What is the definition of the word Charismatic?

As far as I can tell, "Charismatics" are a fairly resent development. Charismata has been around since Pentecost, but not every Tom, Dick, and Cornelius was speaking in "tongues" until the first part of the 20th century.

As far as the history of it goes, it stopped having one after the apostles until it "suddenly" decided that "now was the time for man to take control of God."

IMHO.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

"As far as the history of it goes, it stopped having one after the apostles "

Correct me if I am wrong but it's my understanding that the book of Acts doesn't have an ending because it's the work of the Holy Spirit who hasn't stopped working since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church where everybody spoke in tongues and will not stop working until Jesus returns?

Also pleace correct me but the bible doesn't say anywhere that Apostles and prophets have stopped?
On the contrary it says:

1COR 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

EPH 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

HEB 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

If Jesus Christ is the Chief Apostle and High priest then there must be other apostles and priests if we are going to consider ourselves biblical?

RV 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

RV 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

 

To try and answer your question with more light than heat, I think that the koine Greek speakers would have understood charisma and charismata to have meant simply gift and gifts respectively. A NT Christian would have understood the words as relating more specifically to the gifts of the Spirit a la I Cor 12

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

I would see Eph 4:11 as being gift ministries rather than charismata ie gifts of individuals rather than gifts to individuals.

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

The Eph. 4 "gifts", from my study, can be rightly viewed in terms of the Bridegroom and the Bride.
Jesus has returned to his "house", and is preparing a place for His Bride.
To show the Bride that the Bridegroom is thinking of her, He sends her gifts.
The "gifts" in this context are the people that the Lord Jesus as Bridegroom has given to the Bride to prepare Her to be His Wife.
That is why in each generation there is a need for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. So that we get the results that Jesus wants, and the His Bride is prepared to be His Wife.

EPH 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
EPH 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

A supernatural Bridegroom (Jesus) will have a supernatural Bride, who will become His Wife. That is why the Holy Spirit administrates the gifts (1 Cor. 12). These are also used to prepare the Bride.

Another interesting element is from the book of Esther. The ones who prepare the Bride are eunuchs. The eunuch has one desire: to prepare the Bride to be the Wife of the King. The focus of the eunuch is on the King. And the desire of the eunuch is to present a "suitable" Bride to the King. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our current spiritual leaders knew this?

 

Dr. Bob has said...

Don't you mean a "Bobby" prize?? Sorry Dr. Bob, I just couldn't resist hehehe

God Bless!!!

Adam

 

I don't believe the word "Charismatic" is in the bible, so I don't know why a greek dictionary or concordance would be necessary to determine what it means in a 1st century sense.

But I can tell you what my dictionary says it means.

charismatic adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characterized by charisma.
2. Theology. Of, relating to, or being a type of Christianity that emphasizes personal religious experience and divinely inspired powers, as of healing, prophecy, and the gift of tongues.

I personally hate charismatic people, not the theological kind, but the other kind...you know the kind that act all nice and overly friendly to you in public...while simultaneously plotting against you in private. I think probably the snake in the garden of eden was this type of charasmatic.

Now as for the charasmatic theological movement. I was brought up Pentecostal...so don't even get me started.

 

Spiritual gifts are gifts of grace given by God for the edification of the body.