A look at the four epistles that were written before 1 Corinthians. It will be seen that Paul actually rebukes the teachings of cessationism


The book of 1 Corinthians was written in 54/55 AD (possibly). Every New Test. epistle was written after 1 Cor., except: "James," Galatians," and 1,2 "Thessalonians." 

James does not mention the prophetic (other than possible prophetic wisdom).

The book of "Galatians" which was probably written to the Galatian churches at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe does not mention the prophetic. However, Paul acknowledged that miraculous events were happening in those places, as Gal. 3:5 says:


GALATIANS 3: 5
 
"He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?" Gal. 3: 5

There were miracles going on at the Galatian churches; if tongues and prophecies were excluded from the miraculous cannot be known—but there is certainly no mention of the cessation of tongues and prophecies. But it needs to be realized that Peter sent an epistle (1 Peter) to Galatia:
 
"To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia Asia, and Bythynia." 1 Peter 1: 1

The epistle that the Galatians received from Peter (sometime in the early 60'a AD) mentions Peter's belief that churches are to be engaged in the prophetic gifts:
 
"as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" 1 Peter 4: 10-11

1,2 Thessalonians was written before 1 Corinthian's. The prophetic was going on there, and Paul meant to keep it going. In 1 Thess.5:19-20 Paul likens the cessationist movement with putting out the Spirit's fire. The verses below are a strong rebuke to cessationist teaching.

"Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings." 1 Thess. 5:19-20

 
Prophecies were expected at the Thessalonian church.

Paul warned them in 2 Thess. 2:2 (below) not to heed any prophecy that said the Lord had already returned.
 
"That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." 2 Thess. 2:2

A correct rendering of 2 Thess. 2: 2 might be thus:

"Do not be easily unsettled or alarmed by some false prophecy at your church, or from a report or letter that was said to come from us saying that the day of the Lord had already come."

2 Thessalonians 2: 2 does not make sense at all unless the Thessalonians were accepting the prophetic at their church. Paul did not tell them to avoid the prophetic; rather, he told them what he would later tell the Corinthians; that is, to: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:21 At any rate, there is certainly no verses of scripture written before 1 Corinthians that supports cessationist teaching.
 
Copyright 2006 - 2007. Peter Kwiatkowski. All rights reserved.