CESSATIONALISM

 

WHICH ALL GIFTS HAVE CEASED TO EXIST?

(A summarised article of the position defended by Samuel E. Waldron)

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Summary

1. There are No Apostles of Christ on Earth today
2. There are no Living Prophets on earth today
3. There are no Tongue Speakers on earth today

There are No Apostles of Christ on Earth Today

The term “apostles of Christ” is to be distinguished from missionaries, aka “apostles of the churches,” which is a different office. Only “apostles of Christ” are no longer among us.

Example: Philippians 2:25: “I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus …. your messenger [literally means “your apostle”]”

Let us call the “Apostles of Christ” as 1st category apostles, while the apostles of the churches as 2nd category apostles.

To be an Apostle of Christ was itself a gift to the church, and the foremost of the gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; Ephesians 4:8-11 – Christ gave gifts to men, among them apostles.

1 Corinthians 12:27-30: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.”

This is a reference to the Apostles of Christ (1st category) for the following reasons:

1. The context of 1 Corinthians 12 demands it.

   1 Corinthians 12:12, 13: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

   This is referring to the universal church. The thought of universal church as the Christ’s body can be seen in 12:14-26 (at least 12 times). The mention of “Christ’s body” in v 12:28, 29 have to be seen in this context.

2. The phrase “first apostles, second prophets” reminds of the order of importance of these gifts. This language recalls that of Ephesians 2:20: “foundation of the apostles and prophets” and is another indication that it is about the 1st category Apostles.

3. Usage of the word apostle in 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 9:1,2, 5; 1 Corinthians 15:7, 9. In each instance, 1st category apostles are in view. I think that the word apostle is well known to the Corinthians and were not ambiguous to what they refer. Its references in Gospel and Acts also points to this.

Ephesians 2:20: “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone”

This is also a reference to the 1st category apostles for the following reasons:

1. The immediate context

   Ephesians were once “alienated from the commonwealth of Israel” (2:12) and “strangers to the covenants of promise” (2:12). But in Christ, “they were brought near”. In Christ, they are “no longer strangers and aliens, but … are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (2:19) In this context, the saints refers to the old testament saints (from whom the Ephesians were said to be alienated and strangers in v 2:12). This demands that “the household of God” (2:19), “the whole structure”, “holy temple” (2:21) is the universal church of God which constitutes of every one (including OT saints etc.). Apostles are then said to be the foundation of this entity (the universal church). Therefore, the reference is to the 1st category apostles.

2. The imagery of Revelation 21:14 also confirm this: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

Ephesians 4:8-11: “*Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,    and he gave gifts to men.”…..And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers ***to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”

Here also, 1st category apostles is being referred. This will be demonstrated in a moment when answering an objection from continuationalists.

To be an apostle of Christ, there were three distinguishing marks:

1. Directly appointed by Christ (Mark 3, Luke 6, Acts 1:2, Acts 10:41, Galatians 1:1). That’s why the lot was used (Acts 1:26).
2. Physical eyewitnesses of the Resurrected Jesus (Acts 1:22, 1 Corinthians 9:1)
3. They are able to confirm their apostolate by doing miracles (2 Corinthians 12:12).

The apostles of Christ spoke authoritatively for Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 14:37).

What the Apostles taught are not just words of men, but are the “command of the Lord”. Rejecting the Apostle’s teaching is tantamount to rejecting the words of the Lord himself.

There are at least four reasons we know from Scripture that the Apostlate ceased:

1. Ephesians 2:20 - The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, which alludes to Revelation 21:14. The analogy implies that the apostles and prophets were confined to the foundational period of church history.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:8 - Paul “last of all” was the last one to see the risen Christ. And since being a physical eyewitness to the risen Christ is one of the marks of an apostle, Paul is the last apostle.

3. 1 Corinthians 14:1 indicate that Christians cannot seek the gift of Apostle of Christ – the greatest gift they could seek was prophecy, even though apostleship was identified as a gift.

   1 Corinthians 14:1: “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”

4. Ephesians 2:20- This passage describes the form of the New Testament as “apostles and prophets.” If there were apostles and prophets today, the canon would be open, as those apostles/prophets continued to speak authoritatively (”command of the Lord”; 1 Cor. 14:37). But Charismatics (nearly all) recognize that the canon is closed, therefore they ought to recognize that the apostlate is also closed.

An Objection by Continuationalists: Ephesians 4:8-11 is not referring to the 1st category apostles because then it would be inconsistent to say that evangelists, pastor-teacher gifts continue while apostle, prophet gifts do not continue.

Ephesians 4:8-11: “*Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,    and he gave gifts to men.”…..And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers ***to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”

Response:

• It need not be inconsistent. It is because, the fruits of the ministry of 1st category apostles is still with us. In that sense their ministry still continues. But they are not physically with us today. The fruit of their ministry (the written commands of the Lord) cannot be ceased until their goal is met (which shall only be fulfilled at the Second Coming): “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12, 13). The wrong assumption is that, in order for a gift to be useful throughout the church period, that person with the gift should be physically present throughout the church period. Bible does not support that assumption.
• The apostles and prophets are the foundation of the universal church. As such, their physical presence is limited to the foundational period of the church. But the fruits of their ministry are not limited to that period.
• See also Ephesians 3:5: “which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Again the same phrase “apostles and prophets” is used. Again, they are receiving the foundational revelations that is needed for this whole church era.

Compare the passages:

| Ephesians 2:20   | “foundation of the apostles and prophets” | | --- | --- | | 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 | “first apostles, second prophets” | | Ephesians 3:5 | “his holy apostles and prophets” | | Ephesians 4:8-11 | “he gave the apostles, the prophets….” |

Implications:

1. Therefore, to be an Apostle of Christ was itself a gift to the church, and the foremost of the gifts.
2. the foremost gift (that of the Apostlate) ceased.
3. If we believe this (which we should), we are in one sense “cessationalists”.

