| Home | Our Hope | |
| Bible Study |
|
July 24, 2023 |
| Ending the Apostolic Age | ||
After Jesus ascends the New Testament tells us of prophets, great healings, miracles, and of people being raised from the dead. These were somewhat common. No one can doubt that the gifts of the spirit in our time are not what they were in the Apostolic Age. Yet, there is no agreement about why that is.
There are:
I've touched on this topic before in small ways. When I did, I taught:
The cause behind this study is an article from 1996 that I read recently. It said the Bible shows the gifts receding. You just need to read carefully. So that idea will be part of this study.
We'll also look at how things worked during the Apostolic Age. We understand that the Apostolic Age was the time during which, Jesus disciples, now Apostles, are building the church.
We miss something in that however. Christianity was far different then from Christianity we know of today. This study will show how different.
The original text of the New Testament refers to the "gift of the Spirit" in two ways but it does not distinguish between them in the way that the English language would distinguish them. We would choose the correct preposition. They don't have as many prepositions and don't use them that way. So they expect the reader to deduce it from the context. The translator, therefore, must understand it from the context and choose the correct preposition. In at least one place, this is generally not done correctly.
The text, when translated to English, refers to "the gift" and "a gift".
He is the one who is exalted at the right hand of God and he has received the promise which is concerning the Spirit of Holiness, and he has poured out this gift, which, behold, you are seeing and hearing. (Acts 2:33)
[They] were stupefied and astonished that the gift of the Spirit of Holiness was poured forth also upon Gentiles (Acts 10:45)
When used this way, the gift refers to the prophesied promise that the Holy Spirit would be given to those who believe. This refers to a generic indwelling of the Holy Spirit within those who believe.
Because I have greatly desired to see you and to give you a gift of the Spirit that you may be confirmed in him. (Romans 1:11)
But we have a variety of gifts, according to the grace that is given us; one has prophecy according to the measure of his faith, 7 And one has ministry in his service, and one has that of a teacher in his instruction. 8 One has that of a comforter, which is in his comforting, and a giver in generosity, and a top leader with diligence, and that of caregiver with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8)
When used this way, it refers to a specific gift (ability) such as healing, ministry, prophecy, etc..
It's a bit off-topic but the word "confirmed" here shows a benefit of having Apostles. The experience of receiving a gift of the spirit (speaking in tongues and prophesying) provided a reality to confirm the faith that already existed.
On a completely different topic, we'll see there are 2 distinctly separate classes of gifts of the Spirit. I'll be using the phrase "Power Gifts" to refer to certain gifts of the Spirit. These are the gifts where God is visibly the actor. What is seen by the viewer is clearly outside what a human can do.
This doesn't include prophecy. When a prophecy is given, who can know if it is true? Not the viewer. Even if it proves true later on a person might say, "lucky guess." This definition does include healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, and others.
In this study, we will see a shift in the meaning of "apostle". At first an Apostle is someone who has the gift of the Spirit for apostleship. In later epistles we'll an apostle is someone who has the dictionary meaning - "A person who is sent out [on a mission]"
We see this in the Bible when people who were not given the gift of apostleship are called apostles. In this study we'll see Epaphroditus referred to by Paul as an apostle.
Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, 12 He who said to them, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary," and, "Here is repose," but they would not listen. (Isaiah 28:11-12)
This a prophecy directed to the Jews. The reference to "stammering lips and a foreign tongue" was to be a sign the Jews could look for. When they saw that sign, they would know they were seeing the message of God. But most Jews did not see the sign and did not accept the message - just as this prophecy says.
From this we know a purpose for the gifts, at least the gift of speaking in tongues. Paul says as much when he quotes Isaiah while correcting the Corinthian Church.
It is written in the law, "With foreign speech and with another language I shall speak with this people, and not even in this way will they hear me, says the lord Yahweh." 22 So then languages are established for a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers […]. 23 If therefore it should happen that the whole church assembles and everyone would speak in languages, and the uninitiated or those who are unbelievers should enter, would they not say that such have gone insane? (1 Corinthians 14:21-23)
Paul is saying that speaking tongues was a sign. He goes on to his own point, saying, if everyone in the church is speaking in tongues at the same time it will be a sign alright, a sign that you are all crazy.
40 years after Jesus' death, Jerusalem and Israel were destroyed and the people were dispersed across the globe. Was the sign still needed?
