Did the Gifts of the Holy Spirit cease when the Bible was Completed?

"But where there are prophecies, they will fail; where there are tongues, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." - 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

I have often heard it alleged that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, first imparted on the day of Pentecost immediately following Christ's resurrection, ceased to function among believers once the canon of scripture was finally completed. Paul's comments in 1 Corinthians 13 regarding "that which is in part" being "done away" when "that which is perfect has come" are often cited as providing a scriptural basis for this argument. In the following article, I will examine this passage in light of that allegation.

The Context

First Corinthians 13 is the famous and oft-quoted "love chapter" of the New Testament. It appears in the midst of a lengthy teaching by the apostle Paul on the proper use of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, and is intended to demonstrate that the gifts do not matter as much as the motivation that underlies their use. From what we can gather in the overall context of the epistle, the congregation at Corinth was characterized by self-indulgence, and it is almost certain that there was some pride and showmanship involved in the use of the gifts among the believers there.

For this reason, Paul admonishes his readers that even though the gifts are good and believers should desire them, they must remember that all things - including the use of supernatural gifts - are worthless unless they are based in love. Love is superior to the gifts, Paul says, and will endure after the gifts have ceased to operate: "when that which is perfect has come."

Paul then continues in verses 11 and following:

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child: I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a mirror dimly: but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part: but then I will know even as I am known. And now abides faith, hope and love, even these three: but the chiefest of these is love."

Defining Terms


To understand what Paul is saying here, we need to be sure we understand the terms he is using.

"But where there are prophecies, they will fail."

The word translated "fail" here in English is the Greek word katargeo. Strong's defines it as meaning, among other things: "to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively: - abolish, cease...destroy, do away...become (make) of no (none, without) effect...make void." The connotation here is the removal of something that is useless. An example of katargeo used in this manner is Luke 13:7: "Then he said unto the caretaker of his vineyard, 'Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why does it use up (katargeo) the ground?'"

Clearly, Paul is saying that supernatural prophesying will eventually be done away with because it will become useless.

"...where there are tongues, they will cease..."

"Cease" is translated from the Greek verb pauo, which Strong's defines as meaning: "to stop...restrain, quit, desist, come to an end." Here, the verb appears in the middle voice, which, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary, indicates this meaning: "to come to an end, to take one's rest, a willing cessation." Thus, Paul is telling us that tongues will indeed come to an end. Beyond this, however, the Greek usage seems to indicate that they will cease voluntarily, meaning that those speaking in tongues will eventually no longer wish to continue doing so.

"...where there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

"Vanish away" is translated from katargeo, just as "fail" was, indicating that the gifts referred to as "words of knowledge" or "words of wisdom" will end due to the fact that they will no longer serve any useful purpose.

So, yes, it's indisputable that Paul is telling us that the supernatural gifts, exemplified here by prophecy, tongues, and supernatural knowledge (all revelation gifts), will eventually come to an end. The question then becomes: when?

"For we know in part and we prophesy in part."

The Greek word translated as "in part" is meros. In the New Testament, this word is often translated as "part" or "portion," and is used in reference to a section of a greater whole. Examples of this usage include Matthew 16:13: "When Jesus came into the coasts (or "parts") of Caesarea Philippi...", and Luke 15:12: "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of your estate that I am to inherit."

Thus, Paul is saying that supernatural knowledge and prophecy represent only a portion of something greater.

At this point, it's useful to go back to chapter 12, where Paul began his discussion of spiritual gifts, and to focus in on these verses in particular:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ... - 1 Corinthians 12:4-8,11-12

In chapter 12, Paul compares the "body of Christ," which is composed of all believers, to the human body in that it has many different parts, all of which have different forms and functions but are important to the whole person. In the same way, the body of Christ is made up of different "members," which have different functions assigned to them by the Holy Spirit and yet work together for the good of the whole body.

Given this context, I believe that Paul's reference to knowing and prophesying "in part" means that the Holy Spirit has apportioned certain aspects of knowledge and prophecy to certain individuals, as it seemed good to him. Not all revelation knowledge, but a portion.