There are No Prophets on Earth Today

Definition of Prophecy

Whatever may be the nature of prophecy (be it predicting, warning, correcting etc.), it has been defined by God in the Old Testament. Prophecy didn’t begin in the NT. It had a long precedence and was strictly regulated in the OT.

• Prophet is the very mouth of God (Exod. 4:10-17; Exod. 7:1-2). God put “his words” in the mouth of the prophet (Dt. 18:18). The prophet is the mouth piece of God. It is God who is speaking when the prophet is prophesying. That is why prophets started their message by saying “Thus saith the Lord”. Dt. 18:19: “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name….”.
• Authority of a prophet: Everyone has no option but to obey the words of the prophet because it is the voice of God: “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.”(Dt. 19:19). It is a sin not to listen to a prophet.
• The fact that a prophet is the mouth of God requires that the prophecy shall be 100% correct (infallible). One mistaken prophecy is enough for one to be a false prophet. (Dt. 18:22).
• Canonicity of OT Prophecy: If something is prophetic, it is also canonical. Because prophet is the mouth of God and is speaking the infallible word of God. And that word has to be the standard (canon) of God’s people. If something is prophetic, it is the standard (canon).
• Were those writings were preserved by the providence of God, they became part of the Old Testament Scriptures. Because by definition, prophecies were canonical. That is why in Matthew 5:17; Matthew 7:12; 11:13; Romans 3:21, Old Testament is referred to as “law and prophets”

This definition of prophecy has not been revoked in the New Testament.

Reasons to believe that there are no living prophets of God today

1. NT Prophets like the Apostles were foundational to the New Testament church. (Ephesians 2:20)
2. Definition of Prophet in Deuteronomy 13 & 18 was never rescinded (revoked), and this requires infallibility. So, if you say that there are prophets in the church today, then you have to admit that those prophets are canonical. And what they say should by rightly added to the Bible. If we are not willing to do that, then we should not say that there are prophets in the church today. OR. You have to say that NT prophecy is somehow very different than OT prophecy and say that OT prophecy was infallible and NT prophecy not.
3. Just as the OT’s authority is summarized as “the prophetic word” (2 Peter 1:19-21) and its form is also described in about a dozen NT references to “the law and the prophets” or “Moses and the prophets”, so also the NT’s canon is summarized in Ephesians 2:20 as “apostles and prophets” (the prophets in question are NT prophets as seen in Ephesians 3:5; 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28).

Let me summarise. These are the reasons why I believe that there are not living prophets in the church today:

1. Prophecy is by definition canonical and the biblical canon is closed.
2. I cannot get Scriptural evidence that indicates that NT prophecy is different in nature than OT one.
3. OT Canon is described as “the law and the prophets” or “Moses and the prophets”. Likewise, the NT’s canon is summarized in Ephesians 2:20 as “apostles and prophets” (see also Ephesians 3:5). They are the foundation of the NT church. And the living prophets were present in that foundational period. That gift could be desired when 1 Corinthians 14 was written because canon was not closed then. But once it was closed, so does the desire for prophecy. But the fruits of their ministry (that is, their prophecy) are still with us.

There are No Tongue-Speakers Today because Tongues was a form of prophecy. Therefore, if there are no living prophets today, there are also no living tongue-speakers today

1. Acts 2 tongue speaking is explained by reference to Joel 2, where it is described as prophecy. Compare Acts 2:4 and Acts 2:15-17

   Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”

   Acts 2:15-17: “For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”

   What Peter is saying is this: The prophecy of Joel that “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28) was fulfilled when “they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Acts 2 tongue speaking is explained by reference to Joel 2, where it is described as prophecy. This implies that the tongue speaking was a form of prophesying.

2. 1 Corinthians 14:5 asserts the equivalence of the two gifts, if tongues is interpreted.

   1 Corinthians 14:5: “The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”

   This implies that when the tongue is interpreted, it is equivalent to prophecy. And is infallible.

For these reasons, if there are no living prophets today, there are also no living tongue-speakers today.

An Objection by Continuationalists: The NT says tongues can be used to edify himself (1 Cor. 14:2).

The context makes plain that tongues are only a gift for the edifying of the church if there is translation/interpretation. Without translation only God understands and only you yourself may be edified. Paul's point is the necessity of translation if tongues are spoken in church.

Paul's point is not that we can use tongues for private edification. His point is that gifts are given for the edification of the church and any use of them in such a way as does not benefit the church is illicit.

1 Peter 4:10: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Pet. 4:10 NAU);

1 Cor. 12:7: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

1 Cor. 12:28: “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”

Summary

The argument put forward by Samuel E. Waldron is known as the Cascade Argument.

The Cascade Argument was augmented by a dilemma as to the first point: if they accept the point, then they are at least cessationists in some form, since the first and greatest gift no longer exists; whereas if charismatics want to assert that there are living apostles of Christ today, then they are denying a clear New Testament teaching. Additionally, if such apostles exist today, then they have the same authority/infallibility that the original apostles had.

As the second step of the argument, it was proved that there are no living prophets on earth today.

Then, it was shown that there are no tongue speakers today.

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Recommended for reading/listening:

Samuel E. Waldron. To be Continued? Are the Miraculous gifts for today.

Samuel E. Waldron. Charismatic Gifts Today? [YouTube], 3 Sessions.

    Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjPf8HsBMls

    Session 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1rQvmsq5PE&t=3497s

    Session 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3CnAEIh8YQ&t=2814s