(disciples,(“You(will(

not(finish(going(through(the(cities(of(Israel(until(the(Son(of(Man(comes.”(If(we(apply(Grudem’s(criteria(for(prophecy(to(Jesus’(prediction,(we(would(have(to(conclude(that(it(did(not(literally(come(true(and(therefore(was(at(least(partially(fallible.(Grudem(himself(would(resist(that(conclusion,(but(many(critical(scholars(do(not(share(his(reserve.(They(would(agree(with(Grudem(that(the(NT(contains(examples(of(fallible(prophecy,(and(they(would(not(hesitate(to(apply(his(hermeneutic(to(Jesus’(predictions(and(label(some(of(His(prophecy(as(fallible.(In(fact,(some(would(take(Grudem’s(argument(a(step(further(and(apply(it(to(the(entire(Bible.(The(point(I(am(underscoring(is(that(it’s(not(a(huge(step(from(a(

Grudem’s(view(of(NT(prophecy(to(a(neoMorthodox(view(of(Scripture,(which(ultimately(denies(Scripture’s(unique(authority.98(Once(again,(I’m(certain(Grudem(himself(would(resist(taking(that(step.(I(fear(that(for(weaker(souls,(however,(Grudem’s(category(of(potentially(fallible(NT(prophecy(could(sow(the(seeds(of(doubt(that(later(develop(into(a(fullMblown(skepticism(towards(the(inspiration(of(Scripture.(Furthermore,(in(a(day(when(many(professing(Christians(are(discontent(living(by(the(general(principles(of(Scripture,(the(promise(of(direct(revelation(from( argument(for(or(against(a(doctrine(or(practice.((As(he(points(out,(“Some(things(that(are(right(are(dangerous,(at(least(in(some(sense”((Systematic)Theology,(1046).(Nevertheless,(it(must(also(be(added(that(everything(wrong(is,(in(some(sense,(dangerous.(And(the(Scripture(writers(do(not(hesitate(to(warn(believers(against(the(dangers(and(weaknesses(of(certain(positions.(Thus,(having(already(provided(the(arguments(against(the(continuationist(position,(I(feel(justified(to(warn(God’s(people(of(its(potential(dangers,(even(if(some(do(not(deem(these(dangers(necessary)consequences.(

97(Grudem,(Systematic)Theology,(1039M40,(60M61.(98(NeoMorthodoxy(teaches(that(the(Bible(itself(is(not(divine(revelation(but(bears(witness(to(

divine(revelation(through(the(fallible(words(of(man.(Thus,(there(is(no(substantial(difference(between(Grudem’s(view(of(NT(prophecy(and(a(neoMorthodox(view(of(Scripture.(



God(that(addresses(specific(situations(on(the(spot(is(very(appealing.(The(sad(result,(as(O.(Palmer(Robertson(notes,(is(that(the(specific(wordMforMtheMmoment(takes(precedence(over(the(general(principles(of(God’s(Word.99(In(this(way,(Grudem’s(view(of(NT(prophecy(and(tongues(can(undermine(the(authority(and(sufficiency(of(Scripture.100(The%worship%and%order%of%the%church%can,%in%some%cases,%be%disrupted.%%

In(his(book(entitled,(The)Charismatics)and)the)Word)of)God,(Victor(Budgen(gives(an(account(of(one(charismatic(leader(who(assured(his(audience(that(his(prophecy(was(not(fallible(and(that(he(wasn’t(afraid(of(making(mistakes.(According(to(Budgen,(the(man(then(tells(of(an(incident(when(he(wrongly(accused(a(brother(of(immorality(and(later(found(he(was(wrong.(Rather(than(deploring(his(action,(he(laughingly(said(that(he(normally(was(not(so(insensitive.101(This(raises(some(important(questions:(how(should(God’s(people(

