A Scholar and an Evangelist Examine the Evidence
Do spiritual gifts such as prophecy, healing, and tongues still belong in the church today, or did they quietly expire with the apostles? In
Spiritual Gifts Are for Today, noted New Testament scholar Craig S. Keener teams up with global evangelist and pastor Daniel Kolenda to answer that question head-on, drawing on rigorous biblical scholarship and firsthand accounts from around the world.
In this book, you'll discover
● why cessationism--which claims that certain spiritual gifts have died out--rests on tradition rather than Scripture;
● how the book of Acts, Paul's letters, and Jesus's own ministry point to gifts meant to last the entire church age;
● compelling testimonies of healing and prophecy from global Christianity set alongside careful biblical exposition; and
● a clear, respectful response to common objections.
Keener and Kolenda make their case plainly: The full range of spiritual gifts, including prophecy and healing, remain valid today. Nowhere does Scripture teach that any gifts will cease before Christ's return; to argue otherwise is to elevate a postbiblical doctrine above Scripture itself.
Balancing biblical exposition with stories from around the world, this book builds a comprehensive case for continuationism-- the idea that all spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible may continue beyond the early church. Keener and Kolenda show that Scripture presents special divine activity as valid for the entire course of the present age.
Whether you're a pastor, a student of pneumatology, or simply curious whether spiritual gifts still have a place in today's Christian life, this book offers an answer grounded in both Scripture and lived experience.
