Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Overview: Cessation, in a biblical context, often refers to the stopping or ending of certain activities, practices, or phenomena. Within Christian theology, particularly in discussions about spiritual gifts, cessation is a term used to describe the belief that certain miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing, ceased with the apostolic age. This belief is contrasted with continuationism, which holds that these gifts continue to the present day. Biblical References and Interpretation: The concept of cessation can be explored through various scriptural passages that discuss the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts, as well as the completion of God's revelation. 1. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 : "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away." This passage is often cited in discussions of cessationism. The phrase "when the perfect comes" is interpreted by cessationists to mean the completion of the biblical canon or the maturity of the church, at which point the need for certain spiritual gifts would diminish. 2. Hebrews 2:3-4 : "how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will." Cessationists argue that the primary purpose of miraculous gifts was to authenticate the apostles' message and the early church's foundation. Once the church was established and the New Testament writings were completed, the need for such signs diminished. 3. Ephesians 2:19-20 : "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." This passage emphasizes the foundational role of the apostles and prophets. Cessationists believe that once the foundation was laid, the extraordinary gifts associated with these roles were no longer necessary. Historical and Theological Context: The cessationist viewpoint has been a significant part of Christian theology, particularly within Reformed and Evangelical traditions. The belief is rooted in the understanding that the miraculous gifts were specifically for the apostolic age to establish the church and confirm the gospel message. As the church matured and the New Testament canon was recognized, the extraordinary gifts were seen as no longer necessary. Key Theological Arguments: · Sufficiency of Scripture: Cessationists argue that with the completion of the New Testament, the church has a sufficient and complete revelation from God. The need for additional revelation through prophecy or other miraculous gifts is therefore unnecessary. · Historical Observations: Cessationists often point to the decline of miraculous gifts in the post-apostolic church as evidence that these gifts were intended for a specific time and purpose. · Purpose of Gifts: The primary purpose of miraculous gifts was to authenticate the message of the apostles and the early church. With the establishment of the church and the completion of Scripture, this purpose was fulfilled. Contemporary Relevance: The debate between cessationism and continuationism remains a lively topic within Christian circles. While cessationists emphasize the sufficiency of Scripture and the foundational role of the apostles, continuationists argue for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in distributing gifts as He wills. This discussion impacts how different Christian communities understand spiritual experiences and the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church today. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) A ceasing or discontinuance, as of a cessation of the war.Greek 372. anapausis -- cessation, rest ... cessation, rest. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anapausis Phonetic Spelling: (an-ap'-ow-sis) Short Definition: rest, cessation from labor ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/372.htm - 6k 575. apo -- from, away from Strong's Hebrew 7674. shebeth -- perhaps cessation... 7673b, 7674. shebeth. 7675 . perhaps cessation. Transliteration: shebeth Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-beth) Short Definition: exterminated. ... /hebrew/7674.htm - 6k 4868. mishbath -- cessation, annihilation 6314. pugath -- benumbing, cessation 1824. domi -- cessation, a pause, a quiet, a rest 2014. haphugah -- benumbing, cessation 657. ephes -- a ceasing Library Summary of Foregoing. Cessation of Pagan Oracles, &C. ... Whether a Habit is Corrupted or Diminished through Mere Cessation ... Whether the Bodies of the Damned Will be Incorruptible? Whether Charity Can Decrease? He Further Shows that the Pretemporal Generation of the Son is not ... The Problem of Evil Fourth Commandment Thanksgiving after Chastisement. Discussion of the Subject of Permission Epistle vii. To the Clergy, Concerning Prayer to God. Thesaurus Cessation (4 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A ceasing or discontinuance, as of a cessation of the war. Multi-Version Concordance Cessation (4 Occurrences). ... /c/cessation.htm - 7k Intermission (2 Occurrences) Death (1610 Occurrences) Continual (55 Occurrences) Continually (180 Occurrences) Suspense (6 Occurrences) Stay (221 Occurrences) Testaments Rest (831 Occurrences) Between (2624 Occurrences) Resources What does it mean that tongues will cease? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.org How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? | GotQuestions.org Cessation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Cessation (4 Occurrences)Exodus 21:19 2 Samuel 23:7 Proverbs 20:3 Lamentations 1:7 Subtopics Related Terms |
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