Perspectives on Pentecost: New Testament Teaching on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

A careful examination of the New Testament teaching on the gifts of the Spirit. Makes a case for the cessation of tongues at the close of the apostolic era.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Ecclesiology, Nonfiction

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1979

About the author

Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. is a Calvinist theologian, Presbyterian minister, and was the Charles Krahe Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1999 to 2008. He became the Professor Emeritus, Biblical and Systematic Theology in 2008.

Reviews

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful introduction to the sign gifts in the New Testament. Gaffin brings his typical exegetical precision to various texts. Few will agree with all his conclusions, but his arguments are solid. Several points stick out.

He makes the case that Pentecost, like Jesus' death and resurrection, is a one time historical event that all Christians participate in by faith.

He shows that the Spirit is given to all Christians in equal measure. There is no reason to teach a second giving of the Spirit later in the Christian life.

He shows the connection between the Apostles and NT Prophets as well as the differences.

He shows that tongues and prophecy were both revelatory, as in they gave revelation from God and therefore they were foundational and not to gifts for all time.

I am preaching through Acts and found this book tremendously helpful in sorting out the competing claims.

Read twice: 2016 and 2024

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

can confirm, this is, a good read.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a stimulating book. Gaffin has sharpened my thinking on a number of points, though I disagree with him on others. Overall, I still haven’t found a short book I can recommend on this topic that I feel effectively summarizes the argument for cessationism. Ultimately, I think the necessary foundation for the argument is a preterist interpretation of the NT, which Gaffin does not have.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clinically precise in its exegesis of the Bible, charismatic in its catholicity (both with a small 'c'), winsome in its charity - a great monograph by Dr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., (Sancti Libri Theologicus Magnus Westmonastmensis - Westminster’s Great Theologian of the Holy Scripture, a title by Peter Lillback).

"Pentecost is Christ's personal coming to the church as the life-giving Spirit. The Spirit of Pentecost is the resurrection life of Christ, the life of the exalted Christ."

[Benjamin Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book on the subject of tongues and prophecy and their continuation in the post-apostolic age. There are clearer books and better written books on the subject, but this work is good for what it is.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor Gaffin loosely identifies charismatics as those who hold to the continuation of the more "power gifts" today. While I will ultimately disagree with his thesis, we commend Professor Gaffin for his treatment. Gaffin admits, contrary to John Macarthur, that many charismatics (most?) are indeed part of the body of Christ and not false churches (Gaffin 1979, 117). (See Macarthur’s claim that the charismatic movement "was a farce and a scam from the outset" and accuses it of being a "false church" (Strange Fire, xvii). We are profoundly grateful then, whatever else our disagreements may be, that Professor Gaffin displays wisdom and grace in this issue.

Baptism of the Spirit:

Gaffin says “Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (14). I agree. He further says Jesus’s “ministry as a whole is the baptism of the Spirit and fire.” I have nothing riding on this particular issue. I’ve always understood it, which I take to be the Reformed interpretation, that Jesus baptizes us with his Spirit at our conversion. Even power evangelists like John Wimber hold this view.

Gaffin makes a rather astute point: there is an “absolute coalescence, the total congruence in the church between the work of the exalted Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit” (19). This is a wonderful statement to which we shall return.

Prophecy and Tongues

Gaffin says the functioning of prophecy in the New Testament was univocal, meaning prophecy in 1 Corinthians is the same as prophecy in Revelation (58-59). He doesn’t list any Scripture to prove that assertion, but I see no reason to disagree.

Question of cessation:

This is the heart of the book.

Therefore, if “apostle”is a gift, and apostolate ceased, then other gifts might have ceased. True, but what conclusion does Gaffin immediately infer? “Nor, then, does the position that one or more of these gifts has been withdrawn, necessarily deny the authority and continuing applicability of Scripture” (Gaffin 1979, 90, emphasis mine). That is true, but it doesn’t seem to be the relevant inference. The correct inference, and the issue under question, is that the cessation of apostleship does not deny the other gifts.

Gaffin makes a decent argument that the work of apostles is foundational and is not to be repeated.

Ephesians 2:20

If I were a cessationist, I would take my stand on this passage and never leave. It is the only passage that remotely hints at cessationism. Gaffin does well and he focuses much of his argument on this passage. As such, he does a commendable job, though I don’t think it holds in the end.

