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Many Christians are taught that Miracles and Healings and
all the Miraculous gifts of the Apostolic age ceased when the Apostles were gone. Lets
examine the evidence with the help of Grant Jeffery and his painstaking research from early
church history. Grant Jeffery is a wonderfully gifted man of God with great insight into
prophetic things. The link to his web-site is listed under "Christian links" in our
navigational bar but here it is again:
http://www.grantjeffrey.com/
The Mystery of When Miracles and Healing Ceased[From Unveiling
Mysteries of the Bible]
For many Christians one of the greatest mysteries is that the tremendous miracles, healings, and
supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12, which characterized the life
and worship of the early Church, seem to have ceased by the beginning of the second century. Many
theologians have dogmatically asserted that God provided for supernatural miracles and the gifts of
the Holy Spirit only to attract the attention of the pagan world and provide divine authority for
the introduction of the New Testament as God’s inspired revelation. They assert that within a
century of Christ’s resurrection, all miracles and signs had ceased permanently. Many have claimed
that these supernatural signs ceased when the apostles died. Some writers and denominations have
asserted this theory as absolute dogmatic truth and reject even the possibility of genuine
supernatural miracles occurring today.
Several writers have claimed that a search of the writings of the early Church indicates that there
are no references to these "gifts" continuing beyond A.D. 100. However, during the last few years I
have carefully examined the writings of the early Church writers from the time of Christ till the
Council of Nicea in 325 that were collected in a set of ten volumes known as the Ante-Nicene
Library and first published in 1890. After an exhaustive search of these fascinating early
Christian writings, I can confirm that God continued to manifest His supernatural power including
miraculous healings, resurrection from the dead, and demonstrations of charismatic gifts of the
Holy Spirit well beyond the age of the apostles. Further research in the writings of the medieval
Church provide compelling evidence that miracles, though rare, continued to manifest from time to
time in a variety of places as attested by responsible historical authorities.
There are brief references to the prophetic gifts still continuing as reported in the early Church
manual known as the Didache (A.D. 110). "And every prophet teaching the truth, if he doeth not what
he teacheth, is a false prophet. And every prophet approved and found true, if he doeth ought as an
outward mystery typical of the Church, and yet teacheth you not to do all that he himself doeth,
shall not be judged before you; he hath his judgment in the presence of God; for in like manner
also did the prophets of old time.
- Bishop Clement’s Letter to the Corinthians, written by the bishop of Rome (A.D. 100),
refers to the continuing supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. "An abundant outpouring also of
the Holy Spirit fell upon all.
- The Shepherd of Hermas (A.D. 110) also contains a reference to speaking in tongues and
prophecies. "When then the man who hath the divine Spirit cometh into an assembly of righteous
men, who have faith in a divine Spirit, and intercession is made to God by the gathering of
those men, then the angel of the prophetic spirit, who is attached to him, filleth the man, and
the man, being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaketh to the multitude, according as the Lord
willeth.
- In addition, there are numerous significant references to these supernatural gifts
continuing in the life of the early Church in the following centuries.
Irenaeus
The brilliant Christian teacher Irenaeus wrote a treatise against heresies called the
Refutation and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called (A.D. 185) that recorded many
manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and supernatural miracles that still continued
in some churches, including accounts of people being raised from the dead: Some drive out
demons really and truly, so that often those cleansed from evil spirits believe and become
members of the Church; some have foreknowledge of the future, visions, and prophetic
utterances; others, by the laying-on of hands, heal the sick and restore them to health; and
before now, as I said, dead men have actually been raised and have remained with us for many
years. In fact, it is impossible to enumerate the gifts which throughout the world the Church
has received from God and in the name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontius Pilate, and every
day puts to effectual use for the benefit of the heathen, deceiving no one and making profit
out of no one.
- Similarly, we hear of many members of the Church who have prophetic gifts and by the Spirit
speak with all kinds of tongues, and bring men’s secret thoughts to light for their own good,
and expound the mysteries of God.
- Irenaeus also wrote about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Against Heresies: "In like manner
we do also hear many brethren in the church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the
Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden
things of men, and declare the mysteries of God." (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5:6:1)
Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr wrote his Dialogue with Trypho in A.D. 165 and clearly referred to many
supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit appearing in the daily life of the second-century Church.
He wrote, "Daily some of you are becoming disciples in the name of Christ, and quitting the
path of error; who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worthy, illumined through the name
of this Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of
strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of the
fear of God.
- Tertullian
Tertullian was a major theologian and Christian writer ministering in Carthage. In A.D. 215 he
described supernatural visions and prophetic gifts of the Holy Spirit as operating normally in
the third-century Church. "And thus we who both acknowledge and reverence, even as we do the
prophecies, modern visions as equally promised to us, and consider the other powers of the Holy
Spirit as an agency of the Church for which also He was sent, administering all gifts in all,
even as the Lord distributed to every one."
- Origen
Origen was a Christian theologian who lived and taught in Alexandria, Egypt, from A.D. 185 to
254. In his book Against Celsus written in 250, Origen described the gifts of the Holy Spirit
as still continuing in the life of the Church. "Traces of the Holy Spirit who appeared in the
form of a dove are still preserved among Christians. They charm†demons away and perform many
cures and perceived certain things about the future according to the will of the Logos.
