Cessationism

Definition

Cessationism is the belief that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing, ceased with the apostolic age and are no longer present in the church today. This view emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture and posits that these gifts were intended to authenticate the apostles' message and were not meant to continue indefinitely.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cessationism holds that certain spiritual gifts were temporary and served specific purposes during the early church, particularly to establish authority and validate the apostolic message.
2. Many cessationists argue that with the completion of the New Testament canon, there is no longer a need for miraculous gifts as Scripture provides all necessary guidance for faith and practice.
3. Cessationism is often contrasted with continuationism, which asserts that all spiritual gifts remain available to believers today.
4. Prominent theological traditions that advocate cessationism include many branches of Reformed theology and conservative evangelical groups.
5. Cessationists often cite biblical passages such as 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 to support their belief that tongues and prophecies would cease when 'that which is perfect' comes, interpreted as the completion of Scripture.

Review Questions

• How does cessationism define the role of miraculous gifts in the early church compared to their role today?
  • Cessationism defines miraculous gifts as being crucial for the early church to authenticate the apostles' message and establish authority during a foundational period. These gifts, like speaking in tongues and prophecy, were believed to be temporary tools meant to support the spread of Christianity until the New Testament was fully revealed. In contrast, cessationists argue that these gifts are no longer necessary or available today, as believers now have complete access to God's revelation through Scripture.
• Discuss how cessationism differs from continuationism regarding their perspectives on spiritual gifts in contemporary Christianity.
  • Cessationism and continuationism present opposing views on spiritual gifts. Cessationism argues that miraculous gifts ceased after the apostolic age, believing they were specifically given to authenticate the apostles' authority. On the other hand, continuationism maintains that these gifts are still active and should be sought after by believers today, asserting that God continues to work through them in various ways. This fundamental disagreement shapes how different Christian traditions understand worship, prayer, and community life.
• Evaluate how cessationism impacts a believer's understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in their life compared to a continuationist perspective.
  • Cessationism significantly influences a believer's understanding of the Holy Spirit's work by emphasizing reliance on Scripture as the primary means of guidance and growth in faith. Believers may focus on understanding biblical teachings rather than seeking miraculous experiences or manifestations of spiritual gifts. In contrast, a continuationist perspective encourages believers to expect ongoing active involvement of the Holy Spirit through various gifts in everyday life. This leads to different practices in worship and community engagement, reflecting broader theological beliefs about how God interacts with His people today.

Related terms

continuationism: Continuationism is the belief that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are still active and present in the church today, continuing beyond the apostolic age.

pneumatology: Pneumatology is the branch of theology that studies the Holy Spirit, including His nature, role, and work within the church and individual believers.

apostolic age: The apostolic age refers to the period in early Christianity when the apostles were alive and actively spreading the gospel, believed to be a time of miraculous events and divine revelation.