respond(when(a(church(leader(or(member(stands(up(in(the(midst(of(the(assembly,(proclaims,(“Thus(says(the(Lord,”(and(then(utters(a(prophecy?(How(much(of(that(prophecy(should(they(regard(as(true?(NinetyMpercent?(EightyMpercent?(SixtyMpercent?(Who(decides?(And(what(happens(if(it(is(determined(that(the(prophecy(contains(error?(Should(the(church(leader(or(member(be(allowed(to(prophecy(again?(How(many(mistakes(can(he(make(before(he(is(disqualified?(How(serious(of(an(error(does(he(need(to(make(before(he(is(treated(as(a(false(prophet(and(put(out(of(the(church?(Grudem(tries(to(offer(some(guidelines(for(the(practice(of(prophecy(

in(the(church.(He(argues(that(NT(prophecies(should(be(evaluated(according(to(Scripture(and(they(should(remain(subordinate(to(the(teaching(ministry(of(the(elders.102(But(I(did(not(find(any(detailed(

99(Robertson,(The)Final)Word,(128.(100(It’s(notable(that(some(continuationist(theologians,(like(Donald(Gee,(admit(this(danger.(

Writes(Gee,(“[There(are](grave(problems(raised(by(the(habit(of(giving(and(receiving(personal(‘messages’(of(guidance(through(the(gifts(of(the(Spirit….(Many(of(our(errors(where(spiritual(gifts(are(concerned(arise(when(we(want(the(extraordinary(and(exceptional(to(be(made(the(frequent(and(habitual.(Let(all(who(develop(excessive(desire(for(‘messages’(through(the(gifts(take(warning(from(the(wreckage(of(past(generations(as(well(as(of(contemporaries(….(The(Holy(Scriptures(are(a(lamp(unto(our(feet(and(a(light(unto(our(path.”(Spiritual)Gifts)in)the)Work)of)Ministry)Today((Gospel(Publishing(House,(1963),(51M52.(

101(The)Charismatics)and)the)Word)of)God,(2nd(edition((Evangelical(Press,(1989),(282.(102(Systematic)Theology,(1058,(60M61.(See(also(the(guidelines(provided(by(Jeff(Purswell(of(



guidelines(for(dealing(with(leaders(and(members(who(utter(false(prophecies.(I(suspect,(based(on(his(own(distinction(between(OT(canonical(prophecy(and(NT(congregational(prophecy,(that(Grudem(would(advocate(a(much(more(tolerant(approach(to(false(prophecy(today(than(was(tolerated(in(Moses’(day.(However,(the(NT(warnings(to(the(church(against(false(prophets(and(false(prophecy(seem(to(carry(a(far(greater(weight(of(consequence(and(urgency(than(Grudem’s(view(would(allow((cf.(Matt.(7:15;(24:11,(12,(24;(Mark(13:22;(Acts(13:6M11;(1(John(4:1M3;(Rev.(19:20).(For(this(reason,(I(believe(Grudem’s(view(may(increase(the(potential(

for(disruption(in(the(worship(and(order(of(the(church.(Granted,(the(potential(for(disorder(existed(in(the(firstMcentury(church,(and(Paul(did(not(necessarily(forbid(prophecy((1(Cor.(14:39).(However,(we(no(longer(have(living(apostles(to(regulate(our(worship(and(to(help(us(assess(prophecy.(Furthermore,(as(I’ve(tried(to(demonstrate,(Paul(and(the(other(Apostles(had(a(different(view(than(Grudem(of(the(nature(of(NT(prophecy.(And(I(believe(their(view(of(NT(prophecy(as(fullMblown(authoritative(special(revelation(calls(for(a(far(more(serious(approach(to(“regulating”(NT(prophecy(than(many(continuationists(seem(to(practice(today.103(The%minds%of%believers%can%be%confused%regarding%true%spirituality.%%

Whether(intentional(or(not(the(impression(is(sometimes(given(that(possession(of(the(extraMordinary(is(indicative(of(greater(spirituality.(Consequently,(believers(are(encouraged(to(seek(the(gifts(of(tongues(or(prophecy(as)a)means)to)draw)closer)to)God.(Sometimes(the(reception(of(these(gifts(is(portrayed(as(a(“second(work”(of(grace.((But(the(Bible(makes(abundantly(clear(that(the(possession(of(

spiritual(gifts(by(itself(is(no(sure(sign(of(spirituality.(Thus,(in(Matthew(7:22M23(Jesus(declares:( Sovereign(Grace(Ministries(here:(http://www.worshipmatters.com/2007(/10/19/howMdoMweMmakeMroomMforMtheMgiftMofMprophecy/.(