He argues that “apostles and prophets” cannot refer to the Old Testament because of a) the word order and b) the context suggests the New Covenant (93). He further argues that the New Testament elsewhere (1 Corinthians 12:28) makes special distinction of prophets and apostles from the rest of the gifts (94). But is that how the passage reads? The larger context is:

And God has [r]appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then [s]miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.

It is not evident that there is a special subset of gifts that distinguish apostles and prophets from, say, teachers. Indeed, Paul seems to be simply listing the gifts. We are not warranted in saying x is valid today but y isn’t. Gaffin even appears to approach something like this observation. He notes, interestingly enough, that “the listing in I Corinthians 12:28 (“first apostles, second prophets, third teachers”) seems to involve a kind of hierarchy whereby each of the latter two consists of an aspect of the preceding gift(s), that is, prophecy is a function of the apostle, and teaching, in turn, a function of both the prophet and apostle” (52). If that’s so, how can the teacher function as an aspect of prophet or apostle if the latter two are no longer operative?

The Question of the Canon

Gaffin ties prophecy with the openness of the canon (99). I won’t give a full rebuttal here except to say he doesn’t offer a single verse. He cannot argue one because there isn’t one. The “canon” is a nebulous concept in Scripture. True, the Scripture does hint that certain New Testament writings are on a par with Scripture (Peter’s use of Paul), yet to say that the New Testament writers envision a coming “closed canon” that will cease all future prophecies is to go beyond the evidence.

Gaffin’s Concluding Argument

He writes, “The reason the gifts can be called apostolic and yet be present in others is that the presence of these gifts in other so thoroughly depends upon and flows out of the presence in the church of the (living, functioning) apostolate” (101). If Gaffin is right, and if we keep in mind the list of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28, we have to ask why some gifts (prophecy, tongues, perhaps miracles) cease but not others (teaching, administration). Paul makes no distinction.

Gaffin ends with a pastorally sane take on healing. Contrary to Macarthur’s rather hamhanded approach (Macarthur 175: “Such biblical-quality healing miracles are not being performed today.”), Gaffin admits God is still able to heal today and we shouldn’t discredit it, but neither should we put all our hopes on it (114). Amen.

Conclusion

We appreciate the grace and candor Professor Gaffin displays in welcoming continuationists as brothers in disagreement. Further, his call that continuationists and charismatics stop accusing their opponents of “quenching the Spirit” is noted and welcome (118).

EXCURSUS

An Amillennialist Argument for Continuationism?

I am not an amillennialist, but if I were I would go to Ephesians 3:5, using Gaffin’s framework for redemptive history, and prove that prophets are necessary to the continuing life of the church. Gaffin says, in light of Ephesians 3:5, that “prophets are plainly part of the present life of the church (“now”) in contrast to the old covenant (“which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit of God to his holy apostles and prophets”) 93).

Gaffin has argued elsewhere against both postmillennialism and premillennialism that redemptive history can only be divided into two ages: the age to come and the present evil age. The former has broken into the latter, yet there is no subset of the present age that allows one to posit, for example, a future millennial reign of Christ.

I disagree with Professor Gaffin on the millennium, but if his argument holds that there is no subset within this age to posit a future millennial reign, then why is there a subset to posit a special working that is no longer operative? Indeed Gaffin writes,

“Here, then, is where a problem—from the vantage point of New Testament teaching, a fundamental structural difficulty—begins to emerge. Emphasis on the golden era as being entirely future leaves the unmistakable impression that the church’s present (and past) is something other than golden, that so far in its history the church has been less than victorious” (ibid).

Admittedly, Gaffin’s target is postmillennialism (and I think there is something to his charge). However, it isn’t a stretch to see this as a reverse argument against cessationism. It would go something like this:

Here, then, is where a problem—from the vantage point of New Testament teaching, a
fundamental structural difficulty—begins to emerge. Emphasis on the golden era as being entirely past leaves the unmistakable impression that the church’s present (and future) is something other than golden, that so far in its history the church has been less than victorious (emphasis added).

I think one is justified in inferring this from Gaffin’s argument because cessationism clearly implies a golden past of the church that isn’t operative for us today. Indeed, I think we can continue Gaffin’s line of thought. He writes further on,

“If anything is basic (and, I’m inclined to say, clear) in its eschatology, it is that the eschatological kingship of Christ begins already at his first coming culminating in his resurrection and ascension. Already at and dating from Christ’s exaltation, “God has placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Eph. 1:22; cf. v. 20) (Gaffin 5).