Comparison and Contrast

"But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away."

The Greek word translated "perfect" here is teleios. Strong's defines this word as meaning: "complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental or moral character, etc)..." Examples of its usage in scripture include:

Matthew 5:48: "Therefore you will be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." 

Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." 

1 Corinthians 14:20: "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature." (ESV) 

Ephesians 4:13: "Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness." (HCSB) 

James 1:4: "And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

"Perfect," as Paul uses it here in 1 Corinthians 13:10, implies completeness in the sense of maturity. This is immediately underscored for us by what Paul says next:

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child: I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

The phrase "put away" here is translated from katargeo, which, as we saw previously, can mean to do away with something that is no longer needed or serves no useful purpose. Mature adults do not act or think as children do, because they have reached a stage of development where their previous behavior is no longer appropriate or advantageous to them. Adults dispense with childish thoughts in favor of mature thinking.

Paul then draws another comparison for the purpose of illustration:

"For now we see through a mirror dimly: but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part: but then I will know even as I am known."

"Dimly" is translated from two Greek words: en, which is often translated as "in," and ainigma, which refers to something that is obscure or enigmatic. Thayer's Greek Lexicon notes that the word as used in this passage "denotes the object in the discerning of which we are engaged." It seems fitting then to ask: what are we engaged in discerning?. 

I believe the apostle Paul gives us the answer in Hebrews chapter 5:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern between good and evil. - Hebrews 5:12-14

We are in the business of discerning between good and evil, between that which is in conformity with the will of God and that which is not.

Paul tells the Corinthians that, at present, we discern such matters "dimly...as through a mirror," by the partial revelation knowledge that has been given to us. In Paul's day, mirrors were made of solid metal. The reflections they provided were often dim and murky in comparison to their modern counterparts. Paul has this imperfect likeness in mind when he goes on to say: "but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part: but then I will know even as I am known." 

The apostle is offering us a classic comparison/contrast here. He compares our present spiritual understanding to the dim reflections provided by ancient mirrors, and then goes on to say that, "when that which is perfect has come," we will no longer see dimly, as if we were using one of those mirrors, but rather, as clearly as we see people when we look at them face-to-face. Paul had never actually seen a clear reflection of himself, or at least not as clearly as other people could see him; but when the perfection he speaks of at last comes, he says that he will "see" ("I will know") just as clearly as people see one another ("...even as I am known" - that is, seen by others). In other words, this perfection will bring full spiritual enlightenment rather than just the snatches of insight we must settle for in our imperfect state.

So what then is this "perfection" that Paul is speaking of?

I believe we can discern this from the context, especially as we remember that 1 Corinthians 13 is something of a parenthetical thought in the midst of Paul's discussion of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. Consider the following:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...for even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ...But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12, 24-26

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophecies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. - 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church...I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue...Let all things be done for edification...Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. - 1 Corinthians 14:12, 18-19

Again, we see that the context in which Paul speaks of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, with emphasis on the gifts of revelation, is that of edification: building up the body of Christ, which is accomplished when the gifts are exercised in brotherly love, for the good of the whole. We also saw that Paul said that the gifts would eventually cease when they were no longer needed.

The implication here is that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit will not cease until the body of Christ has reached full health and maturity, since this is the purpose for which the gifts were given; and when this aim has been attained, they will no longer be necessary.

In Ephesians 4, we find very similar language to what we have seen in 1 Corinthians 12-14:

And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. - Ephesians 4:11-16

Again, we see mention of Christ giving gifts for the purpose of building up the body, until it reaches unity and maturity in "the knowledge of the Son of God."

So when will this happen?

We can answer this question by breaking down the elements that Paul lays out for us. He says that the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is:

• To equip the saints for the work of service.
• To build up the body of Christ until we all attain:
• To the unity of the faith.
• To  the knowledge of the Son of God.
• To a mature man.
• To the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Ask yourself the following: 

• When will the saints be done with their work of service?
• When we will all attain to the unity of the faith, to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, and to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ as a corporate body of believers?