103(Budgen(cites(Herbert(Carlson,(a(continuationist(who(seems(to(advocate(more(serious(consequences(for(false(prophecy,(such(as(suspension(or(excommunication((pp.(285M86).(I(question(whether(such(disciplinary(actions(are(consistently(carried(out(in(Pentecostal(and(charismatic(circles(today.(



On(that(day(many(will(say(to(me,(“Lord,(Lord,(did(we(not(prophesy(in(your(name,(and(cast(out(demons(in(your(name,(and(do(many(mighty(works(in(your(name?”(And(then(will(I(declare(to(them,(“I(never(knew(you;(depart(from(me,(you(workers(of(lawlessness”((ESV).(Clearly,(the(great(criteria(for(the(Day(of(Judgment(will(not(be(the(

possession(of(spiritual(gifts(but(the(evidence(of(spiritual(grace.(As(Walt(Chantry(appropriately(observes,(“Inward(graces(or(fruits(of(the(Spirit,(not(outward(displays(of(gift,(are(the(signs(of(spirituality.”104((I(believe(this(is(the(point(Paul(stresses(in(1(Corinthians(13:1M3,(

where(he’s(addressing(the(subject(of(revelatory(gifts:(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((ESV).(According(to(Paul,(the(possession(of(revelatory(gifts(may(or(may(not(

have(anything(to(do(with(one’s(spirituality.(What(really(matters(is(whether(one(possesses(and(manifests(true(Christian(love.(Unfortunately,(that’s(not(always(the(impression(given(in(some(Pentecostal(and(charismatic(circles(today.(The(impression(is(sometimes(given(that(spiritual(gifts(are(the(key(to(greater(holiness(and(victory(over(sin.(As(a(result,(the(minds(of(believers(become(confused(about(the(true(nature(of(spirituality.(Of(course,(to(be(fair(I(must(add(that(not(all(continuationists(mistake(

the(position(of(a(spiritual(gift(with(a(higher(state(of(spirituality.(Wayne(Grudem,(for(instance,(asserts(that(spiritual(gifts(are(“tools(for(ministry(and(not(necessarily(related(to(Christian(maturity.”105(Exhortation(

These(are(some(of(the(potential(dangers(that(may(result(from(a(continuationist(position.106(Nevertheless,(I(acknowledge(that(there(

104(Chantry,(Signs)of)the)Apostles,(64.(105(Systematic)Theology,(1030f.(106(For(a(more(extended(treatment(of(potential(errors(and(dangers,(see(Victor(Budgen,(The)

Charismatics)and)the)Word)of)God,(and(John(F.(MacArthur(Jr.,(Charismatic)Chaos((Grand(Rapids:(



have(been(and(are(today(continuationist(teachers(who(have(not(fallen(into(these(errors(but(have(maintained(a(reverence(for(Scripture,(have(sought(to(promote(a(GodMcentered(worship,(and(have(provided(generally(sound(teaching(for(believers.107((Furthermore,(I(don’t(believe(we(should(view(or(portray(all(versions(

of(continuationism(equally.(Some(of(the(more(radical(forms(are(heretical.(Many(continuationists,(however,(are(seriousMminded,(GodMfearing,(ChristMloving,(and(gospelMpreaching(evangelicals.(Indeed,(some(of(them(even(share(with(us(an(appreciation(for(the(doctrines(of(grace.(Therefore,(we(should(avoid(drawing(caricatures(or(erecting(straw(men(when(engaging(the(other(side.((For(example,(cessationists(sometimes(portray(continuationists(as(

unprincipled,(preoccupied(with(the(sensational,(antiMintellectual,(and(lacking(proper(esteem(for(the(Bible.(On(the(other(hand,(continuationists(can(be(guilty(of(unfairly(representing(cessationists(as(antiMsupernaturalists,(rationalists,(devoid(of(joy,(and(fearful(of(the(Spirit’s(presence(and(power.108((Let(both(sides(remember(Paul’s(exhortation(to(be(charitable(and(

humble(when(discussing(the(question(of(revelatory(gifts.109(To(use(a( Zondervan,(1992).(While(potential(abuses(and(dangers(do(not(necessarily(invalidate(a(given(doctrine(or(practice,(they(may(serve(as(cautions(to(keep(us(on(our(guard.((

