The Second Century Church, part six
As we have reviewed quotations written by leaders of the second century Church, we have found that the Church of that day was much influenced by the power, love, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 1:7) This month we are looking at the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit present in the Church of the second century.
Justin Martyr, a Christian philosopher, wrote to a Jewish friend around the year A. D. 150. Think how amazing it would have been to be living just 55 years after the last book of the New Testament was completed! Justin was burdened for his Jewish friends who didn't know Christ, so he explained to them him that one of the reasons that it was evident that Jesus is the Messiah was because since the time when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, no more prophets had arisen among the Jews except for those who believed in Christ. Justin knew of Christian prophets of his day. He wrote,, “For the prophetic gifts remain with us, even to this present time. Therefore you (Jews) should realize that the gifts formerly among your nation were transferred to us . . . For after Him (Christ Jesus) no prophet has arisen among you . . . (But) now it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God . . . and daily some of you (Jews) are becoming disciples of Christ and are quitting the path of error, and are receiving gifts . . . For one receives the Spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching . . ."
In the book of Acts we read of many miracles done in the name of Jesus for the purpose of bearing witness that Jesus has been raised from the dead (Acts 2:43, 4:33). This same witness continued in the second century. Theodotus, a Christian writer who lived towards the end of the second century described: "Healings, prophecies, and miracles are performed by God working through men . . . for the Church is the minister of the Lord's power." (These quotations are found in Polycarp Disciple of the Apostle John and the Second Century Church, pages 103-104.)
Justin Martyr, a Christian philosopher, wrote to a Jewish friend around the year A. D. 150. Think how amazing it would have been to be living just 55 years after the last book of the New Testament was completed! Justin was burdened for his Jewish friends who didn't know Christ, so he explained to them him that one of the reasons that it was evident that Jesus is the Messiah was because since the time when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, no more prophets had arisen among the Jews except for those who believed in Christ. Justin knew of Christian prophets of his day. He wrote,, “For the prophetic gifts remain with us, even to this present time. Therefore you (Jews) should realize that the gifts formerly among your nation were transferred to us . . . For after Him (Christ Jesus) no prophet has arisen among you . . . (But) now it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God . . . and daily some of you (Jews) are becoming disciples of Christ and are quitting the path of error, and are receiving gifts . . . For one receives the Spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching . . ."
In the book of Acts we read of many miracles done in the name of Jesus for the purpose of bearing witness that Jesus has been raised from the dead (Acts 2:43, 4:33). This same witness continued in the second century. Theodotus, a Christian writer who lived towards the end of the second century described: "Healings, prophecies, and miracles are performed by God working through men . . . for the Church is the minister of the Lord's power." (These quotations are found in Polycarp Disciple of the Apostle John and the Second Century Church, pages 103-104.)