NT PROPHECY AND TONGUES TODAY? and THE CESSATION OF SPECIAL REVELATION

NT PROPHECY AND TONGUES TODAY? AN INTRODUCTION

THREE BASIC POSITIONS

There are basically three positions that are held among Bible-believing 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 canonical-level 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 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 Lloyd-Jones, 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 Scripture-quality special revelation has been completed and has, therefore, ceased.
Minor Premise: NT prophecy and tongues are forms of Scripture-quality special revelation.
Conclusion: Therefore, tongues and prophecy have ceased.

THE CANON IS CLOSED: THE CESSATION OF SPECIAL REVELATION


I believe the gifts of NT prophecy and tongues served an important but provisional role in the founding of the New Covenant community. To establish this thesis I will need to demonstrate two premises: First, scripture-quality revelation has ceased. Second, NT prophecy and tongues are forms of scripture-quality revelation. The first premise, which is the focus of this post, is (generally) affirmed by all parties. This fact is critical in that it clarifies the real point of the debate and helps us to avoid mischaracterizations.1