The Gospels were written and they recorded the fulfillment of the "stammering lips" prophecy. It seems the purpose of at least that gift had been completed. Such power was no longer needed and it came to an end either:
There are other indications in the text that the gifts were not intended to continue.
For God has set first in his church, Apostles; after them Prophets; after them, Teachers; after them, miracle workers; after them, gifts of healing, helpers, leaders, different languages. (1 Corinthians 12:28)
Paul defines a hierarchy of gifts of the Spirit with the gift of apostleship at the top. This is last time he will mention Apostleship in this discussion. From now on he will treat the second level, Prophet, as the highest level.
Run after love and be zealous for the gifts of the Spirit, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Be zealous therefore, my brethren, to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in languages. (1 Corinthians 14:39)
He doesn't say they should desire to be apostles. It seems Paul understood there would be no more apostles. In other places he seems to refer to himself as the last Apostle.
We do see a hint at something else here, the idea that people could receive additional gifts. Why would you desire to prophesy, if you were already a prophet? You would desire that if you had a lesser gift.
And a certain man was sitting in the city of Lystra (Turkey) who was lame in his feet, crippled from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9 This one heard Paulus speaking and when Paulus saw him, and it was known that he had faith to receive salvation, 10 he said in a loud voice, "I say to you in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, stand on your feet!" And he jumped, stood and walked. (Acts 14:8-10)
We some important conditions expressed here. Somehow Paul becomes aware that the man has heard the message and now has faith. The text doesn't say how, but I suspect the Holy Spirit is communicating this and other information to Paul. It could just be that Paul questions the man and the text doesn't describe that. This isn't the only place where this condition is validated.
Next we see that Paul speaks in a "loud voice". Why mention that? Why is Paul speaking in a loud voice? The healing had the purposes of showing God was acting and highlighting Paul as an Apostle. God's purpose was not to heal - at least not his main purpose.
This answers another question. If Paul could heal, why wouldn't he heal everyone on the planet? That would not serve God's purpose. The power gifts were not given indiscriminately or privately.
And around the throne, 24 thrones, and upon those thrones, 24 Elders who sat wearing white garments and crowns of gold upon their heads. 10 The 24 Elders fall down in front of him who sits upon the throne and worship the Living One for the eternity of eternities, amen, and cast their crowns before the throne […] (Revelation 4:4,10)
Who are these 24 elders? That isn't explained here.
And it had a wall, great and high, and it had 12 gates, and at the gates, 12 Angels, and names written which are the names of the 12 tribes of Israel; 13 From the East, three gates, from the North, three gates, and from the South, three gates, and from the West, three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has 12 foundations, and on them, the 12 names of the Apostles of the son. (Revelation 21:12-14)
It makes sense from this that the 24 elders are the 12 sons of Israel and the 12 Apostles of the son.
What's important here that, at the end of time there are considered to be 12 names (reputations, characters) of the Apostles that were the foundation on which everything is built. This presents a problem. Depending on when you look, there are either 11, 12, or 13 Apostles.
Acts says there were 12 main Disciples of Jesus. There were others but "the twelve" were special.
| Jesus chooses the twelve | 12 |
| Judas kills himself | 11 |
| About 210 Disciples choose Matthias to replace Judas | 12 |
| The Holy Spirit makes them Apostles | 12 |
| Then Paul becomes an Apostle | 13 |
| And James is murdered by Herod Agrippa | 12 |
It seems like Paul must be a replacement for James, just as Matthias was a replacement for Judas.
But when the Spirit of Holiness will come upon you, you shall receive power. You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and also among the Samaritans, and unto the borders of the Earth. (Acts 1:8)
This is often taken to mean that everyone with the Holy Spirit has power. That isn't what it says though and the remainder of this study will show the Bible contends against that idea.
And there was fear in every soul, and many signs and miracles were occurring by the hand of the Apostles in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:43)
And there were occurring by the hands of the Apostles signs and many mighty acts among the people and they were all assembled together at the porch of Solomon. (Acts 5:12)
We begin to see here that the Apostolic Age was different from present Christianity. The Apostles are displaying amazing capabilities, doing things that mankind cannot do. Later on we'll see others who are not Apostles displaying some of this power.
