Cessationism in new tastament background

Cessationism is a theological position that holds that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy, ceased to operate in the early Christian church and are no longer available to believers today. This position is often contrasted with continuationism, which holds that these gifts are still available to believers today.

In the New Testament, there are several passages that are often cited in support of cessationism. For example:

1. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, which says that "prophecies, tongues of all kinds will cease; where there is knowledge, prophecies will cease; where there is truth, tongues will cease; and where there is righteousness, law will cease." This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease when the perfect comes, which is often understood to refer to the completion of the New Testament canon.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, which says that "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" and that "to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues." This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the gifts of the Spirit are limited to the early Christian church and are no longer available today.
3. Ephesians 2:20, which says that "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the foundation of the church was laid by the apostles and prophets, and that their work was completed with the completion of the New Testament canon.

On the other hand, there are also passages in the New Testament that are often cited in support of continuationism. For example:

1. Acts 2:17-18, which says that "in the last days, God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, will continue to operate in the church until the end of the age.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:11, which says that "all these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the gifts of the Spirit are still available to believers today.
3. Hebrews 2:3-4, which says that "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" This passage is often interpreted as indicating that the Holy Spirit is still active in the lives of believers today, empowering them to serve God.

In conclusion, the New Testament provides a complex and nuanced understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and both cessationist and continuationist positions can be supported by different passages. Ultimately, the question of whether the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available to believers today is a matter of interpretation and theological conviction.