If Gaffin is correct, and I think he is, then we have to draw a number of conclusions: a) The beginning of the church age is coterminous with the reign of Christ/giving of the Spirit; b) nothing has changed in Christ’s rule over the church; c) Christ gave gifts to his church; d) there is no evidence that he is holding back gifts.

To conclude this excursus, if Professor Gaffin is correct on Christ’s present rule (which includes his act of gift-giving), and Jesus’s reign is marked by authority and power, and there is no subset of a special age within this present age, then we don’t see how it is warranted in saying Jesus is holding back some of the gifts.

Some Concluding Questions

Gaffin notes there is “absolute coalescence, the total congruence in the church between the work of the exalted Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit” (19). Given the unity between the work of Christ and the work of the Spirit, and that Christ gives us the Spirit without reserve, can we really say that Christ reserves some of the Spirit’s gifts?

Further, if Pentecost is the “firstfruits of the full harvest of the Spirit to come at Christ’s return” (40), shouldn’t we expect more, not less, of the Spirit’s gifts from the “firstfruits” onwards? The logic of firstfruits is from “lesser to greater,” not the other way around.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conclusion was the most readable part. If the rest of the book had mirrored that clarity of thought and theme, it would have been quotable.

Reformed writers - you want impact? Get it through your heads that not every reader has gone or intends to go to seminary. The reason why Lewis and Schaeffer are household names is because they leave the theological cookies on the lower shelf for normal people. Writing like an academic - like every bit of explanation needs the repetition of a dissertation - turns off normal readers.

This is such a book. It leaves the heart out and prominently displays the head instead, as though that is the only thing that matters. I never thought the topic of the incredible power and sweeping grandeur of the Holy Spirit could be reduced to academic wrangle points, but Gaffin has done it. What frustrates me is that the conclusion makes it clear that he could have done so much more! The man can write!

[Travis Robnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Especially in his recognition of tongues not only as a revelatory gift like prophecy but as a sign of judgment preeminently on unbelieving Israel that serves as a signpost of the transition from the Old Covenant era to the New during the apostolic age.

[Gabe Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study. I’d recommend for all Christian’s to read this book but to do so with Bible in hand.

I made the mistake of thinking it would just be a quick read due to length (122 pages), but it is as it says so on the cover: “a reliable study”. And study indeed it is, but even though it is more academic then I thought initially it is still very helpful and a great encouragement overall.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interestingly, I came across this book on a charismatic website's recommended reading list. This is the best cessationist book I've read thus far. Gaffin is a top exegete, and he lays out his case helpfully and clearly. Though I'm charismatic in theology, I agreed with not only the general thrust of the book, but many of the nuances of his argument as well. His explanation of the significance of Pentecost in redemptive history (and that biblically speaking, all of Christ's church is charismatic and pentecostal), his explanation of the contrast between 'mind' and 'spirit' in 1 Cor 14, and his rejection of post-conversion spirit baptism were all air-tight. At the end of the day, I simply think the Grudem-esque understanding of prophecy is better at taking into account the relevant NT data than what Gaffin offers here. I don't think his covenantal argument against location/person specific prophecies shows a sufficient understanding of the best charismatic thinkers in this area, especially when Gaffin himself concedes that inspiration is a necessary but insufficient condition of canonization (!). In saying that, Gaffin's arguments for cessationism are the best I've come across thus far. He doesn't feel like he has a lot invested in the charismatics being wrong, and thus is willing to concede that a lot of the argumentation against them are fairly vacuous. This works in his favour, as the arguments he has left are razor sharp compared with others who share his position. 5 stars.

[Chris Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaffin's book is a solid, if somewhat brief, discussion of spiritual gifts and Pentecost. Gaffin focuses particularly on the meaning of Pentecost, the character and meaning of the attending sign gifts (tongues and prophecy) and their relevance for today. It is not an exhaustive study by any means, but, as you might expect from a scholar and theologian of Gaffin's caliber, it is full of insight into the scriptural teachings on the matter and the redemptive historical context of the gifts. Gaffin takes the traditional Protestant cessationist view of the sign gifts of tongues and prophecy and ably supports his position with biblical argumentation while at the same time being gracious and irenic with his opponents. My only qualm with the book is that it's not longer.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me state it simply. Gaffin is the best exegete writing today. There may be better Biblical theologians, systematicians, preachers, etc., but if you want someone to tell you what the text says, Gaffin's the man.

