The Healing Promise, A Charismatic Response
Gary S. Greig writes conclusively:
“Signs and wonders” are not in any way restricted to the apostles and their immediate associates… Who among the Corinthians (1 Cor. 12-14) with gifts of healing, miraculous powers, tongues, or prophecy—all “signs” according to Mark 16:17,18 and 1 Cor. 14:22—was an apostle? Who among the Galatians, among whom God worked miracles (Gal. 3:5), was an apostle? Who among the Ephesians and Thessalonians with gifts of prophetic revelation (Eph. 4:11; 1 Thess. 5:20) was an apostle? Which of Philip’s daughters who regularly prophesied in the church at Caesarea (Acts 21:9) was an apostle? How many of the churches in Asia Minor, which 1 Peter 4:10 suggests were fully conversant with all the gifts of the Spirit, were apostles?29
Still, Mayhue wants to insist that healing and other miracles died out with the apostles and that the New Testament contains no expectation of their continuing presence.30
New Testament expectations of continued healing
We are told that in the Letters of Paul “frequency of healing declined with the passing of time.”31 He cites Paul’s illness (Gal. 4:13-14), his affliction (2 Cor. 12:7-10), his failure to heal Epaphroditus (Php. 2:25-30), his recommending Timothy to resort to medicinal help (1 Tim. 5:23) and his failure to heal Trophimus (2 Tim. 4:20) as evidence that healing was diminishing even before the “apostolic age” came to a close. When this is placed beside the paucity of healing in the epistles when compared to the book of Acts, it is easy to see why Mayhue believes that “healing became significantly less noticeable with the passing of time in the apostolic era.”32
In response, we should firstly note that at least five Epistles devote explicit attention to the gifts of the Spirit. Yet, it should hardly surprise us that the epistles devote more space to other themes. Their primary concern is with the purity of the Church and godly living, but we do not thus conclude that the Epistles therefore portray the decline of, for example, evangelism. Walter Bodine notes that, in contrast to frequent exhortations to exercise spiritual gifts, there is not “one express command to verbal witnessing in the Epistles. Does this mean that the writers of the Epistles viewed personal evangelism as an initiating activity, which would cease once the Church was established, or once the New Testament was complete?”34
Secondly, we should note that the presence of sickness in the early Church is hardly evidence that healing was not in operation. We have seen that even Jesus did not heal at will, but only under the direction of the Father and empowering of the Spirit. Why then should we think that Paul had the ability to heal whomever he chose? Epaphroditus, Timothy and Trophimus were not healed miraculously because God apparently chose not to heal them miraculously.35
The fact is that the New Testament expectation of continued healing is in explicit contrast to that of The Healing Promise. In fact, the New Testament consistently points to the time of Christ’s return as the only point at which any of the gifts will cease:36
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-8).
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Cor. 13:8-12)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:16-23).
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:7-11).
With such clear statements as to the continued need of gifts until the return of Christ, what more should we expect from the Epistles?
Category: Spirit, Winter 2005
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