Scripture testifies indisputably that these things will not take place for the entire body of Christ until he returns to set up his kingdom.

In Hebrews 4:9, Paul tells us: "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God [meaning the Millennial Kingdom]. For the one who enters His rest has himself also rested from his works." In Revelation 3:11, Jesus tells the church at Philadelphia: "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown." In Revelation 14:13, a voice from heaven announces the following in regard to saints who have been killed for refusing the Mark of the Beast: "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.'"

A believer's earthly service for the Lord ends only with his or her death, or with the coming of the Kingdom. Why then should gifts that were given to the body for the completion of the work expire before the work is complete? Paul says that the gifts were designed so that we might all attain. We know that the body will go right on growing until Christ returns; therefore, it only makes sense that the gifts that were designed to bring the entire body to perfection must continue until the entire body is completely assembled. How can we all attain if we're not all here yet? The book of Revelation refers to "a great multitude" that will "come out of great tribulation" (see chapter 7), and in chapter 19, when heaven is opened and the Lord returns with his angels, we're told that the bride "has made herself ready." It is therefore evident that the corporate body of Christ will not be complete and ready for the Marriage of the Lamb until the time of his second coming.

Further, consider what the apostle John says in 1 John 3:2-3: "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when he appears, we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is."

With this in mind, how is it possible to attain "to the knowledge of the Son of God" entirely in his absence, since John tells us we will not be like him until we see him?

Indeed, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in such a way as to indicate that he expected spiritual gifts to continue until the coming of the Lord:

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were in enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 1:4-7

This passage does not specifically address the duration of the gifts, but it does strongly imply that Paul expected the gifts to continue functioning until the coming of the Lord. And while some might argue that the gifts referenced here are not necessarily supernatural gifts, but could be other types of gifts (such as teaching or helps), note that, immediately prior to mentioning the gifts, Paul says that the "testimony of Christ" was confirmed in the Corinthians. Keep this in mind as you read the next section and see if the connection between the gifts and the confirmation of Christ at work in the Corinthian church does not take on a particular significance.

For these reasons, I am persuaded that supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit passing away in favor of "that which is perfect," as discussed in 1 Corinthians 13, is a reference to the unity and maturity that the entire body of Christ will attain when he returns to set up his kingdom. The gifts were given to aid in our service to the Lord's work, and for building up the body. Until these things are complete, the gifts will remain to aid us.

Why "that which is perfect" cannot be the Scriptures

I believe the evidence we have seen here convincingly demonstrates what Paul had in mind when he referred to "that which is perfect." The context, as well as parallel passages, demands that it is the full maturity of the body of Christ, not the completion of the canon of scripture. Still, there are a few other reasons to believe that Paul did not have the scriptures in mind here:

First, he does not discuss the scriptures beyond quoting from Isaiah 28:11-12 in 1 Corinthians 14:21, where one of the purposes of tongues in concerned (as a sign to unbelievers, just as can be seen in the events of Pentecost, see Acts 2). Again, the context here is the supernatural gifts aiding in the edification and maturing of the body of Christ, not serving as a supplement for missing books of the Bible. The apostles used both the written word and the supernatural gifts in their ministry, just as Jesus had done in his own preaching:

"And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed." - Mark 16:20

"The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles." - II Corinthians 12:12

"...how will we escape is we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his own will." - Hebrews 2:3-5

"Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of his grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands." - Acts 14:3

"...for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction..." - 1 Thessalonians 1:5

"I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 

The New Testament pattern is the supernatural gifts manifesting as a testimony to the truth of the Word of God. It is not an either/or proposition. The gifts and the Word compliment one another in the proclaiming of the gospel message. Indeed, Jesus was the living, breathing Word of God, yet his preaching was still accompanied by miraculous signs. Consider that Jesus once remarked to his disciples: "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." (John 14:11). Was Jesus unjustly downplaying the Word here (his own teachings) in favor of the miraculous signs?

