T
Tulipbee
Guest
Prism, considering the ongoing discussion about spiritual gifts, tongues, and their validity, let's delve into Calvin's perspective on Cessationism using insights from his writings, particularly the Institutes of the Christian Religion.@Fred J The first time I ever used my gift of tongues was shortly after I had hands laid on me and i was baptised in the Spirit.
I began to sing in tongues, a proper song - verse and chorus - and it repeated over and over, the words and the tune. It was wonderful. After a while and without even thinking I started to sing the same song in English - the interpretation. It turned out it was a personal prophecy for my life. I still sing it.
I still pray in tongues and sing in tongues but have never spoken in tongues in a gathering where an interpretation was required. However on forums such as this many people have attempted to tell me that the gift of tongues is no longer valid so I must somehow be spouting gibberish. I choose to tell them the truth, give my own personal testimony and forget about the negativity.
Calvin, in Book IV, Chapter 19, Section 7 of the Institutes, touches upon the topic of spiritual gifts. He emphasizes the temporary nature of certain gifts, stating, "There are those which, from the very moment the church appeared in the world, God was pleased to confer upon it, and which He has never since withdrawn." However, he also acknowledges that other gifts were given for a specific period to confirm the authenticity of the Gospel.
Now, considering the gift of tongues, Calvin, in his interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8, supports the idea that tongues served a particular purpose in the early church and were not intended to be a perpetual manifestation. He writes, "This gift was of short duration, its use having been confined to the first times of the Gospel."
To provide a biblical backing to Calvin's view, we turn to 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (ESV), where Paul states, "Love never ends. 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."
In alignment with Calvin's interpretation, this passage suggests that certain gifts, including tongues, were transitional and would cease with the completion of God's redemptive plan.
So, Prism, as we navigate this theological landscape, Calvin's Cessationist perspective finds support both in his writings and in the Scriptures, emphasizing the temporary nature of certain spiritual gifts.
