In case you haven’t guessed, I’m a firm cessationist. In this entry on continuationism, I’ve included a few links that make the positive case for it, even though I am not at all convinced by them. For counter arguments, see the entry on cessationism.
continuationism
The view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (healing, tongues, prophetic revelations) continue after theapostolic age, and are available for the believer today.
- Scripture used to support continuationism (see Wayne Grudem’s argument below):
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. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV)
- From Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem:
[W]e have in 1 Corinthians 13:10 a definite statement about the time of the cessation imperfect gifts like prophecy; they will “be made useless” or “pass away” when Christ returns. And this would imply that they will continue to exist and be useful for the church, throughout the church age, including today, and right up to the day when Christ returns. Learn more:
- Sam Storms: The Case for Continuationism
- Tim Challies: Cessationism and Continuationism: An Interview with Dr. Wayne Grudem, Part 1, Part 2
- Ian Hamilton/Wayne Grudem: A Debate on the Continuation of Prophesy
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