Second, we should reflect that, for the most part, the New Testament books are letters of exhortation and rebuke to the various churches that the apostles had established and taught. It is readily apparent from them that much of what is said in them was designed to underscore what the churches had already been taught, thereby calling the disciples to faithfulness. Witness how Paul, while writing to the Thessalonians about the events prior to the coming of the Lord, says to them: "Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?" (II Thessalonians 2:5). He was recapitulating what they had already been taught, not revealing something new. Further, consider what he says to the Asian believers in Acts 20:18-20, while on his way to Jerusalem:

You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly from house to house...

The churches that the apostles founded had already been taught what they needed to know to live as disciples of Christ. Yet, the gifts continued to function among them, even after they had believed the gospel and received their training. Apart from the book of Revelation and the written gospel accounts, they had already received the Word of God. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that anyone at the time knew how many books the canon of scripture would ultimately contain or that they were actively waiting for it to be finished. If they did, there is no indication of this in the New Testament.

Third, the two witnesses in Revelation 11 perform miraculous signs, yet their arrival is still future in our day and we have a complete Bible. Why the signs then, if the complete written Word is "that which is perfect"?

Fourth, Jesus linked miraculous signs to the proclaiming of the gospel and stated they would be performed as a direct result of his "going to the Father": 

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." - Mark 16:17-18

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. - John 14:12

"Those who have believed," and "he who believes in me" seem rather straightforward as being applicable to all who believe in him. There is certainly nothing said here that would imply that the "he" in "he who believes in me" would apply only to the first generation of Christians. Granted, there is no discussion of duration here (and we do know that the gifts will eventually end), so I realize that this is something of an argument from silence, but note further that Jesus says that those who believe in him will do his works "because I go to the Father." The power to do the works of Jesus is given because of his physical absence from the Earth. Why, then, should supernatural signs end while he is still with the Father and the work for which the gifts were given is yet unfinished? The proclaiming of the gospel continues today. Why should the accompanying verifying signs have stopped?

Miscellaneous Arguments against the Gifts Continuing

Apostolic Laying on of Hands

In Romans chapter 1, Paul tells the believers in Rome that he longs to see them "so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established" (Romans 1:11). From this, it is alleged that the gifts of the Spirit could only be conferred by the laying on of hands by an apostle, and thus: no more apostles, no more gifts.

While it is certainly true that the typical means of conferring Holy Spirit gifts in the New Testament was by the laying on of hands, this does not mean that God is somehow limited to that method of operation. To use an applicable if somewhat worn expression, it is unwise to "put God in a box." He can confer the gifts as he sees fit. Jesus himself sent the Spirit upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost, but did not physically lay hands on them at the time. Previously, he had breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22). Also, consider the manner in which the Holy Spirit fell on the gentile Cornelius and those of his household in Acts chapter 10, while Peter was preaching to them. Peter did not lay hands on them. For that matter, he did not even finish his sermon!

There are even Old Testament examples to consider. In I Samuel chapter 10, the Holy Spirit fell on Saul and he prophesied. The prophet Samuel had anointed him with oil and kissed him immediately prior to this, so obviously there was a laying on of hands, yet there is no mention of anointing oil being used when the Spirit fell on people in the New Testament, so the pattern is not an exact match. The Spirit also came upon Samson a number of times; and while his birth was announced by the angel of the Lord, there was no anointing or any specific laying on of hands in his case that we're aware of. The Spirit of the Lord also came upon men like Gideon and Jephthah, without reference to any laying on of hands or anointing. These things may have taken place, but if so we are not told about them. 