107(I(am(thinking(of(men(like(Martin(LloydMJones,(Donald(A.(Carson,(John(Piper,(and(C.(J.(Mahaney.(I(would(also(include(Wayne(Grudem,(whose(systematic(theology(I(have(found(overall(sound,(edifying,(and(helpful.(

108(See,(for(example,(Mark(Driscoll’s(contrast(between(the(“New(Calvinism”((which(is(largely(sympathetic(to(the(continuationist(position)(and(the(“Old(Calvinism”((which(is(largely(sympathetic(to(the(cessationist(position:(“Four(Ways(‘New(Calvinism’(Is(So(Powerful”((http://theresurgence.com/2009/03/12/timeMmagazineMnamesMnewMcalvinismM3rdMmostMpowerfulMidea).(Thankfully,(Driscoll(later(qualifies(himself(by(identifying(the(issue(of(continuationism(and(cessationism(as(one(over(which(good(brothers(may(disagree:(“More(Thoughts(On(Time(Magazine(and(New(Calvinism”((http://theresurgence.com/2009/03/12/moreMthoughtsMonMtimeMmagazineMandMnewMcalvinism).(

109(I(am(willing(to(admit(that(the(evidence(for(the(cessation(of(tongues(and(prophecy(may(not(be(as(clear(and(conclusive(as(the(evidence(for(justification(by(faith(or(salvation(by(grace(or(the(bodily(resurrection(of(Christ.(In(fact,(I(believe(that(the(very(fact(wellMmeaning(Christians(disagree(over(doctrinal(issues(like(this(one(may(be(partly(due(to(the(fact(that(our(present(knowledge(in(this(age(is(in(some(sense(partial(and(fragmentary—even(with(the(Scriptures.(This(is(not(to(deny(the(sufficiency(and(clarity(of(the(Scriptures(in(matters(pertaining(to(our(salvation.(It(is(simply(to(allow(for(the(fact(that(“all(things(in(Scripture(are(not(alike(plain(in(themselves”((LBCF(1.7;(cf.(2(Pet(3:16).(This(reality(should(make(us(long(for(the(day(when(our(partial(knowledge(shall(be(replaced(by(complete(knowledge.(Until(that(day,(we(must(argue(our(convictions(with(charity(and(humility((Eph(4:15).(



phrase(that(I(believe(was(coined(by(the(continuationist(Joshua(Harris,(senior(pastor(of(Covenant(Life(and(successor(to(C.(J.(Mahaney,(let(all(sides(strive(for(a(“humble(orthodoxy.”110(

110(This(has(been(one(of(the(dominant(themes(of(the(New(Attitude(Conferences(founded(by(Harris.(For(more(information,(click(here.(This(charitable(and(humble(spirit(is(also(exemplified(in(a(message(preached(by(continuationist(Craig(Cabaniss(entitled,(“Watch(the(Spirit(Work:(Serving(Cessationists(in(Their(Pursuit(of(the(Spirit,”(which(can(be(downloaded(here:(http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?(productid=A2251M05M51(One(wonders(whether(cessationists(might(dare(to(return(the(gracious(gesture(and(consider(how(we(might(serve(continuationists((beyond(mere(debate).(Any(ideas?(

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08 - Appendix 2, NT Prophecy and Tongues? · The$Doctrine$of$Holy$Scripture:$NT$Prophecy$and$Tongues?$$ Version$1.0$ Robert'Gonzales,'Jr.' Page'6' 11/29/14' continues(to(reveal(himself(through(Scripture((Ps.(19