God is the ultimate source of this power but he gives it only to select people, as we'll see. The Apostles exercise this power and are the source of the power for other people, who also exercise the power. It was done this way because God was building his church on the Apostles. We'll back that claim with verses later.
Philippus doesn't get a lot of mention in the Bible but we are going to spend a lot of time looking at him. He is not an Apostle but he has many gifts of the Spirit. Through him we'll understand more about what the Bible saying about giving a gift of the Spirit.
We first see Philippus mentioned in the first church, in Jerusalem.
And the 12 Apostles called the whole assembly of the disciples and they said to them, "It is not acceptable for us to forsake the word of God and to serve tables. 3 Search therefore, my brothers, and choose seven men among you upon whom is the testimony and who are full of the Spirit of the lord Yahweh and wisdom, and we shall appoint them over this matter. 4 And we shall continue in prayer, and in the Ministry of the word." (Acts 6:2-4)
We see here that there are 12 Apostles. Paul will be added later as another Apostle.
We know there were 400 disciples who received tongues of fire at Pentecost. Yet, The Apostles were a separate (higher) class of disciple. Some of the 400 got the gift of apostleship; the others got other gifts. A little later we'll see the characteristic of apostleship that sets Apostles apart.
And this statement was pleasing before all the people, and they chose Estephanos, a man who was full of faith and of the Spirit of Holiness, and Philippus, Procuros, Nicanor, Timon, Parmena and Nicholas, an Antiochene proselyte. 6 They presented these before the Apostles, and when they had prayed, they placed hands on them. (Acts 6:5-6)
There was a Philip (Philippus) who was an Apostle. The Philippus who is spoken of here was not an Apostle. He is disambiguated in our time by calling him Philippus the Evangelist.
Persecution of the first church becomes very harsh and the church leaves Jerusalem and spreads out, which was God's desire.
But Philippus went down to the city of the Samaritans and he was preaching to them about the Messiah. 6 And as they were listening to his message, the people who were listening were persuaded by all that he had said, for they saw the signs that he did. 7 For many who had been seized by foul spirits were screaming with a loud voice, and they were coming out from them, and others who were paralytic and crippled were healed. (Acts 8:5-7)
Philippus is casting out demons and healing people, for sure. He may have also been exercising other gifts of the Spirit.
Philippus is best known for his evangelism efforts. That's obvious from the name we've given him. One of the people he met was Simon, who was deceiving people with his sorcery tricks.
When they believed Philippus, who was proclaiming the kingdom of God in the name of our lord Yeshua the Messiah, they were being baptized, men and women. 13 Simon also believed and was baptized and was joined to Philippus, and when he saw the signs and the great miracles that were done by his hand, he marveled and was astonished. (Acts 8:12-13)
Philippus is baptizing those who believe but we'll see there is something he isn't doing.
Simon sees the miracles Philippus is performing. As a former sorcerer he recognizes them as things he had never seen done or been able to do himself.
And when the Apostles of Jerusalem heard that the people of the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent Shimeon Kaypha and Yohannan to them. 15 And they went down and prayed over them so that they would receive the Spirit of Holiness. 16 For he was upon none of them yet, but they had only been baptized in the name of Our Lord Yeshua. 17 And they were laying hands upon them, and they were receiving the Spirit of Holiness. (Acts 8:14-17)
Philippus is not able to give the Spirit of Holiness to those he baptizes. Apostles are required to do that. The text goes to the trouble to make that clear with, "he was upon none of them yet".
And when Simon saw that by laying on of the hands of the Apostles the Spirit of Holiness was given, […] 19 […] he said, "Give me also this authority that he on whomever I place a hand will receive the Spirit of Holiness." 20 Shimeon Kaypha said to him, "Your silver will go with you to destruction, because you thought that the gift of God is acquired by the possessions of the world." (Acts 8:18-20)
Simon is no fool. He has been running a scam on these people for a long time and he sees where the power is - the Apostles. Philippus is amazing but the Apostles are the source of the power.
Simon doesn't realize that he is asking to buy apostleship. At that time there were 12 people with that authority.
Now we jump forward in the life of Philippus.