Furthermore, we are not told that the gifts of the Spirit could only be conferred by apostles. This is an assumption based on an incomplete record. The book of Acts is not concerned with relating a full account of everything that was done in the power of the Spirit or by whom it was done. It's primary focus is on the ministries of Peter and Paul, and to a lesser extent the other apostles who were sent forth by Christ. This shouldn't be too surprising when we consider that the book's full title is: The Acts of the Apostles. Yet, while it focuses on the apostles, Acts also tells us that numerous other believers were involved in spreading the gospel. In light of this, it makes little sense that God would have excluded believers from the gifts of the Spirit simply because they had no access to an apostle, especially given the statements from Jesus that we have already reviewed. It is quite possible, even likely, that non-apostles were also able to convey and operate in the gifts.

For one last point here, consider that Paul's mention of his wish to convey gifts to the congregation in Rome does not necessarily mean that they were not operating in any gifts at all. We do not know exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote this. It could be that he had some type of special gift in mind. Indeed, Acts 19:11 tells us that God did "extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul." Apparently, Paul was able to operate in some types of gifts that others were not exercising, and this may have been what he meant by what he wrote. 

It's also interesting that Paul considered the gifts he had in mind for the believers in Rome as essential to "establishing" them. This clearly indicates that Paul did not consider the gifts of the Spirit to be a "take it or leave it" bonus of some type. On the contrary, he thought of them as important. The Greek word translated "established" is sterizo, which Strong's defines as meaning: "to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: (e-)stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen." Paul's eagerness to convey spiritual gifts to those in Rome indicates their importance, as does his lengthy discussion in 1 Corinthians 12-14 of their benefits to the body of Christ.

Tongues were given solely as a Sign to Unbelieving Jews

In 1 Corinthians 14:21, Paul writes:

In the law it is written, 'By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord.' So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers.

Based on this, I have heard it argued that tongues were specifically intended to be a sign to unbelieving Jews, as per Paul's quotation from Isaiah 28:11-12. Certainly, it was a sign - and an effective one - to unbelieving Jews on the day of Pentecost, as chronicled for us in Acts 2. Yet, in I Corinthians 14, Paul does not limit the application to unbelieving Jews. He merely says "unbelievers." Also, he plainly tells us that tongues can be used for other purposes:

For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries...one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church...There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. - I Corinthians 14:2, 4, 10-13

From this, it is obvious that tongues can be used for believers to edify themselves in their worship of God, and even to edify the church if an interpretation is given. Paul goes on in verse 15 to remark that he even sang "with the Spirit"; in other words, in a tongue.

Clearly, tongues had more than one application.

The Gifts appear to have disappeared after the Apostolic Era

Unquestionably, the use of supernatural gifts diminished somewhat after the passing of the apostles, yet surviving records from the first few centuries after Christ tell us that miracles continued in the churches, long after the last of the apostles had died.

Irenaeus, one of the most prominent of the early church fathers, wrote the following in Volume II, chapter 32, of his well-known apologetic: Against Heresies, circa AD 180:

Wherefore, also, those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform [miracles], so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have been thus cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ], and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. And what shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of gifts which the Church [scattered] throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon, nor taking any reward from them [on account of such miraculous interpositions]. For as she has received freely from God, freely also does she minister [to others]. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.iii.xxxiii.html

In Volume 5, chapter 6, of Against Heresies, Irenaeus mentions the operation of tongues in his time, referencing it in the context of remarks on the apostle Paul's teachings to the Corinthians:

In like manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church, who possesses 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, whom also the apostle terms 'spiritual,' they being spiritual because they partake of the Spirit... http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.vii.vii.html

Justin Martyr, writing in approximately AD 165, in his Dialogue with Trypho, remarked:

...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. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.xxxix.html

Tertullian, writing in approximately AD 215 in "The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity," observes that the gifts were in operation in his day as well:

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 as well needfully collect them in writing, as commemorate them  in reading to God's glory; so that no weakness or despondency of faith may suppose that the divine grace abode only among the ancients... http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf03.vi.vi.ii.html

Augustine, writing in chapter 22 of his book The City of God (published in AD 426), attests to miracles being performed by believers in his day, including the curing of blindness, acute pain, paralysis, hernia, breast cancer, and even the restoration of a man's eye after it was knocked from its socket. He acknowledges that some doubted that miracles were continuing in the church, and then comments as follows:

