Apostles Quote by John F. MacArthur
“These were specific enablements given to certain believers for the purpose of authenticating or confirming God's Word when it was proclaimed in the early church before the Scriptures were written. The temporary sign gifts included prophecy (revelatory prophecy7), miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. The sign gifts had a unique purpose: to give the apostles credentials, that is, to let the people know that these men all spoke the truth of God. Once the Word of God was inscripturated, the sign gifts were no longer needed and they ceased”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Role of Sign Gifts in Early Church, John F. MacArthur, 1998
Early church used miraculous signs to validate apostles' message; after Scripture was canonized, those signs ceased.
In simple terms: Miraculous signs confirmed truth before the Bible; later they were unnecessary.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the purpose of signs in history.
Themes
faith
authority
scripture
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
theological
historical
When to use this quote
- theological study
- biblical education
- faith discussions
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
apostolic authority
prophecy
miracles
church history
Questions to Reflect On
- Are sign gifts still needed?
- How do we discern authentic authority?
A Different Perspective
Some view sign gifts as still relevant today.
![“[There are] seven gifts God gives you when you commit your life to Christ: a new relationship, a new citizenship, a new family, a new purpose, a new power, a new destiny, and a new journey.” quote by Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c13/billy-graham-234_christ_there-are-seven-gifts-god-gives-you-when_2419608.jpg)
![“Listen to these words of [apostle] Paul: "We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness that's in high places." It's in "high places" that the plot against Black and Brown, and poor White is going…” quote by Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/152/louis-farrakhan-1264_apostle-paul_listen-to-these-words-of-apostle-paul-we_95649.jpg)