And as they were going on the road, they were arriving at one place that had water in it, and that Eunuch said, "Behold, water! What is the hindrance to me being baptized?" 37 And Philippus said, "If you believe with all the heart, it is authorized." And he answered and said, "I do believe that Yeshua the Messiah is the son of God." 38 And he commanded to stop the chariot and the two of them went down to the water and Philippus baptized that Eunuch. 39 And when they had come up from the water, the Spirit of the lord Yahweh took Philippus up and the Eunuch did not see him, but he went on the road rejoicing. (Acts 8:36-39)
There is no indication that Philippus has given him a gift of the Holy Spirit. So that brings up a question. Does the Eunuch have the Holy Spirit?
We know the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the promise to all who believe. During the Apostolic Age there were also Apostles around who could give a gift(s) of the Holy Spirit. Of course this giving of a gift is from God not from an Apostle and it is God who decides which gift will be given.
The Eunuch is heading out of Israel and will probably never see an Apostle in his life. He is a Christian in the way that we are Christians. If a gift of the Spirit is given to us it will come directly from God.
We'll now look at various verses that talk about receiving the Holy Spirit.
Then Khanan-Yah went to the house to him and laid a hand upon him and said to him, "Shaul, my brother, Our Lord Yeshua who appeared to you on the road, when you came, has sent me so that your eyes would be opened and you would be filled with the Spirit of Holiness." 18 And immediately, some things that were like scales fell from his eyes and his eyes were opened, and he arose and he was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18)
When we compare this to other healings and other giving of the Spirit, we see this is different. It doesn't appear Khanan-Yah is using a gift of the Spirit. He is not an Apostle. He is described as a disciple, probably one of the 400.
It appears God is doing these two things by himself. He opens the eyes of Paul … by pulling something out that was blocking his vision (there is a first for everything). God also fills him with the Holy Spirit. We know this means the gift of apostleship because Paul will display that ability.
And when Apollo was in Corinthus, Paulus went about in the upper countries and came to Ephesaus, and was questioning those disciples whom he had found there: 2 "Have you received the Spirit of Holiness since you have believed?" They answered, and were saying to him, "We have not even heard if there is a Spirit of Holiness." 3 And he said to them, "Unto what were you baptized?" They were saying, "Unto the baptism of Yohannan". 4 Paulus said to them, "Yohannan baptized the people in the baptism of repentance while he was telling them to believe in that one who would come after him, who is Yeshua the Messiah." 5 And when they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 6 And Paulus laid a hand on them and the Spirit of Holiness came upon them, and they were speaking in various languages and were prophesying. (Acts 19:1-6)
This case is only unusual in that the Ephesians had no knowledge of Jesus. John the Baptist had prepared them for Jesus but Jesus had come and gone without them knowing.
Paul explains and they believe and then, through Paul, they are given a gift of the Holy Spirit. The result, as it often is, is prophesying and speaking in tongues.
And when Shimeon was speaking these words, the Spirit of Holiness rested on all of those who were hearing the word. 45 And circumcised brethren who had come with him were stupefied and astonished that the gift of the Spirit of Holiness was poured forth also upon Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in various languages and magnifying God, and Shimeon was saying: 47 "Can anyone refuse water that they should not be baptized? For, behold, they have received the Spirit of Holiness, as when we did." (Acts 10:44-47)
This was not by the hand of an Apostle. Peter could have given them a gift of the Spirit, but God did this himself. The reason seems obvious - Peter would not have tried to give them the Spirit. At that time, even the Apostles saw Christianity as being only for Jews, just as Judaism had been. God gave the Gentiles the Spirit as a sign to the Apostles that Gentiles were included as equals.
The word translated here as rested only appears twice in the New Testament, here and later when Peter is telling this story. It is not the word used in other places where the gift of the Holy Spirit is given. Though it isn't explicit, it seems likely tongues of flame rested on them. This is backed up by the words of Peter's companions, "they have received the Spirit of Holiness, as when we did". He means, "in the same fashion / way".
And Shimeon said to them, "Return to God and be immersed everyone of you, in the name of the lord Yahweh Yeshua, for release from sin, so that you may receive the gift of the Spirit of Holiness. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all those who are afar off, those whom God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39)
From the context, this is plainly a reference to the general promise of the indwelling of the Spirit. It is not speaking of a specific gift of the Spirit.
This verse is worthy of mention because it clarifies that there can be two givings of the spirit, the general giving to all who believe and the giving of a specific gift.
