Theological Question: What are the gifts of the Spirit, and are they for today?

The Question: The New Testament describes "gifts of the Spirit" like prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues. Are these miraculous gifts still active in the church today, or did they cease after the Apostolic Age?

Key Verses & Explanation:

• 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (The Variety and Source of Gifts): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit... To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge... to another faith... to another gifts of healing... to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes them to each one as he determines."

   

  • Explanation: This passage establishes that the Holy Spirit distributes various gifts to build up the church ("as he determines") and that they originate from God. This passage does not explicitly place an expiration date on the gifts.

• 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (The Cessation of Gifts): "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away."

   

  • Explanation: This is the primary verse used by those who believe the miraculous gifts have ceased (Cessationism). The question hinges on the meaning of "the perfect" (to teleion in Greek). Cessationists argue "the perfect" refers to the completion of the New Testament canon, making prophecy and temporary gifts no longer necessary.

• Ephesians 4:11-13 (Gifts for Building Up the Church): "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..."

  • Explanation: This passage (and others) emphasizes the purpose of the gifts: to equip and mature the church until Christ returns. Those who believe the gifts are still active (Continuationism) argue that since the church has not yet reached "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," the gifts intended for building it up must still be operational.

Answer & Conclusion: This is a major area of disagreement in Christianity. Continuationists believe all the gifts are still available because the "perfect" (Christ's return) has not yet come, and the church still needs equipping. Cessationists believe the gifts were temporary signs to confirm the apostles and establish the New Testament, and they ceased when the written revelation (the Bible) was complete.