The Miracles of the First Century ~ Part One
By Bob W. Lovelace
An inquirer asks:
Does God still do miracles today through men of God and apostles?
Introduction: Such questions stem from, I’m convinced,
people’s awareness that the so-called “miracles” performed by faith healers
today are obviously the works of frauds. They can see that their so-called
miracles are not of the same nature as those recorded in the New Testament. The
request asks if the New Testament miracles performed by men came to an end?
Part One: The Purpose of Miracles
I. Concerning the Purpose of the
Miracles, Mark 16:15-20
Mark 16:15-20,
"And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover. [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them,
he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they
went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
New Testament
miracles confirmed (validated) the spoken word as coming from God (Mk. 16:20). That Word has been
confirmed. John 20:30-31 states that the miracles are recorded in the written
word in order to produce belief today in Jesus as the Son of God, “And many other
signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written
in this book: [31] But these are WRITTEN (emphasis mine, BL), that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.” The confirmation is seen in such passages as Heb.
2:4, "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with
divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit..." The need stated in Mark
16:17 for those who preach to have accompanying signs in order that those who
hear might know that the Word is indeed God’s no longer exists. We have God's
word in the inspired text! Miracles were necessary in the first century because
the apostles and others who preached, such as Philip
the evangelist, did not have the written New Testament to begin with as we
have. They first spoke God’s word “orally” before it began to be written in the
inspired text which was completed some time in the first century.
These signs and wonders produced
belief or faith. When we read about the signs Jesus performed we believe in His
deity (John 20:30-31). To
those who saw the signs Jesus said, "If I do not do the works of My
Father, do not believe Me; [38] but if I do them, though you do not believe Me,
believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me,
and I in the Father" (John 10:37-38). In the same way, those who lived in
the first century and saw the signs the Apostles’ performed “believed” that
their message was from God. When the proconsul of the island of Paphos saw the miracle Paul
performed on Elymas, he believed the word was from
God (Acts 13:11-12). Today
faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).
II. The duration of the miracles
Christians performed, I Cor. 13:8-10
Paul
taught on the duration of the biblical miracles in 1 Cor. 13:8-10,
I Corinthians 13:8-10,
"Charity never faileth: but whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."
I Corinthains 13:8 shows a limited
duration for spiritual gifts,
After the death of the Apostles
the miraculous gifts would come to an end. Here "prophecies" (one
gift), "tongues" (another gift), and "knowledge" (another
gift) are used to teach about the end of all the "gifts." You may see
a complete list of the spiritual gifts in I Cor. 12: 7-10.
"Knowledge" in I Cor. 13:8 is the gift known as "the word of
knowledge" and does not mean that man would not have God's Word after the
gifts ceased, for God has seen to it that we have the completed WRITTEN
revelation of His will in the New Testament (read 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The three words Paul used in
stating the limited duration of spiritual gifts help queerest find, and understand, the answer they are looking for. The words are
"fail," "cease," and "vanish away." Prophecies
would “fail.” Tongues (speaking in tongues, i.e. languages as a miraculous
gift) would “cease.” And Knowledge (directly inspired by the Holy Spirit) would
“vanish away.”
I Corinthains 13:9 gives a time when
that which is “in part” would be done away,
I Corinthians 13:9,
"[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when
that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done
away."
"In part" refers to the
various "parts" listed in I Cor. 12:8-10. There Paul lists nine
spiritual gifts, including “knowledge” and “prophecy.” Of course “tongues”
(various languages) were a means of speaking God’s Word. For the convenience of
our study here is the list of spiritual gifts. Note: I've put in bold type
three of these gifts which were referred to by Paul in the passages above.
1 Cor. 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
[8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [9] To another faith by the same
Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [10] To another the
working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of
spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues: [11] But all these worketh
that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The church at Corinth had all the spiritual gifts! Where is
the local church today that while claiming to have "tongues" (they
actually use a gibberish that is nothing more than just putting syllables
together to make various noises) would dare to make such a claim as to have all
nine of these? They do not have the miraculous gifts therefore they cannot make
such a claim. In the first century knowledge was revealed to inspired men “in
part,” i.e. portioned out as needed, and men prophesied “portions” of the truth
necessary and applicable to their immediate circumstances. For example a
prophet would speak to the church for the edification of all (Cor. 14:3, 4).
Tongues (the spiritual gift of) were to be used as a “sign” to the unbeliever
who might come into their assembly and thus hear one speak in his own language
(I Cor. 14:22; compare
Acts 2:6-11). Should one speak in a “tongue,“ i.e. in a foreign language then
it was to be by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching in
order that it might be profitable (I Cor. 14:6). Moreover, Paul tells them that
the “tongue” (language) must be understood by all ( I
Cor. 14:9,11, 16, 19). Thus, the necessity of having it “interpreted” was
enjoined upon those with this gift so that all present would understand, and be
edified by what had been said (I Cor. 14: 5, 27-28). Paul made plain the
necessity of interpreting the “tongues” so that what was spoken (“in part”)
would be understood by all present! Concerning the gift of prophecy Paul said,
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (I Cor. 14:29). The word “judge” means
discriminate, to pass judgment upon. To aid in their discriminating as to the
authenticity of the word and reliability of the individual, some possessed the
gift of “discerning of spirits” (I Cor. 12:10).
This was a necessary spiritual gift that enabled them to vindicate whether the
one who had spoken was truly a prophet of God speaking with the pure motive of
edifying the body (Compare I John 4:1). This period of knowing and prophesying
“in part” had it checks and balances lest a false teacher come in and take
advantage of them! (Cp. I John 4:1; 2 John: 7) Paul
says that which was “in part” would cease to exist was when “that which is
perfect is come.”
