The Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit

“The possession of the charismata was confined to the Apostolic age.”

Benjamin B. Warfield, “The Cessation of the Charismata (1918)”

Introduction: A number of theological movements, such as the Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Holiness groups, have as one of their distinctive characteristics a belief that a number of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament are still being given today. In the Pentecostal and charismatic movements, these gifts generally include divine healing and speaking in tongues. With regard to speaking in tongues in particular, some regard it as the “initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit” (Assemblies of God official Web site). At Rediscovering the Bible, we are neither Pentecostal nor Charismatic but instead agree with Warfield’s statement cited above. Our position in general aligns with the position statement of the faculty of Grace Theological Seminary (1976) posted as item one in the table below.