Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
First-Century Spirit Practices
This verse, which vividly portrays the Spirit of God dwelling in the first-century churches of Christ, is a crucial key to understanding the historical context of the Holy Spirit’s role in contemporary churches. The fact that it was addressed to the church in Corinth indicates that the Spirit was present in all of Jesus’s churches at that time. This understanding is pivotal in grasping the continuity of the Spirit’s work in the church. For further insights, consider Revelation chapters 2-3.
What was the Spirit’s goal in those days? The objectives were twofold: to deliver God’s message to inspired men to write the New Testament and to confirm the messages of those who spoke God’s word through miracles.
Completing the New Testament
The Apostles and Luke and Mark (Luke and Mark were not apostles) wrote the pages of the New Testament. However, they didn’t only write down their thoughts. The spiritual utterances of God guided them. 2nd Timothy 3:26 has this: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”
2nd Peter 1:20-21 has this: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Here’s a chart of who wrote the New Testament
| Writers of the New Testament | |||
| Author | Book(s) | Year | Position |
| Matthew | Matthew | C 35-60 | Apostle, Tax Collector, Levite |
| Mark | Mark | C 40-60 | Disciple; Assistant To Paul and Peter |
| Luke | Luke | C 58-60 | Greek Convert, Physician |
| Luke | Acts | C 80-95 | Greek Convert, Physician |
| Paul | Romans | C 57 | Apostle |
| Paul | 1 Corinthians | C 56 | Apostle |
| Paul | 2 Corinthians | C 57 | Apostle |
| Paul | Galatians | C 53 | Apostle |
| Paul | Ephesians | C 61-63 | Apostle |
| Paul | Philippians | C 61-63 | Apostle |
| Paul | Colossians | C 61-63 | Apostle |
| Paul | 1 Thessalonians | C 50 | Apostle |
| Paul | 2 Thessalonians | C 51 | Apostle |
| Paul | 1 Timothy | C 64 | Apostle |
| Paul | 2 Timothy | C 67 | Apostle |
| Paul | Titus | C 64 | Apostle |
| Paul | Philemon | C 61-63 | Apostle |
| Paul | Hebrews | C 61-63 | Apostle |
| James | James | C 40-48 | Apostle |
| Peter | 1 Peter | C 64-65 | Apostle |
| Peter | 2 Peter | C 65-66 | Apostle |
| John | 1 John | C 65-66 | Apostle |
| John | 2 John | C 65-66 | Apostle |
| John | 3 John | C 65-66 | Apostle |
| Jude | Jude | C 65-66 | Brother of Jesus |
| John | Revelation | C 95 | Apostle |
Gifts In Churches
Another of the Spirit’s goals was to provide people with miraculous gifts. The gifts proved that those speaking were genuinely speaking God’s words and doing His works. Indeed, the Apostles had the gifts of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), but others were also endowed through the transference of gifts by the Apostolic laying on the hands. The exception is the Spiritual gifts falling upon Cornelius in Acts 10. The Apostles received spiritual gifts directly from the Holy Spirit; the only Gentile who received the gift this way was Cornelius. Thus proving that Jews and Gentiles were included in the Lord’s church.
After the Apostles and Cornelius, we do not see the Holy Spirit imparting gifts to Christians. Instead, the gifts were given by the Apostles, who laid their hands on people and transferred gifts to them. This process, as seen in Acts 6, where Philip had spiritual gifts but could not transfer them, clarifies the limitations of the transfer of spiritual gifts.
Here’s a list of gifts shown in 1 Corinthians 12:8-12.
| Gifts of the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:8-12 | |
| Wisdom | Prophecy |
| Knowledge | Distinguishing Spirits |
| Faith | Tongues |
| Healing | Interpretation of Tongues |
| Miracles | |
In Acts 6, we see Philip converting people to Jesus Christ in Samaria. He had spiritual gifts, but he could not transfer these gifts to anyone. Instead, Peter and John came to Samaria, and they laid their hands on people who were to receive the gifts.Until Peter and John arrived, the Samarians had no gifts. They had to wait until Peter and John came to pass the gifts to them.
Spiritual Gifts Today?
If the only way to impart spiritual gifts was through the Apostles’ laying on of hands, and since there are no Apostles today, we must conclude that the age of miracles ended sometime in the first century. This understanding, supported by 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, informs us that no miraculous gifts exist today in the Lord’s church. This knowledge is a key aspect of our faith.
Where do people today who claim to have spiritual gifts get them? The Holy Spirit hasn’t endowed anyone with such since the promise of the Holy Spirit has been fulfilled. Besides, to be an apostle, one must see Jesus’s resurrection to be considered for that office (Acts 1:21-22). No one around today could truthfully make that claim of apostleship.
Therefore, Christians today should not expect to see anyone performing miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Those who claim so are deceived. This, after all, is the conclusion of the Scriptures, reinforcing the absence of miraculous gifts in the Lord’s church today.
But What About The Spirit In Churches Today?
That’s our original question. Is the Spirit working in the church today? The answer is yes, but not how most people consider the work of the Holy Spirit. Answering yes aligns with 1 Corinthians 3:16, which plainly says that the Spirit dwells within churches. Consider the following table:
| The Spirit | Action | The Word of God |
| 2 Corinthians 3:6: “who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” | Gives Eternal Life | James 1:18: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” |
| John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” | Rebirth | 1 Peter 1:23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” |
| Titus 3:5 says, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” | Regeneration | James 1:21: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” |
| 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” | Sanctifies and justifies | John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” |
| John 6:63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” | Makes Alive | Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.” |
Conclusion
One quickly sees the work of the Spirit ongoing in the lives of Christians and therefore the church that belongs to Jesus.
Garland Van Dyke
http:www.matthewsstreetchurchofchrist.com
Matthews St. church of Christ, 1915 Matthews St., PO Box 1522, Bay City, TX 77414
Email: garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com
You’re always welcome to attend worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 for Bible Class, Worship at 10:30, and Bible Class on Wednesdays at 7 PM.