An
explanation of “that which is perfect”
In referring to "that which
is perfect" Paul makes mention of what is taught in James 1:25, "But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." We have today
"the perfect law of liberty" which is the completed New Testament
(the Gospel of Christ) that sets us free from sin. In describing the will of
Christ as the “perfect law” James gives emphasis to it being “complete.“ The word "perfect" means
"completeness" (Strong‘s Help). Notice that James says that they had
the completed revelation, and they could look into it and continue in it.
Today, you and I have the assurance that all Scripture (that which is written
by inspiration) thoroughly equips us unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Note exactly what 2 Tim.
3:16-17 teaches, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: [17] That the man of God MAY BE PERFECT
(emphasis mine, BL), thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Elsewhere
Paul speaks of all who would “come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ“ (Eph. 4:13). The “unity of the faith“
is the complete revelation of God’s will as recorded in the New
Testament. It is the “one faith“ spoken of in
Ephesians 4:5. This “one faith“ was eventually
recorded, i.e. written down in scripture by some inspired apostles and some
prophets in the first century.
With the completed revelation
there would be no need for revelation to be made in "part" by
inspired men at various places and times as it was when Paul discussed
spiritual gifts in I Corinthians chapters 12-14. Such "in part"
revelation was necessary at the beginning of the church. To begin with they did
not carry the Bible, i.e. the New Testament around in book form as we do. They
first "spoke" God's Word and then gradually it was written down.
Notice Peter’s statement in 2 Peter 3:1-2,“This second epistle, beloved, I now
WRITE (emphasis mine, BL) unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by
way of remembrance: [2] That ye may be mindful of the words which WERE SPOKEN (emph. mine, BL) before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:"
What was first spoken orally was in time written and left for us for all time
until the end of time. Today we test whether one is speaking the truth by what
is written in God’s inspired word that is able to furnish us completely to
every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).
The apostles (see Matt. 10:2-4)
including Paul, Rom. 1:1, and Matthias, Acts 1:26,
but excluding Judas who betrayed the Lord, Acts 1:15-20, are in heaven.
Prophecy has ceased with the death of the apostles and inspired prophets who
lived in the first century. Today among those mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 whom Christ gave for equipping
the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying, protection and growth of
the body of Christ (see Eph. 4:11-13)
the church here on earth retains evangelists (preachers), pastors (also called
elders, overseers, shepherds) and teachers. But none today have the miraculous
spiritual gifts! Preachers preach the Word just as commanded in 2 Tim. 4:1-5.
Bishops (also called elders, overseers, shepherds) qualifications are recorded
in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10. Notice the necessity enjoined upon elders
being “able to teach” God’s word (2 Tim. 3:2). An elder must be “holding fast
the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may
be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convict those who contradict.
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talker and
deceivers, especially those of the circumcision” (Titus 1:9-10). Deacons
are mentioned in I Timothy 3:8-13 along with the qualifications for the elders.
What
Paul is not talking about in I Corinthians 13:10,
In I Cor. 13:10 Paul is not
talking about the Second Coming of Christ for that is not the subject matter of
the context. A discussion of spiritual gifts, their proper purpose (function)
and duration begins in I Cor. 12:1 with, "Now concerning spiritual gifts,
brethren I would not want you to be ignorant." This discussion continues
from chapter 12:1 thru chapter 14 and there is much to learn in these three
chapters!
The
“partial” was done away with when the perfect came,
Miraculous gifts were given to
others through the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-19). In the city of Samaria only Philip was preaching and
performing miracles in order to confirm that the message was from God (Acts
8:4-8). Philip is the one mentioned in Acts 6:3,5 as
one full of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the miracles was to confirm that
the message was God’s (see Mk. 16:20).
You learn from Acts 8 that only the Apostles had the power to lay their hands
on others and give them the Holy Spirit (the ability to perform spiritual gifts,
miracles, etc.). Look at what Simon “saw”: Acts 8:18-19, “And when Simon SAW (emph.
mine, B.L.) that through laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me
also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Ghost.” While others than Philip were now Christians as a result of their
belief and baptism (Acts 8:12-13;
Cp. 18:8), though being Christians they did not have the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). The purpose of sending two
Apostles, Peter and John, to Samaria
was so that they (the apostles) could lay their hands on them and thus impart
to them the spiritual gifts! The apostles are all dead and there is no one with
this power left on earth today. This is why Paul taught what he did in I Cor.
13:8-10. Sometime after the death of the last apostle and also the deaths of
those upon whom the apostles laid their hands the miraculous gifts “failed,”
“ceased,” and “vanish” just as Paul taught they would! No one today has the
gift of prophecy and of working miracles! When one tells me today that their
church has the gift of prophecy then I ask them what they think that they have
to tell me that God has not already stated in the completed written word (2
Tim. 3:16-17; Jude 3)? All of their so called prophesy that I have ever heard
is nothing more than just making up some stuff and it is verbose at that. It
would be comparable to being told that the Catholic church’s
latest proclamation of what Mary has “supposedly” spoken from heaven should be
believed as having taken place!
PLEASE NOTE: For further study
I have listed miracles you find recorded in the book of Acts. See "Miracles
of the New Testament Part Two." There are several of these and I ask
you to consider carefully their “nature” in contrast to the supposed miraculous
works of faith healers today.
Bob W. Lovelace
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