...these modern miracles are scarcely known even to the whole population in the midst of which they are wrought; and at the best are confined to one spot. For frequently they are known only to a very few persons, while all the rest are ignorant of them, especially if the state is a large one; and when they are reported to other persons in other localities, there is no sufficient authority to give them prompt and unwavering credence, although they are reported to the faithful by the faithful. https://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/augustine-cityofgod-22-9-10.asp

It is not questioned that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit went into decline in the centuries following the apostles. As to the nature of that decline, I conclude that it was union of the church with the Roman state and the rise of institutional apostasy that resulted from that union. As I noted previously, the gifts are meant to function in conjunction with the preaching of the gospel, and during this unfortunate time in history (lasting around one thousand years), the gospel was veiled by the dogma of the Roman church. As went the gospel, so went the gifts that were meant to attest to it.

The famous evangelist and founder of Methodism, John Wesley, evidently believed the same thing, as evidenced in this sermon "The More Excellent Way." Wesley, who believed that the gifts of the Spirit were not "confined within the limits of either the apostolic or Cyprianic age; or of any period of time," comments as follows:

It does not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were common in the church for more than two or three centuries. We seldom hear of them after that fatal period when the Emperor Constantine called himself a Christian, and from a vain imagination of promoting the Christian cause thereby heaped riches, and power, and honour, upon the Christians in general; but in particular upon the Christian clergy. From this time they almost totally ceased; very few instances of the kind were found. The cause of this was not (as has been vulgarly supposed) "because there was no more occasion for them," because all the world was become Christian. This is a miserable mistake; not a twentieth part of it was then nominally Christian. The real cause was, "the love of many," almost of all Christians, so called, was "waxed cold." The Christians had no more of the Spirit of Christ than the other Heathens. The Son of Man, when he came to examine his church, could hardly "find faith upon the earth." This was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the Christian Church - because the Christians were turned Heathens again, and had only a dead form left. http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/John-Wesley-Sermons/Sermon-89-The-More-Excellent-Way

It is not surprising then that the modern "rebirth" of the gospel in the Protestant Reformation and various subsequent revivals also famously saw manifestations of the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. Manifestations of tongues, healings, and the casting out of demons were documented during the post-protestant revivals and in the ministries of men like Wesley and Moody, among others. In the twentieth century, the gifts continued to be evident in the ministries of men of God like Derek Prince, and they are still demonstrated today through organizations such as Derek Prince Ministries and The Elijah Challenge. I have seen the gifts in action myself in the form of dreams and visions, prophecy, instantaneous healing, words of knowledge, and the casting out of demons. They are very real and active today.

Conclusion

The purpose of this article was to examine Paul's teachings on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, specifically as to whether he taught that the gifts would cease with the completion of the Bible. I believe the study I've laid out here has established that this is not the case. Scripture is clear that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit were given for the edification of the body of Christ and as divine attestation to the truth of the gospel. These are still very much works in progress, and gifts continue right along with them. I myself am a witness of this and testify to such openly here.

Believers are sometimes prejudiced against the gifts of the Holy Spirit due to notorious charlatans and various forms of disorderly conduct in churches that exercise the gifts; yet the fact that there are abuses and even some outright deceptions does not mean that there are no real manifestations. If you choose to doubt the reality of the continuance of the supernatural gifts, that is certainly your privilege. I would warn my cessationist brethren, however, to be careful that they do not mock spiritual gifts in general or insist that any supernatural manifestation must be a work of the devil. If you are wrong, and you end up mocking or reviling a genuine work of God, you may well find yourself committing blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus himself told us is an unpardonable sin (see Mark 3:20-28, and Luke 12:10).

The safest course of action for those who doubt is simply to ask the Lord to reveal the truth to you. He is always willing to aid his children in their search for truth, and you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

*Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Version

*All Greek study aids were obtained from www.blueletterbible.org.

Derek Prince Ministries
The Elijah Challenge