This is particularly helpful on a subject as controversial as "charismatic" gifts. So much of the argument is about things other than what the text actually says about the gifts. Gaffin makes not that mistake. He shows convincingly that the gifts of prophecy and tongues were part of the apostolic, revelatory period of church history that has passed away.

[Bj Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer of the book has similar
Beliefs to mine. Although the book takes a little while to get into, it gets you thinking. It is well researched and makes you get into the Bible (which is always a good thing). I felt it was a more evenly thought out book and would recommend it to those who are asking the question "do spiritual gifts still exist today."

[Ian Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Pentecost is part of the unified once-for-all complex of events, which included Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. Thus, it properly belongs in the historia salutis and not the ordo salutis.
- Acts is not a random sampling of early church piety but rather a documentation of the foundational spread of the gospel from Israel to the nations.
- Acts 1:8 is a promise to the apostles and applies derivatively to the church.
- The events recorded in Acts 8, 10, and 19 are extensions of the once-for-all pentecost.

- Every gift of the Spirit is a charismatic gift. Each gift must be examined in order to determined its purpose and the conditions present for its presence in the early church.
- Prophecy and tongues are linked in the NT. Interpreted tongues are prophecy, hence Acts 2 is a fulfillment of the Joel prophecy.
- There isn't two levels of prophecy. Prophecy is revelatory. The fact that prophecy must be evaluated does not indicate it. It must be evaluated because if prophecy is genuine is holds the wait of God's Word.
- Tongues, by the mere fact that they can be interpreted, means they are an actual language. Both prophecy and tongues are Spirit-worked speech, but in the case of tongues the Spirit does not make use of speaker's existing language capacity and thus there is a need for interpretation.
- The term "Mystery" is central to Paul's vocabulary for revelation. When someone speaks in tongues they "speak mysteries." (1 Cor 14:2).
- In Acts 2, the onlookers assume those speaking in tongues are drunk. Paul worries that if too many people in Corinth speak in tongues than people will believe they are out of their minds. Likely, the same thing that happened at Pentecost, happened in Corinth.
- There is no continuation of the apostleship. The apostolic office is a foundational one, upon which Timothy and subsequent servants build upon.
- Ephesians 2:20 is a generalization that covers statements of New Testament prophecy. Apostles and NT prophets are linked and called the foundation.
- Revelation is covenantal and redemptive historical. Agubus is not an example of personal non-covenantal language.
- At the time 1 Cor was written, the congregation has no access to the four Gospels, nor Acts, nor Romans, nor the prison epistles, nor Hebrews, nor Romans.
- Foundational gifts (tongues, prophecy) are bound up with presence of the apostolate in the church.
- "When the perfect comes" does not answer the question. It is about knowledge.
- God continues to heal people in response to prayer, though the healing ministry associated with the apostles which were served as a "signs of Apostleship" has discontinued.
- The Reformers saw Rome's (tradition) and Anabaptists (charismatic enthusiasts) as attacking Sola Scriptura.
- Spontaneous, non-conceptual, free vocalization is virtually a universal human capacity.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Gaffin provides an excellent treatment here of the gifts of the Spirit. He stresses that the Holy Spirit has been given not to divide the church, but to strengthen it and empower it. He also says at the outset that Biblical truth is to set the pace for Christian experience, rather than Christian experience being the lens for interpreting Biblical truth. One of the best things I like about this title is that he doesn’t resort to bashing continuationists and/or Charismatics. He truly views them as brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead of personal attacks, he simply presents an extensive, Biblical case for cessationism. He begins by going into detail about the Day of Pentecost, and its significance for the church. He emphasizes that the phenomenon of Pentecost is part of the once-for-redemption narrative, not an experience that God intends to replicate throughout the lifetime of the church. He goes into considerable detail examining what it means to be baptized in the Spirit, including the affirmation that it is not intended to be a post-conversion experience intended to provide a higher level of spiritual maturity and effectiveness. He then turns to the gifts of the Spirit, defining extensively how the Bible presents them. Nearly a quarter of the book is devoted to prophecy and tongues, since the nature of those gifts is new, Divine revelation. He works through both gifts in considerable detail. The next major portion of the author’s work presents his case for the cessation of the revelatory gifts, including explanations of the role of the apostle and the prophet in the early church. He only touches upon the subject of Divine healing. His main concern is clearly the identifying the groundwork that leads to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. I recommend this book highly. I’m aware of no other title on the market today that provides such a thorough, Christ-honoring treatment of such an emotionally-charged subject.

