Has God Finished Speaking?
Pentecostal and charismatic churches expect God to speak today through prophecy, words of knowledge, dreams, and impressions, and some recognize living apostles and prophets who lead networks of churches. Behind every such claim lies one question: has God finished giving His revelation, or is He still adding to it?
Scripture's answer is that God has spoken fully and finally. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Hebrews 1:1–2). The apostles and prophets whom Christ sent recorded that final word, and their writings are the foundation on which the church still stands. This study looks at why claims of continuing revelation are dangerous, how Pentecostals understand prophecy, and why the office of apostle has no successors.
God's act of making known truth that people could not discover on their own. In the sense used here, it means God speaking words that carry His own authority, as He did through the prophets and apostles who wrote Scripture.
The Holy Spirit's work of helping believers understand, believe, and apply what God has already revealed in Scripture. Illumination opens our eyes to what is written. It adds nothing to it.
If God gave someone a genuine new word today, would it be as binding as Scripture? And if it would not be, in what sense is it a word from God?
That question exposes the problem. Either a modern prophecy carries God's own authority, in which case Scripture is no longer complete, or it does not, in which case it is not revelatory prophecy in the biblical sense. The rest of this study works through the answers.
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For Deeper Study
- Strange FireAmazon John MacArthurA biblical critique of the charismatic movement (2013), including its claims to modern apostles and fallible prophecy.
- Counterfeit KingdomAmazon Holly Pivec and R. Douglas GeivettAn examination of the New Apostolic Reformation's teaching on apostles, prophets, and new revelation (2022).
- Charismatic ConfusionAmazon Ernest PickeringA Baptist pastor's short evaluation of charismatic teaching on prophecy and the gifts.
- Decision Making and the Will of GodAmazon Garry Friesen with J. Robin MaxsonA biblical alternative to seeking private messages for guidance, built on Scripture, wisdom, and counsel.
- Perspectives on PentecostAmazon Richard B. Gaffin Jr.A careful study of the foundational role of the apostles and prophets and the gifts that accompanied them (1979).
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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The Sufficiency of Scripture
Scripture contains everything God requires us to believe and obey for salvation and godliness, so no new revelation, tradition, or experience is needed to complete it.
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