Responding to the "Cessationist" Documentary - Part #8: With Guest Dr. Craig Keener
Dec 7, 2023
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Dr. Craig Keener, Biblical Studies Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, joins to discuss a cessationist documentary. They critique the video, explore the messiness of prophecy, differentiate prophetic ministry, discuss biblical commands and context, delve into the kingdom of God and supernatural manifestations, and debunk arguments made in the documentary.
Tongues is primarily a form of communication and prayer, not just an impressive sign for unbelievers.
Tongues serve the purpose of personal edification and building oneself up spiritually.
The gift of tongues encompasses both known human languages and inarticulable forms of communication.
Deep dives
Tongues as a Sign of Judgment
The gift of tongues is seen as a sign of judgment towards unbelieving Israel, according to Isaiah 28. It signifies that God is choosing to speak to Gentiles in languages other than Hebrew, revealing Himself and judging Israel. While the primary purpose of tongues is not for impressive signs to unbelieving Gentiles who speak other languages, the biblical understanding of tongues is that it is a communication that can be known human languages or languages understood by the speaker but not necessarily by others. The communication in tongues is considered as prayer to God and can be accompanied by the spiritual gift of interpretation.
Not Limited to Evangelism
The assertion that tongues is primarily used for evangelism to the lost is a reductionistic view. While it can certainly occur in a context that draws the attention of unbelievers, as seen in Acts 2, the primary focus of tongues is not evangelism. Instead, it is a spiritual gift used for personal edification and building oneself up. Just as reading the Bible for personal edification is valued, praying in tongues can also serve the purpose of building oneself up spiritually. Therefore, tongues functions as a form of worship and prayer, allowing individuals to communicate with God.
Tongues as Prayer and Worship
The gift of tongues is not limited to known human languages or specific formulas but encompasses both articulable and inarticulable forms of communication. Tongues involve the speaking in a language unknown to the speaker but understood by God. The focus is on individuals praying with their spirit rather than seeking to understand or analyze the language being spoken. The communication in tongues involves praying to God, and the role of the Holy Spirit is to enable and guide this form of prayer. While some cases may involve recognizable languages, it is not a requirement for the manifestation of tongues.
Contextualizing the Gift of Prophecy
The podcast discusses the different contexts in which the gift of prophecy is mentioned in Scripture. While there are numerous prophecies given throughout history, not all of them are recorded in Scripture. The speaker emphasizes that Scripture acts as the measuring stick and the minimum amount that we can all agree on. Most prophecies are not dealing with doctrine and can be as simple as a declaration of God's love. The speaker also discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in bearing witness to believers, and how the absence of the Spirit could indicate that someone is not a child of God.
Understanding the Command to Seek the Gift of Prophecy
The podcast explores the command in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 to eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. The speaker addresses the argument that the command is no longer applicable since the gift of prophecy is no longer given to the church. However, the speaker points out the continuity in the Bible, such as the parallel between Matthew 10 and Matthew 28, which suggests that the scope of the signs and miracles expanded after Jesus' resurrection. The speaker also highlights the significant growth of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement, which demonstrates the ongoing impact of the gifts of the Spirit in spreading the gospel to all nations.
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We're honored to have Dr. Craig Keener with us to provide his insights on the arguments and points raised by the Cessationist film makers. Dr. Craig S. Keener is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of 37 books with 1.4 million copies in circulation. His books have won 13 national and international awards, including six from Christianity Today.
Dr. Keener has authored roughly 100 academic articles, seven booklets, and roughly 200 popular-level articles. His “The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament,” which provides cultural background for each passage of the New Testament, has alone sold more than half a million copies. He has written commentaries on Matthew, Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Peter, Revelation, John (1,600 pages), and Acts (4,500 pages). His other books include a two-volume work on miracles and works about the Spirit, ethnic reconciliation, women in ministry, divorce, and various other topics. His publishers include Baker Academic, Cambridge, Eerdmans, InterVarsity and Zondervan. He is currently writing an academic commentary on Mark for T&T Clark.
Dr. Keener is the New Testament editor for the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, which won the International Book Award for Christianity as well as Bible of the Year for the Christian Book Awards. In 2020, Dr. Keener was president of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is former editor of the Bulletin for Biblical Research and former program chair for the Institute for Biblical Research. Craig is married to Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener, who was a refugee in her home country of Congo for 18 months; her experience and their romance appears in “Impossible Love” (Chosen, 2016).
Tune in for an engaging discussion with one of today's leading theologians!
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