Cessationism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The view that the revelatory and sign gifts, such as prophecy, tongues, and gifts of healing, ceased with the apostles once Scripture was complete.
Also called: cessationist, cessationists
What it means
Cessationism teaches that some of the gifts described in the New Testament were given for the apostolic era and have ceased. These are the gifts that gave new revelation or served as signs confirming the apostles' message: apostleship itself, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and gifts of miraculous healing. The church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and a foundation is laid once.
Cessationists do not deny that God still works miracles, answers prayer for healing, or guides his people. They deny that he does so through ongoing revelatory offices or sign gifts. Scripture is now complete and sufficient, and other gifts, such as teaching, serving, giving, and mercy, continue in the church.
The Westminster and 1689 confessions speak of "those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased," and cessationism has been the common view in Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist churches. Many faithful Christians hold otherwise, and this site records it as a view rather than a test of orthodoxy.
In Scripture
The household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ the cornerstone.
The message was confirmed by those who heard the Lord, and God bore witness with signs and wonders.
Paul calls signs, wonders, and miracles the marks of a true apostle.
God spoke through the prophets, and in these last days has spoken by his Son.
The faith was once for all delivered to the saints.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 1.1; WCF 1.6; LBCF 1689 1.1; LBCF 1689 1.6
On this site: Spiritual gifts
Related terms
ContinuationismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that all the spiritual gifts in the New Testament, including prophecy and tongues, continue in the church until Christ returns.
Open but cautiousA view held among orthodox Christians
A position on spiritual gifts that does not rule out prophecy, tongues, or healing today but does not seek or practise them, and tests any claim carefully.
Sufficiency of ScriptureHistoric orthodoxy
Scripture contains everything we need to know for salvation, faith, and life, so nothing needs to be added to it.
Initial evidenceA view held among orthodox Christians
The classical Pentecostal teaching that speaking in tongues is the first outward sign that a believer has received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.