- Origen noted that these charismatic gifts were gradually diminishing, although some "traces
of His presence" were still evident. "Moreover, the Holy Spirit gave signs of His Presence at
the beginning of Christ’s ministry, and after His ascension He gave still more; but since that
time these signs have diminished, although there are still traces of His presence in a few who
have had their souls purified by the Gospel and their actions regulated by its influence.
- Novatian
The Christian theologian Novatian (A.D. 270) of Rome wrote a strong defense of the doctrine of
the Trinity and died as a martyr during the second last wave of persecutions by the pagan Roman
emperors. Novatian wrote about the key role of the Holy Spirit in supernaturally empowering the
Church. "they were henceforth armed and strengthened by the same Spirit, having in themselves
the gifts which this same Spirit distributes, and appropriates to the Church, the spouse of
Christ, as her ornaments. This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers,
directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of
spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever
other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all,
perfected and completed.
- St. Augustine
Augustine (354ñ430), bishop of Hippo, was the greatest theologians of the early medieval Church
and systematized much of the theology that governed the teaching of the Western Church for over
a thousand years. Although in his early years Augustine believed that all miracles had ceased
by the end of the lives of the apostles, his view was transformed by the compelling evidence of
many well-attested miracles that occurred during a powerful revival that occurred throughout
the churches of North Africa that were under his supervision. In the last section of his epic
work The City of God, Augustine wrote about numerous miracles that he had personally witnessed
and investigated, including remarkable miraculous healings involving breast cancer, paralysis,
blindness, and even people who were resurrected from the dead. He wrote, "For even now miracles
are wrought in the name of Christ.
- Professor Peter Brown wrote in his book Augustine of Hippo that Augustine carefully
collected the evidence of a variety of supernatural incidents and miracles "until they formed a
single corpus, as compact and compelling as the miracles that had assisted the growth of the
Early Church.
- For example, Augustine reported on a person healed of blindness, "The miracle which was
wrought at Milan when I was there, and by which a blind man was restored to sight, could come
to the knowledge of many; for not only is the city a large one, but also the emperor was there
at the time, and the occurrence was witnessed by an immense concourse of people.
- The Venerable Bede
The great early English Church leader known as the Venerable Bede, the father of English
history, quoted a letter sent by Gregory the Great, the bishop of Rome, in A.D. 601 to
Augustine of Canterbury, a missionary sent from Rome to England. Gregory acknowledges the fact
that miracles were occurring and that they were very effective in drawing the English natives
to faith in Christ: "I know, most loving brother, that Almighty God, by means of your
affection, shows great miracles in the nation which he has chosen. Wherefore it is necessary
that you rejoice with fear, and tremble whilst you rejoice, on account of the same heavenly
gift; viz., that you may rejoice because the souls of the English are by outward miracles drawn
to inward grace.
- Gregory also acknowledged in his letter that Augustine personally had "received the gift of
working miracles.
- Continued Supernatural Miracles
If space permitted, I could quote from a variety of Church authorities over the centuries that
followed who witnessed the continued operation of supernatural miracles. These other sources
include the famous Bernard of Clairvaux (A.D. 1190ñ1153) and Martin Luther (A.D. 1483ñ1546). In
addition, there is overwhelming evidence of supernatural miracles that have occurred during the
last few centuries during the Welsh Revival and remarkable healings and other miracles
witnessed by many reliable sources in the tre mendous growth of the Church around the world in
the last few decades. There are many scriptural promises of Jesus Christ regarding His
continued supernatural empowering of the Church through His Holy Spirit. "For the Father loveth
the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than
these, that ye may marvel" (John 5:20). Jesus promised that His faithful followers would be
able to do "greater works" because He was empowering the Church with His Holy Spirit. "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
In addition, the Scripture declared, "For I am the Lord, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). Since
God does not, and cannot change His nature, it is consistent and logical to believe that He would
continue to manifest His supernatural power of miracles among His people from time to time to
demonstrate His continued divine nature and mercy to humanity. Therefore, it is not surprising that
our generation, which has witnessed the fulfillment of more remarkable prophecies than any other
generation in history, should also witness extraordinary supernatural displays of God’s providence,
including miracles of healing.
Notes
1. The Didache 11:10-11. Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1987).
2. Clement, Letter to the Corinthians 2:2. Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
3. Shepherd of Hermas 43:9. Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1987).
4. Irenaeus, Refutation and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called, Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols.
(Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
5. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5:6:1, Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1987).
6. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, chapter XXXIX. Ante-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
7. Origen, Against Celsus, Book I, Chap. XLVI, 2, 8. Post-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
8. Origen, Against Celsus, Book VII, Chapter. VIII. Post-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
9. Novatian, A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity, Chapter XXIX, section 251. Post-Nicene
Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
10. Augustine, The City of God, Book 22, Chapter 8. Post-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
11. Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967) 415.
12. Augustine, The City of God, Book 22, Chapter 8. Post-Nicene Library 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
13. The Venerable Bede, Ecclesiastical History of England, Chapter 31, trans. J. A. Giles (London:
George Bell & Sons, 1900) 57.
14. The Venerable Bede, Ecclesiastical History of England, Chapter 31, trans. J. A. Giles (London:
George Bell & Sons, 1900) 57.
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