Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

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Monday
Oct222012

Theological Term of the Week

cessationism
The view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (healing, tongues, prophetic revelations) ended with the apostolic age, and that while God still does do miracles, he does not gift individuals with the miraculous spiritual gifts. 

  • Scripture that helps make the case:
  • …[Y]ou are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…. (Ephesians 2:19-20 ESV) 

  • From Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther (quote found here):
  • In the early Church the Holy Spirit was sent forth in visible form. He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (Matt. 3:16), and in the likeness of fire upon the apostles and other believers. (Acts 2:3.) This visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit was necessary to the establishment of the early Church, as were also the miracles that accompanied the gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul explained the purpose of these miraculous gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.” Once the Church had been established and properly advertised by these miracles, the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost ceased.

Learn more:
  1. Theopedia: Cessationism
  2. GotQuestions.org: Is cessationism biblical?
  3. Richard Gaffin: Where Have All the Spiritual Gifts Gone?
  4. Bob Gonzales: A Humble Argument for the Cessation of NT Prophesy and Tongues, Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5Part 6Part 7Part 8.
  5. Nathan Busenitz: What Cessasionism Is Not
  6. Monergism.com: Long list of audio resources on cessationism

Related term:

Filed under Ecclesiology

Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

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Reader Comments (2)

How about the Hypostatic Union. Thanks for the post Rebecca. Grace, Peace and Joy.

October 25, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJojo

Here you go, Jojo: hypostatic union.

October 25, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterRebecca

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