And we are witnesses of these accounts, and so is the Spirit of Holiness, whom God gives to those who believe in him. (Acts 5:32)
I thought it would be worthwhile to establish that Paul was a full Apostle and not something else. We should already understand that from his giving a gift of the Holy Spirit. He also shows the full spectrum of gifts that would be expected from an Apostle.
In contrast to the above, we see cases from later epistles where Paul does not heal people when you would expect him to do so.
But now a matter has compelled me to send Epaphroditus to you, a brother who is a helper and worker with me, but your Apostle and a Minister of my needs, 26 Because he was longing to see you all and he was grieved to know that you heard that he was ill. 27 For he was ill even unto death, but God had compassion upon him, and not upon him only, but also upon me, lest I would have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:25-27)
Epaphroditus was sick long enough for distant people to hear of it and for their sadness to be communicated back to Paul. Yet, He was not healed by Paul.
We have to ask why. We know God would not heal Paul from his "thorn" but there was a very specific reason for that. Here we don't see a reason. We also don't see an, "I tried but failed". Instead this seems not to be a surprise to Paul.
Paul says that, after all this time, God does decide to heal Epaphroditus. Now we are given reasons, not for not healing, but for healing. That is, God showed compassion to Paul.
Timothy, a long-time coworker of Paul, is also not healed.
Do not drink water from now on, but drink a little wine because of your stomach and because of your chronic illness. (1 Timothy 5:23)
Timothy has a long-standing illness but he is not healed by Paul or by God. Instead Paul gives him what would be called medicinal advice. The water wasn't always good then and the alcohol in wine served to kill dangerous bugs.
The last case is one where Paul abandons a sick coworker.
Erastus stopped in Qorinthus, but Trophimus I left while he was sick in the city of Miletus. (2 Timothy 4:20)
Instead of healing him, Paul abandons Trophimus while sick.
| Prophets | Prophecy |
| Teachers | Ministry |
| Miracle workers | Teacher |
| Healing | Comforter |
| Helpers | Giver |
| Leaders | Leader |
| Languages | Caregiver |
| (1 Corinthians 12:28) | (Romans 12:6-8) |
In the earlier Corinthian list of the gifts, we see the power gifts. The later Roman list does not show these.
How shall we escape if we despise those things which are our life, those which began to be spoken by Our Lord and by those who heard from him among us, and were confirmed, 4 while God testified concerning them with signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Spirit of Holiness, which were given according to his will? (Hebrews 2:3-4)
The author of Hebrews makes two point. First, he is saying there was a purpose to the signs, wonders, and miracles, the gifts of power. They were God's testimony about Jesus and the Apostles, that they were bringing God's message. This is covered by what we said before - after the destruction of Israel, there was no longer a need for the gifts.
Second, all of this text in Hebrews is in the past tense indicating that those gifts were not present at the time of the writing.
Do not despise the gift that is in you, which is given to you by prophecy and by the laying on of the hands of the Eldership. (1 Timothy 4:14)
Because of this, I remind you to rouse the gift of God that is in you by laying on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6)
Paul mentions Timothy's gift in both epistles to him. He either knows or has reason to believe that Timothy might neglect it. If Timothy had a power gift, it's hard to imagine he would neglect it. Does Timothy think of it as a small gift of little value? Is this a hint that Timothy received an aptitude (natural ability) gift when the power gifts were no longer available?
The Lord answered Moses, "Bring Me 70 men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself. (Numbers 11:16-17)
Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again. (Numbers 11:25)
The parallels here to the Apostles should be obvious.
Perhaps the thing that is most interesting is the difference - They do not speak in tongues. This probably indicates that there is a difference between the spirit that is is given in each case.
It certainly does not interfere with Isaiah's prophecy about speaking in tongues. If they began speaking in tongues Then that would cause confusion among people trying to understand what Isaiah was talking about. Instead there is one clear period in time when speaking in tongues happens and Isaiah is clearly speaking about that.
From what we've seen, it seems to me:
Christianity began as an Apostolic religion, where Apostles had authority and administered God's power. God was doing almost everything through them. This made them the focus of Christianity.
With the deaths of the Apostles, Christianity changed from being Apostolic to being what we know now. Christianity is pure faith with no physical demonstrations or leaders on which to build faith. Now, God gives gifts as he chooses and gives them directly (no middle-man)
With that change, power gifts have become very rare, if they are ever given. The gifts that are given are aptitude gifts. God gives those to whomever and whenever, as he desires.