The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Edgar's Article on Cessationism (Spiritual Gifts)

Hello John,
I hope you'll forgive me jumping in at the beginning of this thread, but I wanted to take issue with your very first post rather than coming in at the end of your very interesting discussion with Robin.

Perhaps I may list a few questions and/or suggestions for you:-

1. Is it not possible that the Corinthian church might be practising 'gifts' that were applicable for it at the the time, but would later be discontinued?

2. Can you think of any miraculous gifts or signs that were given to God's Old Covenant people at the very first but then discontinued? If you can, why should God not give similar miraculous gifts to His infant Church which would later be discontinued?

3. As I think Robin has pointed out, the word translated 'perfect' in 1Cor 13 (teleios) can also mean 'mature'as it does in 14:20. If we take that as the meaning in 13:10, it helps explain the meaning of v11. The Corintians were not to cling to the things that pertained to childhood, but to prepare themselves to the more challenging things of manhood.

4. It might be interesting to look at all the times that the Greek words charisma pneumatikon come up in Scripture and then see what the context is.

Blessings,

Steve Owen