[Lucas Nosal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, but thorough explanation of the Cessationist view of the gifts. Gaffin does a good job making a few concise arguments. I appreciate that he Scripturally supports his argument, rather than arguing from experience (Eg. I’ve seen a lot of nonsense when people try to practice the gifts). In the first half of the book, he argues that the Spirit is given once at the time of conversion. The examples in Acts that differ, differ for a reason, which he explains. Therefore, he rejects the “second blessing” teaching of Pentecostals. I agreed with his arguments in this area.

Where the book really gets interesting is from chapter 4 on, when he begins to talk about prophecy and tongues and whether or not they have ceased. He argues that prophecy and tongues were both equivalent in authority to the Word of God, and that the notion that there are certain levels of revelation that have different binding authority is nowhere seen in the New Testament. He then goes to argue that both the gifts were for the apostolic era, and therefore, have ceased with the passing of the apostles.

Overall, Gaffin makes a good case. And he is extremely charitable to those he disagrees with. Am I fully convinced of his position? I don’t think so. Yet, I would still recommend the book to better understand the cessationist view. I am still working through the biblical passages on the topics and seeking the Lord for wisdom in this area.

[JJ Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely astounding case for Cessationism. A much better argument than the common Baptistic strawman of the Charismatic movement and a much more charitable and loving critique than any in the camp of MacArthur/G3 Ministries. The Presbyterians do pretty much everything better than the Baptists (other than Baptism) and this is no exception to that theme. Gaffin’s argument is refreshing and purely Biblical with the goal of edifying the Church and encouraging unity amongst the disagreement on the continuity of Tongues and Prophecy and their continuation/cessation in the life of the Church. A quote from the last page:
“[I]t would be a great loss if the renewed interest of our day in the work of the Holy Spirit were to be expended on the differences between charismatic and non-charismatic, real and important as those differences are. The pressing and promising task before the Church today is to demonstrate unambiguously, and in practice, as well as proclamation, that at its core the gospel concerns not only the free and full remission of sin but the present reality of a new creation and eschatological life in Christ, the present renewal and transformation of the believer in his entirety, according to the inner man, and the redirection and reintegration of human life in all its aspects.”

[Joshua Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a cessationist, and so my 3 stars have nothing to do with disagreeing with the view. I agree with the view, but it seemed like there were way too many cliffhangers in this book. I felt like I was getting somewhere, then suddenly it just stopped and I never really felt like I got a strong grasp on too many things.

I feel like I never really got anywhere too far, and it was very difficult to follow at times. I just finished it not even 10 minutes ago, and I just don’t feel incredibly enriched by the book. It was definitely helpful in some areas, I guess I was just expecting a lot more, especially considering the good reviews I heard from some people on the Puritan boards.

Also, some people just simply aren’t the greatest communicators in the world. Writing plainly for the layman goes a long way. I don’t like having to read a sentence 5 times because it was so boring or hard to track.

I am sure I could tell most people that they will probably learn something and benefit from this book, but it probably wouldn’t be my first recommendation to anyone.

Plenty of others have benefit from this book, apparently, so it is probably worth reading anyway.

[Ethan Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Dr. Gaffin clearly and cogently explores the issues surrounding the gifts of the Spirit and the modern charismatic movement. Moving from the general and undisputed character of the Spirit's work in the New Testament to the specific issues of prophecy and tongues, Gaffin provides a helpful framework of redemptive history in which these questions can be explored. His argument regarding Ephesians 2:20 and the foundation-laying activity of the Apostles, prophecy, and tongues is particularly forceful. Gaffin is also very fair and kind to those of different persuasions about the Spirit's work, regarding the debate as one between brothers. The work felt overly technical at times when it did not need to be and in my opinion needed a more in-depth exploration of the character, function, and purpose in the early church (though he does touch on all of these). Overall, this is an excellent introduction to the issues and presents very solid ways that solutions may be begun to be pursued.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gaffin is a gem. Gaffin is also a laborious read.

