The Close of the Canon Holy Scripture.

[JesusFan]

Early Christianity (100 - 500)

• Justin Martyr (d.165) in his Dialogue with Trypho comments, 'For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time.'
• Irenaeus (d.202) was a pupil of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John. He wrote in his book Against Heresies, Book V, vi.: "In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the church who possess 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, who also the apostles term spiritual". "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 thus been 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…. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ even now confers benefits [upon men], and cures thoroughly and effectively all who anywhere believe on Him".
• Origen (AD 185–253). He professed to have been an eye-witness to many instances of exorcism, healing, and prophecy.
• Augustine (d.430) – Augustine commented in chapters 8 and 9 of Book XXII of his City of God, written circa AD 415, Augustine noted that miracles in his day were not as spectacular or as those at the dawn of Christianity, but that they continued to take place.

Good summary here

The Cessation of the Sign Gifts by Prof. Thomas R. Edgar

Cessationism and the Tongues Movement

www.the-highway.com

 

[Ascetic X]

But view held by majority of reformed and Baptists though , and has been the dominant viewpoint since Reformation

The opinions of men mean absolutely nothing to me. Scripture rules.

 

[Craigbythesea]

Yes, indeed.

It did happen and there was NO HEALER AT ALL.
There was a man that slumped down in a chair. There was a Doctor and two Nurses that took him out of the service in a wheelchair and discovered he had died. There was a congregation that thought he was sick and began praying fervently for the man. There was an ambulance that arrived from 911 with Paramedics that confirmed he was dead.

There were medical professionals filling out paperwork deciding where to transport the body, a church still praying for the "sick" and a dead man that sat up and refused to be transported so he could finish church service.

No "show", no "snake oil", no "pass the plate" ... just the Church being the Church and God being God.
Nobody felt a need to tell any reporters. Those that were there knew and that was enough.

My first pastorate was of an interdenominational church on the second floor in one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. Our congregation was extremely diverse both theologically and socially. Many of the members were alcoholics who lived in nearby rescue missions. Others lived aboard ships in our harbor. One family lived in a house more than 90 miles from the church

On what started out as a regular night, I heard a drunk stumbling up our stairs so I went out to the stairs to drag him back down and out of the building. Totally to my surprise, however, the man was not drunk but in pain from a leg injury. He was a 20-year-old sailor who wanted to come to our church service but between the pain from his injury and his being very discouraged and depressed he was crying as he attempted to get up our stairs. I got a couple of the men from the church and we helped him up the stairs.

We sat him down on a nearby kitchen chair and my associate pastor came over and asked the man if he could pray for him and he gave his consent. To my astonishment and disapproval, my associate pastor laid his hands on the man and vigorously prayed to God for Him to heal the man. I stood there very annoyed but said nothing and my associate pastor told the man to lift up his leg just a little bit and gently bend it back and forth at the knee as he continued to sit in the chair. The man did as he was told, and then my associate pastor told the man to bend his leg a little more, and a little more—and all of a sudden the man jumped up out of the chair, ran down the stairs, around the black, and back up the stairs. He stayed for the service, fellowshipped with us, and left. He came back the following night a very happy and well young man. He continued to worship and fellowship with us while his ship was in port and then he was gone.

 

[JesusFan]

The opinions of men mean absolutely nothing to me. Scripture rules.

And the bible stated plainly that Apostolic sign gifts were given just to them to confirm the person and ministry of Lord Jesus

 

[Ascetic X]

And the bible stated plainly that Apostolic sign gifts were given just to them to confirm the person and ministry of Lord Jesus

Please quote the scripture that supports this opinion.

Ask any missionary. The person and ministry of Lord Jesus still needs to be confirmed.

And the gifts of healing and miracles were not given “just to confirm”, they were given to alleviate suffering, the suffering that continues to this day. God still cares about delivering people.

 

[JesusFan]

Please quote the scripture that supports this opinion.

Ask any missionary. The person and ministry of Lord Jesus still needs to be confirmed.

And the gifts of healing and miracles were not given “just to confirm”, they were given to alleviate suffering, the suffering that continues to this day. God still cares about delivering people.

Chapter of faith in Hebrews shows to us what happens on a regular basis for all those who are in Christ Jesus and living for Him in this world

 

[Ascetic X]

Hebrews 11 does not come anywhere near supporting your claim, quoted below.