5 Stars for chapter 1 on the Gift of the Spirit at Pentecost in its proper redemptive-historical context. It's like a small taste of his other works "Resurrection and Redemption" and "By Faith, Not by Sight." One could also call it Geerhardus Vos and Herman Ridderbos for dummies as he largely develops their preceding insights.

3 stars for the rest of the book. I appreciate his division of the gifts into the categories of "word-gifts" and "deed-gifts."

I still remain undecided on the debate around cessation or continuation of the gifts. I think both are unhelpful categories. I tend to be of the same opinion of Calvin that at times in extraordinary circumstances such as the reformation or missions contexts God may start to do things we don't have a box for. These extraordinary circumstances must be seen as what they are "extraordinary" and not the norm.

[Brice Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Surely it is not difficult to anticipate what would be among Paul’s first words at this point: if I speak the truth of Scripture, but have not love, I am nothing; and if I have all biblical insight and all ability to perceive and point out doctrinal error, but have not love, it profits me (or anyone else) nothing.”

A helpful reminder as I prepare to teach on tongues and (my belief) how they have ceased as a normative gift in the church after the apostolic age. Helpful on defining terms which is the most important part in this conversation. His argument for their cessation is good but hard to follow at times but it takes time to understand Gaffin and how he mines the scripture. Would probably recommend Schreiner’s book as it’s easier to digest.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a continuationist, which means I disagree fundamentally with Gaffin‘s conclusion that there are gifts of the Spirit that have ceased prior to the coming of Christ. In this book, the points of disagreement are most clear in the nature of New Testament prophecy and in his exegesis of 1 Corinthians 13. However, his book is charitable in tone and has much that I agree with. In some cases, I regard him as an ally against many of the errors of the charismatic movement, both exegetically and theologically.

[Benjamin Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

A careful exegetical evaluation of whether tongues and prophecy are still operating today. Fairly technical, this will not be an easy read for your average layman, but it is Biblically sound and a thoughtful examination will challenge those who believe in the continuation of these gifts. The final chapter shows a remarkable charity toward our brothers and sisters who are charismatic and Pentecostal, while faithfully maintaining Reformed convictions.

Overall, excellent, with the caveat that, due to its technical nature, it will lack accessibility for some readers.

[Clifton Rankin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Perspectives on Pentecost: Studies in New Testament Teaching on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” by Richard Gaffin was written during the heyday of battles over the charismatic movement (1979). Several reviews mention its “clarity” which made me wonder if my old brain is slipping faster than I thought, because I struggled following his train of thought from time to time. He made some good points about the “once-for-all” nature of not only the cross/resurrection event, but of what took place on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon God’s people in a whole new way. (156 pages)

[Alexander Proudfoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent little volume. Gaffin deftly applies a redemptive-historical understanding of Pentecost, the pouring out of the Spirit, and the spiritual gifts, before engaging with the primary disputed texts in Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, and Eph 4. He does this far better than most. Especially in his conclusion, he remains gracious and balanced in his assessment of Charismatics as our fellow Christians, albeit in error on this point.

[Elliott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Summary: Pentecost was a once-for-all part of redemptive history. Now every believer has the Spirit. Spiritual gifts express that provisionally. Prophecy and tongues were word-gifts that were revelatory and authoritative, not individualistic, errant, or private. Tongues is a kind of prophecy that was interpretable (translatable) because it was a genuine language. These, and healing, were signs for the foundational period of the church, the apostolic era, that ended with Paul.

[Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a clear introduction of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit’s works in the church. He comes with insight and critiques to modern misunderstandings of charismatic gifts which I still am trying to grasp. He gave me a more firm position on how there is no “second-baptism” for a believer. I have not pursued deeply the whole continuationist/cessationist discussion, but this was a start.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend this book for a very thorough and biblically rich treatment of the issue of miraculous gifts in the Church. Would NOT recommend the kindle version, as the formatting makes for a clunky reading experience (e.g. there were many headings, subheadings, and numbered points which were harder to follow on kindle), and there were also many typos.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was essential to developing my thinking on the issue of spiritual gifts. Dr. Gaffin expertly navigates the waters and helpfully gives a Reformed response to the question of spiritual gifts in the post-apostolic church.

[Joshua Chipchase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblically deep insights about spiritual gifts and a strong case for cessationism. A few critiques: it needs a little better organization, a stronger ending, and a chapter on the gift of healing. But this book stretched me more than any other book I have read so far this year. Recommended.