And the bible stated plainly that Apostolic sign gifts were given just to them to confirm the person and ministry of Lord Jesus

 

[atpollard]

Please quote the scripture that supports this opinion.

AI can be useful; It says ...

• 2 Corinthians 12:12: Paul refers to "the marks of a true apostle"—signs, wonders, and miracles—which were performed to prove his authority.
• Hebrews 2:3-4: This text explains that the message of salvation was "confirmed to us by those who heard him" (the Apostles), while God bore witness with "signs and wonders and various miracles".
• Mark 16:20: The disciples preached everywhere, and the Lord "confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it".
• Acts 14:3: God "confirmed the message of his grace" by enabling Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders.

AI offered an interesting observation, they served the same purpose in Jesus' ministry ...

• Acts 2:22: Peter declares that Jesus was a man "accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs".
• John 3:2: Nicodemus admits that no one could perform the signs Jesus did "unless God is with him".
• John 5:36: Jesus states that the very works He was doing "testify that the Father has sent me".
• John 20:30-31: These verses explain that the signs were recorded specifically so that people "may believe that Jesus is the Messiah".

Time for you to go Berean in the AI ...

 

[JesusFan]

AI can be useful; It says ...

• 2 Corinthians 12:12: Paul refers to "the marks of a true apostle"—signs, wonders, and miracles—which were performed to prove his authority.
• Hebrews 2:3-4: This text explains that the message of salvation was "confirmed to us by those who heard him" (the Apostles), while God bore witness with "signs and wonders and various miracles".
• Mark 16:20: The disciples preached everywhere, and the Lord "confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it".
• Acts 14:3: God "confirmed the message of his grace" by enabling Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders.

AI offered an interesting observation, they served the same purpose in Jesus' ministry ...

• Acts 2:22: Peter declares that Jesus was a man "accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs".
• John 3:2: Nicodemus admits that no one could perform the signs Jesus did "unless God is with him".
• John 5:36: Jesus states that the very works He was doing "testify that the Father has sent me".
• John 20:30-31: These verses explain that the signs were recorded specifically so that people "may believe that Jesus is the Messiah".

Time for you to go Berean in the AI ...

Seemed to be fully functioning in the life and times of Jesus and the Apostles only

 

[Ascetic X]

Seemed to be fully functioning in the life and times of Jesus and the Apostles only

Wrong. The elders, more mature believers were healing people.

James 5

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

[Ascetic X]

AI can be useful; It says ...

• 2 Corinthians 12:12: Paul refers to "the marks of a true apostle"—signs, wonders, and miracles—which were performed to prove his authority.
• Hebrews 2:3-4: This text explains that the message of salvation was "confirmed to us by those who heard him" (the Apostles), while God bore witness with "signs and wonders and various miracles".
• Mark 16:20: The disciples preached everywhere, and the Lord "confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it".
• Acts 14:3: God "confirmed the message of his grace" by enabling Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders.

AI offered an interesting observation, they served the same purpose in Jesus' ministry ...

• Acts 2:22: Peter declares that Jesus was a man "accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs".
• John 3:2: Nicodemus admits that no one could perform the signs Jesus did "unless God is with him".
• John 5:36: Jesus states that the very works He was doing "testify that the Father has sent me".
• John 20:30-31: These verses explain that the signs were recorded specifically so that people "may believe that Jesus is the Messiah".

Time for you to go Berean in the AI ...

I do not trust AI for theology.

Elders, not just apostles, ministered healing to people.

James 5

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

[atpollard]

I do not trust AI for theology.

You were not supposed to trust it for theology. To quote Nixon “Trust but verify.” You requested verses and the AI provided verses. Now you are free to look up the verses in YOUR Bible and read them in context and perform your own exegesis. AI just provided 4 different places in scripture for you to start looking in response to your request.

So now the question is were you REALLY interested in verses that taught what @JesusFan claimed was in scripture?

 

[atpollard]

Elders, not just apostles, ministered healing to people.

James 5
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I am a continuationist, but even I accept that there is a difference between the authority of all elders and every body of believers to pray for the sick to get well and the “signs and wonders” that verified the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles.